《梨(li)俱吠(fei)陀(tuo)》中,她是(shi)一(yi)條(tiao)河及(ji)(ji)河川之(zhi)神的(de)名字(zi),能除人之(zhi)穢,給人財(cai)富、后(hou)代、勇(yong)氣(qi)。《梵(fan)書》和(he)史詩《摩訶(he)婆羅多(duo)》中,她變為語言(yan)女神。后(hou)傳說她是(shi)語言(yan)、知識女神,是(shi)梵(fan)語及(ji)(ji)天城體字(zi)母的(de)創造者(zhe),掌管詩歌(ge)、音(yin)樂,是(shi)藝術和(he)科學的(de)保(bao)護(hu)者(zhe),因(yin)其多(duo)智(zhi)善辯,成(cheng)為智(zhi)慧與(yu)雄辯女神。有(you)時也作毗濕奴(nu)之(zhi)妻。她皮(pi)膚白皙,身坐蓮花寶(bao)座,坐騎(qi)是(shi)天鵝,生有(you)四(si)臂,分執琴、經書、念珠和(he)蓮花,象征(zheng)藝術、智(zhi)慧與(yu)寫(xie)作及(ji)(ji)虔誠。大(da)乘佛教吸收(shou)她為菩薩,稱大(da)辯才天女或妙音(yin)佛母,是(shi)文殊的(de)妻子(zi)。
辯才(cai)天(tian)女(Sarasvati)在(zai)《摩訶婆(po)羅多》中(zhong)被(bei)譽為智慧(hui)的化身,大約她在(zai)史詩(shi)中(zhong)的角色(se),和繆斯(Muse)在(zai)西歐的史詩(shi)中(zhong)的角色(se)是十分相近(jin)的。
在《梨俱吠(fei)陀(Rig Veda)》中,第一次提到Sarasvati寫到:
Sarasvati, the mighty flood,? she with be light illuminates,
這里Sarasvati是一條吠(fei)陀時代(dai)的(de)河流(不知是否有(you)考古方(fang)面的(de)證據),在(zai)《梨俱吠(fei)陀(Rig Veda)》的(de)《HYMN LXXV. The Rivers.》中,把Sarasvati和Ganga,Yamuna,Sutudri,Parusni一起贊頌。
在《梨俱吠陀(Rig Veda)》中,Sarasvati主要(yao)象征著力量與財(cai)富,她殺(sha)死(si)了Paravatas(就像因陀羅(luo)殺(sha)死(si)敵人)。
在《梨俱吠陀(tuo)(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.
雖然很少有遺(yi)留的(de)(de)(de)作品現世(shi)她(ta)的(de)(de)(de)身份象(xiang)征具體是如何變(bian)化的(de)(de)(de),不過可(ke)能這些為后(hou)來Sarasvati變(bian)成(cheng)了象(xiang)征智慧和知識的(de)(de)(de)辯才天女埋下了一些伏筆吧(ba)。
《大(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)日經(jing)(jing)疏》五(wu)曰(yue)(yue):‘次(ci)北(bei)置薩(sa)啰薩(sa)伐底Sarasvati,譯云妙(miao)音(yin)樂天(tian)(tian)(tian),或(huo)曰(yue)(yue)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian),次(ci)北(bei)并置其妃。’是各有(you)(you)妃,故為(wei)(wei)男天(tian)(tian)(tian)。同(tong)疏十曰(yue)(yue):‘美(mei)(mei)音(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian),是諸天(tian)(tian)(tian)顯詠美(mei)(mei)者(zhe),與(yu)干闥婆(po)(po)稍異,彼是奏(zou)樂者(zhe)也(ye)。’《金(jin)光明》云大(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)天(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv),大(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)謂后也(ye)。’是妙(miao)音(yin)乃(nai)男天(tian)(tian)(tian)之名,大(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)乃(nai)其后之名。《大(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)日經(jing)(jing)義釋(shi)》七曰(yue)(yue):‘美(mei)(mei)音(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian)亦名辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian),是諸天(tian)(tian)(tian)中(zhong)歌詠美(mei)(mei)妙(miao)者(zhe),猶如毗首羯磨(mo)工(gong)于伎(ji)巧之類,非干闥婆(po)(po)也(ye)。’《大(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)隨求(qiu)經(jing)(jing)》上曰(yue)(yue):‘大(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)。’《不空罥(juan)索經(jing)(jing)》十五(wu)曰(yue)(yue):‘辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)。’此等皆為(wei)(wei)女(nv)天(tian)(tian)(tian)也(ye)。聰明而(er)有(you)(you)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai),故曰(yue)(yue)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian),能發(fa)美(mei)(mei)音(yin)而(er)歌詠,故名美(mei)(mei)音(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian)、妙(miao)音(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian),為(wei)(wei)主智慧、福德之天(tian)(tian)(tian)神,若供養此天(tian)(tian)(tian)則可得福與(yu)智慧。《最勝王經(jing)(jing)·大(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)(da)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)才(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)品》云:‘現為(wei)(wei)閻(yan)羅(luo)之長(chang)姊(zi),常著青色野(ye)蠶衣,好丑(chou)容儀具有(you)(you),眼(yan)目能令見者(zhe)怖。’ 又曰(yue)(yue):‘若有(you)(you)法(fa)(fa)師(shi)說是《金(jin)光明最勝王經(jing)(jing)》者(zhe),我當益其智慧具足莊嚴(yan)辯(bian)(bian)(bian)說之辯(bian)(bian)(bian)。’ 該經(jing)(jing)有(you)(you)詩(shi)贊曰(yue)(yue):‘若人欲得最上智,應當一心持此法(fa)(fa),增長(chang)福智諸功德,必定(ding)成就勿(wu)(wu)生疑;若求(qiu)財者(zhe)得多財,求(qiu)名稱者(zhe)得名稱,求(qiu)出離者(zhe)得解脫,必定(ding)成就勿(wu)(wu)生疑。’
佛寺中的造像常將(jiang)之作女菩(pu)(pu)薩(sa)相,菩(pu)(pu)薩(sa)衣著,有(you)八臂(bei)(bei),旁六臂(bei)(bei)分執火輪(lun)、劍、弓、箭、斧、 索等。中兩臂(bei)(bei)合十。腳下有(you)獅、虎、狐、豹等野獸。