3(b). The trinity of goddesses

[The river Sarasvatī in the Atharvaveda-saṃhitā, (b): Sarasvatī and Sārasvata]

In the Atharvavedasaṃhitā, the conception of the trinity of the goddesses Sarasvatī, Iḍā and Bhāratī is also found. At one place, Sarasvatī, Iḍā and Bhāratī all are described as ‘the three goddesses’ (tisro devīḥ).^[1]

In another mantra, there is an ambiguous expression of tisraḥ sarasvtīḥ,^[2] which is variously interpreted by scholars. Sāyaṇācārya explain it as—

tisraḥ trisasikhykāḥ sarasvatyas rayīrūpāḥ/ yadvā iḍā sarasvati bhāratī’ti tistro devyaḥ sahacaryāt sarasvatya ucyante.^[3]

Thus, according to him, tisraḥ sarasvatīḥ denotes the three forms of Sarasvatī or the goddesses Sarasvatī, Bhāratī and Iḍā are collectively called by the name of Sarasvatī because of their close association.

Max Müller quotes The Petersburg Lexicon, where it suggests,

“Three rivers named sarasvatī or perhaps simply three rivers in general.”^[4]

R.T.H. Griffith takes it to mean,

“Three Sarasvatīs as the multiplication is analogous to that of the three heavens and three earths.”^[5]

Srīpāda Dāmodora Sātavalekara thinks that as ‘three Sarasvatis as goddesses of learning’ and gives them the name of mātṛbhūmi, mātṛbhāṣā and mātṛsabhyatā.^[6] According to him, Bhāratī is mātṛbhūmi who feeds up all, Iḍā is mātṛbhāṣā who inspires man to perform sacrifice and Sarasvatī is mātṛsabhyatā who incites man to perform good deeds.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

ā no yajñaṃ bhāratī tūyametviḍā manusvadiaha cetayantī | tisro devīrbarhiredaṃ syonaṃ sarasvatīḥ svapasaḥ sadantām || Atharvaveda Saṃhita, 5.12.8

[2]:

Ibid., 6.100.1

[3]:

Sāyaṇācārya’s com. on Ibid

[4]:

cf., Max Müller, The Sacred Books of the east, p.512

[5]:

cf.,Griffith’s note on Atharvaveda Saṃhita, 6.100.1

[6]:

Śripāda Dāmodora Sātavalekara on Atharvaveda Saṃhita, 6.100.1