Do you know how many incarnations of Saraswati Mata are there?

In Hinduism, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped as the divine embodiment of knowledge, wisdom, art and culture. As the wife of the creator god Brahma, Saraswati is the centre of the pantheon of Hindu deities. Beyond her primary form, Saraswati is believed to have appeared in various incarnations, each of which represents a different aspect of her divine nature.

Table of Contents

1. Incarnations of Saraswati
2. How is Mahasaraswati depicted in art and literature?
3. Why is Neela Saraswati associated with wisdom and wisdom?
4. Sharada Avatar - incarnation of ripening and blossoming of wisdom
5. How did Saraswati take the Sharda avatar in Kashmir?

Incarnations of Saraswati

There are three main incarnations of Saraswati that are widely believed in ancient Hindu mythology and worship. Through these forms, Saraswati is seen embodying different aspects of her divine nature, representing her roles as the source of knowledge, dispeller of ignorance, and inspirer of intellectual and artistic pursuits.

Maha Saraswati: "Great Saraswati", worshipped as the presiding goddess of speech, learning and arts. She is depicted with four heads representing the four Vedas and the boundless expanse of knowledge. Maha Saraswati symbolises the primordial source of creation and the eternal flow of knowledge.
Nila Saraswati: Also known as Mahavidya Nila Saraswati, this is the "blue Saraswati" who manifests the fierce aspect of Saraswati. She represents the transformative power of knowledge and the destruction of ignorance. Nila Saraswati is depicted with blue skin, wielding weapons and riding a blue horse.
Sharada: In the Kashmiri tradition, Saraswati is revered in the Sharada avatar as the patroness of knowledge and learning. Sharada, the goddess of autumn, symbolises the ripening of wisdom and the fruition of creative endeavours.

How is Mahasaraswati depicted in art and literature?

Mahasaraswati is depicted in art and literature as the powerful and enduring aspect of Goddess Saraswati.
In her fierce warrior form, Mahasaraswati is depicted with eight arms holding weapons such as trident, ploughshare, pestle, discus, conch, bow and bell. This represents her role in destroying negative forces and maintaining the three worlds.
She is described as having originated from the body of Gauri and is depicted dressed in white clothing with a calm expression, despite her powerful iconography.
Mahasaraswati is associated with the longest episode in the Durga Saptashati, where she vanquishes the demons Nishumbha and Shumbha, symbols of negative energy.
Mahasaraswati is distinguished from other goddess forms by her fair skin colour and attire. Idols depict her sitting on a lotus in a calm posture, holding akshamala, abhaya mudra, pustaka and amrita kalasha in her four hands.
The 5th century Mahayana Buddhist text Sadhanamala describes Mahasaraswati as resplendent like the autumn moon, seated on a white lotus, showing varada mudra and holding a white lotus in her hands.

Why is Nila Saraswati associated with knowledge and wisdom?

Nila Saraswati is considered a fierce and powerful form of Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of learning, arts and wisdom. She represents the more intense, transformative and destructive aspects of the divine feminine. Nila Saraswati is said to bless her devotees with immense knowledge, reasoning power and intellectual abilities. She is worshipped to attain siddhis (spiritual powers) and to dispel ignorance. In iconography, Nila Saraswati is depicted with blue skin, wielding weapons such as a sword and a scalpel, representing her role in destroying negativity and ignorance. Her protruding tongue also symbolises her fierce nature. Neela Saraswati is closely related to Mahavidya Tara, another powerful goddess of knowledge and wisdom. She is considered an essential aspect or avatar of Mahavidya Tara. Neela Saraswati Homam, a fire ritual, is performed to invoke her blessings for academic success, creative inspiration and ripening of intellectual abilities.

Sharada Avatar: Avatar of the Ripening and Blossoming of Wisdom

Sharada is the goddess of autumn, the season when grains and crops ripen and bear fruit after a certain period. Similarly, Sharada represents the blossoming of wisdom and the maturing of one's intellectual abilities. In the Kashmiri tradition, Saraswati is worshipped as Sharada, the patroness of learning and the arts. Devotees visit her shrine at Sharada Peeth to seek her blessings for academic success and creative inspiration.

Sharada's association with autumn highlights her role in the ripening of wisdom, just as the autumn sun helps crops ripen. She is seen as a goddess who presides over the flourishing of one's educational and creative endeavours.

The name "Sharada" itself is derived from the Sanskrit word "sharad", which means autumn. This linguistic connection reinforces the idea that Sharda symbolises the ripening of knowledge and the fulfilment of one's intellectual potential.

How did Mata Saraswati take the Sharda avatar in Kashmir?

Sharada Peeth is the place where Goddess Saraswati resides. Goddess Sharada appeared to the sage Shandilya in her Sharada form. In the Kashmiri tradition, Sharada is worshipped as the patroness of knowledge and learning. Sharada Peeth is located at the confluence of the Madhumati, Krishna Ganga (Neelam) and Sandhi rivers. It is believed that devotees who bathe in this holy confluence may have divine visions of Krishna and Chakri, another name for Durga.

Another legend states that when the local priest was performing a ritual, a beautiful woman named Brahmani appeared and revealed herself as Goddess Saraswati. She merged with the universe after granting the boons of reviving the forest and resurrecting the dead villagers.

Sharda Peeth was an important centre of learning in ancient Kashmir, attracting scholars and intellectuals from across the region. It is said that Kashmir was once called "Sharda Desam" or the land of Goddess Saraswati. Sharada Peeth is now in a dilapidated state, located in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir region. But it still holds immense spiritual and cultural significance for Kashmiri Pandits, who worship the Sharda avatar of Saraswati as the patroness of knowledge and wisdom.