By Hilda Charlton
Goddess Saraswathi, the Consort of Brahma, is the embodiment of the divine consciousness as expressed on earth through science, music, and the arts. She is depicted holding in Her hand, the veena, an Indian musical instrument.
Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, is worshipped as the Goddess of success and prosperity. She stands upon the lotus, a symbol of the soul, which can never be touched by earth existence. The lotus rises from the mud and mire, yet it is not blemished. It keeps above the water, has its roots in the earth, and is open to the sun. The lotus was as sacred to the ancient Egyptian religion as it is to the Hindu religion.
Durga is the Goddess who destroys the evil or negative tendencies in humans. She rides the tiger, which is symbolic of controlling the power of the kundalini life force.
Additional pictures of Saraswathi, Lakshmi, & Durga:
