I found Saraswati- the Goddess of wisdom and learning, art and music- on the streets of India, surrounded by the shadow of my beloved Amaltaas leaves…Golden Shower flowers that burst into yellow in the spring, adorning the streets of Delhi. And that too on a yellow wall. The most beautiful Indian Yellow, on a wall that has lived…pardon me, is living. Breathing in the streets.
Saraswati, she’s been special to me. And I feel her reawakening.
I’ve had the great fortune of singing to God all through my life. From the very beginning…in morning assemblies in school in the mountains of India. A little girl with shiny hair and a glad heart smiling wide melting into the heart of devotion. I loved the long array of songs we sang, even in the chill of the Himalayan winter, it was my favorite part.
Then, I studied Indian classical music, voice lessons. Singing, being tuned by the tune. And “Music Aunty” who led the troop of us, took us to temples on festivals to sing. It was my joy!
Some things people say, really stay with you.
Some phrases have held me through the years- the ones that so accurately reflect your essence and come in a way you can receive them…I once heard “Music Aunty” tell my Mother, “Uska gale mein Saraswati ka vaas hai.” As in, “Saraswati Ma – the Goddess of art, music, wisdom and learning resides in her voice.”
Because my artist, vocalist, scholarly nature has always been, well, second nature, my leanings bent towards the other forms of the Goddess. Kali. Durga. More fierceness to embody and integrate. But Saraswati, the soft one, bathing in beauty, she is in the heart of my hearts.
Jai Ma Saraswati Ma.
Jai Ma.
wanderings + wonderings 