Maa Saraswati

Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, music and speech, kept most in homes with a student or a musician in them, and in study rooms. This collection covers the solo veena-playing form and the groupings where she joins Lakshmi and Ganesha.

The forms

Solo Saraswati, seated on the singhasan playing the veena, in brass. The veena is the identifying attribute, held across the body, and worth checking it is cleanly cast, since it is the fine detail a poor casting loses. She is shown with the hamsa, the swan, associated in the tradition with discernment.

The trio with Lakshmi and Ganesha, in brass sets and as a pocket temple, is the standard grouping for a Diwali puja that addresses learning, wealth and beginnings together. See Lakshmi Ganesh idols and pocket temples.

Latkans, hanging brass pieces with bells bearing the three deities, for a doorway rather than a shelf.

Vasant Panchami

Saraswati's day, in late winter, when she is worshipped in schools and homes and especially by students before exams, and when many children are given their first lesson in writing. The natural occasion to bring a Saraswati into a study room.

Which material and size

Most of this collection is solid brass, which suits a murti that may receive abhishek and cleans indefinitely, darkening between times as oxidation rather than damage. Four inches suits a study desk or a shelf mandir. Measure the width, since the veena extends beyond the body. For plated pieces see gold and silver plated idols.

On placement, the northeast is the quadrant associated with the household shrine in the vastu tradition, which has a genuine textual lineage; the more specific rules are custom rather than text.

As a gift

A Saraswati suits a student, a graduation, a new school year or Vasant Panchami, and a music room. See griha pravesh and housewarming gifts; for volume, corporate gifts or the bulk order enquiry page. For the other Devi forms, Maa Lakshmi and Maa Durga. To furnish the mandir, pooja essentials; for the wider pantheon, god idols and figurines.

Before you order

• Check the veena is cleanly cast. It is the detail that separates a good Saraswati from a poor one.
• Measure the width, since the veena extends beyond the figure.
• The trio with Lakshmi and Ganesha is the usual Diwali grouping.
• Buy brass if the murti will be bathed.