Sarasvat : riverine goddess of knowledge : from the manuscript-carrying vīṇā-player to the weapon-wielding defender of the Dharma / / by Catherine Ludvik.

• Superior document: Brill's Indological library, v. 27
• Author: Ludvik, Catherine.
• Year of Publication: 2007
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Brill's Indological library ; v. 27.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (xviii, 374 pages, [16] pages of plates) :; illustrations.
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.
• Other title: Preliminary Materials /; Introduction /; Vedic Literature /; Chapter One. Ṛg Veda /; Chapter Two. Atharva Veda /; Chapter Three. Yajur Veda /; Chapter Four. Brāhmaṇas /; Vedic Sarasvatī In Retrospective /; Epic And Puranic Literature /; Chapter Five. Mahābhārata /; Chapter Six. Purāṇas /; Epic And Puranic Sarasvatī In Retrospective /; Sarasvatī In Buddhist Sutras /; Chapter Seven. Sutra Of Golden Light /; Chapter Eight. Great Eloquence Deity /; Chapter Nine. Bath /; Chapter Ten. Kauṇḍinya’s Praises /; The Sutra’s Sarasvatī In Retrospective /; Identification Of Images And Goddesses /; Chapter Eleven. Early Images Of Sarasvatī /; Chapter Twelve. Images Corresponding To Yijing’s Goddess /; Images In Retrospective /; Conclusion /; Appendix A Sarasvatī Chapter Of The Sutra Of Golden Light /; Appendix B Herb Lists For The Bath Taught By Sarasvatī In The Sutra Of Golden Light /; Bibliography Of Sources And Works Cited /; Index /
• Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references (p. [317]-337) and index.
• ISBN: 1281926337; 9786611926335; 9047420365
• ISSN: 0925-2916
• Hierarchical level: Monograph
• Statement of Responsibility: by Catherine Ludvik.

This is a fascinating depiction of the transformation of the Indian riverine goddess from the manuscript-carrying vīṇā -player to the Buddhist weapon-wielding defender of the Dharma. Drawing on Sanskrit and Chinese textual sources, as well as Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist art historical representations, this book traces the conceptual and iconographic development of the riverine goddess of knowledge Sarasvatī from some time after 1750 B.C.E. to the seventh century C.E. Through the study of Chinese translations of no longer extant Sanskrit versions of the Buddhist Sutra of Golden Light the author sheds light on Sarasvatī's interactions with other Indian goddess cults and their impact on one another.