ABSTRACT
A vast literature has grown around the Sarasvati River, eulogizing her riverine and godly qualities which reflect a continuously evolving Indian perception towards her multi-faceted attributes. The importance accorded to Sarasvati in the Vedic texts, particularly the RV and SV nowhere approximates the position enjoyed by Indra, the god of thunder and lightening and Agni, the fire god. Both Indra and Agni figure prominently in the RV and the SV which would be obvious from the number of hymns in which they are invoked. Indra figures in 254 Rig-Vedic hymns spread over ten books of the RV. The iconographic forms of Sarasvati in these traditions may vary from those in the Hindu tradition but there is a commonality in all these traditions as regards the features of Sarasvati purporting to her description as the goddess of knowledge and wisdom as also fine arts.
