Saraswati

Saraswati is one of the few important goddesses in the Vedas who have retained their significance to the present day. Literary evidence suggests that right from the ancient times down to the modern, she is perceived in three major roles, as a river, as Vak (speech), and as a goddess.

In the Vedas her character and attributes are clearly associated with the mighty Saraswati River. She is the earliest example of a goddess who is associated with a river in the Indian tradition. In a symbolic sense she suggests the sacrality inherent in rivers or water in general. While the symbolism of water is rich and complex in the religions of the world, two typical associations are important in Vedic descriptions of Saraswati. First, she is said to bestow bounty, fertility and riches. Her waters enrich the land so that they can produce. Second, Saraswati represents purity, as does water, particularly running water. It is stated frequently in the Vedas that the banks of Saraswati were especially sacred for ritual purposes. This also suggests the purifying powers of the river.

Another particular association with rivers is the imagery of crossing from the world of ignorance or bondage to the far shore, which represents the world of enlightenment or freedom. The river in this metaphor represents the state of transition, the period of birth, in which the spiritual sojourner undergoes a crucial metamorphosis. The river represents a great purifying power in which the pilgrim drowns his old self and is born anew, free and enlightened.

In addition, a curious legend surrounds Saraswati, the river:

Once the celebrated Vedic sage Vasishtha was practising penance on the banks of the river Saraswati. Suddenly, the warrior turned saint Vishvamitra, a sworn enemy of Vasishtha, appeared on the scene and said to her, ‘Flow on and bring Vasishtha floating on your waves.’ Saraswati hesitated for a while, but seeing that Vishvamitra was determined, she broke through her banks where Vasishtha sat meditating. Vishvamitra was very pleased. But Saraswati did not stop at that. She flowed on towards the east, with Vasishtha on the crest of her waves. Vishvamitra realizing her intention was to protect Vasishtha rather than harm him, grew indignant and cursed Saraswati, turning her into a river of blood.

When the poor sages, who lived in hermitage on her banks, came for a bath, they were shocked to find a flowing stream of blood. Saraswati prayed to them, ‘ I was a river of pure water. But the sage Vishvamitra ordered me to bring his enemy, the good sage Vasishtha, floating to him. I sensed mischief but was afraid of Vishvamitra’s ire. So I carried Vasishtha away from where he sat, but instead of delivering the innocent sage to his ill-tempered colleague, I took him to a safer place. Vishvamitra realized my intention and cursed me. I feel so unclean and humiliated. Can’t you sages cleanse my water and restore my purity?’

‘We surely can and are definitely going to do just that,’ said the kind-hearted hermits, who were moved by her courage. So, through their magic powers Saraswati regained her purity and again became a river flowing with water. This is why she is also referred to as Shonapunya, a Sanskrit word meaning ‘one purified of blood’.

Conception of Goddess Saraswati as a flowing blood river is open to interpretation as a symbol of the menstrual blood flow in women, particularly since Saraswati is conceived of as an ever-flowing stream which purifies and “fertilizes” the Earth.

Later ancillary Vedic literature consistently equates her with the goddess of speech, known as Vak. The importance of speech in Hinduism is both ancient and central. The entire creative process is said to be held in the sacred syllable OM, and the idea of creation proceeding from shabda –brahman (ultimate reality in the form of sound) is often mentioned in the ancient texts. A mantra too, which may consist of words or of sounds alone, is said to possess great power. Indeed, the mantra of a given deity is declared to be equivalent to the deity itself. To pronounce a mantra is to make the deity present. There resides in sound a potent quality, and this quality is embodied in Saraswati, the Goddess of speech.

As the embodiment of speech, then, Saraswati is present wherever speech exists. And so it is that she is pre-eminently associated with the best in human culture: poetry, literature, sacred rituals, and rational communication between individuals.

Till today, whenever a new baby arrives, grandmothers make a five pointed star-called Saraswati-sign on the newborn’s tongue with honey. The tongue, the organ of speech, is thus expected to get hitched to Saraswati’s star early enough.

