Goddess Saraswati is one of the Tridevi, along with Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Parvati. She is the Goddess of music, art, speech, knowledge, and wisdom. Saraswati is also known as the daughter of Shiva and Durga.  

It is believed that Maa (mother) Saraswati was created by Lord Brahma to create order in the Universe. After creating the Universe, Lord Brahma realised that it was not formed properly. Goddess Saraswati emerged from his mouth and told him how to create order in the Universe. This is how the sun, moon, stars, oceans, seasons, etc. came into existence.

Goddess Saraswati blesses humans with the power of speech and wisdom. Saraswati is usually depicted playing a string instrument called the Veena, which she uses to play music of love and life. She is generally shown in a white sari, sitting on a white lotus. Her four arms represent the four Vedas, holding a book, a mala, a water pot and the Veena. She rides on a white swan which symbolizes purity and discrimination.

Maa Saraswati is also depicted as a river Goddess. Maa Saraswati’s birthday, Vasant Panchami, is a Hindu festival celebrated every year on the fifth day of the fortnight of the lunar month of Magha. Devotees worship her during this time.

There is a very famous legend where Goddess Saraswati obtained the Somras nectar from the Gandharvas, who were the demi-gods. These Gandharvas stole the immortal Soma plant so that they could also live forever. While the Gods were angry and wanted to fight and get back their plant, Goddess Saraswati walked into their garden and played her music. Hearing the melodies, the Gadharvas fell into a trance and were so mesmerized with the tunes that they begged the Goddess to teach them music. Saraswati said that she would teach them only if they would return the Soma plant. The desire to learn the music was so high, that the Gandharvas agreed to return the Soma plant to it’s rightful owners. That is how the Gods got back their Soma plant and the Gandharvas who learnt music from Goddess Saraswati became the celestial musicians whose skill could not be matched by many.