Consort · All traditions · Pan-India

Saraswati

Also called: Vac, Sharada, Brahmani, Vagdevi

Goddess of speech, learning and the arts, and the most sensitive figure in Brahma's cycle: the Puranas make her his daughter only, his consort only, or both, and the desire motif behind that split descends from the Vedic story of Prajapati and Ushas. A widespread belief places her as a swan in the mouth of the four-faced Brahma.

Sources: Saraswati — Wikipedia · see Saraswati's web

Relations 4

Saraswati child of

Brahma (God) · Saraswati: daughter, consort, or both
Daughter in the Brahma, Padma, Skanda, Matsya and Bhagavata Puranas; born from his split body (Matsya) or his essence.

Saraswati consort of

Brahma (God) · Saraswati: daughter, consort, or both
Consort in the Matsya, Bhagavata, Brahma Vaivarta and Devi Bhagavata Puranas; NOT in the Brahma, Padma and Skanda Puranas, where she is daughter only.

Saraswati cursed

Brahma (God) Shaiva · Saraswati: daughter, consort, or both
Shiva Purana version: she rejects his advances, curses him and departs.

Saraswati emanates from

Mahadevi (God) Shakta · Who made whom: the Devi Bhagavata's frame
As Mahasaraswati, one of the Tridevi born of the Goddess (Book 3).

Stories 7

Why Brahma has four heads
Origin · as the reason in the Matsya telling · 2 tellings
Saraswati: daughter, consort, or both
Origin · as the female half, daughter and or consort · 6 tellings
Kumbakonam: Brahma loses the Vedas and wins them back
Temple legend · as flanks Brahma in the shrine · 1 telling
Saraswati's forty-eight letters found the Madurai Sangam
Local story · as takes forty-eight bodies · 1 telling
Bhrigu tests the three gods
Legend · as with Brahma (Padma Purana variant) · 4 tellings
Anasuya tests the three gods
Legend · as sends Brahma · 4 tellings
Who made whom: the Devi Bhagavata's frame
How a tradition frames it · as paired with Brahma on return · 1 telling

Cited

Saraswati — Wikipedia Encyclopedia