  We show that every Sasakian manifold in dimension $2k+1$ is locally generated
by a free real function of $2k$ variables. This function is a Sasakian analogue
of the K\"ahler potential for K\"ahler geometry. It is also shown that every
locally Sasakian-Einstein manifold in $2k+1$ dimensions is generated by a
locally K\"ahler-Einstein manifold in dimension $2k$.
