Saraswati: Dynamic knowledge, wisdom, music, language That which flows, or watery, or elegant; the flow of creativity
Saraswati is often portrayed as dressed in white while sitting on a white lotus (representing purity, pure knowledge, wisdom and mind). She has four arms one holding a manuscript or book (symbolizing textual knowledge). A Japa Mala or rosary in another (signifying knowledge from spiritual practice). In the other two, she holds a vina, a musical instrument, signifying the gift of music and poetry. She often has a swan (hamsa) with her as her vehicle because the swan when given milk and water can separate the two and will choose only milk meaning it can differentiate from good and evil.
Saraswati represents the mana, buddhi, chitta, and ahankara. She is wife and (sometimes) daughter to Brahma.
“Saraswati gives the essence of one’s self. She provides us with the mundane and spiritual knowledge of our lives. She is a representation of the science of life, or the Vedanta, which attempts to unravel the essentials of human existence and the universe concealed within. She points to the ultimate aim of human life which is to realize the true nature of the self even if it requires an enormous amount of determination, perseverance and patience. The knowledge that Saraswati renders through continual worship, devotion and discipline is one of an integral vision in which both temporal and spiritual levels of study are meditated upon, practiced and developed. Therefore, she allows one to exist in the material world while striving for the plane of Brahman. The connection one forms with Saraswati is one with words and music, which are the very source of the cosmos, the Brahman. She is the impeller of true, sweet speech, she is the creative process with the syllable, ‘OM.’ She is the potent quality of sound.” http://www.vishvarupa.com/print-information- about-saraswati.html
Lakshmi: Wealth and Prosperity: both material and spiritual She of hundreds and thousands
Lakshmi is portrayed as a woman with four arms standing on a lotus wearing red (red being the color of Rajas; activity). The four arms represent Dharma (duty), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation). These four arms also carry in their hands:
• Upper right hand: Lotus fully opened with a thousand petals. • Upper left hand: Half-blossomed lotus with a hundred petals • Lower left hand: The gold coins flowing from her hand represents the prosperity that she spreads to her devotee. • Lower right hand: Abhya Mudra - a hand gesture representing fearlessness.
Lakshmi brings deliverance from fear. Why? As practitioners we want to cultivate this. We cant grow spiritually if we are timid. Confront the world as it is but we shouldn’t be the cause of fear. When connected with the lower left hand, it is the varada mudra. Representing Charity and compassion. The fingers representing generosity, morality, patience, effort, and meditative concentration.
She is being showered by elephants again representing dharma, artha, kama, and moksha. The flow is continuous and effortless when one is in accordance with ones own dharma.
Lakshmi represents the precious resources in our world BUT she has a sister who is always with her, Alakshmi, who represents and is a reminder of the negative aspect of wealth, greed, over abundance. The owl, which usually sits beside her where the coins are, is a reminder of not being able to see in light but only in dark. We must be able to see clearly even when we are being showered by gold coins!
Lakshmi is also consort to Vishnu.
Parvati: Love, beauty, marriage, fertility, and devotion Daughter of the mountain / She who dwells in the mountain
Parvati is represented as beautiful and kind. She is sometimes shown alongside Shiva, whom she is consort to, and also with her son, Ganesha. She is one of the forms of Shakti and the feminine force of energy in this universe. With Shiva, they bring harmony to this universe.
Durga: The protective mother of all that is good. The inaccessible or hard to reach/obtain
She has the collective energy of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva. She has usually 10 arms and is riding a lion. Always ready for battle! Her weapons include the conch shell (AUM sound), thunderbolt (firmness in ones convictions), the discus (wheel of time or disk of auspicious vision/mind), the sword (symoolizes knowledge, and discrimination), the trident (has many meanings but usually represents the three gunas - sattva, rajas, tamas.
Shown fighting a demon (Mahishasura), which can represent the corrupted ego or ignorance. It shifts every time we fight it - it morphs! She would cut him and other demon would show up. Finally she grabs him and cuts off his head, sees the inner demon, and drinks the blood - killing him. The demons (desires, ego, ignorance) keep springing up but to get rid of it we must get to the root of the problem and cut it there.
Kali: The Goddess of time, death, transformation She who is black or she who is beyond time
Kali is independent and dynamic. The personification of time and change. Usually portrayed naked and black or blue in color. Standing upon Shiva, who is passive.
Kali has a skirt of human arms symbolize the deeds or projects we engage in and have accomplished. These external projects we engage in trying to give us internal happiness. She has a garland of human skulls signifying the roles we play and the masks we wear for others to see. In one hand, she holds the head of ego, draining it. In another, she has a sword of wisdom. She also holds a trident, representing creation, preservation, and destruction/ and holding together sattva, rajas, tamas.
Vishnu: Sustainer of the Universe. He has patience and is merciful. That which prevails the universe
Vishnu is usually depicted as blue (an indication of the sea and sky - the conservative and continuous energy). He holds a conch (creative energy + what sound does a conch make when you blow in it? AUM!) and a discus. He holds the lotus flower (the unfolding of the mind and representation of purity) and mace/club of karma (for the destruction of evil). His vahana is Garuda, the eagle. And two of his incarnations are Krishna and Rama.
Brahma: The Creator Four Faces (from which the four Vedas came) in each direction representing 4 aspects of the mind:
• Manas - Cognative • Buddhi - Intellectual • Ahankara - Ego • Citta - Memory
He is no longer worshipped but still maintains his status as the most important in the trinity. His wife, read up on that for more info, is Saraswati
Shiva: The Destroyer (but constructive destruction - matter is transformed!) Auspicious One
Shiva is colored blue or white, and usually shown in deep mediation and/or in a yogic seated position. He carries a trident, a drum (symbolizing sound and therefore the universe), his cobra necklace shows Shiva’s power and alertness minus reaction but also they can represent things that prevent us from achieving spiritual awareness. Snakes (Nagas) guard gems (spiritual knowledge) - representing the poison thwarting you on your path to spiritual gems!
Shiva has a crescent moon on his head which can represent his control over nature and time. He has a third eye, giving him the sight of knowledge and wisdom. He is sometimes represented as half man/half woman - the woman being Parvati, his wife. They both live in the mountains being yogis. He is often represented by the Shiva Lingham - a phallic symbol of fertility, masculinity, and divine energy. The bottom is the feminine aspect. Coming together it represents the union of feminine and masculine, of purusha and prakriti.
You might know Shiva as Nataraja, meaning Lord of Dance (the act of creation), surrounded by a circular fire. He carries the damaru (drum), the cosmic creation and time within the beat of rhythm, and the agni (fire) the flame of destruction (but think of what happens with fire in nature - destroys so new creation can breathe and live!). The lower right hand is in the Abhya Mudra - fear not pose! He is graceful and strong, expressive and commanding.
Trimurti / The three energies 1. Brahma - creative force; generator 2. Shiva - transformative; destroyer 3. Vishnu - sustainer/preserver; operator
TRINITY: • Saraswati • Lakshmi • Parvati