|| Traditional figure of Goddess Saraswati ||
Shivoham!
In the last post we discussed the Shloka –
इन्द्रः सीतां नि गृह्णातु तां पूषाभि रक्षतु |
सा नः पयस्वती दुहामुत्तरामुत्तरां समाम् || (अथर्व वेद – 3/17/4)
Sita is of Sun, from Sun, in the Sun and for the sun. This Sita is Sun or Dashrath – The one who moves in all 10 directions. This Sun is Janaka father of all life forms. This Sun is Rama (The one who is loved by all).
Let’s take further our understanding about the Sun and how it represents virtually every venerable Divine forms in our imagination.
Since the rays of Sun are associated with movement – they have been called saranasheela (सरणशीला ) which also means Saraswati (Sarah+wati= The one which is always moving in all directions). Therefore these rays are the performer of Yajna.
The next shloka is –
सरस्वतीं अनुमतिं भगं यन्तो हवामहे |
वाचं जुष्टां मधुमतीं अवादिषं देवानां देवहूतिषु || अथर्व वेद – 5/7/4 ||
The one with movement (यन्तः), having highest of intellect and grandeur, (अनुमति भग) I call upon the Saraswati (सरस्वती) and offer Aahuti (हवामहे). In the divine fire oblations (Aahutis) offered to Gods (देवानां देवहूतिषु), that enchanting and highest of order speech (in the form of mantra) (जुष्टां मधुमतीं वाचं) I speak (अवादिषम्).
सरस्वती व्रतेषु ते दिव्येषु देवि धामसु |
जुषस्व हव्यमाहुतं प्रजां देवि ररास्व नः || अथर्व वेद – 7/70/1 ||
Meaning –
O Devi Saraswati (सरस्वति देवि) ! The good deeds done/resolutions taken (व्रतेषु) in your service. In your divine abodes (दिव्येषु धामसु) – The Fire in the Yajna Kunda or the hungry noble scholars of Vedas (आहुतं हव्य) , the offered Aahuti (offering) (जुषस्व), You please accept with love. O Devi! (देवि) bless me with divine wisdom (नः प्रजां ररास्व) and expand our intellect.
शिवा नः शंतमा भव सुमृडीका सरस्वती |
मा ते युयोम संदृशः || अथर्व वेद 7/71/1 ||
Meaning –
O Saraswati (सरस्वति)! You, for us (नः), Benevolent (शिवा), Perfectly peaceful and full of light (शम् तमा), Abundant Happiness (सुमृडीका), become (भव). From your divine looks/grace (ते संदृशः), we never get separated (मा युयोम). We continue to stay Saaraswat (सारस्वत).
Saraswati is that power/capacity which resides in every being in the form of highest intellect (prajna), She resides in Yajna, She is giver of food and piousness. The following mantra indicates this spirit –
पावका नः सरस्वती वाजेभिर् वाजिनीवती |
यज्ञं वष्टु धियावसुः || अृग वेद – 1/3/10 ||
Meaning –
सरस्वती वाजेभि: वाजिनीवती = Being associated with the food grains (Annam) she is Annadaatri (Giver of food and also Annavati) and being associated with various powers she Baladaatri (Giver of Power and also Balavati).
यज्ञम् वष्टु = She lives/resides/is hidden in Yajna and Articles or Yajna.
धिया वसुः = She is the wealth earned through intellect and as intellect she resides in every being.
नः पावका = She purifies us therefore she is visible to us in the form of Fire.
Saraswati is that power which enables us to see the Truth, She gives us awareness and nurtures the process of Yajna (All the work we do is Yajna – It has been already establised many times). The following mantra reiterates this notion –
चोदयित्री सूनृतानां चेतयन्ती सुमतीनाम् |
यज्ञं दधे सरस्वती || अृग वेद – 1/3/11 ||
Meaning –
चोदयित्री= The one who inspires.
सूनृतानां = प्रियाणां मङ्गलानां सत्यवाक्यानां च | One that is dear and of auspicious speech.
