Saraswati (Sanskrit: सरस्वती, IAST: Sarasvatī) is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning
She is a part of the tridevi of Saraswati, along with Lakshmi and Parvati
The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a goddess is in the Rigveda
She has remained significant as a goddess from the Vedic period through modern times of Hindu traditions
She is generally shown to have four arms, holding a book, a rosary, a water pot and a musical instrument called Veena
Each of these items have symbolic meaning in Hinduism
Some Hindus celebrate the festival of Vasant Panchami (the fifth day of spring, and also known as Saraswati Puja and Saraswati Jayanti in so many parts of India) in her honour, and mark the day by helping young children learn how to write the letters of the alphabet on that day
The goddess is also revered by believers of the Jain religion of west and central India, as well as some Buddhist sects