The Divinity Of Knowledge

Saraswati is the tutelary deity of writers, artists and poets and embodies the spirit of all fine arts. She is held in high veneration by the Buddhists and the Jains and the latter assigned her a specially honored place in hierarchy as the head of the Sruta – devatas and the Vidyadevis.

On a rectangular base is an oval pedestal on which sits the goddess in padmasana i.e. in lotus posture. The graceful figure of Saraswati has multiple upper limbs. The front two hands hold the veena, representing music. The rear two hands hold a rosary and a manuscript, symbolic of learning. The name Saraswati is sometimes thought to refer to the pool of knowledge. In this finely chiseled brass image, she wears a Karanda-mukuta (high-crown) and ornaments befitting a deity.

Her mount is a peacock or a goose (hamsa), a symbol of purity and knowledge. The pair of birds can be seen on either side of the image. The image itself is placed within a niche which bears the mark of outstanding craftsmanship.

On the day consecrated to Saraswati, books and musical instruments are cleaned, placed on an altar and worshipped as the abodes of the goddess.

This description by Renu Rana.