Saraswathi - Kerala Mural Archive

Detail Photos

Deity: Saraswathi Location: Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple Theme: Non-narrative Visual Feature: Background pattern Visual Feature: Hand gesture (mudra)Visual Feature: Ornamentation

Goddess Saraswathi is depicted as sitting on a white lotus flower. She is white skinned and has four arms, two of which are are held in abhaya and varada mudra. Her other two hands hold a japamala or praying bead and the Vedas. She is decked with jwellery and wears a green-coloured dhoti or lower garment. She has her hair tied up like sages, which is visible above her ornate crown. Her face is completely worn out.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Saraswathi
Iconographic Form: Saraswathi
Iconographic Attributes: White-skinned; green-dhoti; sits on lotus flower; has many ornaments; four armed; abhaya mudra in right hand; varada mudra in left hand; Vedas in upper right hand; Japamala(praying beads) on upper left hand; breast-cloth across chest; flowers on her hair; mashipoov motif in the background.
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Zone within Temple: Sanctum
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 2
Adjacent Panels: Rakshasa, Subrahmanya

Narrative

Textual Source: Non-narrative
Mythological Tale: Saraswathi is considered as the goddess of knowledge and wisdom in Indian mythology. She is always depicted on top of a lotus flowerand is known to play the musical instrument Veena. She is considered as the daughter of Brahma.
Episode: Non-narrative

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Fair
Deterioration Type: Pigment loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Combined permission
Date of Documentation: 03/08/2024
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: PVM_P003
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.