Sarasvati

[Guest guest]

Sarasvati is one of the few goddesses who are worshiped throughout the length

and breath of India, while there may be many Goddesses that may be worshipped in

a particular state, locality , etc. She is one of the few Goddesses to be

worshipped both as a river goddess and a separate god in the Hindu pantheon.

Though with the drying up of the river Sarasvati , she is now worshipped in the

latter form. She is the few Gods/Goddess who survived the Puranic times, when

gods such as Indra, mitra who were much praised in Vedas were completely

replaced or now very less worshipped.But Sarasvati

worship continued and still continues. I even read in a book on Sarasvati that

there was a separate Purana on Her , but during the Islamic and British terror

many of the puranas or the people who knew it were destroyed. And what now

remains are 18 main puranas plus some more Sub-puranas.

 

CHECK THIS:

http://krista.rupture.net/sarasvati/links.html

 

I searched some sites and found this information and complied everything on her.

 

 

The Birth of Saraswati

 

In the beginning there was chaos. Everything existed in a formless, fluid state.

"How do I bring order to this disorder?" wondered Brahma, the creator.

 

"With Knowledge", said Devi.

 

Heralded by a peacock, sacred books in one hand and a veena in the other dressed

in white Devi emerged from Brahma's mouth riding a swan as the goddess

Saraswati.

 

"Knowledge helps man find possibilities where once he saw problems." Said the

goddess. Under her tutelage Brahma acquired the ability to sense, think,

comprehend and communicate. He began looking upon chaos with eyes of wisdom and

thus saw the beautiful potential that lay therein.

 

Brahma discovered the melody of mantras in the cacophony of chaos. In his joy he

named Saraswati, Vagdevi, goddess of speech and sound.

 

 

The sound of mantras filled the universe with vital energy, or prana. Things

began to take shape and the cosmos acquired a structure: the sky dotted with

stars rose to form the heavens; the sea sank into the abyss below, the earth

stood in between.

 

 

Gods became lords of the celestial spheres; demons ruled the nether regions,

humans walked on earth. The sun rose and set, the moon waxed and waned, the tide

flowed and ebbed. Seasons changed, seeds germinated, plants bloomed and

withered, animals migrated and reproduced as randomness gave way to the rhythm

of life.

 

Brahma thus became the creator of the world with Saraswati as his wisdom.

 

Saraswati was the first being to come into Brahma's world. Brahma began to look

upon her with eyes of desire. She turned away saying, "All I offer must be used

to elevate the spirit, not indulge the senses."

 

Brahma could not control his amorous thoughts and his infatuation for the lovely

goddess grew. He continued to stare at Saraswati. He gave himself four heads

facing every direction so that he could always be able to feast his eyes on

Saraswati's beauty.

 

Saraswati moved away from Brahma, first taking the form of a cow. Brahma then

followed her as a bull. Saraswati then changed into a mare; Brahma gave chase as

a horse. Every time Saraswati turned into a bird or a beast he followed her as

the corresponding male equivalent. No matter how hard Brahma tried he could not

catch Saraswati in any of her forms.

 

The goddess with multiple forms came to be known as Shatarupa. She

personified material reality, alluring yet fleeting.

 

 

Saraswati Curses Brahma

 

 

Angered by his display of unbridled passion Saraswati cursed Brahma, "You have

filled the world with longing that is the seed of unhappiness. You have fettered

the soul in the flesh. You are not worthy of reverence. May there be hardly any

temple or festival in your name."

 

So it came to pass that there are only two temples of Brahma in India; one at

Pushkar, Rajistan and the other in Kumbhakonam, Tamil Nadu.

 

 

Undaunted by the curse, Brahma continued to cast his lustful looks upon

Saraswati. He gave himself a fifth head to enhance his gaze.

 

 

Bhairava, Shiva, Confronts Brahma

 

Brahma's action motivated by desire confined consciousness and excited the ego.

It disturbed the serenity of the cosmos and roused Shiva, the supreme ascetic

from his meditation.

 

 

Bronze Saraaswati Playing Veena south Indian sculpture

 

Shiva opened his eyes, sensed Saraswati's discomfort and in a fit of rage turned

into Bhairava, lord of terror. His eyes were red, his growl menacing. He lunged

towards Brahma and with his sharp claws, wretched off Brahma's fifth head. The

violence subdued Brahma's passion.

