#saraswathi

[bhagavanbhakthi]

Sri Bhu Varaha - Saviour of Mother Earth

[tides-of-truth]

Water & River Wisdom part II

[94shasha]

🩷माँ लक्ष्मी-माँ सरस्वती🤍

[jeyaam]

it's the girls

they’re taking a pic together to post on instagram

[ritish16]

Devi Saraswathi - BKS Varma Paintings

[ayearinfaith]

𝗔 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵, 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟵: 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗶

Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts. She is among the more prominent deities in Hinduism and a member of the feminine trinity, the Tridevi.

𝗡𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿

Saraswati is generally portrayed as the consort and feminine counterpart of Brahma, a member of the masculine trinity, the Trimurti. Both represent the aspect of creation, as apart from preservation (Lakshmi and Vishnu) or destruction (Parvati and Shiva). When split between the two, Brahma represents the passive aspect of creation while Saraswati is active. Like Brahma she is often depicted with four arms holding symbolic items; prayer beads for spirituality, a book for intellect, water for purity (more on this later). Nothing is more distinctively Saraswati than her veena, a large Indian stringed instrument, which represents creativity and harmony. Though Brahma and his masculine counterparts more often take center stage in Hindu traditions, worship of Saraswati predates him. She is first recorded in the 𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘷𝘦𝘥𝘢, the oldest Hindu scripture and some of the oldest record of any Indo-European language, compiled several centuries prior to the first millennium BCE (Brahma shows up 500-1000 years later). She was originally a river goddess, and shares her name with an ancient river whose modern identity is unknown, but was as important to the ancient people of the Vedas as the Ganges is to modern Hindus. Though much expanded beyond this original role, Saraswati is still associated with and often depicted next to a body of water. As the water-bearer of the gods she is also often associated with Soma, the drink of the gods.

𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱

Saraswati is most associated with the Indian Spring festival, Vasant Panchami. Such is her association that in some parts of the country the holiday is also called Saraswati Puja (Puja in this context meaning a rite, festival, or ceremony). As a force of creation she matches the Spring themes of the beginning of the agricultural cycle and the yellow associated with flowers and the holiday is said to be her favorite color (though she herself normally dresses in pure white). Traditional activities in her honor are teaching children and creating art and music. As prominent a deity as she is, Saraswati is known across Asia and syncretized into non-Hindu beliefs. In Buddhism she is the wife of Manjushri, Bodhisattva of wisdom. In Japan she is a member of the “7 Lucky Gods” under the name Benzaiten. She is the only female deity of that particular pantheon and has traded her veena for a Japanese biwa.

Image Credit: J.B. Khanna Pictures, probably from the 1970's or 80's.

[faithstoneart]

Off to Japan for the Awagami Mini Print show: contemporary goddess series, Colorado mountain goddess with mountain lion and Contemporary Saraswathi #buddhawoodblocks #buddhistartist #buddhistart #awagamipaper #mokuhanga #saraswati #saraswathi #mountainLaxmi #drawingbuddhasandbodhisattvas #woodblocks #ilovewoodblocks (at Eldorado Mountain Yoga Ashram)

[i-heart-hinduism]

WHAT IS LOVE SHIVA, ASKED SHAKTI

source : https://www.facebook.com/MyJiffies.PriyankaKaintura/photos/a.390608524463302.1073741827.390598661130955/624413094416176/?type=3&pnref=story

One day Shakti was talking to Shiva about the intricate ways of love and Shiva was quietly but intently listening to her. Unexpectedly Shakti got inquisitive, sprang to Shiva’s feet, pressed her hands on his knees and asked “Tell me Adiyogi, what is love? What is it that you feel for me?” Shiva, known for his eternal peace and little need for communication looked at Shakti, smiled dotingly and said “When you cook for me and feed me from your own hands, only to watch the contentment in my eyes which only a good meal can bring. Thats when you turn into a Annapoorna and I feel love for you. In the same way when you make me the object of your intimate desires by igniting my passion you become a Khamakhya. I feel a surge of love for you. These two feelings are best explained as love in its original form, called Bhog. “Original form - Bhog?” probed Shakti “Is that all love is?” Shiva laughed perceptively, held Shakti’s face in his palms and said “Yes Bhog, Shakti, don’t devalue it. It is extremely gratifying for me but becomes apparent only for the body.” Shiva added “The other form of love that visits me is when I feel an assured influence over you. When I observe that in my company you effortlessly overlook how accomplished and powerful you are. You let me dominate you, question you, pester you and take you for granted. It is mesmerizing to see you turn into a demure Gauri. But then at times you turn into a Durga and wield brutal weaponries in order to shield me. Both these forms grant me a certain power over you. This influence makes me feel the love beyond the body. Love for the heart – Shakti.” Now shining with the reflective glow of Shiva’s deep observations of her, Shakti asked “Ah! And is there a third form too?” Shiva smiled and added “Yes, the final and the most significant yet masked one!” Shakti asked curiously “And what’s that?” Shiva explained “When you turn into a Kali, unafraid to show your dark skin, naked self, untamed tresses and dance on top of me. It’s an unmatchable mix of raw power and defenselessness at the same time. Your audacity with fearlessness for being mocked is hypnotic. That’s also the time you become a Sarasvati and show me the mirror of truth. I feel empowered with the grit to see the undressed-murky truth. And I feel a gush of love, the love of a beautiful mind – Darshan.” Shakti placed her face on Shiva’s feet and said “One needs to be a Shiva to know a Shakti”. Shiva kept his hand on Shakti’s face and said “Just the way one needs to be a Shakti to know a Shiva” #MyJiffies #SivaSaktiUberWedding Image Credit: Deviant Art