As Saraswati, the goddess, her identity is not as nebulous as Vak (speech). There are clear descriptions of her form, dress, ornaments and mount, together with the articles she is associated with. She is always referred to as extremely beautiful, fair complexioned, with four arms, ever youthful and gracious looking. She is seated on a lotus-accompanied by her swan, and holds a lute (Veena) resting across her breast. In her hands she holds a rosary, a book and a water pot. The book associates her with the sciences and with learning in general. The lute associates her with the arts, particularly the musical arts, and the rosary and the water pot associate her with the spiritual sciences and with religious rites. She is dressed in white and blue garments, reminiscent of her form as a river. Like Lakshmi and unlike Durga and Kali, she does not carry any arms or weapons.

Her color is white, the color of peace. Her clothes, the lotus she sits upon, and also her familiar swan, are all white. Not for her Kali’s dramatic and gory nakedness, or Lakshmi’s dazzling red and gold. Her robe and appearance show serenity and a total lack of artifice.

Legends say that she sprung from the forehead of her father, Brahma, as did the Greek virgin goddess Athena who was born from her father, Zeus’s head. As soon as Brahma looked at this beautiful woman, he desired her, even though she was his daughter. Saraswati disliked the amorous attentions of this old god and kept dodging him, but whichever way she moved, Brahma grew a head in that direction to see her the better. As a result he grew four faces on four sides of his neck, and even a head on top of these four, so that she could not escape by moving upwards. But Saraswati still eluded him.

Brahma was angry. He, being the Creator, was also all powerful. We do not know how, but legend has it that he did manage to marry the elusive girl, and produced through her mind the four great Vedas. Lore also has it that Brahma discovered that his girl-wife was too aloof and absent-minded for his liking. He had arranged for a major fire-sacrifice, at which his wife’s appearance by his side was a must. He repeatedly warned Saraswati not to take too long over her toilet and miss the auspicious hour. She must, he had decreed, take her traditional seat to his left, well in time. But Saraswati behaved with her characteristic whimsical disregard for parental diktats. Her prolonged toilet saw to it that the holy hour passed without the couple’s making the supreme joint offering to the fire God as man and wife. When Saraswati finally arrived, Brahma was livid. He threw her out, and replaced her with the daughter of a sage, called Gayatri.

Saraswati, thus, though married, never enjoyed domestic bliss like Durga or Lakshmi. According to most myths she had no children, possessed a fiery temper, was easily provoked and was somewhat quarrelsome. She, of all the goddesses, is described as possessing a very independent will and was not very obliging to the male gods.

As the disinherited daughter and estranged wife, Saraswati lived perpetually in self-imposed exile. She focuses her calm, dispassionate gaze upon the past as pure experience. The capacity to recall without anger or resentment, is Saraswati’s greatest gift to her children: the writers, musicians and creators of various art forms. All of them have fought with tradition, but their fight has been cerebral, not emotional. For without cutting away the umbilical cord, no innovative new beginning may ever be made, whether one is creating or procreating. This is the message of Saraswati.

Saraswati’s ironical eye, one may be sure, watches Kali’s tussle for power against male demons and Lakshmi’s subterfuges in the male world of power and plenitude. But she remains a witness, a dispassionate historian. She is the one who believes in the ultimate futility of all warfare and the trappings of wealth.

Understandably, such a Goddess could be venerated by the simple-minded and earthy householders, but not loved and fussed over by them, like her regal sister Lakshmi, or even feared and held in awe like Shakti. Saraswati remains the unblemished ascetic goddess, to whom no temples are built and who offers nothing except knowledge, no institution, no protection, no riches.

References and Further Reading

• Dehejia, Vidya (ed.). Devi The Great Goddess: Ahmedabad.
• Dhal, Upendra Nath. Goddess Laksmi: Origin and Development: Delhi.
• Gandhi, Maneka. On the Mythology of Indian Plants: New Delhi.
• Gupta, Shakti M. Plant Myths and Traditions in India: New Delhi.
• Kinsley, David. Hindu Goddesses (Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition): Delhi.
• Pande, Mrinal. Devi (Tales of the Goddess in Our Time): New Delhi.

thanks for the article. but most of the stories in this article is not true.. i think it is made up to create a story. Goddess Lashmi is purley dedicated to her lord Vishu. there is no such thing as offering her breast to lord shiva in place of two missing flowers.
in essence, laxmi is only devoted to her husband -Vishnu.
Arti


- arti

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Absolutley fascinating, the more i read. ithe more i want to learn. om shanti
- liza

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Hello. I am from the U. S. I am doing a project on Saraswati, and I found your website very useful, and I thank you. I didn't know much at all about her before coming to this website, and I think I know alot more now. Thank you
- Emma

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I found this site very useful when I had to write about Lakshmi.
- Cora Tatchman

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Hi, i am from south africa and have found this website to be very interesting and knowledgeable!
- ashvina bhana

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If this a personal opinion about mother saraswathi i think it i nonse and is not true.How dare some body ever call a mother unsteady and the divine mother to.this page nedds to be ubgraded with facts and not fictiom.Some body reply to this
- Nikhiel

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I liked the article but could not find any mention of the eight forms of laksmi and their interpretations..Thanks.Malti Mauritius
- malti

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hi/my name is maliga reddy i am from south africa i must thank you for yourwebsite it give me great joy to learn more about gods and goddess iam a spiritul person.i am a lord shiva devotee but i love to learn more about all gods please help me by teaching me so i can teach my children at home that they will no all about gods and goddess.thank you god bless.lots of love maliga reddy i love to hear from you soon.
- maliga reddy

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Hi
Francis

Your experience was bad. But remember bad experiences are not a result of chanting any mantra. Thay re result of bad actions and past life actions.

Goddesess lakshmi is definitely the giver of bounties, no one can deny it. But the good results can be obtained only by good conduct.

For example(dont take it personal..im just giving an example) you must be reciting the mantra..but drinking alchohol the same day...relishing on animal meat which is not encouraged in Hindu rituals. Taking Bath and maintaining hygiene is most important before meditating on Lord or his Apostles(Demi-Gods). Mind inset is also important. Some people do favours to beget favours which is not favourable.

Mata Lakshmi, Saraswati and Kaali or durga are same ..they are just expantions of Universal mother Shakti.
So u can ask for anything good from anyone of them...ireespective of wealth education or power.

About Navratri:
Durga(or Shakti) is worshiped.
Durga is a combination of all three goddessess as SHE is SHAKTI HERSELF.

This practice is followed because RAM- as a mortal incarnation had to invoke Durga Shakti for 9 days every morning before he went on war with Ravana.
Its the tenth day when Ravana fell and hence its called dashara(means the end of ten types of evils). It is said Ravana didnt have tenth heads..rather he had ten evil vices in him whihc led to his downfall. Ravan was intelligent, honest and valourous..but these ten vices called upon his own death.

Soe people do regretful things as offering Meat and Fish to Kaali.
Lors Krishna in Gita has mentioned that people who eat meat should worship Kali and Kaali. Kali is satan.

Vegetarians are most beloved to GOD as they are not tempted by material things and dont beleive in violence and care for HIS divine creation.

Sai Ram - Lov All Hurt Never
- Adbhut Applause

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Now one more truth which will help you all students. I hope GOD helps me write this in complete truth and best that is.

GODDESSES "BHUVANESHWARI" which is the beholder of fourteen universes multiplied into three forms of HERSELF
viz: Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kaali

some people mistake KAALI as Kali
KAALI is consort of Shiva while Kali means Satan.

Bhuvanseshwari - GODS own energy(Shakti) is devoid of material world. Means SHE has got nothing to do with world and its leisures and results.

She is the ultimate good and absolute power. When the demi-gods were troubled by Demon Mahishasuraa(who had the boon of not being killed by Shiva, Vishnu or Brahma), they invoked MATA(mother or shakti) through the mantra "Soham"(means "I am HIM").
The Shakti then appeared as "DURGA"
Remember GOD is neither male nor female nor any specific form.
When Mahishasura had his first encounter with Durga, he asked her who SHE was. SHE said SHE was the one who created Brahma Vishnu and Shankara.
here keep in mind GOD is neither male or female, its absolute energy or Shakti.
Shakti is a word than can be attributed as male or female both, it has no gender.
When Mahishasura with his barbaric hordes of deformed demons attacked...all demigods too joined Shakti in her massive attack on demons. she single handedly killed millions of demons. When Mahishasura was left alone...all the demigods attaked him from all sides. he fought valiantly. He roared and said that it was a shame that all these demi-gods are attacking me from all sides. Then it happened so that suddenly all the demi-gods started merging into Durga-Shakti. Mahishasura was amazed at this feat. SHE was laughing and the world trembled in fear.
She then told Mahishasura that all the demigods and all the beings that exist in the universe are her own expantions.
It is then when he realised who he was combating with. He knew that his death was near but he said happily to the universal mother that he was happy dieing at HER hands as he knew that he was going to get what not even the sages get after doing penances for hundreds of years. As soon as he was killed he attained salvation as he was touched by no other than the absolute energy - Shakti from whom incarnations of GOD come- namely, RAMA, KRISHNA, PARSHURAMA and the last is about to come...naed KALKI(killer of satan).