चेतयन्ती = चेतन्ती | The one who gives us awareness/consciousness and knowledge.
सरस्वती यज्ञं दधे = Saraswati is the holder of Yajna, She is nourisher of Yajna. Meaning Saraswati puts intelligence to work Yajna.
Saraswati is that power which brings the great Akasha to our awareness and illuminates all the individual’s power of discrimination. The following mantra says it:
महो अर्णः सरस्वती प्रचेतयति केतुना |
धियो विश्वा विराजाति || अृग वेद – 1/3/12 ||
Meaning –
महः अर्णः = महतम् आकाशम् | The mahat Brahmn – Truth
प्रचेतयति = प्रबोधयति | Shows us, tells us.
केतुना = प्रज्ञानेन | Through knowledge or light.
विश्वा धियः विराजति = Illuminates the power of discrimination of all the individuals. Bestows people with-intelligence.
Saraswati is that super-power that is desired by everyone therefore we invoke/invite her. The mantra is:
सरस्वतीं देवयन्तो हवन्ते, सरस्वतीमध्वरे तायमाने |
सरस्वतीं सुकृतो हवन्ते, सरस्वती दाशुषे वार्य दात् ||
सरस्वतीं पितरो हवन्ते, दक्षिणा यज्ञमभि – नक्षमाणाः |
आसद्यास्मिन् बर्हिषि मदयध्वम् अनमीवा इष वा धेह्यस्मे || अथर्व वेद 18/1/41-42 ||
Meaning –
देवयन्तः सरस्वतीम् हवन्ते = Those who seek divinity in them invoke Saraswati. Ones who wish to gain wisdom and knowledge offer Fire obulations to Saraswati.
अध्वरे तायमाने सरस्वतीम् हवन्ते = In the ritual of Yajna, those who wish to have fame and dignity call upon the Saraswati and offer her Aahutis.
सुकृतः सरस्वतीम् हवन्ते अध्वरे = The doers of pious-deeds invoke Saraswati in Yajna and offer her Aahutis.
दाशुषे = For the donation.
सरस्वती वार्यम् दात् = Saraswati gives the desired (fruits/results).
(अध्वरे = In the Sattvic Yajna | वार्यम् = Desired object दात् = Gives)
दक्षिणा यज्ञम् = दक्षिणावन्तः यज्ञे = The Yajna in which dakshina is offered! सरस्वतीम् हवन्ते = Swarswati is invited and offered Aahutis अस्मिन् बर्हिषि = in this elaborately-expanded Yajna.
अभि नक्षमाणाः पितरः = O omnipresent Pitras!
आसद्य मादयध्वम् = Give us happiness (by obliging us).
अन् – अमीवाः इषः = Un-diseased (mature, noble) desires,
अस्मे आ धेहि = मयि प्रतिष्ठापय | Instill in me.
नक्षति व्याप्तिकर्मा – निघंटु 2/18 नक्षमाणाः = comprehensive/expansive अभिनक्षमाणाः = present inside, present in the heart अस्मे = अस्मै, for this Hotaa (the one who does homam/yajna) आ-धेहि = प्रददातु | Give, bestow, grace.
सरस्वत्यै नमो नमः |
I bow down to the Goddess Saraswati!
More in the next post..
-Acharya Agyaatadarshan Anand Nath
The Yajna is performed by invoking many Gods & shaktis. We choose to invite Saraswati.We are quoting mantras from Athrava Veda & Rig Veda that are used in Yajna propitiating the Goddess Saraswati. Saraswati has been equated with the divine force of nature - Sun. She is also the giver of intellect and puts this intellect to work. Saraswati is the power that gives awareness to us - leads us to light or wisdom. Thus Saraswati invokes in Yajna gives us the most desired - The Ultimate wisdom! This series on Vedic wisdom is being presented here as my own understanding of the teachings given out by beloved VedaGurudev Shri Atharvan ji Maharaj. His permission has been obtained in this regard.
Its all about you! 