 

Brahma's cut head seared through Bhairava's flesh and clung to his hand sapping

him of all his strength and driving him mad. The lord of terror ranted and raved

losing control of his senses.

 

Saraswati, pleased with Bhairava's timely action, rushed to his rescue. With her

gentle touch she nursed him like a child, restoring his sanity.

 

Brahma, sobered by his encounter with the Lord of terror sought an escape from

the maze of his own desire. Saraswati revealed to him the doctrine for his own

liberation.

 

Brahma sought to conduct a yagna, fire sacrifice, to cleanse himself and start

anew. In order to conduct a yagna ritual the assistance of a wife is needed.

Brahma chose Saraswati to be his wife and thus they were reconciled.

 

 

*SARASWATHI /SARASWATI/SARASVATI*

 

*(The Goddess of Learning/Knowledge)*

 

*Description of Goddess Saraswati***

 

(What does she represent? How is Goddess Saraswati?)

Sarasvati is the Shakti, the power and the consort of Brahma the creator. Hence,

she is the procreatrix, the mother of entire creation.

 

Literally Sarasvati means the flowing one. In the Rigveda, She

represents a river and the deity presiding over at. Hence, she is connected with

fertility and purification. The �flowing one� can also represent speech also

if taken in an allegorical sense. Hence, *Sarasvati represents power

and intelligence from which organized creation proceeds.*

 

*She is considered as the personification of all knowledge- arts,

sciences, crafts, and skills*. Knowledge is the antithesis of darkness or

ignorance. Hence, she is depicted as pure white in colour. Since she is the

representation of all sciences, arts, crafts and skills she has to be

extraordinarily beautiful and graceful. Clad in a spotless white apparel and

seated on a lotus seat, she holds in her four hands a *Vina* (lute), *

Aksmala* (rosary) and *Pustaka*(book). Though these are the most common, there

are several variations.

 

Though no separate carrier is mentioned, *Hamsa* or swan, the vehicle of Brahma,

her spouse, usually associated with her also. In popular mythological literature

and pictures, a peacock is also shown as her carrier vehicle.

 

 

 

*Symbolic meaning of theGoddess Saraswati*

 

(Why is a Saraswati idol/photo depicted with a book, japamala, swan? What do

they really symbolize?)

 

1. Being the consort of Brahma the creator, she represents his power and

intelligence, without which organized creation is impossible. To show that this

intelligent power is stupendous and absolutely pure, she is pictured as white

and dazzling.

 

2. As usual, the four arms show her unimpeded power in all directions or her

all-pervasiveness.

 

3. Being the goddess of learning, it is but proper that Sarasvati is shown

holding a book in her left hand. The book represents all areas of secular

sciences.

 

4. Mere intellectual learning, without a heart tempered by higher feelings,

sentiments and emotions, is as dry as saw-dust. So she holds a Vina(lute) on

which she actually plays,to show the need for the cultivation of fine arts.

 

5. Then there is the *Aksmala*(rosary) held in her right hand. This

symbolizes all spiritual sciences or Yoga including *Tapas*(austerities),

meditation and *Japa*(repetition of the divine name).

 

6. By holding the book in the left hand and rosary in the right hand she is

obviously teaching us that spiritual sciences are more important than

secular sciences.

 

7. The peacock with its beautiful plumage stands for this world in all its

glory. Since the attractions of this world lead the spiritual aspirant astray,

the peacock can actually symbolize Avidya(ignorance or nescience). On other hand

the swan, which is supposed to possess the peculiar power of separating milk

from water, stands for *Viveka*(wisdom, discrimination) and hence stands for

*Vidya*(knowledge). Though it is true that *Vidya* or *Paravidya*(spiritual

illumination) alone can give us *Moksa* .

*Avidya*signifying secular knowledge � the sciences and arts of the

world � need notand should not be neglected. As the *Isavasya* Upanishad puts

it, We transcend hunger and thirst through secular sciences.� It is to teach

this great truth to us that Mother Sarasvati has chosen the two carrier

vehicles, the swan and the peacock.Sarasvati-Rahasyopanishad

 

Sarasvati-Rahasyopanishad which is an Upanishad on Sarasvati out of the 108. The

following is the English translation of it:

http://www.celextel.org/ebooks/upanishads/sarasvati_rahasya_upanishad.htm

 

The Sanskrit version is available I forgot the site , but have the file anyone

wants it just email to me.