The ego clashes in between three expantions of Shakti results in the fight all over the world for importance over which is the best, viz, knowledge(saraswati), money(lakshmi) and power(kaali). Its called Shakti peeth. SHE is watching over all the worlds. So u can say GOD is no gender - its absolute power and source of all energy. In sanskrit perfectly termed as Paratma, the Supreme Soul - Soul has no gender no form no age...

I hope my words were convinicing enough and would help u all. Please feel free to ask me about any hindu mythology or points which prove that all religions are same.

Jai Mata Di - Victory be to the Universal Mother

- Adbhut Applause (darpan777@gmail.com)

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This article has been manipulated just as some britishers manipulated Hindu and Islamic religious scripts in their regime.

These are the people who will face GODs wrath and go to deep hell for eternity.

Mother Lakshmi never offered such obscene things to shiva. It was Vishnu who to acquire a Sudarshana Chakra or "revolving discuss which moves on its masters will" prayed to RUDRA or Shiva by offering a thousand lotuses every day for a 100 years. Once he fell short of one lotus and thus to make up for it he offered his own eye to the ShivLinga which seemed to be as soft and pink as the Lotus petals(Lotus eyed - Kamal Nayana). Vishnu never spoke in such obscenety with Lakshmi. They are both maintaining celebacy by word and soul. They are the expantions of universal Mother and Father.

Also she is indefinite, coz SHE can stay
in a house which is free from evil, politics and quarrels. She stays in house which is peaceful, of virtue and harmony and where people are hardworking and honest. She is so, so as to make people follow the good path for her to stay for long. She is unfavourable to killing of animals and unholy sacrifices.

SHE and HE are ONE - GOD and HIS absolute illusionary and real power.
That can be called as SHIVA-SHAKTI or RADHAKRISHNA

for the islamics not to confuse on this...they are not partners but ONE absolute power without form and who can assume any form at will and present in all particls of energy.

Associating GOD to material things is foolishiness.
- Adbhut Applause

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The Truth was revealed to all in Bhagwad Gita as in Islam that there is only one GOD(Krishna or Lalla). Goddess Lakshmi or Shakti is HIS own Maya or illusionary self(not partner but one). Shakti is the cause of every incarnation on earth. GOD himself as his compelete 100%power never descends on earth..if HE did means end of all universes HE created. Though Krishna showed HIS actual form to Arjuna, he granted him a divine eyesight to see HIM as no other could survive after seeing all the universes and beings embedded in HIM and HIS various form which give life and death. The GOD(SHIVA-unborn,formless and untouched, most pure) and Shakti(absolute energy) are one..means UNIVERSAL FATHER and MOTHER. They are not partners but one.
Some people are confused about Brahma Vishnu and Mahesh as seperate entities. They are expantions of Paratma or GOD(three forms- Generator(Brahma), Observer(Vishnu) and Destroyer(Shankara)). The scientists which now claim that universe was created by a event called "Big Blast" is explained in RIG VEDA as far as 23000BC when most of the people on earth outside Bharata were nomads and barbarians. Rigveda clearly talks about the BIG Bang as the explosion of a big EGG(beej or seed). GOD created the universes with just one syllable"OM" which made a BIG BANG. WHen HE said "AHAM Brahma" means I am the only creator...HE multiplied into Brahma and HIS own self as Shirodakshayi Vishnu and then Rudra Shankara.
GOD manages all the universes with just 1% of his total energy and when HE incarnates on earth He comes down as absolute energy(Shakti) which is just 1% of HIS total energy.

