Swami Swaroopananda

Wedded to Brahma, the Creator, Saraswati is worshipped as the Goddess of knowledge and Saraswati puja is performed just a day before Vijaya Dasami. On this day, students place their textbooks, exercise copies, and writing materials before the Goddess. The carpenter keeps his tools; the cobbler, his materials etc. and all sources of knowledge are worshipped. Youngsters are thus taught to respect books and all learning materials as they symbolize the Mother Herself.

Saraswati is dressed in white, and has two vehicles - a swan and a peacock. She holds the Vedas in one hand and the rosary in the other signifying the importance of knowledge and japa-reflection and contemplation. The musical instrument, the veena, in the other two hands indicates the importance of an integrated mind and intellect, which having destroyed negativities and cultivated positive qualities, tunes up to the Higher and spreads the music of harmony, peace, and happiness

She is also the Goddess of the spiritual wisdom that is transferred from Guru to disciple through the pure medium of speech - Vani Devi Saraswati. The Vedas have commanded: satyam vadah, hitam vadah, priyam vadah- speak the truth that is beneficial and tell it sweetly. One is advised to speak only the truth, but it should be for the welfare of others. One should know the difference between good and pleasing. Often teenagers who are loath to complain about friends to their parents must understand whether it will detrimental or eventually helpful to the friend. Also, the truth should be said in a thoughtful and amiable manner so that it hurts the least.

Saraswati embodies these three directives on communication. Her white clothes indicate the significance of purity in speech; her vehicle, the swan -hamsa - is a mythical bird that can separate milk from water. It represents the intellect’s capacity to discriminate between truth and untruth. The second vehicle, the peacock, is considered to be a lust free bird. Mystically, it is believed that the peacock bursts into tears pining for rain on seeing thick, water-laden clouds in the sky. The peahen, unable to see his suffering, drinks these tears and conceives. In addition, the peacock on observing the anguish of humanity parched by the intense summer heat, dances to induce the clouds to give rain. It is a dance of selflessness. The veena symbolizes sweetness. Hence, speech should be truthful, pure, sweet, and selfless for it to benefit others.

Even to achieve success in the material world one has to develop these qualities of interaction. Today, marketing is nothing but mastering the art of communication. One must be honest, trustworthy, and possess the ability to converse and convince genially to ensure an extensive market.

Thus, Saraswati represents the qualities that we need within ourselves both for success in the world as well as for spiritual wisdom, contemplation, and realization.

(473 words)