 

 

Mahasarasvati By Aurobindo

 

MAHASARASWATI is the Mother's Power of Work and her spirit of perfection and

order. The youngest of the Four, she is the most skillful in executive faculty

and the nearest to physical Nature. Maheswari lays down the large lines of the

world-forces, Mahakali drives their energy and impetus, Mahalakshmi discovers

their rhythms and measures, but Mahasaraswati presides over their detail of

organization and execution, relation of parts and effective combination of

forces and unfailing exactitude of result and

fulfilment. The science and craft and technique of things are

Mahasaraswati's province. Always she holds in her nature and can give to those

whom she has chosen the intimate and precise knowledge, the subtlety and

patience, the accuracy of intuitive mind and conscious hand and discerning eye

of the perfect worker. This Power is the strong, the tireless, the careful and

efficient builder, organiser, administrator, technician, artisan and classifier

of the worlds. When she takes up the transformation and new building of the

nature, her action is laborious and

minute and often seems to our impatience slow and interminable, but it is

persistent, integral and flawless. For the will in her works is scrupulous,

unsleeping, indefatigable; leaning over us she notes and touches every little

detail, finds out every minute defect, gap, twist or incompleteness, considers

and weighs accurately all that has been done and all that remains still to be

done and all that remains still to be done hereafter. Nothing is too small or

apparently trivial for her attention; nothing however

mpalpable or disguised or latent can escape her. Moulding and remoulding she

labours each part till it has attained its true form, is put in its exact place

in the whole and fulfils its precise purpose. In her constant and diligent

arrangement and rearrangement of things her eye is on all needs at once and the

way to meet them and her intuition knows what is to be chosen and what rejected

and successfully determines the right instrument, the right time, the right

conditions and the right process. Carelessness and

negligence and indolence she abhors; all scamped and hasty and shuffling work,

all clumsiness and *a peu pres* and misfire, all false adaptation and misuse of

instruments and faculties and leaving of things undone or half done is offensive

and foreign to her temper. When her work is finished, nothing has been

forgotten, no part has been misplaced or omitted or left in a faulty condition;

all is solid, accurate, complete, admirable. Nothing short of a perfect

perfection satisfies her and she is ready to face an eternity of toil if that is

needed for the fullness of her creation.

Therefore of all the Mother's powers she is the most long-suffering with man and

his thousand imperfections. Kind, smiling, close and helpful, not easily turned

away or discouraged, insistent even after repeated failure, her hand sustains

our every step on condition that we are single in our will and straightforward

and sincere; for a double mind she will not tolerate and her revealing irony is

merciless to drama and histrionics and self-deceit and

pretence. A mother to our wants, a friend in our difficulties, a persistent and

tranquil counsellor and mentor, chasing away with her radiant smile the clouds

of gloom and fretfulness and depression, reminding always of the ever-present

help, pointing to the eternal sunshine, she is firm, quiet and persevering in

the deep and continuous urge that drives is towards the integrality of the

higher nature. All the work of the other Powers leans on

her for its completeness; for she assures the material foundation,

elaborates the stuff of detail and erects and rivets the armour of the

structure.

 

 

Sarasvati By Chinmoy

 

One aspect of the Mother divine is Saraswati or Mahasaraswati.

Maheshwari is the Mother of immensity, Mahakali is the Mother of

aspiration and Mahalakshmi is the Mother of sweetness, beauty,

fragrance and harmony. But Mahasaraswati is the Mother of perfection,

knowledge and wisdom. When we walk along the mental paths when we

start our journey in the mental world, the first thing we do is

invoke this Mother, Mahasaraswati. With her blessing we commence our

mental journey and in all our mental and intellectual life we carry

her sweetest, highest blessing. Perfect perfection she demands from

her devotees.This Mother is a cosmic musician, a supernal musician. She plays

onthe vina and, while playing, she offers transcendental Delight toBrahma.

Brahma is the Creator and Saraswati is his consort.

 

Lakshmi, Saraswati and Vishnu*

 

*Brahma created the universe with the help of Saraswati. Vishnu was the guardian

of the cosmos. He too needed Saraswati's support to sustain the cosmos. Using

her knowledge he instituted and maintained dharma, sacred laws that ensure

stability and growth in society.