Why GOD always chooses Bharat as his homeland? coz Bharat is like the engine of the train(other continents). Thogh Kaliyuga(Machine or Satans age) has captured all the earth and has ruled for many years, you will still find virtue and intelligence and humanity only in India.

GOD as Shakti comes on earth after every 5000 years and after Krishna left earth around 3100BC --its 2000AD which is 5000 years...HE is coming when we all know evil and politicians are taking peace off mankind. To kill politicians , fanatics and evil doers.

Just as mentioned in BIBLE, in Bhavishya Puran too HE comes riding on a celestial horse with wings, with a staff or weapon in his hand and releaves earth of evil.

Then comes Jesus (or Prem Sai) to judge all and then GOD will execute all as show HIS wrath.

Krishna said HE has millions of Lakshmis to serve HIM in Vaikuntha(GODs own home - Vai(Age)Kuntha(Ceases) where there is no age for anything which is illuminated in white light not by electricity but HIS own effulgence.)

Shakti(Saraswati,Lakshmi,Durga)are GOD himself as expantions.

KRISHNA, SHIVA and ALLAH are same.
Even stone worshipped at Makka is a shivlinga and it was called Makkeshwar temple in pre-historic ages. Till today it follows the same pratcices as Brahamanas do. In Makka no killing of animals and plants is allowed.

All religions are same. Its just that someone divided humans for power.

Sanskrit degraded down to many languages bcoz of people and thus declined humanity. Sanskrit is the language of GODs and the Vedanta must be restored on earth for good and peace of mankind.
- Adbhut Applause

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hello justin
there is a sp prayer for saraswati the patron goddess of students. there is a parallel in christianity of st john cantius, patron saint for students and teachers.
did you know allmost all of the latin and catholosism derives from hinduism?
gauri
- gauri

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The author in the text has not clearly clarified the meanings hence would naturally cause more confusions and raise more questions.


- Jay

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Dear Justin

What I understand from the 'Owl' part is to remind people that wealth comes to those that are prepared to give for good purposes...hence just praying for wealth without a good purpose or just having the aim to just attain wealth will be signifying that of the 'Owl'
- Jay

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I wish to ask a question rather than submit a review, of which I believe I am not qualified. I would very much like to learn more about a picture I saw in a shop. I was raised as a Catholic originally and have been on a spiritual journey through different 'faiths' and doctrines and am only just learning about Hinduism. The picture had 3 figures, the central one was Lakshmi, on the right of the picture was Ganesha, and on the left Saraswati. From what I have gleaned from this and other articles this might seem to be a picture wishing for a 'happy and prosperous new year' as at the time of the Diwali festival?? I'd love to know if this is true. And given the apparent 'trap' of Lakshmi as represented by her vehicle - an owl, I would love to know how it is best to obtain her blessing of wealthupon myself. Is this possible? I have come to the conclusion that it is desireable to wish to be wealthy within the traditions of Hinduism (as opposed to Christianity apparently), but again I would love to have this confirmed by someone more knowledgeable than me! I was immensely impressed by the review of Francis Miville of this article, and perhaps either the website owner might be able to give me an answer of maybe be willing to pass my question on to Mr Miville?
Thank you.
Justin Randall
- Justin Randall

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This is such a beautiful article - thank you for your in-depth explanations!
- Ariana

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In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God...

This is the beginning of creation in the bible..

Lo.. i find it amazing as well in Gnostic Christinianity ..it speaks of Sophia (Wisdom) who fell down from heaven and created Ialadaboth and he thought he was the only one the creator..

My point is.. Saraswati is identified as Vac , the word and the word was indeed with God ( creator of this world) in the beginning and She is Wisdom like Sophia ..who preceded before the Creator...

And the other part of the bible that I find interesting is that the Word Became Flesh..lo..Sophia entered into the beings that God made and animated them.. therefore Spirit in us are animated by Sophia/ Saraswati / Word/ Wisdom/ Tara ( Buddhism)

In Gnostic Bible it mentioned that the spark of divinity that we have from sophia / saraswati helps us to go back to our utlimate self... as jesus said ye are gods as well...

