《梨俱吠陀》中,她(ta)是一條河及河川之神的(de)名字,能(neng)除(chu)人之穢,給人財富、后代(dai)、勇氣(qi)。《梵書》和(he)史詩《摩(mo)訶婆羅(luo)多(duo)(duo)》中,她(ta)變為語言女神。后傳說她(ta)是語言、知識(shi)女神,是梵語及天城(cheng)體字母(mu)的(de)創造者,掌(zhang)管詩歌、音樂,是藝術和(he)科(ke)學的(de)保(bao)護者,因其多(duo)(duo)智善辯(bian),成為智慧與雄(xiong)辯(bian)女神。有時也(ye)作毗濕(shi)奴之妻(qi)。她(ta)皮膚白皙(xi),身坐(zuo)蓮(lian)花寶座,坐(zuo)騎是天鵝,生(sheng)有四臂,分(fen)執琴、經(jing)書、念珠和(he)蓮(lian)花,象征藝術、智慧與寫作及虔(qian)誠。大乘佛(fo)教吸收(shou)她(ta)為菩薩,稱大辯(bian)才天女或妙音佛(fo)母(mu),是文(wen)殊的(de)妻(qi)子。
辯才天女(Sarasvati)在《摩訶婆羅(luo)多》中(zhong)被譽為智(zhi)慧的(de)化(hua)身,大約(yue)她在史(shi)詩中(zhong)的(de)角(jiao)色(se)(se),和繆斯(Muse)在西歐的(de)史(shi)詩中(zhong)的(de)角(jiao)色(se)(se)是十(shi)分相近的(de)。
在(zai)《梨俱吠陀(Rig Veda)》中(zhong),第一次(ci)提到Sarasvati寫(xie)到:
Sarasvati, the mighty flood,? she with be light illuminates,
這里Sarasvati是一(yi)條吠陀時(shi)代的(de)河流(不知是否有考(kao)古方面的(de)證據),在《梨俱吠陀(Rig Veda)》的(de)《HYMN LXXV. The Rivers.》中,把Sarasvati和Ganga,Yamuna,Sutudri,Parusni一(yi)起贊頌。
在(zai)《梨俱吠陀(tuo)(Rig Veda)》中(zhong),Sarasvati主要象征著力量與財(cai)富(fu),她殺死了Paravatas(就(jiu)像因陀(tuo)羅殺死敵人)。
在(zai)《梨(li)俱吠(fei)陀(Rig Veda)》中還提到:
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(hen)少有遺留的作品現世她(ta)的身份象征具體是(shi)如何變(bian)(bian)化的,不過可能(neng)這些(xie)為后來Sarasvati變(bian)(bian)成了(le)象征智慧和知識(shi)的辯才天(tian)女埋下(xia)了(le)一(yi)些(xie)伏筆吧(ba)。
《大日(ri)經(jing)(jing)疏(shu)》五曰(yue)(yue)(yue):‘次北(bei)置薩啰薩伐底Sarasvati,譯云(yun)妙(miao)音樂(le)天(tian),或(huo)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)天(tian),次北(bei)并置其(qi)(qi)妃。’是(shi)(shi)(shi)各有(you)妃,故(gu)(gu)為(wei)男(nan)天(tian)。同疏(shu)十曰(yue)(yue)(yue):‘美音天(tian),是(shi)(shi)(shi)諸(zhu)天(tian)顯詠美者(zhe)(zhe),與干(gan)(gan)闥婆稍異,彼是(shi)(shi)(shi)奏(zou)樂(le)者(zhe)(zhe)也(ye)。’《金光(guang)明》云(yun)大辯(bian)(bian)(bian)天(tian)女(nv),大辯(bian)(bian)(bian)謂后(hou)(hou)也(ye)。’是(shi)(shi)(shi)妙(miao)音乃男(nan)天(tian)之(zhi)名,大辯(bian)(bian)(bian)乃其(qi)(qi)后(hou)(hou)之(zhi)名。《大日(ri)經(jing)(jing)義(yi)釋》七曰(yue)(yue)(yue):‘美音天(tian)亦名辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)天(tian),是(shi)(shi)(shi)諸(zhu)天(tian)中歌(ge)詠美妙(miao)者(zhe)(zhe),猶如(ru)毗首羯磨工于伎巧之(zhi)類,非干(gan)(gan)闥婆也(ye)。’《大隨求經(jing)(jing)》上(shang)(shang)曰(yue)(yue)(yue):‘大辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)天(tian)女(nv)。’《不空罥(juan)索經(jing)(jing)》十五曰(yue)(yue)(yue):‘辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)天(tian)女(nv)。’此(ci)(ci)等(deng)皆為(wei)女(nv)天(tian)也(ye)。聰明而有(you)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai),故(gu)(gu)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)天(tian),能(neng)發(fa)美音而歌(ge)詠,故(gu)(gu)名美音天(tian)、妙(miao)音天(tian),為(wei)主智(zhi)慧(hui)(hui)、福德(de)之(zhi)天(tian)神,若(ruo)供養此(ci)(ci)天(tian)則(ze)可得福與智(zhi)慧(hui)(hui)。《最(zui)勝王經(jing)(jing)·大辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)天(tian)女(nv)品》云(yun):‘現為(wei)閻羅(luo)之(zhi)長姊,常(chang)著青色(se)野蠶(can)衣,好丑容儀(yi)具(ju)有(you),眼目能(neng)令(ling)見者(zhe)(zhe)怖。’ 又曰(yue)(yue)(yue):‘若(ruo)有(you)法師說是(shi)(shi)(shi)《金光(guang)明最(zui)勝王經(jing)(jing)》者(zhe)(zhe),我當益其(qi)(qi)智(zhi)慧(hui)(hui)具(ju)足莊嚴(yan)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)說之(zhi)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)。’ 該經(jing)(jing)有(you)詩贊曰(yue)(yue)(yue):‘若(ruo)人欲得最(zui)上(shang)(shang)智(zhi),應當一心(xin)持此(ci)(ci)法,增長福智(zhi)諸(zhu)功德(de),必定成就(jiu)勿生(sheng)(sheng)疑;若(ruo)求財者(zhe)(zhe)得多財,求名稱者(zhe)(zhe)得名稱,求出離(li)者(zhe)(zhe)得解脫,必定成就(jiu)勿生(sheng)(sheng)疑。’
佛寺中(zhong)的造(zao)像(xiang)常將之作女菩(pu)薩相(xiang),菩(pu)薩衣著,有八臂,旁六臂分執火輪、劍、弓、箭、斧、 索(suo)等(deng)(deng)。中(zhong)兩臂合(he)十。腳下有獅、虎、狐、豹等(deng)(deng)野獸。