 

Vishnu also needed the help of Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, who gave him the

wherewithal to ensure cosmic order.

 

The question arose: who did Vishnu need more? Lakshmi or Saraswati? Wealth or

knowledge? The goddesses argued, "Knowledge does not fill an empty stomach."

Said Lakshmi. "Wealth keeps man alive but gives no meaning to life." Said

Saraswati.

 

"I need both knowledge and wealth to sustain the cosmos. Without knowledge I

cannot plan. Without wealth I cannot implement a plan. Wealth sustains life; the

arts give value to life. This both Saraswati and Lakshmi are needed to live a

full life.

 

 

Saraswati Saves the World from Shiva's Third Eye and the Beast of Doom

 

Shiva was woken from his meditations and looked around to discover a world on

the brink of corruption and being unsalvageable. Shiva decided it was time to

wipe the slate clean. Shiva, the destroyer, opened his world destroying third

eye attempting to destroy the three worlds.. Out came a terrible fire that

threatened all existence.

 

There was panic everywhere. Only Saraswati remained calm. "Shiva's fire burns

only that which is impure and corrupt."

 

She took the form of a river and with her pure waters picked up the dreaded fire

from Shiva's third eye. Within the folds of her water she carried the fire far

away from the earth to the bottom of the sea where it transformed into a fire

breathing mare called *Badavagni* – the beast of doom."So long as the world is

pure and man wise, this terrible creature will

remain on the bottom of the sea. When wisdom is abandoned and man corrupts the

world, *Badavagni *will emerge and destroy the universe," foretold the

wise goddess.

 

 

I am very sorry for this message being very big!!!!!!!!

 

 

Moderator's Note ;

 

Thank you devishakti.I am sure Mary Ann will be very appreciative of your

effort. I enjoy reading them. I know I can always depend on you should such

request comes again eh! Palm to gether to you.

[Guest guest]

Thank you very much, devishakti, for putting this together.

 

Mary Ann

 

, devishakti_india

<devishaktiindia@g...> wrote:

> Sarasvati is one of the few goddesses who are worshiped throughout

the length and breath of India, while there may be many Goddesses

that may be worshipped in a particular state, locality , etc. She is

one of the few Goddesses to be worshipped both as a river goddess

and a separate god in the Hindu pantheon. Though with the drying up

of the river Sarasvati , she is now worshipped in the latter form.

She is the few Gods/Goddess who survived the Puranic times, when

gods such as Indra, mitra who were much praised in Vedas were

completely replaced or now very less worshipped.But Sarasvati

> worship continued and still continues. I even read in a book on

Sarasvati that there was a separate Purana on Her , but during the

Islamic and British terror many of the puranas or the people who

knew it were destroyed. And what now remains are 18 main puranas

plus some more Sub-puranas.

>

> CHECK THIS:

> http://krista.rupture.net/sarasvati/links.html

>

> I searched some sites and found this information and complied

everything on her.

>

>

> The Birth of Saraswati

>

> In the beginning there was chaos. Everything existed in a

formless, fluid state. "How do I bring order to this disorder?"

wondered Brahma, the creator.

>

> "With Knowledge", said Devi.

>

> Heralded by a peacock, sacred books in one hand and a veena in the

other dressed in white Devi emerged from Brahma's mouth riding a

swan as the goddess Saraswati.

>

> "Knowledge helps man find possibilities where once he saw

problems." Said the goddess. Under her tutelage Brahma acquired the

ability to sense, think, comprehend and communicate. He began

looking upon chaos with eyes of wisdom and thus saw the beautiful

potential that lay therein.

>

> Brahma discovered the melody of mantras in the cacophony of chaos.

In his joy he named Saraswati, Vagdevi, goddess of speech and sound.

>

>

> The sound of mantras filled the universe with vital energy, or

prana. Things began to take shape and the cosmos acquired a

structure: the sky dotted with stars rose to form the heavens; the

sea sank into the abyss below, the earth stood in between.

>

>

> Gods became lords of the celestial spheres; demons ruled the

nether regions, humans walked on earth. The sun rose and set, the

moon waxed and waned, the tide flowed and ebbed. Seasons changed,

seeds germinated, plants bloomed and withered, animals migrated and

reproduced as randomness gave way to the rhythm of life.