I love mythology .. if you don't understand the beginning you will never understand hte end.
- Hooi Lin

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GH
- J

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FANX SO MUCH...GR8 PICS AND REALLY CLEAR INFO! THIS SITE IS STRONGLY RECOMENDID. DIS RELI HELPD ME WIV MA COURSEWORK. I NOW KNO LOADS ABOUT LAKSHMI AND OVA GODS. FANX AGEN! ILL BE VISITIN AGEN...
BY ARIANA
- Ariana (angel139_ariana@hotmail.com)

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this article really helped me. as a student trying to understand Hindu gods this website was informational but i have to agree, i did not get a excellent grade on the report because some of this information is false.
- Emily

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it is said that Luxmy leaves the house because she is 'reckless.' However, that is not true. She is said to leave homes if she can not stand the chaos. This is originally said to encourage peace.
- Hindu

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There are some lies here. Luxmy did NOT have associations with different males as it is said in this article.
- Hindu

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Hmmm... all I can say is that there are people who can read puranic stories without understanding the significance of it, and the author of these unfortunately falls into this category. All Goddesses in the Hindu Pantheon are the 'Shakti' or force energy of the counterpart. Namely there is no Protection (Vishnu) without preoperity, No Creation (Saraswathy) without Knowledge and no Desturction (Shiva) without energetic force. Hindusm is about the ulitmate balance, unity in diversity and looking for the meaning behind the symbols and stories. You my friend either have a problem with the concept of Strong Women or simply have a problem. *grin
- Anasuya Jega (ajj_sunhawk@hotmail.com)

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I really don't know how much reaserch you ppl did but there are plenty of taraditional temples of saraswati infact it said that every school is a temple of saraswati. As for lakshmi there are two meanings of the word one stands for wealth and one stands for wife(wife who makes or breaks the domestic life, in our case makes it) Lakshmi in a monitary sense belongs to everyone but in a spirtual sense only belongs to lord vishnu. Thus, it is rediculous to state that Lakshmi maa can go to anyone besides lord vishnu.
- c murder

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Hi
there are most definitely temples to Saraswati/Sarasvati, here are a few listed below.
Birla Temple in Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani, Rajasthan, India

Saraswati Temple in the University of Roorkee

Prthudakeshwara Temples in Pehowa, Haryana. They were built by the Marathas in honour of Saraswati.

Saradamba Temple in Sringeri.

Sarada Temple in the Neelam Valley in Kashmir

Regards, Elaine
- Elaine

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Thank you very much for this article, there is a supring lack of information on this God on the web, so i was happy to see this site. This is the first time I'm hearing about her infidelites, but none the less she seemed very devoted to Vishnu. Thank you so much for your information, and I have complete faith that it is absolutely true information. It really helped with my project in class, and i'll probably get a faboulous mark. thank you
- Shanice

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Thank-you for the artitcle on Lakshmi, it will be really helpful for the project we are doing at school, although I am considering not showing our teacher the story. Thanks anway!
- Gemma

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The stuff on Lakshmi is rubbish -- never heard it or read it before. The stuff on Saraswathy is OK -- though this is the first time I have heard of "incest" associated with her.
- Krishnaa

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Our yogastudio Laksmi in Holland thanks all the people for the information about laksmi.
We will use it on our website. www.Laksmi.nl
- kamala

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awesome for the project! thanks
- Raelyn

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great work
- brinda

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learned a lot.thx for the effort in putting on the web.
NRI
SFO/CA
- yashna (royalprincess420@aol.com)

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Hey, thanks for the site, it was very usefull, the pictures presented on this site were great, and i enjoyed reading every sentence of the great goddess Lakshmi.

I hope you guys/girl can get even more information about this great goddess in the near future...

Thanks :)
- Tarminder

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this really helped me with my project at skool i'm gonna use the pics, but i can't use the storie you provided as were presenting it to the juniors and it mentions breasts!
- noorweigie

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Hey! Thax so much for this article. Really helped on my project!! Gr8 pictures!!
:~)
- Ella

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I inherited the most beautiful bronze statue of Luksmi and wanted to know more about what she represents and means. Thank you for giving me her background...I always loved her when she stood in my grand mothers house...now I love her even more now that I know about her.
- Lynda

