Sarasvati: Goddess of Eloquence - Outline Page

Sarasvati is a goddess of wisdom and learning in the both the Hindu and Buddhist religious traditions. She specializes in language, poetry and grammar. In Tantric Buddhism there are numerous forms of Sarasvati, peaceful and wrathful. The most common form is Vina Sarasvati, white in colour, with one face and two hands holding a stringed instrument. In this white two armed form there are descriptions for a solitary figure, a five deity mandala and a thirteen deity mandala. The three red forms of Sarasvati come from the Krishna Yamari Tantra. There are a number of descriptions of Manjushri embracing the consort Sarasvati and one form of red Sarasvati where it is Manjushri that is the minor consort. Shri Devi is a category of female protector deities. The Shri Devi known as Magzor Gyalmo is the most wrathful form of Sarasvati. She is also the special protector of the Dalai Lamas. The deity Rakta Yamari, a wrathful form of Manjushri, is commonly found at the top center of Magzor Gyalmo paintings.