Goddess Saraswati according to Hindu mythology is considered to be the Goddess of knowledge and the art. She represents awareness and astuteness. She is also worshipped as the goddess of sound and speech. Saraswati is depicted as a goddess who is clothed in white, seated on a white lotus and playing the instrument Veena. Four Vedas are considered to be her progeny. The swan symbolizes pure knowledge. Generally any institution of education is observed as temple of Goddess Saraswati. Musical instruments symbols of Saraswati.
Saraswati is worshipped as the consort of Lord Brahma the creator. Legend has it that Brahma the creator acquired the power to think and create only through the power of Saraswati and that it was Saraswati that enabled Brahma to listen to the naadabhrahmam the primordial sound that is revered as the source of all creation. Saraswati is also referred to as Sharda the fountainhead of knowledge who leads seekers from darkness to light and from ignorance to spiritual upliftment.
The extinct river Saraswati is associated with Saraswati the Goddess of knowledge. Legend has it that when Shiva opened his third eye, the flame that emanated threatened to destroy everything in its path. Only Saraswati the source of wisdom was unperturbed by the potency of the flame, owing to her firm understanding that the flame would only destroy what was impure. She thereby took the form of a river, carried the flame into the sea and changed it into a fire. She declared that any creature of destruction would stay underground as long as wisdom was sought after.
She is Lord Brahma`s consort. In Buddhism she is known as the deity who supports the teachings of Lord Buddha. In Bengal, Goddess Saraswati is considered to be the daughter of Goddess Durga who is depicted along with her sister Lakshmi and her brothers Ganesha and Karthikeya. Saraswati is in the trinity of Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati in Devi Mahatmya and is depicted as eight-armed. She is offered honey it represents perfect knowledge. Saraswati Vandana Mantra is one of the hymns dedicated to her.
In West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Assam, Saraswati Puja is celebrated in the month of Magha month. In Maharashtra, parts of Gujarat, Saraswati Puja is celebrated on Maha Saptami and ends on Vijayadasami. In the southern India, Saraswati Puja is celebrated during the Navaratri.