《梨俱吠陀》中(zhong),她是(shi)一條河及河川之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)神(shen)(shen)的(de)名字(zi),能除人(ren)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)穢(hui),給人(ren)財富、后代、勇氣。《梵書》和(he)史詩《摩訶婆羅多(duo)(duo)》中(zhong),她變為(wei)語(yu)言(yan)女(nv)神(shen)(shen)。后傳說她是(shi)語(yu)言(yan)、知識女(nv)神(shen)(shen),是(shi)梵語(yu)及天(tian)城體字(zi)母(mu)的(de)創(chuang)造者(zhe),掌管詩歌、音樂,是(shi)藝(yi)術(shu)和(he)科學的(de)保(bao)護者(zhe),因其多(duo)(duo)智善辯(bian),成為(wei)智慧與雄辯(bian)女(nv)神(shen)(shen)。有(you)時也作毗濕奴之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)妻(qi)。她皮膚白皙,身坐蓮(lian)花寶(bao)座,坐騎(qi)是(shi)天(tian)鵝,生有(you)四臂,分(fen)執(zhi)琴、經書、念珠和(he)蓮(lian)花,象征(zheng)藝(yi)術(shu)、智慧與寫(xie)作及虔(qian)誠(cheng)。大乘(cheng)佛教(jiao)吸(xi)收她為(wei)菩薩,稱大辯(bian)才天(tian)女(nv)或妙(miao)音佛母(mu),是(shi)文殊(shu)的(de)妻(qi)子(zi)。
辯才天女(Sarasvati)在《摩訶婆羅多(duo)》中被譽為(wei)智慧的(de)化身,大約(yue)她在史詩中的(de)角色(se),和繆斯(si)(Muse)在西歐的(de)史詩中的(de)角色(se)是十分相近的(de)。
在(zai)《梨俱吠陀(Rig Veda)》中,第(di)一次提到(dao)Sarasvati寫到(dao):
Sarasvati, the mighty flood,? she with be light illuminates,
這里Sarasvati是(shi)一條吠陀時代的河流(不(bu)知是(shi)否有考(kao)古方(fang)面的證據),在《梨俱吠陀(Rig Veda)》的《HYMN LXXV. The Rivers.》中(zhong),把(ba)Sarasvati和Ganga,Yamuna,Sutudri,Parusni一起(qi)贊頌。
在《梨俱(ju)吠陀(tuo)(Rig Veda)》中,Sarasvati主要象(xiang)征著力(li)量與財富,她(ta)殺(sha)死了Paravatas(就像因陀(tuo)羅殺(sha)死敵人)。
在《梨俱吠陀(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)然很少有遺(yi)留的(de)作(zuo)品(pin)現世她的(de)身(shen)份象征(zheng)具體(ti)是如何(he)變(bian)化的(de),不過可能(neng)這些為后來Sarasvati變(bian)成了象征(zheng)智慧(hui)和知識的(de)辯才天女埋(mai)下了一些伏筆吧。
《大(da)日(ri)經(jing)疏》五曰(yue)(yue):‘次北置薩啰薩伐底(di)Sarasvati,譯云妙(miao)音樂天(tian),或曰(yue)(yue)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)(cai)天(tian),次北并置其(qi)(qi)妃。’是(shi)各(ge)有(you)妃,故為(wei)男天(tian)。同疏十(shi)曰(yue)(yue):‘美(mei)音天(tian),是(shi)諸(zhu)天(tian)顯詠(yong)美(mei)者(zhe),與(yu)干闥婆(po)稍異,彼(bi)是(shi)奏樂者(zhe)也。’《金(jin)光明》云大(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)天(tian)女(nv)(nv),大(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)謂(wei)后(hou)也。’是(shi)妙(miao)音乃男天(tian)之(zhi)(zhi)名,大(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)乃其(qi)(qi)后(hou)之(zhi)(zhi)名。《大(da)日(ri)經(jing)義釋》七曰(yue)(yue):‘美(mei)音天(tian)亦名辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)(cai)天(tian),是(shi)諸(zhu)天(tian)中歌詠(yong)美(mei)妙(miao)者(zhe),猶如毗首羯磨工于伎巧(qiao)之(zhi)(zhi)類,非干闥婆(po)也。’《大(da)隨求經(jing)》上曰(yue)(yue):‘大(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)(cai)天(tian)女(nv)(nv)。’《不空罥索經(jing)》十(shi)五曰(yue)(yue):‘辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)(cai)天(tian)女(nv)(nv)。’此(ci)等皆為(wei)女(nv)(nv)天(tian)也。聰(cong)明而有(you)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)(cai),故曰(yue)(yue)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)(cai)天(tian),能(neng)發美(mei)音而歌詠(yong),故名美(mei)音天(tian)、妙(miao)音天(tian),為(wei)主智(zhi)慧(hui)、福(fu)德之(zhi)(zhi)天(tian)神,若供養此(ci)天(tian)則可得(de)福(fu)與(yu)智(zhi)慧(hui)。《最勝王經(jing)·大(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)(cai)(cai)天(tian)女(nv)(nv)品》云:‘現為(wei)閻羅之(zhi)(zhi)長姊,常著青色(se)野蠶衣,好丑(chou)容儀具有(you),眼目能(neng)令見者(zhe)怖。’ 又曰(yue)(yue):‘若有(you)法師說是(shi)《金(jin)光明最勝王經(jing)》者(zhe),我當益(yi)其(qi)(qi)智(zhi)慧(hui)具足(zu)莊嚴(yan)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)說之(zhi)(zhi)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)。’ 該(gai)經(jing)有(you)詩(shi)贊曰(yue)(yue):‘若人欲得(de)最上智(zhi),應當一心持(chi)此(ci)法,增長福(fu)智(zhi)諸(zhu)功德,必(bi)定成就勿生疑(yi);若求財(cai)者(zhe)得(de)多財(cai),求名稱(cheng)者(zhe)得(de)名稱(cheng),求出離者(zhe)得(de)解脫(tuo),必(bi)定成就勿生疑(yi)。’
佛(fo)寺中(zhong)的(de)造(zao)像常將之作(zuo)女菩薩相,菩薩衣著,有八臂(bei)(bei),旁(pang)六臂(bei)(bei)分執(zhi)火(huo)輪(lun)、劍、弓(gong)、箭、斧(fu)、 索等。中(zhong)兩臂(bei)(bei)合十。腳(jiao)下有獅、虎(hu)、狐、豹等野獸。