Entry for January 23, 2007

  I am not a very religious person if you consider the standard for religiousity. But I do believe in a higher power, whatever name you call it. I do believe in the power of Intent and Focus. I have come to understand the different gods and goddesses that Hinduism professes as a tool for Intent and focus. Each God/Goddess has an aspect of life associated with them. There are a few aspects of life I feel I need to make me feel complete, one of them is Knowledge in all its forms.
Today is Vasant Panchami, the day the Goddess of Knowledge/wisdom, art and music, Saraswathi is said to have Emanated. According to some legends, she is the daughter of Shiva(destroyer) and Durga and the consort of Brahma, the creator. Today is an auspicious day, most Hindus will first introduce their children to learning to read and write. Worship of all sources of knowledge, the most obvious ones being Books is done today.
Saraswati, is believed to endow human beings with the powers of speech, wisdom and learning. She has four hands representing four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, awareness and ego. She holds the vedas in one hand and a mala(meditation beads) â€” the symbol of true knowledge — in the second. With the other two hands she plays the string instrument called the veena, which symbolizes the fact that we need to tune our mind and intellect for Harmony, in the same way as the Veena needs to be tuned and hands need to be adept at playing a harmonious sound.  She is dressed in white — the symbol of purity — and rides on a white swan that symbolises Sattwa Guna or purity and discrimination.
On this day...May wisdom permeate in every thought and action of our lives. May we seek knowledge that is beneficial to all.
peace
Mithuna