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four-arms. She stands upon a white lotus in samabhança. carries book and rosary in her right hands and displays Vyakhyāna mudra and a Kamandalu in her two left hands. Alternatively, she holds book, rosary in her right and trident and Kamandalu in her left hands.
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In the Agni-Purāņa, the description of the fourarmed goddess is more or less same like that of Viṣṇudharmottara Purāna. It prescribes rosary and book to be held in her twc hands, while the front two hands should be exhibited as playing upon a viņā.
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In the Matsya Purana, the four armed deity
Sarasvati holds a viņa, an akşamālā, a kamaṇḍalu and a pustaka in her respective hands. Sometimes a pasa is seen in place of akṣamālā. It is also stated that she would be worshipped with white garlands, sandal-paste and white clothes.
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According to Suta-Samhita of the Skanda Purana, the goddess has four hands having lotus and akṣamala in the two right hands. A Kamandalu and a Pustaka should be held in the left hands. She is adorned with Jaṭāmukuta on her head in which a crescent moon is depicted. She is called Nilagrivā and trinayana which imply that she has a blue neck and three eyes as that of siva.
The Devi-Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana describes the goddess of learning as four-handed holding ankusa, vina, akşamālā, and pustaka. The attribute añkusa indicates her close association with Siva.
