Essay name: Goddesses from the Samhitas to the Sutras
Author:
Rajeshri Goswami
Affiliation: Jadavpur University / Department of Sanskrit
This essay studies the Goddesses from the Samhitas to the Sutras. In short, this thesis examines Vedic goddesses by analyzing their images, functions, and social positions. It further details how natural and abstract elements were personified as goddesses, whose characteristics evolved with societal changes.
Chapter 1
144 (of 144)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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31 163 32
by her divine might. She is especially called 'the holy Sarasvati'
being described elsewhere as being gracious by virtue of her holy
thoughts 33 Naturally, therefore, she is invoked as the foremost
among the "watery Queens ruling over wealth" (apo revati岣� k峁yatha)
to prolong vitality (vayas) for the singer:
34 such gods of prosperity
35 as Indra and Agni are said to be her associates, and her wealth
- bestowing nature is compared to that of Rigan's.
As one of the seven rivers mentioned in the Roveda, she is
called the #7th (saptathi), the Mother of floods or 'of rivers'
(sindhum膩t膩), and is also said to be swelling and flowing with
36 copious milk鈥�. Thus the more primitive and popular conception
seems to have been the notion of the seven deified rivers from
among whom Sarasvati being the most important was gradually abstracted
and elevated to the highest role.
37 31 asurya, RV VII : 96.1.
32 yajat膩 Sarasvati, RV 5.43.11.
33 RV 7.35.11.
34 RV X.) 30.12.
35 RV : 8.38.10.
21 21 3327
36 RV : 7.36.6.
RV : 3.4.8, 8.54.4, etc.
