The Identity of Saraswati and Lakshmi

I know many of you might've got confused with the title. But let me clear, here I'm just gathering some of the ideas I came across. They are not my views. (meenakshi, you're welcome).


Saraswati with her wisdom, Lakshmi with her prosperity and Parvati with her tremendous power and her capability of restoring righteousness have always wondered me. As I read more about them I got confused a lot. So here I'm leaving those points for you so that the elders and the learnt among you can direct many of us in the right way. Try not to get confused!


1. Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ratri and Durga are well-explained in Vedas where as Parvati is never mentioned in them, even a single time. In present scenario, Parvati has gained more importance being considered to be Aadi Shakti herself, beyond Saraswati and Lakshmi who are usually on the side now a days. How did Parvati appear in our literatures when Vedas have said nothing about her?


2. Though the Kena Upanishad (3.12) contains a goddess called Uma-Haimavati, she is just only a mountain goddess who has no relation to Parvati!


3. Both Durga Saptashati aka Devi Mahaatmyam and Shrimad Devi Maha Bhaagawatam hails Lakshmi and Saraswati repeatedly both directly and indirectly (not Maha Saraswati and Maha Lakshmi) where as Parvati is given a little less importance. DSS explains the helplessness of Parvati who was unable to fight Mahishaasura. DSS gives only an indirect mention in that where as Devi Bhagawatam clears Parvati could do nothing with Mahishasura.


4. In DSS uttama charitra- 5/38, it is said Parvati was unknown about the Goddess who has been being prayed by Devatas tortured by Shumbha-Nishumbha. When she herself is said to be Aadi Shakti how come she is unaware about this fact? She is Trikaala Ateeta, right? I mean beyond all time.


5.Lets go through the derivation and meanings of the name of goddess trio!
Saraswati= it means saras(flow) wati(the one who has). That is the one who is fluent or the ultimate flow of everything. She is the flow of birth, death, knowledge, wealth and from anything to everything. Its her who keeps all alive through her flow, through her Chaitanya. That is the real meaning of Saraswati. Her another name acc to Vedas is Druga which means the one who is hostile. So she also has a lesser known aggressive side. Also Veads say she has fought a rakshasi by name Drug.
Lakshmi= this is a confusing name, as she has been considered as the goddess of wealth and its meaning has no direct relation to wealth. Lakshmi is formed from the root(dhatu) Lakshye which means Mark/Target/Goal. And what is the target? Restoring righteousness or simply Dharma Samsthaapana. That is very important as Dharma Samsthaapana is a word that could include every facet of Aadi Shakti in it.
Parvati- the daughter of Parvata (Himavan). Hmm... I'm silent here.
Now tell me how can we consider Saraswati only as the goddess of Wisdom, Lakshmi as that of wealth and Parvati as the ultimate power? Each of these is complete and not different from each other, basically. Its left to you!


6.According to evidences arranged in Chronological order, it can be understood that Parvati has made her official entry into literature during epic period (400 BCC400 AD) and she emerged out as the major diety during Puranic period (400AD-1300AD) where as Lakshmi and Saraswati were already found their places since Vedic Period (8000BC-400BC, roughly).


What made me to create this post is I've always witnessed sidelining of Saraswati and Lakshmi behind Parvati by many people, saying Saraswati is only just the goddess of wisdom, Lakshmi is only just the goddess of wealth, where as Parvati is Aadi Shakti herself. I felt many are not giving importance to Lakshmi and Saraswati. May be due to our Agyaan/Ajnaana. Acc to DSS, we should worship the right goddess. Else it may lead to the devastating end of everything.


I have to confess, having been a student in Sanskrit literature for a lesser time, I consider the older books more authentic. We've learnt that the older a book, the more authentic, accurate and less ambiguous it is. When we hail Vedas are the root of Hinduism, why do we forget the tradition in them?


Concluding all, I want to say is whenever we pray Lakshmi or Saraswati, remember they are not just only the goddesses of wealth and wisdom respectively. They mean everything. When these facts are so clear and evident, I dont know why many consider Lakshmi and Saraswati just only as imcomplete aspects of Aadi Shakti. Those who do Dharma Samsthaapana and evoking Chaitanya in everything must be considered equally as well. Isn't it?


Critics are most welcomed. I request the senior learnt members of the forum to bring more clarity in the topic.

Thanks for bearing me

JAMy.

thanks for the reply meenakshi. The points you said are all valid according to both DSS and SDMB.

But still I'm confused as I've always came across most of the times Parvati being praised as Aadi Shakti, not Saraswati or Lakshmi. But when I read literatures, I couldn't find any clues pointing towards it. All literatures, esp Vedas, hail Saraswati and Lakshmi. Since Vedas are considered containing the ultimate knowledge written, aren't we supposed to go with them? They don't even mention Parvati. As more deep I went, I'm finding both Lakshmi and Saraswati nearer to Aadi Shakti than Parvati. May be I'm confused. Why nowhere we can find Lakshmi or Saraswati being hailed as the ultimate power? I know the mantras and strotras do it. But when common peope talk or do rituals, why Parvati is given more importance? Why not Lakshmi or Saraswati? Hope you'll clear it.

This confusion is thanks to this show, where at times, even the writers must be confused, as they have to incorporate the Purana's fact in their imaginary story, so don't fall for it. The written scripts are more authentic & if their reference is found in other scripts too that makes it better. More then any books what one experiences while following or worshipping them carries more importance. Different power is experienced while worshipping various forms.

Originally posted by: June_Anne_Mary

I know the mantras and strotras do it. But when common peope talk or do rituals, why Parvati is given more importance? Why not Lakshmi or Saraswati? Hope you'll clear it.

@varaali, MahaLakshmi vrat is followed on all Thursdays of Shravan in Maharashtra.

meenakshi that answer really sounds soothing. Thanks for it. I know its a sin to grade devatas. But I was not grading. Just raised a doubt why she is hailed as Aadi Shakti when evidences point towards someone else than her. Now I'm satisfied with your answer.


varaali so among Vaishnavites Parvati is not given much importance. That is something new for me. I was unaware about this fact since I'm from Kerala where no such divisions as Shaiva or Vaishnava prevails. Thanks for the information.

varaali not exactly towards serial makers. I told generally regarding customs and all. I studied in Karnataka. There too Parvati is given more importance. Also from my north indian friends, I've learnt they also give more importance to her only. Also when I started following the show, I observed the same. But while going through books, I got different views. So posted here for clarification.


meenakshi here we dont have any vrata and all for Lakshmi other than akshaya tritiya, if I'm right. Also there is a day for Lakshmi based on the story of golen amlaki falling down, related to Aadi Shankara. saraswati given importance only during navaratri. In fact, here navaratri is mainly for Saraswati. But all other festivals, customs or any such things include mainly Parvati. That is also a reason for this confusion!

sorry guys, my like button is not working.😕

Hey guys thanks for all the information and discussions about the Supreme Power. And thanks for this this useful thread.