River and Goddess Worship in India ─ Changing Perceptions and Manifestations of Sarasvati

Sarasvati assumes different roles, a physical river and a river goddess, then as a goddess of speech and finally that of a goddess of learning, knowledge, arts and music. The fascination for Sarasvati is apparent in Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Shintoism. In Jainism, her counterpart is Sutra-devi, in Buddhism it is Manjusri and Prajnaparamita and in Shintoism, Benten is the representative goddess. The physical presence of Sarasvati in various iconic forms is seen in Nepal, Tibet and Japan. Tantrism associated with Sarasvati also finds reflection in these cults. Sculptors and art historians take delight in interpreting various symbols her iconic forms represent.

This book examines Sarasvati’s origin, the course of her flow and the place of her disappearance. Based on a close analysis of texts, from the early Rig-Veda to the Brahmanas, it discusses different view-points and drives the discussions towards the emergence of a consensus view. The author delineates the various phases of Sarasvati’s evolution to establish her unique status and emphasise her continued relevance in the Hindu tradition. The book argues that the practice of pilgrimage took a different form after its association with the river Sarasvati who was perceived as divinity personified in Hindu tradition, which in turn led to the emergence of numerous pilgrimage sites on or near her banks which attracted a large number of pilgrims.

A multifaceted and interdisciplinary analysis of a Hindu goddess, this book will be of interest to academics researching South Asian Religion, Hinduism and Indian Philosophy.

R.U.S. Prasad holds a doctorate degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, India and is currently Associate in the Department of South Asian Studies, Harvard University, US.