Part 2: The Many Faces of Brahma

According to "Shatapatha Brahman" writing, the creator - Brahma was born from "Brahman" or God. Wishing to create the universe, Brahman first created the water, in which he placed his seed. This seed transformed into a golden egg, from which Brahma appeared. According to the Puranas, Brahma is the son of God and the feminine energy or Maya. Nonetheless, there are other sources sustaining that Maya is Brahma's daughter or wife.
 

What is Maya?
Maya is the symbol of the cosmic illusion, whose veil does not allow mortals to perceive God. Maya has two aspects: Avidya Maya, the ignorance that estranges mortals from God, and enslaves him more and more into the universe of the senses, and Vidya Maya, the liberating knowledge that gradually leads mortals to the ineffable and intoxicating communion with God.

Saraswati: Brahma's Feminine Facet
"Saraswati, Brahma's feminine counterpart radiates more than the light of ten billion moons. Her ornaments are purified in the heavenly fire. She is the mother of the Vedas, the embodiment of nature and the patron of the arts and sciences. Saraswati is always smiling and her beauty surpasses all imagination. Her body is covered in jewels and pearls. When the identification with Saraswati is perfect, all the 64 arts become known." (Saraswati Stotra)
 

Saraswati is the goddess governing wisdom and sciences. The Sanskrit term "sara" means "essence" and "swa" means "self", consequently the translation for Saraswati is the essence of the self. Saraswati symbolizes Brahma's creative force. All those seeking knowledge, mainly teachers, professors, scientists, students, worship the goddess Saraswati. She is very beautiful, gracious and young. Saraswati is also the master of the 64 arts, of which the art of love is the first and most important. Her representation is that of a woman with four arms, dressed in a white sari, sitting on a white lotus flower. The swan that accompanies her is also white, the color of peace. As the patron of arts, she sings at the instrument called vina. In her right hands she holds a book made of palm leaves, and a lotus, symbol of using the knowledge with love and kindness in order to ensure the prosperity of mankind. In her left hands she wears a necklace of pearls, symbolizing meditation and contemplation, as well as the path leading to samadhi, the total experience of God. Her four arms stand for her omnipresence and omnipotence. The front arms reflect her presence and action in the physical world, and her back arms her active presence in the spiritual world.