>

> Brahma thus became the creator of the world with Saraswati as his

wisdom.

>

> Saraswati was the first being to come into Brahma's world. Brahma

began to look upon her with eyes of desire. She turned away

saying, "All I offer must be used to elevate the spirit, not indulge

the senses."

>

> Brahma could not control his amorous thoughts and his infatuation

for the lovely goddess grew. He continued to stare at Saraswati. He

gave himself four heads facing every direction so that he could

always be able to feast his eyes on Saraswati's beauty.

>

> Saraswati moved away from Brahma, first taking the form of a cow.

Brahma then followed her as a bull. Saraswati then changed into a

mare; Brahma gave chase as a horse. Every time Saraswati turned into

a bird or a beast he followed her as the corresponding male

equivalent. No matter how hard Brahma tried he could not catch

Saraswati in any of her forms.

>

> The goddess with multiple forms came to be known as Shatarupa. She

> personified material reality, alluring yet fleeting.

>

>

> Saraswati Curses Brahma

>

>

> Angered by his display of unbridled passion Saraswati cursed

Brahma, "You have filled the world with longing that is the seed of

unhappiness. You have fettered the soul in the flesh. You are not

worthy of reverence. May there be hardly any temple or festival in

your name."

>

> So it came to pass that there are only two temples of Brahma in

India; one at Pushkar, Rajistan and the other in Kumbhakonam, Tamil

Nadu.

>

>

> Undaunted by the curse, Brahma continued to cast his lustful looks

upon Saraswati. He gave himself a fifth head to enhance his gaze.

>

>

> Bhairava, Shiva, Confronts Brahma

>

> Brahma's action motivated by desire confined consciousness and

excited the ego. It disturbed the serenity of the cosmos and roused

Shiva, the supreme ascetic from his meditation.

>

>

> Bronze Saraaswati Playing Veena south Indian sculpture

>

> Shiva opened his eyes, sensed Saraswati's discomfort and in a fit

of rage turned into Bhairava, lord of terror. His eyes were red, his

growl menacing. He lunged towards Brahma and with his sharp claws,

wretched off Brahma's fifth head. The violence subdued Brahma's

passion.

>

> Brahma's cut head seared through Bhairava's flesh and clung to his

hand sapping him of all his strength and driving him mad. The lord

of terror ranted and raved losing control of his senses.

>

> Saraswati, pleased with Bhairava's timely action, rushed to his

rescue. With her gentle touch she nursed him like a child, restoring

his sanity.

>

> Brahma, sobered by his encounter with the Lord of terror sought an

escape from the maze of his own desire. Saraswati revealed to him

the doctrine for his own liberation.

>

> Brahma sought to conduct a yagna, fire sacrifice, to cleanse

himself and start anew. In order to conduct a yagna ritual the

assistance of a wife is needed. Brahma chose Saraswati to be his

wife and thus they were reconciled.

>

>

> *SARASWATHI /SARASWATI/SARASVATI*

>

> *(The Goddess of Learning/Knowledge)*

>

> *Description of Goddess Saraswati***

>

> (What does she represent? How is Goddess Saraswati?)

> Sarasvati is the Shakti, the power and the consort of Brahma the

creator. Hence, she is the procreatrix, the mother of entire

creation.

>

> Literally Sarasvati means the flowing one. In the Rigveda, She

> represents a river and the deity presiding over at. Hence, she is

connected with fertility and purification. The �flowing one� can

also represent speech also if taken in an allegorical sense. Hence,

*Sarasvati represents power

> and intelligence from which organized creation proceeds.*

>

> *She is considered as the personification of all knowledge- arts,

> sciences, crafts, and skills*. Knowledge is the antithesis of

darkness or ignorance. Hence, she is depicted as pure white in

colour. Since she is the representation of all sciences, arts,

crafts and skills she has to be extraordinarily beautiful and

graceful. Clad in a spotless white apparel and seated on a lotus

seat, she holds in her four hands a *Vina* (lute), *

> Aksmala* (rosary) and *Pustaka*(book). Though these are the most

common, there are several variations.

>

> Though no separate carrier is mentioned, *Hamsa* or swan, the

vehicle of Brahma, her spouse, usually associated with her also. In

popular mythological literature and pictures, a peacock is also

shown as her carrier vehicle.

