《梨俱吠陀》中(zhong),她(ta)是(shi)(shi)一條河及河川(chuan)之神的名字(zi),能除人(ren)之穢,給人(ren)財富、后代、勇氣(qi)。《梵書(shu)》和(he)史詩《摩訶(he)婆(po)羅(luo)多(duo)》中(zhong),她(ta)變為(wei)語(yu)(yu)言女神。后傳說她(ta)是(shi)(shi)語(yu)(yu)言、知識女神,是(shi)(shi)梵語(yu)(yu)及天(tian)城體字(zi)母的創造者(zhe),掌(zhang)管詩歌、音(yin)樂,是(shi)(shi)藝術(shu)(shu)和(he)科學(xue)的保(bao)護者(zhe),因(yin)其多(duo)智善辯,成(cheng)為(wei)智慧(hui)與雄辯女神。有時也作(zuo)毗(pi)濕(shi)奴之妻(qi)。她(ta)皮(pi)膚白(bai)皙(xi),身坐蓮花寶座,坐騎是(shi)(shi)天(tian)鵝,生(sheng)有四臂(bei),分執琴、經書(shu)、念(nian)珠和(he)蓮花,象(xiang)征(zheng)藝術(shu)(shu)、智慧(hui)與寫(xie)作(zuo)及虔誠。大乘佛教吸收她(ta)為(wei)菩薩,稱大辯才(cai)天(tian)女或妙音(yin)佛母,是(shi)(shi)文殊的妻(qi)子。
辯才天(tian)女(Sarasvati)在(zai)《摩訶(he)婆羅(luo)多》中被譽為智慧的化身,大約她在(zai)史詩(shi)中的角色,和繆斯(si)(Muse)在(zai)西歐的史詩(shi)中的角色是十分(fen)相近的。
在《梨俱(ju)吠陀(Rig Veda)》中(zhong),第一次(ci)提到Sarasvati寫到:
Sarasvati, the mighty flood,? she with be light illuminates,
這(zhe)里Sarasvati是一條(tiao)吠陀(tuo)時代的河(he)流(不(bu)知(zhi)是否(fou)有(you)考古方面的證據),在《梨俱吠陀(tuo)(Rig Veda)》的《HYMN LXXV. The Rivers.》中,把(ba)Sarasvati和Ganga,Yamuna,Sutudri,Parusni一起贊(zan)頌。
在《梨俱吠陀(Rig Veda)》中(zhong),Sarasvati主要象征著(zhu)力(li)量與財富,她殺死(si)了Paravatas(就像因陀羅殺死(si)敵人(ren))。
在《梨俱吠陀(Rig Veda)》中還提到:
She brightens every pious thought.
...
she, rich in spoil, is never niggardly in thought
而且
We call upon Sarasvan, as unmarried men who long for wives,
As liberal men who yearn for sons.
...
May we enjoy Sarasvan's breast, all-beautiful, that swells with streams,
May we gain food and progeny.
雖然(ran)很少有遺留的作品現世她的身份象(xiang)征具體(ti)是如何變化的,不過可能這些為后來Sarasvati變成了象(xiang)征智(zhi)慧和知識的辯才天(tian)女埋下了一些伏筆(bi)吧。
《大日(ri)經(jing)疏》五(wu)曰(yue)(yue):‘次(ci)北置(zhi)薩啰薩伐底Sarasvati,譯云(yun)(yun)妙(miao)音樂天(tian)(tian)(tian),或(huo)曰(yue)(yue)辯(bian)才(cai)(cai)(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian),次(ci)北并置(zhi)其(qi)妃。’是各有(you)妃,故為男天(tian)(tian)(tian)。同疏十(shi)曰(yue)(yue):‘美(mei)(mei)音天(tian)(tian)(tian),是諸天(tian)(tian)(tian)顯詠美(mei)(mei)者,與干闥婆稍異,彼是奏樂者也(ye)(ye)(ye)。’《金光(guang)明》云(yun)(yun)大辯(bian)天(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)(nv),大辯(bian)謂后也(ye)(ye)(ye)。’是妙(miao)音乃男天(tian)(tian)(tian)之名,大辯(bian)乃其(qi)后之名。《大日(ri)經(jing)義釋》七曰(yue)(yue):‘美(mei)(mei)音天(tian)(tian)(tian)亦名辯(bian)才(cai)(cai)(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian),是諸天(tian)(tian)(tian)中歌(ge)(ge)詠美(mei)(mei)妙(miao)者,猶如毗首羯磨工于(yu)伎巧之類,非干闥婆也(ye)(ye)(ye)。’《大隨(sui)求(qiu)經(jing)》上曰(yue)(yue):‘大辯(bian)才(cai)(cai)(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)(nv)。’《不空罥索(suo)經(jing)》十(shi)五(wu)曰(yue)(yue):‘辯(bian)才(cai)(cai)(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)(nv)。’此(ci)等(deng)皆為女(nv)(nv)天(tian)(tian)(tian)也(ye)(ye)(ye)。聰明而有(you)辯(bian)才(cai)(cai)(cai),故曰(yue)(yue)辯(bian)才(cai)(cai)(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian),能(neng)(neng)發美(mei)(mei)音而歌(ge)(ge)詠,故名美(mei)(mei)音天(tian)(tian)(tian)、妙(miao)音天(tian)(tian)(tian),為主智(zhi)慧(hui)、福德之天(tian)(tian)(tian)神,若(ruo)供養此(ci)天(tian)(tian)(tian)則可得(de)(de)福與智(zhi)慧(hui)。《最勝王經(jing)·大辯(bian)才(cai)(cai)(cai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)女(nv)(nv)品》云(yun)(yun):‘現為閻羅之長姊,常著青色野蠶衣,好丑容儀具有(you),眼目能(neng)(neng)令見者怖(bu)。’ 又曰(yue)(yue):‘若(ruo)有(you)法師說是《金光(guang)明最勝王經(jing)》者,我當(dang)益其(qi)智(zhi)慧(hui)具足莊嚴辯(bian)說之辯(bian)。’ 該(gai)經(jing)有(you)詩贊(zan)曰(yue)(yue):‘若(ruo)人欲得(de)(de)最上智(zhi),應當(dang)一心持(chi)此(ci)法,增長福智(zhi)諸功德,必(bi)定成就(jiu)勿(wu)生疑(yi);若(ruo)求(qiu)財者得(de)(de)多財,求(qiu)名稱者得(de)(de)名稱,求(qiu)出(chu)離者得(de)(de)解(jie)脫,必(bi)定成就(jiu)勿(wu)生疑(yi)。’
佛寺中的造像常將之作女菩(pu)薩(sa)相(xiang),菩(pu)薩(sa)衣著,有八(ba)臂(bei),旁六臂(bei)分(fen)執火輪(lun)、劍、弓、箭、斧(fu)、 索等。中兩臂(bei)合十。腳下(xia)有獅(shi)、虎、狐、豹(bao)等野獸。