Saraswati is a Hindu goddess who was originally associated with a sacred river and later became revered as the embodiment of knowledge, wisdom, learning, music, speech, and the arts. Saraswati is the consort of Brahma, symbolizing the idea that creation is guided by wisdom and knowledge. She is also honored alongside Lakshmi and Parvati as one of the three principal forms of the Divine Mother, representing knowledge, prosperity, and spiritual power respectively. Saraswati is commonly depicted with four arms, holding a book, a lotus flower, a mala, and a veena, a classical Indian stringed instrument. These objects symbolize learning, purity, spiritual discipline, and artistic expression. She is usually dressed in white, representing purity and truth, and is often accompanied by a swan. The swan serves as her vehicle and symbolizes wisdom, discernment, and the ability to distinguish what is eternal and meaningful from the distractions of the world.