Original Sarasvati and devas in the spiritual world

[Guest guest]

There are different accounts about Sarasvati devi. In Vedic samhitas

she is associated with Indra, in some Puranas (like Skanda) with Siva

and in some Tantras with Ganesa.

 

According to Brahma vaivarta Purana 2.6.13-95 Visnu has three wives,

who constantly quarrel with each other, so that eventually He keeps

only Laksmi, giving Ganga to Siva and Sarasvati to Brahma.

 

The original (spiritual) forms of devas are present in the spiritual

world:

 

"In the centre [of Vaikuntha] reside the deities of fire, sun and

moon, Kurma-avatara, Ananta Sesa, and Garuda, the master of the three

Vedas. The Vedic hymns and all sacred mantras also stay in that holy

place, which is made of all the Vedas, and which is known in the

Smrti-sastra as the yoga-pitha." (Padma Purana, Uttara-khanda 256.23)

 

Rupa Gosvami in his Laghu bhagavatamrta 5.284 and onwards elaborates

on this description:

 

"288 Accompanied by Goddess Laksmi and other associates, the

catur-vyuha expansions headed by Lord Vasudeva are manifest in the

eight directions, beginning with the east.

289 In the directions beginning with the southeast, the palaces of

Laksmi, Sarasvati, Rati, and Kanti respectively are situated.

Note: The directions are southeast, southwest, northwest, and

northeast.

290 In the second part of the spiritual sky, 24 Visnu-expansions,

beginning with Lord Kesava, are manifest in the eight directions and

are counted in groups of three.

Note: These forms of the Lord are: Kesava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda,

Visnu, Madhusudana, Trivikrama, Vamana, Sridhara, Hrsikesa,

Padmanabha, Damodara, Vasudeva,

Sankarsana, Padyumna, Aniruddha, Purusottama, Adhoksaja, Nrsimha,

Acyuta, Janardana, Upendra, Hari and Krsna."

 

How to harmonize all this information? Sarasvati should be understood

as one of many aspects of Adi Sakti, Sri Radha. Similarly Sambhu is an

aspect (transformed, as mentioned before) of Visnu/Krisna and thus in

one sense nondifferent... yet different in mood. This is the

explanation from the point of view of acintya bheda abheda tattva of

Sri Caitanya.

 

Your servant, bh. Jan

 

<a href = "http://www.vrindavan-dham.com">www.vrindavan-dham.com</a>

<a href = "http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz">www.veda.harekrsna.cz</a>

(Bhakti-yoga, Vedic Encyclopedia, Vedic Library, Connections, Links)

 

context at

http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/message_list.asp?boardID=41098&discuss

ionID=546734