[Chaturamnaya] Jagadguru Speaks: Goddess Sarasvati

[S Jayanarayanan]

http://svbf.org/newsletters/year-2012/the-jagadguru-speaks/
 

Sarasvati is one of the many forms of the Supreme Goddess. She is well-known as the bestower
of all vidyas and Brahma-jnana. Popularly known as the consort of creator Brahma, she has been
specially mentioned in the Puranas and Itihasas.
 
At Sringeri Adi Sankara established Sarasvati in the form of Sharada, the counterpart of
female form of Sri Dakshinamurti, the giver of jnana.
 
The dhyana sloka of Daskshinamurti says:
मौक्तिकीं अक्षमालाममृतकलश
विद्या ज्ञानमुद्रा कराब्जैदधताम् ।
 
This means: Bearing in hands a rosary of pearls, jar of nectar, book of knowledge,
gesture of wisdom.
 
In the same way the dhyana sloka of Sharada says,
मुद्रामक्षगुणं सुधाढ्यकलशं विद्यां च हस्तांबुजैर्बिभ्राणाम्।
 
Adi Sankara and other peethadhisvaras (successors) in His tradition have praised Sharada in several ways.
There are many slokas composed by Sri Sacchidananda Sivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Swami on Sharada.
Of them, Vani Panyavalamba Stotra, is indeed, beautiful. If one understands it well, the greatness
of Sharada will become abundantly clear. May all worship Devi Sarasvati and attain Sreyas (welfare).
 
मालासुधाकुम्भ विबोधमुद्रा
विद्याविराजत्करवारिजाताम् ।
अपारकारुण्य सुधाम्बुराशिं
श्रीशारादाम्बां प्रणतोऽस्मि नित्यम् ॥
 
Daily I bow to Sri Sharadamba, the boundless ocean of mercy, who bears in her lustrous,
lotus-like hands the rosary, the jar of nectar, the mudra of wisdom, and the book of knowledge.