《梨俱吠陀》中,她是(shi)(shi)一條河及(ji)河川(chuan)之(zhi)(zhi)神(shen)的(de)名字(zi),能除(chu)人之(zhi)(zhi)穢,給人財富(fu)、后代、勇氣(qi)。《梵書》和史(shi)詩(shi)《摩訶婆(po)羅多(duo)(duo)》中,她變為(wei)語言(yan)(yan)女(nv)神(shen)。后傳說她是(shi)(shi)語言(yan)(yan)、知識女(nv)神(shen),是(shi)(shi)梵語及(ji)天(tian)城體字(zi)母(mu)的(de)創(chuang)造者(zhe),掌管詩(shi)歌、音(yin)樂,是(shi)(shi)藝術和科學的(de)保護者(zhe),因(yin)其多(duo)(duo)智(zhi)(zhi)善辯(bian),成為(wei)智(zhi)(zhi)慧與雄辯(bian)女(nv)神(shen)。有時也作(zuo)毗濕(shi)奴之(zhi)(zhi)妻。她皮膚白皙,身(shen)坐(zuo)蓮(lian)花寶(bao)座,坐(zuo)騎是(shi)(shi)天(tian)鵝,生有四臂(bei),分執(zhi)琴、經(jing)書、念珠(zhu)和蓮(lian)花,象(xiang)征藝術、智(zhi)(zhi)慧與寫作(zuo)及(ji)虔誠。大(da)乘佛教(jiao)吸收她為(wei)菩薩,稱大(da)辯(bian)才天(tian)女(nv)或妙(miao)音(yin)佛母(mu),是(shi)(shi)文(wen)殊的(de)妻子。
辯才天女(Sarasvati)在(zai)《摩訶(he)婆羅多》中(zhong)(zhong)被譽(yu)為(wei)智慧的(de)化身,大約她在(zai)史(shi)詩(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)角色(se),和繆斯(Muse)在(zai)西歐的(de)史(shi)詩(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)角色(se)是(shi)十分相近的(de)。
在《梨俱吠(fei)陀(Rig Veda)》中,第一(yi)次(ci)提到(dao)Sarasvati寫(xie)到(dao):
Sarasvati, the mighty flood,? she with be light illuminates,
這里Sarasvati是一條(tiao)吠(fei)陀時代的(de)河流(不知是否有考古方(fang)面的(de)證據),在《梨俱吠(fei)陀(Rig Veda)》的(de)《HYMN LXXV. The Rivers.》中,把(ba)Sarasvati和Ganga,Yamuna,Sutudri,Parusni一起贊頌。
在《梨俱(ju)吠陀(Rig Veda)》中(zhong),Sarasvati主要象征著(zhu)力量與財富,她(ta)殺死了(le)Paravatas(就像因陀羅(luo)殺死敵人)。
在《梨俱(ju)吠(fei)陀(tuo)(Rig Veda)》中還提(ti)到:
She brightens every pious thought.
...
she, rich in spoil, is never niggardly in thought
而且
We call upon Sarasvan, as unmarried men who long for wives,
As liberal men who yearn for sons.
...
May we enjoy Sarasvan's breast, all-beautiful, that swells with streams,
May we gain food and progeny.
雖(sui)然很少有(you)遺(yi)留的作(zuo)品現(xian)世她的身份象(xiang)征具(ju)體是如何變(bian)化(hua)的,不過可能這些為后來Sarasvati變(bian)成了(le)象(xiang)征智(zhi)慧和知識的辯才天女埋下了(le)一些伏筆吧。
《大(da)日經(jing)疏》五曰(yue):‘次(ci)(ci)北(bei)置(zhi)薩(sa)啰薩(sa)伐底Sarasvati,譯云妙(miao)音(yin)樂天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),或(huo)曰(yue)辯(bian)(bian)才(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),次(ci)(ci)北(bei)并置(zhi)其(qi)(qi)妃。’是(shi)(shi)各有(you)妃,故為(wei)男天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)。同疏十(shi)曰(yue):‘美(mei)(mei)音(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),是(shi)(shi)諸天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)顯詠(yong)美(mei)(mei)者,與(yu)干闥(ta)(ta)婆稍異(yi),彼是(shi)(shi)奏樂者也(ye)。’《金(jin)光(guang)明》云大(da)辯(bian)(bian)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv),大(da)辯(bian)(bian)謂后也(ye)。’是(shi)(shi)妙(miao)音(yin)乃男天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)之(zhi)名(ming)(ming),大(da)辯(bian)(bian)乃其(qi)(qi)后之(zhi)名(ming)(ming)。《大(da)日經(jing)義釋》七曰(yue):‘美(mei)(mei)音(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)亦名(ming)(ming)辯(bian)(bian)才(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),是(shi)(shi)諸天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)中歌詠(yong)美(mei)(mei)妙(miao)者,猶如毗首羯磨工于伎巧(qiao)之(zhi)類,非(fei)干闥(ta)(ta)婆也(ye)。’《大(da)隨(sui)求(qiu)(qiu)(qiu)經(jing)》上曰(yue):‘大(da)辯(bian)(bian)才(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)。’《不空罥索經(jing)》十(shi)五曰(yue):‘辯(bian)(bian)才(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)。’此等皆為(wei)女(nv)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)也(ye)。聰明而(er)有(you)辯(bian)(bian)才(cai),故曰(yue)辯(bian)(bian)才(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),能發美(mei)(mei)音(yin)而(er)歌詠(yong),故名(ming)(ming)美(mei)(mei)音(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)、妙(miao)音(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),為(wei)主智(zhi)慧、福德之(zhi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)神,若供養此天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)則可得(de)(de)福與(yu)智(zhi)慧。《最勝王經(jing)·大(da)辯(bian)(bian)才(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)品》云:‘現(xian)為(wei)閻(yan)羅(luo)之(zhi)長姊,常著(zhu)青色野蠶衣,好丑容(rong)儀具有(you),眼目能令(ling)見者怖。’ 又曰(yue):‘若有(you)法師說是(shi)(shi)《金(jin)光(guang)明最勝王經(jing)》者,我當益其(qi)(qi)智(zhi)慧具足莊嚴辯(bian)(bian)說之(zhi)辯(bian)(bian)。’ 該(gai)經(jing)有(you)詩(shi)贊曰(yue):‘若人欲(yu)得(de)(de)最上智(zhi),應當一心(xin)持此法,增長福智(zhi)諸功德,必(bi)定成就勿(wu)生(sheng)疑;若求(qiu)(qiu)(qiu)財者得(de)(de)多財,求(qiu)(qiu)(qiu)名(ming)(ming)稱者得(de)(de)名(ming)(ming)稱,求(qiu)(qiu)(qiu)出(chu)離(li)者得(de)(de)解脫,必(bi)定成就勿(wu)生(sheng)疑。’
佛(fo)寺中的造像常(chang)將(jiang)之作女菩薩(sa)相,菩薩(sa)衣著,有八臂(bei),旁六(liu)臂(bei)分執火輪(lun)、劍(jian)、弓、箭、斧、 索等。中兩臂(bei)合(he)十。腳下有獅(shi)、虎、狐(hu)、豹等野獸。