Catherine Ludvik: Sarasvatī. Riverine Goddess of Knowledge. From the Manuscript-carrying Vīṇā-player to the Weapon-wielding Defender of Dharma

Abstract

Sarasvatī is the name of an Indian deity who was taken up into Buddhist tradition and carried along into East Asia as far as Japan, where she is generally known as Benzaiten. In a way, therefore, this impressive book serves two sets of readers, first and foremost Indologists – hence its place in an indological series – but also those who are interested in the wider history of Buddhism or more generally of Asian religions. The later part of the work offers a study of relevant parts of the Buddhist Sutra of Golden Light, of which the Chinese versions represent a major source, even for the Indian developments.