《梨俱吠陀(tuo)》中,她(ta)是一條河及河川之神的(de)名字(zi),能除人(ren)之穢,給(gei)人(ren)財富(fu)、后代(dai)、勇氣(qi)。《梵書》和(he)史詩《摩訶婆羅多》中,她(ta)變為語(yu)言(yan)女(nv)(nv)神。后傳說(shuo)她(ta)是語(yu)言(yan)、知識女(nv)(nv)神,是梵語(yu)及天城體(ti)字(zi)母的(de)創造者,掌管(guan)詩歌、音樂,是藝(yi)術和(he)科學的(de)保護者,因其(qi)多智善辯(bian),成為智慧與雄辯(bian)女(nv)(nv)神。有時也作毗(pi)濕奴之妻(qi)。她(ta)皮膚白(bai)皙(xi),身(shen)坐蓮(lian)花(hua)寶座,坐騎(qi)是天鵝(e),生有四臂,分(fen)執琴、經書、念珠和(he)蓮(lian)花(hua),象征藝(yi)術、智慧與寫(xie)作及虔(qian)誠(cheng)。大(da)(da)乘佛教(jiao)吸收(shou)她(ta)為菩薩,稱大(da)(da)辯(bian)才天女(nv)(nv)或妙音佛母,是文殊的(de)妻(qi)子。
辯(bian)才天女(Sarasvati)在(zai)《摩訶婆羅多》中(zhong)被譽為智慧的(de)(de)化身(shen),大約(yue)她在(zai)史詩中(zhong)的(de)(de)角色,和繆斯(Muse)在(zai)西歐的(de)(de)史詩中(zhong)的(de)(de)角色是(shi)十分(fen)相近的(de)(de)。
在《梨(li)俱吠陀(Rig Veda)》中,第一次提(ti)到(dao)Sarasvati寫到(dao):
Sarasvati, the mighty flood,? she with be light illuminates,
這里Sarasvati是(shi)(shi)一條吠(fei)陀時代的(de)河流(不知(zhi)是(shi)(shi)否有考古方面(mian)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(song)。
在《梨(li)俱吠陀(Rig Veda)》中(zhong),Sarasvati主要象(xiang)征著力量與(yu)財富,她(ta)殺死了(le)Paravatas(就像因(yin)陀羅殺死敵人(ren))。
在(zai)《梨俱吠陀(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.
雖然很少有遺(yi)留(liu)的(de)(de)作品(pin)現世她的(de)(de)身份象征(zheng)具(ju)體是如(ru)何變(bian)化(hua)的(de)(de),不過(guo)可能這(zhe)些為后來Sarasvati變(bian)成了象征(zheng)智慧和知識(shi)的(de)(de)辯才天女埋下了一些伏筆(bi)吧(ba)。
《大(da)日經(jing)疏(shu)》五曰(yue):‘次北置(zhi)薩啰薩伐底Sarasvati,譯(yi)云(yun)(yun)妙(miao)音(yin)(yin)樂(le)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),或(huo)曰(yue)辯(bian)(bian)才天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),次北并置(zhi)其妃。’是各有(you)妃,故為(wei)(wei)男天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)。同疏(shu)十曰(yue):‘美(mei)音(yin)(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),是諸天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)顯(xian)詠(yong)(yong)美(mei)者(zhe)(zhe),與干(gan)闥婆(po)稍異,彼(bi)是奏樂(le)者(zhe)(zhe)也(ye)。’《金光明》云(yun)(yun)大(da)辯(bian)(bian)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)(nv),大(da)辯(bian)(bian)謂后(hou)也(ye)。’是妙(miao)音(yin)(yin)乃男天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)之(zhi)名,大(da)辯(bian)(bian)乃其后(hou)之(zhi)名。《大(da)日經(jing)義釋》七(qi)曰(yue):‘美(mei)音(yin)(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)亦(yi)名辯(bian)(bian)才天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),是諸天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)中歌詠(yong)(yong)美(mei)妙(miao)者(zhe)(zhe),猶(you)如毗(pi)首羯磨(mo)工于伎(ji)巧之(zhi)類,非干(gan)闥婆(po)也(ye)。’《大(da)隨(sui)求(qiu)經(jing)》上(shang)曰(yue):‘大(da)辯(bian)(bian)才天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)(nv)。’《不空罥索(suo)經(jing)》十五曰(yue):‘辯(bian)(bian)才天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)(nv)。’此等皆為(wei)(wei)女(nv)(nv)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)也(ye)。聰明而有(you)辯(bian)(bian)才,故曰(yue)辯(bian)(bian)才天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),能發美(mei)音(yin)(yin)而歌詠(yong)(yong),故名美(mei)音(yin)(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)、妙(miao)音(yin)(yin)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),為(wei)(wei)主(zhu)智(zhi)(zhi)慧、福德(de)之(zhi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)神(shen),若(ruo)(ruo)供養此天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)則可得(de)福與智(zhi)(zhi)慧。《最勝(sheng)(sheng)王(wang)經(jing)·大(da)辯(bian)(bian)才天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)(nv)品》云(yun)(yun):‘現為(wei)(wei)閻羅之(zhi)長(chang)姊,常著青(qing)色野蠶衣(yi),好丑容儀(yi)具有(you),眼目能令(ling)見者(zhe)(zhe)怖。’ 又(you)曰(yue):‘若(ruo)(ruo)有(you)法師說(shuo)是《金光明最勝(sheng)(sheng)王(wang)經(jing)》者(zhe)(zhe),我當(dang)益其智(zhi)(zhi)慧具足莊嚴辯(bian)(bian)說(shuo)之(zhi)辯(bian)(bian)。’ 該經(jing)有(you)詩贊曰(yue):‘若(ruo)(ruo)人(ren)欲得(de)最上(shang)智(zhi)(zhi),應(ying)當(dang)一心持此法,增長(chang)福智(zhi)(zhi)諸功(gong)德(de),必定(ding)成就勿(wu)生疑;若(ruo)(ruo)求(qiu)財(cai)者(zhe)(zhe)得(de)多財(cai),求(qiu)名稱者(zhe)(zhe)得(de)名稱,求(qiu)出離(li)者(zhe)(zhe)得(de)解脫,必定(ding)成就勿(wu)生疑。’
佛寺中的造像(xiang)常(chang)將之(zhi)作女(nv)菩薩相,菩薩衣著,有八臂,旁六臂分執(zhi)火(huo)輪、劍、弓(gong)、箭(jian)、斧、 索等。中兩臂合十。腳下有獅、虎、狐、豹等野獸。