A major goddess Sarasvati is one of the three principal goddesses of the Tridevi (the supreme trinity in its feminine form), alongside Lakshmi and Parvati. She is associated with the creator god Brahma, either as his creation or as his consort. As the goddess of knowledge and the arts—particularly music—tradition credits her with the invention of Sanskrit. Her mount is a white goose or a swan. Certain representations influenced by Indian iconography depict her with four arms,

Shiva by I Ketut Sadra, second half of the 20th century, 36 cm The figure, richly adorned and wearing a crown, is seated on a lotus-shaped throne. Its front hands perform a mudra (a codified gesture endowed with ritual or symbolic value), while its two rear hands hold a lotus, a symbol of purity and spiritual elevation, and a fly-whisk, a symbol of royalty. The fineness of the features and the hair flowing slightly behind the shoulders might suggest a female figure. However,