Symbolism Hidden in the Image of Goddess Saraswati – Hindu Goddess of Knowledge and Learning

The Vedic Tradition in India has given women the highest place of respect and recognition. The Bhagavad Gita is known as Mother Geeta; Knowledge itself is personified as a feminine deity – the Goddess Saraswati.

Goddess Saraswathi represents the ideal Guru, sitting on a lotus holding the sacred scriptures in one hand and a mala in the second hand. With the other 2 hands she plays the Veena

Sitting on the Lotus symbolizes that the teacher herself is well established in the subjective experience of the Truth.

Holding the Scriptures - indicates that she upholds the knowledge of the scriptures which alone can lead to the truth.

The 4 Hands - represents the 4 aspects of the inner personality - Manas (mind), Buddhi (intellect), Chitta (conditioned consciousness, memory) and Ahamkara (ego).

The Veena - The suggestion is that the guru tunes up the mind and intellect of the seeker to be in perfect harmony with the universe, and thus he surrenders his individual conditioning and ego.

Source: Excerpt from an article published in the magazine October 2000 edition of Chinmayam a magazine of Chinmayamission.



5 comments:

Anuj said...

What is the meaning of "subjective experience of the Truth" ?
Thanks.

Satyakama said...

Dear Anuj,

Hello. If I may answer your question, a subjective experience is an internal (mental or spiritual) experience. An objective experience is an external (physical or body) experience. This is the difference between mind and brain.

Satyakama

oriental said...

The teacher may have been through experiences in matters that the teacher specialises in to actually be in a position to guide others. The truth is the supposedly most important concept of all in religion and philosophy and has numerous descriptions of what it consists of. Thus the teacher may have been through experiences of truth to be able to give information relating to that matter and is a kind of source of reference.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the detailed explanation of the physical attributes of Goddess Saraswathi. They indeed stimulate a person to analyse the various physical forms of Gods and Goddesses and what they particularly symbolize.
As "Oriental" has rightly explained, every teacher is unique because they impart to their students a unique blend of their own experiences and understanding mixed with what their guru imparted to them. Thats why "vidya daanam maha daanam"!

Harry said...

when you are a third world country you remain so in word and deed.in trinidad,i did not get it on tv so i listenedto the radio
for the last three nights,i learnt of the philosophy of mother tulsi, mother ganga and mother kali,what suprise is in store for the next 2 nights.

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