[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Architecture and art](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art) › [Elements of Hindu Iconography](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.rao-1914) › v3.c19.148 # Elements of Hindu Iconography v3.c19.148 Elements of Hindu Iconography v3.c19.148 - **Language:** English ### [v3.c19.148](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.rao-1914.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. - [Previous: v3.c19.147](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.rao-1914.v3.c19.147) - [Next: v3.c19.149](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.rao-1914.v3.c19.149) - [Up: v3.c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.rao-1914.v3.c19) ## Cites (6) - [Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.markandeya) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Kāśyapaśilpa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.art.silpa.dravida.kasyapasilpa) — Sanskrit - [Devīmāhātmya](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.markandeya.devimahatmya) — Sanskrit - [Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.upa.vaisnava.visnudharmottara) — Sanskrit - [Skandapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Sūtasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.skanda.sutasamhita) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.rao-1914.v3.c19.148](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.rao-1914.v3.c19.148) · Pramāṇa