《梨俱吠陀(tuo)》中,她(ta)是一條河(he)及(ji)(ji)河(he)川之(zhi)神的名字(zi),能除人(ren)之(zhi)穢,給人(ren)財富、后代、勇(yong)氣。《梵書(shu)》和史詩《摩(mo)訶(he)婆羅多(duo)》中,她(ta)變為(wei)語言女神。后傳說她(ta)是語言、知識女神,是梵語及(ji)(ji)天(tian)城體字(zi)母的創造者(zhe)(zhe),掌管(guan)詩歌、音樂,是藝術(shu)和科學的保護者(zhe)(zhe),因其多(duo)智(zhi)善辯,成為(wei)智(zhi)慧(hui)與雄辯女神。有時也作(zuo)毗濕奴之(zhi)妻(qi)。她(ta)皮膚白皙,身坐蓮花(hua)寶座,坐騎是天(tian)鵝,生有四(si)臂,分執琴、經書(shu)、念珠(zhu)和蓮花(hua),象征藝術(shu)、智(zhi)慧(hui)與寫(xie)作(zuo)及(ji)(ji)虔誠。大乘(cheng)佛(fo)教(jiao)吸收(shou)她(ta)為(wei)菩(pu)薩,稱大辯才(cai)天(tian)女或妙音佛(fo)母,是文殊的妻(qi)子。
辯才(cai)天女(Sarasvati)在(zai)(zai)《摩(mo)訶婆羅多》中(zhong)被譽(yu)為智慧的化(hua)身,大約她在(zai)(zai)史詩(shi)中(zhong)的角色,和(he)繆斯(Muse)在(zai)(zai)西歐的史詩(shi)中(zhong)的角色是十分相近的。
在《梨俱(ju)吠陀(Rig Veda)》中,第一次提到Sarasvati寫到:
Sarasvati, the mighty flood,? she with be light illuminates,
這里(li)Sarasvati是一條吠陀(tuo)時代的河流(liu)(不知是否有考古方面的證(zheng)據(ju)),在《梨(li)俱吠陀(tuo)(Rig Veda)》的《HYMN LXXV. The Rivers.》中(zhong),把Sarasvati和Ganga,Yamuna,Sutudri,Parusni一起贊頌。
在《梨(li)俱吠陀(Rig Veda)》中,Sarasvati主(zhu)要象(xiang)征(zheng)著力量(liang)與財富,她(ta)殺死了Paravatas(就像因陀羅殺死敵人(ren))。
在《梨俱(ju)吠陀(tuo)(Rig Veda)》中(zhong)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.
雖然很(hen)少有(you)遺(yi)留的作品現(xian)世她的身份象征具體是(shi)如何變化的,不過可(ke)能這些(xie)為后(hou)來(lai)Sarasvati變成了象征智慧和知識(shi)的辯才天女埋下了一些(xie)伏筆吧(ba)。
《大(da)(da)日經(jing)疏》五曰(yue)(yue):‘次北(bei)置(zhi)薩啰薩伐底Sarasvati,譯(yi)云(yun)妙音(yin)樂(le)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),或曰(yue)(yue)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),次北(bei)并置(zhi)其妃(fei)(fei)。’是(shi)各有(you)妃(fei)(fei),故(gu)為(wei)男(nan)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)。同疏十(shi)曰(yue)(yue):‘美音(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),是(shi)諸(zhu)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)顯詠(yong)美者(zhe)(zhe),與(yu)(yu)干闥婆稍(shao)異,彼(bi)是(shi)奏(zou)樂(le)者(zhe)(zhe)也(ye)(ye)。’《金(jin)光明(ming)》云(yun)大(da)(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)(nv),大(da)(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)謂后(hou)也(ye)(ye)。’是(shi)妙音(yin)乃男(nan)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)之(zhi)(zhi)名(ming),大(da)(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)乃其后(hou)之(zhi)(zhi)名(ming)。《大(da)(da)日經(jing)義(yi)釋》七曰(yue)(yue):‘美音(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)亦(yi)名(ming)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),是(shi)諸(zhu)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)中歌詠(yong)美妙者(zhe)(zhe),猶如毗首(shou)羯磨工于伎巧之(zhi)(zhi)類,非干闥婆也(ye)(ye)。’《大(da)(da)隨求(qiu)(qiu)經(jing)》上曰(yue)(yue):‘大(da)(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)(nv)。’《不空(kong)罥索經(jing)》十(shi)五曰(yue)(yue):‘辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)(nv)。’此(ci)(ci)等皆為(wei)女(nv)(nv)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)也(ye)(ye)。聰明(ming)而有(you)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai),故(gu)曰(yue)(yue)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),能發美音(yin)而歌詠(yong),故(gu)名(ming)美音(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)、妙音(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),為(wei)主智(zhi)(zhi)慧(hui)、福(fu)德之(zhi)(zhi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)神(shen),若(ruo)供養此(ci)(ci)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)則可得(de)福(fu)與(yu)(yu)智(zhi)(zhi)慧(hui)。《最勝王經(jing)·大(da)(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)(nv)品》云(yun):‘現為(wei)閻羅之(zhi)(zhi)長姊,常(chang)著青色(se)野蠶衣,好(hao)丑容(rong)儀(yi)具有(you),眼目能令見者(zhe)(zhe)怖。’ 又曰(yue)(yue):‘若(ruo)有(you)法師(shi)說是(shi)《金(jin)光明(ming)最勝王經(jing)》者(zhe)(zhe),我當益其智(zhi)(zhi)慧(hui)具足莊嚴辯(bian)(bian)(bian)說之(zhi)(zhi)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)。’ 該經(jing)有(you)詩(shi)贊曰(yue)(yue):‘若(ruo)人欲得(de)最上智(zhi)(zhi),應當一心持此(ci)(ci)法,增長福(fu)智(zhi)(zhi)諸(zhu)功德,必定(ding)成(cheng)就(jiu)勿生(sheng)(sheng)疑;若(ruo)求(qiu)(qiu)財(cai)者(zhe)(zhe)得(de)多財(cai),求(qiu)(qiu)名(ming)稱(cheng)者(zhe)(zhe)得(de)名(ming)稱(cheng),求(qiu)(qiu)出離(li)者(zhe)(zhe)得(de)解脫,必定(ding)成(cheng)就(jiu)勿生(sheng)(sheng)疑。’
佛寺中的造像常將之(zhi)作女菩(pu)薩相,菩(pu)薩衣著,有八臂,旁六臂分執火輪、劍、弓、箭(jian)、斧、 索等(deng)(deng)。中兩臂合十。腳下(xia)有獅、虎、狐、豹等(deng)(deng)野(ye)獸。