Sarasvati (Rig Veda 1.3) - Madhuchanda Vaisvamitra:

पावका नः सरस्वती वाजेभिर्वाजिनीवती ।
यज्ञं वष्टु धियावसुः ॥१.३.१०॥
Paavakaa Nah Sarasvatii Vaajebhir-Vaajiniivatii |
Yajnyam Vassttu Dhiyaa-Vasuh ||1.3.10||

• पावका (Paavakaa): Who is the purifier (of the Mind).
• वाजिनीवती (Vaajiniivatii): Who is the power driving (the Intellect).
• धियावसु (Dhiyaa-Vasu): Who is the repository of Intelligence.

Comments:

- In this mantra, the qualities of Sarasvati are being mentioned. Sarasvati is the purifier (of the Mind). Sarasvati is the power driving (the Intellect). Sarasvati is the repository of Intelligence.

- Sarasvati is the power of Intelligence within Rita (like Ashvins are the power of Healing within Rita). We derive our intelligence from that great repository of Intelligence.

- According to the Vedic Vision of Nature, Sarasvati is also part of Nature, whose mantras are chanted in the same sukta immediately following the mantras of the Vishvedevas. This shows that Nature has a deeper meaning in Vedic tradition than how we normally look at it in everyday life, or even in scientific analysis. According to the Vedic tradition, Nature is full of Intelligence. Our intelligence is part of the Intelligence of the Cosmic Order of Nature. Nature is not be looked at with eyes only, but with heart also, feeling the living Intelligence of Sarasvati. Only then can we imbibe this vision. Only then, there can there be a real connection between Education and Environment.

- Sarasvati is referred to as "Paavaka", the purifier of our minds. By purification of our minds, we finally get connected to the Cosmic Order.

- The concept of Intelligence of Sarasvati is different from the concept of intelligence in our normal education system. The intelligence in normal education system is usually associated with the faculty of information management and subsequently getting an edge over others. It is more within the dimension of the mind. However, the Intelligence of Sarasvati has the dimension of the heart as well. It is an Intelligence which purifies us and connects us to the vastness of the Cosmic Order.

चोदयित्री सूनृतानां चेतन्ती सुमतीनाम् ।
यज्ञं दधे सरस्वती ॥१.३.११॥
Codayitrii Suunrtaanaam Cetantii Sumatiinaam |
Yajnyam Dadhe Sarasvatii ||1.3.11||

• चोदयित्री सूनृतानाम् (Codayitrii Suunrtaanaam): Who inspires the sense of Rita or Truth.
• चेतन्ति सुमतिनाम् (Cetanti Sumatinaam): Who awakens the sense of Righteousness.

Comments:

- In this mantra, the role of Sarasvati is being mentioned. Sarasvati inspires the sense of Rita. Sarasvati awakens the sense of Righteousness.

- This mantra is very important to understand the relationship between Intelligence and Rita. According to the Vedic Vision of Nature, every Deva is the upholder of Rita. Intelligence is also a divine power. Therefore right Intelligence is that which upholds Rita. Education facilitates the awakening of Intelligence. If the Intelligence imparted by Education makes one narrow, that is not the right Intelligence (or the right Education). The right Intelligence is vast and enables us to embrace the whole Cosmic Order.

- This mantra is also important to understand the relationship between Rita and Righteousness. When one is awakened with the right Intelligence, one embraces the whole Cosmic Order and also develops a sense of Righteousness. According to the Vedic Vision of Nature, Rita and Dharma are connected. We see in the Puranas that when Dharma prevailed in a kingdom, the Nature god showered its abundance. On the contrary when Dharma declined, there were incidences of natural calamities like famines.

महो अर्णः सरस्वती प्रचेतयति केतुना ।
धियो विश्वा विराजति ॥१.३.१२॥
Maho Arnnah Sarasvatii Pracetayati Ketunaa |
Dhiyo Vishvaa Viraajati ||1.3.12||

• महो अर्णः (Maho Arnnah): Who is the great waters (of river Saraswati or Intelligence).
• प्रचेतयति केतुना (Pracetayati Ketunaa): Who awakens through Intellect.
• धियो विश्वा विराजति (Dhiyo Vishvaa Viraajati): Who illumines the Universal Understanding.

Comments:

- In this mantra, the role of Sarasvati is being further mentioned. Sarasvati is the great waters who awakens through Intellect and illumines the Universal Understanding.

- The great waters may be an analogy with river Sarasvati which existed in Vedic times. The overflowing waters of river Sarasvati is like a repository of Intelligence. It awakens our Intellect. This awakening gives us an Universal view of life. This gives us a direction of Education also.

- Intelligence of Cosmic Order pervades every part of Nature. Education should awaken that Intelligence within us, so that one gets an Universal view of life. That Universal view is essentially the view of Rita or Cosmic Order. Such an Education can only make us uphold Rita.

- This mantra also brings out that Education and Nature are connected. Nature is the manifestation of the Cosmic Order. We require Nature-induced Education to imbibe the sense of Rita within us. Here we meditate on the waters of river Sarasvati as the repository of Intelligence and awaken that Intelligence within us. The Vedic Vision of Nature connects Education with various other outward natural symbols. The sacrificial fire as Agni shakes off our inner lethargy and burns our impurities making us pure. The kingdom of herbs and medicinal plants reminds us about Ashvins, the healing powers of Nature. It is like the whole Nature embracing us with Rita, and we are awakening ourselves to that Rita through Education. Therefore preservation is Nature is very important and should be part of Education.