Statue_of_Hindu_goddess_Saraswati_in_shrine_in_Rangoon_Burma

Thurathadi (), also spelled Thuyathadi or Thayéthadi) is a goddess in the

Buddhist pantheon Buddhism includes a wide array of Deity, divine beings that are venerated in various ritual and popular contexts. Initially they included mainly Indian figures such as Deva (Buddhism), devas, asuras and yakshas, but later came to include other ...

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

. She is one of the higher nats, guarding the

Buddhist scriptures Buddhist texts are religious texts that belong to, or are associated with, Buddhism and its traditions. There is no single textual collection for all of Buddhism. Instead, there are three main Buddhist Canons: the Pāli Canon of the Therav ...

and promoting the welfare of scholars and writers. Students in Myanmar pray for her blessings before exams.

Origin and name

The name Thurathadi is a Burmese rendering of the

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

name Saraswati. The word "Saraswati" is derived from "Saras" (meaning "together" or "flowing water") and "Vati" (meaning "possessor"), suggesting "she who possesses flowing water" or "sweet speech". Some scholars also believe she was originally a river goddess guarding the

Sarasvati River The Sarasvati River () is a Apotheosis, deified myth, mythological Rigvedic rivers, river first mentioned in the Rigveda and later in Vedas, Vedic and post-Vedic texts. It played an important role in the Historical Vedic religion, Vedic religio ...

, and later became known as the consort of

Brahma Brahma (, ) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 212– ...

, the creator god in Hinduism. She was later incorporated into Mahayana and

Tantric Buddhism ''Vajrayāna'' (; 'vajra vehicle'), also known as Mantrayāna ('mantra vehicle'), Guhyamantrayāna ('secret mantra vehicle'), Tantrayāna ('tantra vehicle'), Tantric Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism, is a Mahāyāna Buddhist tradition that emp ...

, including in Myanmar, where she became Thurathadi. Burmese Tantraists transformed the Brahmanical Saraswati into a local form—Thurathadi or Surasati—who became the guardian goddess of the Three Pitakas and learning.

Worship

Thurathadi is worshipped by some Burmese Buddhists in temples and private courtyards. In Burmese belief, she is especially venerated as the protector of literature, education, and Buddhist scriptures. Her worship dates back to the Bagan Kingdom, particularly during the reign of King

Anawrahta Anawrahta Minsaw (, ; 11 May 1014 – 11 April 1077) was the founder of the Pagan Empire. Considered the father of the Burmese nation, Anawrahta turned a small principality in the dry zone of Upper Burma into the first Burmese Empire that ...

. According to records, she is one of the 37 official nats enshrined in the Shwe Si Khon Pagoda, numbered as the 9th nat. Her image shows her in divine attire, seated on a golden Hintha bird, holding lotus flowers in both hands. Since the Hintha feeds on water, this symbolism associates her with rivers and the purity of speech and learning. She is also invoked through rituals such as the Surasati Gatha, Mantra, In, and Mhao. However, Burmese tradition emphasizes that her blessings are for worldly benefits, such as charm and knowledge, rather than spiritual liberation.

Iconography

Thurathadi is commonly depicted riding side-saddle on a golden Hintha (hamsa) bird, with her legs dangling. She typically holds one or more

Tipitaka There are several Buddhist canons, which refers to the various scriptural collections of Buddhist texts, Buddhist sacred scriptures or the various Buddhist Scriptural canon, scriptural canons.

manuscripts in her right hand.

Legend and historical mentions

According to the Shwezigon Mon Inscription dated 1084 AD: :''"The wisdom of eloquence, called Saraswati, shall dwell in the mouth of King Sri Tribhuwanadityadhammaraja at all times."'' – Translated by

Than Tun Than Tun (, ; 6 April 1923 – 30 November 2005) was an influential Burmese historian as well as an outspoken critic of the military junta of Burma. For his lifelong contributions to the development of worldwide study of Burmese history and cu ...

She is also mentioned in various local legends as being the mother of a future king and his queen, Mya Sein Yaung, and was prophesied to be reborn as a male and attain Buddhahood. Her statue is found behind and beside

Bo Bo Aung Bo Bo Aung () was a prominent Burmese ''weizza'' or wizard (, ) from Sagaing, who lived in Myanmar under the Konbaung dynasty (18th century). He was also called Maung Aung, or "Master Victory". He supposedly lived to be around 200 years of age ...

at his shrine near Bagan. Thurathadi is honored as one of the most senior nats after

Thagyamin Thagyamin (, ; from Sanskrit , ) is the highest-ranking Nat (deity), nat (deity) in traditional Buddhism in Myanmar, Burmese Buddhist belief. Considered as the king of Heaven, he is the Burmese adaptation of the Hindu deities Indra. Etymology ...

, regarded as a principal supporter of Buddhism. Her connection with the scriptures lends a scholarly and sacred character to her image, particularly in Burmese

weizza A weizza or weikza (, ) is a mystic in Buddhism in Myanmar, Burmese Buddhism commonly associated with esoteric and heterodox practices such as recitation of spells, samatha, and alchemy. The goal of this practice is to achieve immortality and awa ...

cults and esoteric traditions.

Variety of interpretations

Goddess worship in India predates the Vedic period, with archaeological evidence from the

Indus Valley Civilization The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC), also known as the Indus Civilisation, was a Bronze Age civilisation in the northwestern regions of South Asia, lasting from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, and in its mature form from 2600 BCE ...

showing goddess figurines circa 2000 BCE. During the Vedic period, goddesses like Saraswati were integrated into

Brahmanism The historical Vedic religion, also called Vedism or Brahmanism, and sometimes ancient Hinduism or Vedic Hinduism, constituted the religious ideas and practices prevalent amongst some of the Indo-Aryan peoples of the northwest Indian subcontin ...

. However, early

Theravada Buddhism ''Theravāda'' (; 'School of the Elders'; ) is Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school's adherents, termed ''Theravādins'' ( anglicized from Pali ''theravādī''), have preserved their version of the Buddha's teaching or '' Dhamma'' in ...

rejected gods such as Brahma and his consort. With the rise of

Mahayana Buddhism Mahāyāna ( ; , , ; ) is a term for a broad group of Buddhist traditions, texts, philosophies, and practices developed in ancient India ( onwards). It is considered one of the three main existing branches of Buddhism, the others being Thera ...

, especially under the

Sangha Sangha or saṃgha () is a term meaning "association", "assembly", "company" or "community". In a political context, it was historically used to denote a governing assembly in a republic or a kingdom, and for a long time, it has been used b ...

and

Kushan ''Kushan'' or Kushana may refer to: * Kushan Empire The Kushan Empire (– CE) was a Syncretism, syncretic empire formed by the Yuezhi in the Bactrian territories in the early 1st century. It spread to encompass much of what is now Afghanistan ...

dynasties, Hindu goddesses were incorporated into Buddhist practice.

spread into Upper Burma via Bengal during the Sri Kshetra period, and artifacts from the site suggest the presence of Mahayana and Tantric worship. During King Anawrahta's reign, despite his reforms toward Theravada Buddhism, images like Surasati were retained within sacred spaces, symbolizing a synthesis of beliefs.www.ashinkumara.com

References