DEPICTIONS OF SARASWATI
Saraswati is almost always depicted as a beautiful woman with fair skin sitting on a lotus flower and/or near a body of water, usually the Saraswati River. She is usually dressed in a white sari with gold trim.
She is generally shown with four arms, which represent the four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness, and ego. Alternatively, these four arms also represent the 4 Vedas, the primary sacred books for Hindus. Sometimes she is shown with eight arms.
Saraswati is nearly always depicted holding a musical instrument known as the Saraswati vina (also spelled veena) representing her mastery in music, a mala (rosary or chain) of crystals representing the power of meditation and spirituality, and a copy of the sacred Vedas. Sometimes she is also depicted with holding pot of sacred water, representing her purifying powers.
A white swan is often located next to her feet. The sacred swan, if offered a mixture of milk and water, is said to be able to drink the milk alone. The swan thus symbolizes discrimination between the good and the bad or the eternal and the evanescent.
Sometimes a peacock is shown beside the goddess. The peacock represents arrogance and pride over its beauty, which is meant as a warning to Hindus to be more concerned with truth and wisdom that outward appearances.
