Saraswati symbolism

Indonesia's gift ofa statue ofSaraswati to the USA is a profound expression of its heritage and legendary beliefs

Indonesia's motto, and he set about co create unifying bonds.

Indo nesia has gifted a beautifully crafted white sranie of Saraswari, the Goddess of Learning and the Ans to the USA, as a gesture of friendship.

:tv[os c Western reports have ei,rpressed surprise that this 1fosli.m majority country (with the largest Muslim population) has gifted the statue of a Hindu goddess, when H indus make up onl y about three per cem of that coun rry's pop u.la cion.

Bue such reports have got it wrong Indonesia cherishes its Hindu past which incidentall y, is termed within the country as its 'Golden Age ' (Zrm1an Emas). Two famous Hindu epics, the lvfahabharata and the &111r!)'ana were declared as the official

He did chis by making the Mahabharata and Ra111t!)'tma official legends and by invoking the Buddhist concept of the Pa11cha Sila or five princip les. The statement of the Indonesian spokesperson concerning the non- religious nanire of the Saraswati statue is correct, because She emanates from lndonesian legends which transcend all religions and seers i.1.1 that country.

The island o f Java where a majority of

When Suharto went a step further than Sukarno, by Sanskritising

Indonesia's educationa l terminology

''lndonesians live, practice a syncretic form of religion. The legends assumed the Presidency, he of the Hindu ep ics are celebrated in unique puppet shows, drama and dance. This writer sa,v this fascinating blend between Jakarta and Jogjakarta.

On the way to Bandung, legends of lndonesia a long rime ago. These are taught in Indonesian schools and thus all Indonesians are conversant with these legends.

The choice of Saraswati as a gift does not represent a minority, but a vast majority of the lndonesian people. As the Indonesian spokesperson said, Devi Saraswati was chosen because "Her rep resentation at the Ind o nesian Embassy was nor decided only out of any religious grounds, but more on irs symbolised values that para.I.Id with several key principles of lndonesia- CJS relations Lmder comprehensive partnership, in particular ed u cation and people- topeople contact"

Ir was Indonesia's foLmding Ptesident Sukarno who provided official recognition for this already existing situation. He had a Javanese fac:her and a Balinese Hindu mother, and he made Garuda, the vehicle of the Hindu God Vishnu, as the country's symbo l. Garuda a lso was chosen as the name of Indonesia's airline. Garuda, depicted differently, i s also the symbol of Thailand.

,,there exist places at which puppets are meticulously manufactured When Suharto assmned the Presidenc y, he went a step further than Sukarno, by Sanskriris ing Ind onesia's educaciona.l terminology.

Most Indians with whom l have spoken do not realise the Jndian -ness and the Hindu-ness of Indonesia. When BJP leader La.I Krishna Advani visited Indonesia recently, he expr essed his asconishmenr at the Indian things he had encountered, including banks with the names of Hindu deities and Ganesha on an lndones ian banknote.

Bali is a concentrated culuire house of Indonesia It has some of the finest craftsmen who create incredib le representations of Hindu art. This writer was thunderstruck with tl1eir creations. It was fortuitous that the lndonesian Ambassador D r D i no Pac:ti D ja.la.l came up with the idea of [he presentation to the US, along \Vitb d1e regent of Badung.

The choice of The statue of Saraswari has four hands which Freedom Square in Jakarta was erected to showcase Indonesia's va rious historical epochs.

Amongst the large stames

''Saraswati as a gift does not represent a minority, but a vast majority of the Indonesian people is a common feamre of Hindu deities One hand holds prayer beads (aks,m,ala) symbolising learning; two hands play a string instrument (vee11a) buil t, the first one is a chariot showing Krishna preaching the Bhag1J1ad Gita co Arjuna.

Indonesian television has shown the entire JV!ahahharata series produced for lnd ian audiences dubbed in Indonesian, several rimes. The Ramayana is very important in the country. In honour of Laxman who Jed the Aeet against the dem on- king Ravana, Indonesia ca.I.ls its admirals 'Lax manas'.

When Lldonesia became an independent nation, thanks to the intervention of Australia and I ndia at the U nited Nations, it was a large archipelago with diverse cultures, several religions and sec ts. The fom1ding President Sukarno invented the slogan 'U nity in Divers ity' which is now

,,symbolising the arts; and the fourd1 ho ld s a manuscript symbo lising learning. Saraswari is shown on Her vehicle, a white swan (hansa) This is a faithful depiction of Saraswati as idealised i.1.1 the painting b y Raja Ravi Varma, India's mo st famous painter of mytholog ical themes. The adherence to Her symbol s has been meticulous.

In Bali, there is temple dedicated to Saraswati and an educational instimte ca.I.led Maha Saraswati Universiry. In Thailand , Saraswati is known as Surasawadee.

Indonesia's choice of Saraswaci as a gift ro the USA is a tribute to India, from where the concept of Saraswaci originated