Makrana White Marble Saraswati with Gold Leaf and a Lotus-Petal Aureole, 27in

A temple Saraswati, lit with gold

This Saraswati is made for a place of worship that people stand before: a temple sanctum, a school or college shrine, or a large home mandir. She sits in an easy sukhasana on a full white lotus, and behind her rises a carved aureole of lotus petals, a halo in stone that frames her head and shoulders and gives the whole piece the presence of a sanctum murti. At 27 inches she is substantial without needing a dedicated room, and the aureole makes her read clearly from the back of a hall.

The form, kept canonical

She is four-armed, two arms on each side, as Saraswati is traditionally shown. Her front hands play the veena held across her lap, one at the strings and one along the neck. Her back right hand raises an akshamala, the rosary of japa and steady practice, and her back left hand holds a bound palm-leaf book, the pustaka of learning. Her hamsa, the white swan that stands for telling the true from the false, rests at the front of the lotus. She is fully dressed in a draped sari over a fitted choli, the pallu brought across the torso, with a tall crown, layered necklaces, armlets and bangles, and a small tilak on a calm, youthful face with softly lowered eyes and a gentle smile.

White Makrana marble with 24k gold leaf

The murti is carved from Makrana white marble, the fine-grained Rajasthan stone that temple murtis have been made in for centuries, and finished to a soft satin polish so the white glows rather than shines. The gold is used sparingly. Leaf of 24k gold is laid only where it sharpens the form: the crown, the jewellery, the border of the sari, the frets of the veena and the rim of the aureole. Everything else, including her face, hands, the lotus and the swan, stays the natural white of the stone. The effect is a white murti first, with gold that catches lamp light during aarti.

Where she belongs

Saraswati is the goddess people turn to before an exam, a first lesson or a performance, and Vasant Panchami is her day. This piece suits a temple installation, a school, college or music academy that keeps a shrine to her, or a home mandir with room for a larger murti. It also makes a meaningful gift from a trust or company to an institution of learning.

Size, weight and care

She stands about 27 inches tall including the base, roughly 18 inches wide across the aureole and 11 inches deep, and weighs around 55 kg. Set her on a level, stable platform at or above eye level. Dust with a soft dry cloth, and keep water, milk and abhishek away from the gilded areas so the gold stays bright; offer flowers and akshat at the base instead.

Made to order in Jaipur

Each murti is made to order. The height, the amount of gold work and the shape of the aureole can all be adjusted before work begins. Tell us where she will be installed and we will quote the murti and its delivery on WhatsApp.