>

>

>

> *Symbolic meaning of theGoddess Saraswati*

>

> (Why is a Saraswati idol/photo depicted with a book, japamala,

swan? What do they really symbolize?)

>

> 1. Being the consort of Brahma the creator, she represents his

power and intelligence, without which organized creation is

impossible. To show that this intelligent power is stupendous and

absolutely pure, she is pictured as white and dazzling.

>

> 2. As usual, the four arms show her unimpeded power in all

directions or her all-pervasiveness.

>

> 3. Being the goddess of learning, it is but proper that Sarasvati

is shown holding a book in her left hand. The book represents all

areas of secular sciences.

>

> 4. Mere intellectual learning, without a heart tempered by higher

feelings, sentiments and emotions, is as dry as saw-dust. So she

holds a Vina(lute) on

> which she actually plays,to show the need for the cultivation of

fine arts.

>

> 5. Then there is the *Aksmala*(rosary) held in her right hand.

This

> symbolizes all spiritual sciences or Yoga including *Tapas*

(austerities), meditation and *Japa*(repetition of the divine name).

>

> 6. By holding the book in the left hand and rosary in the right

hand she is obviously teaching us that spiritual sciences are more

important than

> secular sciences.

>

> 7. The peacock with its beautiful plumage stands for this world in

all its glory. Since the attractions of this world lead the

spiritual aspirant astray, the peacock can actually symbolize Avidya

(ignorance or nescience). On other hand the swan, which is supposed

to possess the peculiar power of separating milk from water, stands

for *Viveka*(wisdom, discrimination) and hence stands for *Vidya*

(knowledge). Though it is true that *Vidya* or *Paravidya*(spiritual

illumination) alone can give us *Moksa* .

> *Avidya*signifying secular knowledge � the sciences and arts of

the

> world � need notand should not be neglected. As the *Isavasya*

Upanishad puts it, We transcend hunger and thirst through secular

sciences.� It is to teach this great truth to us that Mother

Sarasvati has chosen the two carrier vehicles, the swan and the

peacock.Sarasvati-Rahasyopanishad

>

> Sarasvati-Rahasyopanishad which is an Upanishad on Sarasvati out

of the 108. The following is the English translation of it:

>

http://www.celextel.org/ebooks/upanishads/sarasvati_rahasya_upanishad

..htm

>

> The Sanskrit version is available I forgot the site , but have the

file anyone wants it just email to me.

>

>

> Mahasarasvati By Aurobindo

>

> MAHASARASWATI is the Mother's Power of Work and her spirit of

perfection and order. The youngest of the Four, she is the most

skillful in executive faculty and the nearest to physical Nature.

Maheswari lays down the large lines of the world-forces, Mahakali

drives their energy and impetus, Mahalakshmi discovers their rhythms

and measures, but Mahasaraswati presides over their detail of

organization and execution, relation of parts and effective

combination of forces and unfailing exactitude of result and

> fulfilment. The science and craft and technique of things are

> Mahasaraswati's province. Always she holds in her nature and can

give to those whom she has chosen the intimate and precise

knowledge, the subtlety and patience, the accuracy of intuitive mind

and conscious hand and discerning eye of the perfect worker. This

Power is the strong, the tireless, the careful and efficient

builder, organiser, administrator, technician, artisan and

classifier of the worlds. When she takes up the transformation and

new building of the nature, her action is laborious and

> minute and often seems to our impatience slow and interminable,

but it is persistent, integral and flawless. For the will in her

works is scrupulous, unsleeping, indefatigable; leaning over us she

notes and touches every little detail, finds out every minute

defect, gap, twist or incompleteness, considers and weighs

accurately all that has been done and all that remains still to be

done and all that remains still to be done hereafter. Nothing is too

small or apparently trivial for her attention; nothing however

> mpalpable or disguised or latent can escape her. Moulding and

remoulding she labours each part till it has attained its true form,

is put in its exact place in the whole and fulfils its precise

purpose. In her constant and diligent arrangement and rearrangement

of things her eye is on all needs at once and the way to meet them

and her intuition knows what is to be chosen and what rejected and

successfully determines the right instrument, the right time, the

right conditions and the right process. Carelessness and

> negligence and indolence she abhors; all scamped and hasty and

shuffling work, all clumsiness and *a peu pres* and misfire, all

false adaptation and misuse of instruments and faculties and leaving

of things undone or half done is offensive and foreign to her

temper. When her work is finished, nothing has been forgotten, no

part has been misplaced or omitted or left in a faulty condition;

all is solid, accurate, complete, admirable. Nothing short of a

perfect perfection satisfies her and she is ready to face an

eternity of toil if that is needed for the fullness of her creation.

> Therefore of all the Mother's powers she is the most long-

suffering with man and his thousand imperfections. Kind, smiling,

close and helpful, not easily turned away or discouraged, insistent

even after repeated failure, her hand sustains our every step on

condition that we are single in our will and straightforward and

sincere; for a double mind she will not tolerate and her revealing

irony is merciless to drama and histrionics and self-deceit and

> pretence. A mother to our wants, a friend in our difficulties, a

persistent and tranquil counsellor and mentor, chasing away with her

radiant smile the clouds of gloom and fretfulness and depression,

reminding always of the ever-present help, pointing to the eternal

sunshine, she is firm, quiet and persevering in the deep and

continuous urge that drives is towards the integrality of the higher

nature. All the work of the other Powers leans on

> her for its completeness; for she assures the material foundation,

> elaborates the stuff of detail and erects and rivets the armour of

the structure.

>

>

> Sarasvati By Chinmoy

>

> One aspect of the Mother divine is Saraswati or Mahasaraswati.

> Maheshwari is the Mother of immensity, Mahakali is the Mother of

> aspiration and Mahalakshmi is the Mother of sweetness, beauty,

> fragrance and harmony. But Mahasaraswati is the Mother of

perfection,

> knowledge and wisdom. When we walk along the mental paths when we

> start our journey in the mental world, the first thing we do is

> invoke this Mother, Mahasaraswati. With her blessing we commence

our

> mental journey and in all our mental and intellectual life we carry

> her sweetest, highest blessing. Perfect perfection she demands from

> her devotees.This Mother is a cosmic musician, a supernal

musician. She plays onthe vina and, while playing, she offers

transcendental Delight toBrahma. Brahma is the Creator and Saraswati

is his consort.

>

> Lakshmi, Saraswati and Vishnu*

>

> *Brahma created the universe with the help of Saraswati. Vishnu

was the guardian of the cosmos. He too needed Saraswati's support to

sustain the cosmos. Using her knowledge he instituted and maintained

dharma, sacred laws that ensure stability and growth in society.

>

> Vishnu also needed the help of Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, who

gave him the wherewithal to ensure cosmic order.

>

> The question arose: who did Vishnu need more? Lakshmi or

Saraswati? Wealth or knowledge? The goddesses argued, "Knowledge

does not fill an empty stomach." Said Lakshmi. "Wealth keeps man

alive but gives no meaning to life." Said Saraswati.

>

> "I need both knowledge and wealth to sustain the cosmos. Without

knowledge I cannot plan. Without wealth I cannot implement a plan.

Wealth sustains life; the arts give value to life. This both

Saraswati and Lakshmi are needed to live a full life.

>

>

> Saraswati Saves the World from Shiva's Third Eye and the Beast of

Doom

>

> Shiva was woken from his meditations and looked around to discover

a world on the brink of corruption and being unsalvageable. Shiva

decided it was time to wipe the slate clean. Shiva, the destroyer,

opened his world destroying third eye attempting to destroy the

three worlds.. Out came a terrible fire that threatened all

existence.

>

> There was panic everywhere. Only Saraswati remained calm. "Shiva's

fire burns only that which is impure and corrupt."

>

> She took the form of a river and with her pure waters picked up

the dreaded fire from Shiva's third eye. Within the folds of her

water she carried the fire far away from the earth to the bottom of

the sea where it transformed into a fire breathing mare called

*Badavagni* â€" the beast of doom."So long as the world is pure and

man wise, this terrible creature will

> remain on the bottom of the sea. When wisdom is abandoned and man

corrupts the world, *Badavagni *will emerge and destroy the

universe," foretold the

> wise goddess.

>

>

> I am very sorry for this message being very big!!!!!!!!

>

>

> Moderator's Note ;

>

> Thank you devishakti.I am sure Mary Ann will be very appreciative

of your effort. I enjoy reading them. I know I can always depend on

you should such request comes again eh! Palm to gether to you.