Goddess of Music, Wisdom and Learning – Saraswati
Saraswati (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Manjushri, Saraswati, Palden Lhamo and Dorje Shugden
Deity: Saraswati (Sanskrit)
Alternative names: Yangchenma / Yangchen Drolma (Tibetan); Goddess Tara of Song and Music (English)
Saraswati is a well-known Indian goddess of music, wisdom and learning. She is widely regarded as both the emanation of Tara as well as the consort of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. Saraswati is the enlightened embodiment and bestower of awakened eloquence and special insight into the Buddha’s teachings. Due to her wisdom-bestowing nature, Saraswati is deeply interconnected with Manjushri. She is considered by many great masters to be the goddess and patron of the arts, music, language, literature, poetry, philosophy, and for all those engaged in creative endeavours.
Saraswati also emanated as Vajravetali or Dorje Rolangma, the consort of Vajrabhairava (Yamantaka), a wrathful form of Manjushri whose practice belongs to the Highest Yoga Tantra classification. In this form she is said to have revealed the Vajrabhairava Tantras to the great Indian master Lalitavajra who consequently spread the practice.
Furthermore, Saraswati was a yidam or personal meditational deity of the 14th Century Tibetan master Je Tsongkhapa who founded the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. He composed a beautiful devotional poem entitled Prayer to Saraswati, based on the pure visions that he had of her. Saraswati is believed to have frequently appeared to Je Tsongkhapa on his travels, offering counsel and inspiration throughout his years of study and contemplation.
Deity: Palden Lhamo
In the Gelug tradition, Palden Lhamo is known as Magzor Gyalmo or the Queen who Repels Armies and is regarded as the wrathful emanation of Saraswati. She is propitiated as a protector of the Dharma. Palden Lhamo is also the protectress of the Dalai Lama’s line of incarnations.
Deity: Dorje Shugden
Dorje Shugden is recognised to be an emanation of the bodhisattva Manjushri. In fact, Dorje Shugden arose from a long line of incarnated lamas who strove to proliferate and protect the teachings. He is a protector of recent origins, arising 350 years ago, and due to his strong affinity with beings of this time, he is widely renowned to be efficacious and powerful in overcoming our obstacles and creating favourable conditions for our practice.
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Beautiful art paintings of Goddess of Music, Wisdom and Learning – Saraswati. Looking at the beautiful thangka paints a thousand words…..so rich in colour and give us a peaceful feelings of compassion, auspicious , powerful energy. Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom, and learning. Together with Manjushri, Palden Lhamo and Dorje Shugden forms a more powerful and beautiful art thangka.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing .