Before an exam, a music lesson or the first day of school, millions of Indian children fold their hands to Saraswati. She is the goddess of vidya: knowledge, wisdom, speech, music and every creative art. Her name comes from the ancient Saraswati river, and like a river she stands for knowledge that flows, purifies and never runs dry.
Who is Saraswati?
In the Hindu understanding of the divine feminine, Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati (Durga) together are the three great goddesses. Saraswati is the consort of Brahma, the creator, because creation needs knowledge to give it shape. She is also Vagdevi, the goddess of speech, and is said to have given humanity language and the Sanskrit script.
What her symbols mean
- The veena: harmony in life, and the arts and music she blesses.
- The book (the Vedas): learning and the sacred knowledge of the scriptures.
- The mala: meditation and the patience that learning needs.
- The swan: a hamsa is said to separate milk from water; true knowledge separates the real from the unreal.
- The white lotus and white sari: purity of mind.
How to worship Saraswati at home
- On Basant Panchami or a Thursday morning, wear white or yellow and place her picture near your books or instruments.
- Offer white or yellow flowers (marigold and mustard flowers on Basant Panchami), rice, and a yellow sweet such as kesari bhaat or boondi.
- Keep a pen, a book or your instrument before her and do not use it for the rest of the day.
- Chant ॐ ऐं सरस्वत्यै नमः 108 times, or sing the Saraswati Vandana, “Ya Kundendu Tushar Haar Dhavala”.
- Children can write “Om” or their first letters on a slate as part of the puja.
Festivals and famous temples
Basant Panchami is her main festival; in Bengal and Odisha schools and homes celebrate it as Saraswati Puja. In the south she is honoured on the ninth day of Navratri. Famous Saraswati shrines include Gnana Saraswati Temple in Basar, Telangana, the Sharadamba Temple at Sringeri in Karnataka, the Panachikkadu Dakshina Mookambika temple in Kerala, and the ancient Sharada Peeth, once one of the great centres of learning in Kashmir.
Other names of Saraswati
Saraswati is worshipped with 108 names; students often recite twelve of them, the Saraswati Dwadasha Nama, before study.
| Name | नाम | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Sharada | शारदा | The goddess of learning, worshipped at Sringeri |
| Vagdevi | वाग्देवी | The goddess of speech |
| Vani | वाणी | Speech itself |
| Bharati | भारती | Eloquence |
| Veenavadini | वीणावादिनी | The player of the veena |
| Hamsavahini | हंसवाहिनी | The one who rides the swan |
| Vidya Devi | विद्यादेवी | The goddess of knowledge |
| Brahmi | ब्राह्मी | The power of Brahma |
| Shwetambara | श्वेताम्बरा | The one dressed in white |
| Buddhidatri | बुद्धिदात्री | The giver of wisdom |
| Mahavidya | महाविद्या | The great knowledge |
Goddess Saraswati: common questions
When is Saraswati Puja?
Saraswati Puja is celebrated on Basant (Vasant) Panchami, the fifth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Magha, usually in late January or February. In South India she is also worshipped on the ninth day of Navratri, when books and instruments are placed before her (Ayudha Puja).
Which mantra should students chant?
The short mantra "Om Aim Saraswatyai Namah" is traditionally chanted by students before study. Many schools also sing the Saraswati Vandana "Ya Kundendu Tushar Haar Dhavala" at morning assembly.
Why does Saraswati wear white?
White stands for purity, clarity and sattva, the quality of calm and light. Knowledge that is pure, free from ego and greed, is Saraswati's gift, so she is shown in a white sari seated on a white lotus.
Why is a child's first writing done on Basant Panchami?
Basant Panchami is considered the most auspicious day to begin learning, so many families perform Vidyarambh or Akshar Abhyasam, guiding a small child to write their first letters, often "Om", in rice or on a slate before Saraswati.