Saraswati Murti

Saraswati Murti in Brass, from Desk Size to Temple Size

Before exams, on Vasant Panchami, or on the first day of music class, families across India bow to Maa Saraswati, the goddess of learning, music and speech. This page brings together every Saraswati we make in brass: 42 pieces in all, from a 4 inch murti that fits on a study table to a 25.5 inch set for a temple hall.

The forms you will find here

• Seated, playing the veena. The form most homes choose, with the veena across her lap, like this 6 inch Saraswati playing veena.
• With her swan. The hamsa sits at her feet, as on the 6.5 inch Saraswati with swan.
• Standing with the veena. Tall and slim, made for a big pooja room or a school stage, like the 24 inch standing Saraswati.
• Under a carved arch. Maa seated inside a round arch with a kirtimukha face at the top, on a tall stepped base, like the 19 inch Saraswati. For a mid-size pooja room, see the 14 inch Saraswati.
• Ganesh, Laxmi and Saraswati together. About a dozen sets and pairs for Diwali pooja, such as the 5.6 inch set of three. More are on the Ganesh Laxmi Saraswati page.

Most pieces are in bright golden brass; a few carry an antique polish, which is darker and shows the carving more.

Choosing the right size

For a study table or a child's desk, 4 to 6 inch is enough; she stays in view without taking the space for books. For a home mandir shelf, 6 to 9 inch sits well beside a Ganesh of the same height. From 12 inch up, the murtis suit a pooja room, a music school or a temple, and the biggest ones need a strong platform and two people to lift. Our guide on idol size for a home temple has a simple way to measure.

How these murtis are finished

Each saraswati idol here is cast in brass, then the karigar works over the veena strings, the crown and the folds of the sari with a chisel by hand. Wipe the murti with a soft dry cloth each week, and see how to clean brass idols at home before Vasant Panchami.

Questions buyers ask

Where should a Saraswati murti be kept at home?

Many families keep her in the study room or near the place where children read, often facing east or north. In the home mandir she usually sits beside Ganesh ji.

Which form is best for students?

The seated form playing the veena, with the book in her hand, is the one most parents pick for a child's room.

Antique polish or golden brass?

Golden brass shines bright under the lamp. Antique polish is darker and keeps the carving easy to see; clean it with a dry cloth only, so the dark tone stays. Each brass saraswati murti page says which finish it has.

When is a good day to bring her home?

Vasant Panchami is the most loved day, but any Thursday, the start of a school year or the first music lesson is a happy time too.

Bring her home before the next exam season, and start each study session with a quiet "Om Aim Saraswatyai Namah".