Elements of Hindu Iconography v3.c19.148

v3.c19.148

Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning, is associated generally with Brahmā, who happens to be the creating god in the Hindu trinity. She is seated upon a white lotus, is of white complexion, and is draped in white clothes. She has four hands (See Pls. CXIII and CXV). In one of the right hands she holds an *akṣamālā* and the other right hand is in the pose called *vyākhyāna-mudrā*; and in the left hands she carries respectively a book and a white lotus. Surrounding her there are standing a number of *munis* or sages engaged in worshipping her. She wears a *yajñopavīta* on her person and has the *jaṭā-makuṭa* on the head; otherwise also she is decked with various ornaments. This is according to the *Aṃśumadbhēdāgama*. But the *Viṣṇudharmōttara* tells us that Sarasvatī should be standing upon a white lotus and further substitutes the *kamaṇḍalu* in the place of the lotus in one of the left hands and makes the right hand with the *vyākhyāna-mudrā* carry instead a *vīṇā* with a bamboo stem (See fig. 2, Pl. CXVI). In her standing posture she should be sculptured as a *samabhaṅga* image. The *Aṃśumadbhēdāgama* says that the *kuṇḍalas* of Sarasvatī should be made of rubies but the *Pūrva-kāraṇāgama* prescribes for her, ear-rings of pearl (See Pl. CXIV, also fig. 1, Pl. CXVII). Sarasvatī is described in the Sūta-Saṃhitā of the Skanda-purāṇa as a female figure having a jaṭā-makuṭa on her head, in which there is a crescent moon inserted. Her neck is of blue colour and she has three eyes. The Dēvīmāhātmya of the Mārkaṇḍēya-purāṇa describes her as holding in her hands an aṅkuśa, a vīṇā, an akṣamālā, and a pustaka. It is in this fashion that the Dēvī is represented in the Hoysaḷa sculptures (See fig. 1, Pl. CXVI). It is obviously intended here that Sarasvatī is to be looked upon as a Śakti of Śiva. She is also sometimes conceived as a Śakti of Viṣṇu. Indeed Lakshmī, Sarasvatī and Pārvatī are all identified with the one Dēvī.