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I am thankful for your article about Lakshmi. But I have some information of mine to add to your point of view. I remember a time a friend who seemed spiritual asked me to pray Laksmi for the financiel welfare of both of us. I used a well-knowned mantra (Ohm Shrimh Hrimh Shrimh Mahaalakshmyai namo-namah) and chanted it constantly for a few weeks. Fortune did knock to our door: my friend was given a manager's job in a (bogus) financial institution. Unfortunately the said friend took the money and ran from the enterprise to Switzerland (actually, he had no real competences) after robbing a few other friends of mine of their hard-earned economies. During the time we had money, I got all the sorrows linked to a dishonest enterprise, so I was thankful when everything was finished. I am not resentful against Lakshmi, for without that event I would not have realised the dishonesty of that guy. I realised also that Lakshmi for being a goddess incarnates in a collective entity rather than in an individual, so she must be invoked for others' prosperity rather than one's own. To the invoker she will rather give rather inner riches, such as generosity, virtues, discrimination (the latter I badly needed). My i.shta devetaa is Kaali, who is not the giver of riches per se but the destroyer of evils, such as vice, such as misery, and while she will not necessarily bring properity is a way as grand as Lakshmi she will protect her devotee from all kinds of misery and money-related sorrows, and too rich people can have, and generally do have even more money-related sorrows than the poor. More generally speaking, Lakshmi is the giver of virtues as Kaali is the destroyer of vices and related demons, and before one furnitures one's house one must first clean it. It must be also remembered that divinity, especially in the Indian tradition, is to be approached in a substractive rather than additive way (neti, neti), for the Supreme being being simple and not compound, and that is true also on the material plane. Misery is not something natural to man, but due to the presence of something evil (e.g. lack of vivekaa) to be discarded rather to the presence of an external good to be supplied: misery is man-made, not God-willed. It is not without good reason that in the Navaratri festival Durgaa or Kaali are called first and then Lakshmi. Lakshmi has 108 positive goods to offer, economic abundance being the least.
- Francis Miville

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I enjoyed the Saraswati article, and would like to learn more about this Goddess to whom there are no temples. I found the article to be informative and helpful. I understand her birthday, Vasant Pachami, is celebrated around the 5th of February, for all those interested in Saraswati.
- alli (indi_writer@yahoo.com)

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I didn't know about her being the ascetic goddess. There are so few Saraswati stories aroud so thank you for this. Saraswati seems to be the goddess I most identify with.
- neel

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Trust me if I find out that what you have mentioned about Goddess Lakshmi is not true according to the holy scriptures I will personally have your website pulled off. If on the other hand it is true then I must say that it is difficult to accept.
- ashish

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I loved it because my middle name is Lakshmi, so is my mother's. I definitely learned more about her, and am more proud to have that beautiful name.
- Sarah-Lou

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Thank you so very much! I am currently doing research for a paper for college on a stone stele of Vishnu that also includes the goddess Lakshmi and the goddess Saraswati and this has helped me immensely! To be able to write this paper, I first had to get a sense of a religion that was unfamiliar to me. Reading other material on this subject was making me feel overwhelmed, but after reading your article I now find it fascinating! Thank you again!!!
- Starla

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It is brilliant. I don't really know much about all this article and i'm planning to read more! from the other peoples feedback i have read, it seems very interesting.thanx
- Hannah

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This is a very intresting article .Thank you very much!
- yugendra

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It is very good, and all students should pray to mata saraswati for she is the giver of knowledge, and lakshmi gives money. It would be good if you could put the prayer before studying!
- Minesh T

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awesome, never underestimate the power of knowledge it is the universes greatest gift and with it all things are possible. I love my mom!!!!!!!!!!
- tommy

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it was very nice. i enjoyed the untold saga of our goddesses.
jai shri ram

- shikha

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I find reading and learning about the Deities fascinating. I am beginning a better understanding of the different aspects, as I hear many different versions of the stories such as Genish how he came about having an elephant head. I have heard three different versions of how this came about; and I have a better understanding of Saraswati as she is of the arts or knowledge I didn't realize she had no temples... well thank you for sending your articles. Blessings
- Devi

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Thank you so much for the amazing article you sent on Indian mythology. We have a small gift shop in Killeen, Texas that caters to the non-Christian religious community of Fort Hood. I plan to post this article in my shop for all to view and share. Through education, we hope to reduce the predjudices often caused by ignorance of the beliefs of others. Thanks again
- Bethanne Davis

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