Wish Fulfilling Sarasvati Original Large Thangka Painting

Hand painted on raw canvas; this thangka took about 2 months to complete. My preparation to paint was tracing the heart sutra and chanting to Sarasvati, who is my Guardian Goddess; she has looked over me since I was a child growing up in Japan. Created in 1999, this thangka was in my friend, Silvia Nakkach’s music studio in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years. When Silvia moved, it was sent back to me. I am now making this Sarasvati thangka available to my collectors as a special offering. 

This is what Silvia said about the thangka

My life changed abruptly after that piece left my place. Nothing was the same. That piece was my Healer Angel. Let’s hope it finds a great home!”

https://silvianakkach.com

Laden with symbolism:

- Sarasvati is attired in white and adorned with a celestial crown of pearls, the jewel that grants desires, a symbol of her ability to bestow prosperity and fulfill wishes.  She is a deity of wealth and good fortune as well as the radiant patroness of knowledge, learning, creativity, music, literature, the arts, speech, embodying the concepts of intelligence, consciousness, education, enlightenment, and power.

- There is a halo behind her head signifying her divine authority, purity and wisdom. 

-A beautiful snake is curled around her as her attendant.

As a child, I frequently visited an ancient shrine in Kamakura dedicated to Sarasvati (Benzaiten), known in Japan as the goddess of wealth and water. This shrine was in a cave where people would wash their wallets and purses in a spring and leave offerings of eggs for the white snakes associated with Benzaiten (snakes who hunted the rats in the temple). During one visit, I encountered a guardian of the shrine, a seer, who was painting a serpent with a vibrating brush to create scales. The seer told me, "Young girl, you are going to be a successful painter". This had deep significance for me, and I have always lived my life of an artist.

-Wish Fulfilling Sarasvati has four arms: She is playing the veena with two arms and holding a pearl mala (prayer beads) and a sacred book (for true knowledge) in the other hands bringing order and harmony to an often-chaotic world. 

-The veena is a traditional Indian musical instrument that is closely associated with Goddess Saraswati. It has a long neck and is played by plucking the strings, producing melodious sounds that are believed to represent the harmony of the universe. The veena signifies the importance of music in spiritual practice and education. It embodies the belief that music can elevate the mind and soul, leading to deeper understanding and inner peace. Music is seen as a medium to connect with the divine. It is through the melodies of the veena that practitioners can express devotion and seek enlightenment.

-Pearl Mala (Akshamala), or prayer beads are used in meditation and prayer, helping practitioners maintain focus and mindfulness. Symbolizing the dedication required to acquire knowledge. It encourages practitioners to engage in regular study and reflection, fostering a disciplined approach to spiritual practice.

-The sacred book she holds symbolizes the Buddhist Sutras representing the universal, divine, eternal, and true knowledge as well as all forms of learning.

-She rides a Hamsa (swan), which is revered for its ability to separate milk from a mixture of milk and water, the hamsa is a metaphor for the capacity to discern truth from falsehood, essence from superficiality, and the eternal from the transient, symbolizing the path of spiritual discernment, liberation from the cycle of rebirth, transcendence and the goal of spiritual life. 

-The lotus signifies the potential for spiritual growth and enlightenment, regardless of one’s circumstances. It embodies the idea that true knowledge can blossom even in challenging environments (beauty growing out of muddy water). A reminder for devotees to strive for purity of heart and mind, fostering a connection with the divine through spiritual practices.

-Water represents the source of life and creativity, flowing gracefully, symbolizing the fluidity of knowledge and the creative process, encouraging a continuous flow of ideas and inspiration, essential for artistic and intellectual pursuits. Just as water sustains life, knowledge nurtures the mind and spirit. Sarasvati is associated with the Sarasvati River in India; she is also known as "She who helps realize the essence of self"

Size: 48” wide x 110” long

$150,000.

-Mayumi Oda