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Goddess Saraswati
Jain Saraswati in Abu Jain nTemples
Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, is considered to be the source of all the learning. This divine energy is the source of spiritual light, remover of all ignorance and promoter of all knowledge. She is respected and adored by all the faiths, worldly persons and saints. She has four arms, one holding a book, the other a rosary and two hands holding a musical instrument
Veenä. Her seat is a lotus and the peacock is her vehicle
representing equanimity in prosperity. In some places it is mentioned that the swan is her vehicle.
The ancient Jain text like Jain Sutras. Bhagawati- Sutra,
Mahanistha- Sutra, and Sansare-Daranala etc text
mentioned about her form and different attributes. As per as the
textual reference Saraswati is popularly depicted; in standing
posture. Though her four armed form is very popular but her two
armed, six armed. eight armed and sixteen armed forms are also
found. She is always white complexioned. Varada (boon), Kamal
(lotus), Pustaka (books), and Mala (rosary) are her usual ayudhas
but vina has also been used in some cases, probably in
imitation of Hindu Saraswati. Her vahana is hamsa but in some
exceptional cases it is ; replaced by mayura generally in the
Digambara tradition. The literally reference are also supported by
archaeological evidences. Mathura is the place from where the
earliest of Jain Saraswati was discovered. The site has yielded
three significant Sarasvati sculptures including the oldest known one.
The earliest extant image of Sarasvati, dated 132 C.E. also
belongs to Jaina tradition is now housed
in the State museum of Lucknow, U.P. This image of Saraswati was created for a temple of the
Jains, a faith that originated in the fifth century B.C. The great
jain saint Yashovijayji sought the blessing of Goddess of knowledge, Saraswati to formulate and construct Jain scriptures, which he
mentioned in the second stanza of Jambuswami Raas.
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