Golden Saints Analysis: Virgo – The Closest to God
Among the twelve Golden Saints of the Zodiac, the Virgo Gold Saint stands apart as a truly unique and enigmatic figure. Unlike his fellow guardians who serve Athena with unwavering devotion, the Virgo Saint operates on an entirely different spiritual plane—one that transcends mere mortal allegiance.
The Buddha Incarnate: A Tenant in Athena’s Domain
According to the classic Saint Seiya lore, the Virgo Gold Saint is actually the reincarnation of Buddha himself, using the Sanctuary as merely a place for cultivation and spiritual practice. In an age where the Earth exists in what Buddhist teachings call the “Dharma Ending Age,” the Sanctuary represents one of the few places where miraculous power can still flourish. Athena, as the goddess protecting the Earth, naturally provides certain… accommodations for her Saints. Thus, the Virgo Saint’s relationship with Athena resembles less that of a devout follower and more that of a respectful tenant acknowledging a generous landlord—especially since he ultimately answers to a higher power.
Shaka: The Defining Virgo Gold Saint
Among all Virgo Gold Saints throughout history, Shaka from the main series undoubtedly leaves the most profound impression. His presence simply dominates every scene he appears in, creating an aura that few other Golden Saints can match.
During the Sanctuary arc, Shaka treated the Bronze Saints almost like playthings. Had he faced anyone other than the Phoenix Saint Ikki—who possesses the unique ability to resurrect continuously—the battle would have ended immediately. In truth, Shaka was merely going through the motions as a polite tenant; he needed to demonstrate some effort against invaders to maintain good relations with his “landlord,” but going too hard would create awkwardness should leadership change. The unkillable Phoenix provided the perfect opponent to pass the time without creating real conflict. Shaka likely understood the deeper truths at play but, as a temporary resident, chose not to involve himself too deeply.
Mastering the Eighth Sense and Beyond
The Hades chapter showcased Shaka’s capabilities even more dramatically. He single-handedly fought Saga, Camus, and Shura simultaneously—forcing the trio to unleash their combined technique, Athena Exclamation, just to overcome him. Crucially, they didn’t actually defeat him; instead, Shaka used this opportunity to comprehend the Eighth Sense and enter the Underworld voluntarily. He became the only Golden Saint to confront Hades directly and famously terrified Specters with his prayer beads, calmly noting when a bead darkened before eliminating another opponent with breathtaking style. Only the Wall of Lamentations proved beyond even his capabilities, requiring the combined power of all twelve Gold Saints to breach it.
The Phoenix Connection: A Buddhist Perspective
Shaka’s unusually patient and almost mentoring attitude toward Ikki deserves special attention. From their initial meeting at Death Queen Island to patiently explaining techniques and energy storage during their Sanctuary battle—even retrieving Ikki from another dimension with help from other Gold Saints—Shaka displayed remarkable tolerance. This likely stems from Buddhist mythology’s special connection with avian creatures like peacocks and phoenixes, embodied in figures like the Peacock Mother Ming Wang. The Buddhist concept of “this thing has connection with me” () suggests Shaka might have recognized a spiritual connection with the Phoenix Saint, possibly even considering recruiting him for his own spiritual lineage.
The Eternal Debate: Shaka vs. Saga
The question of whether Shaka or Saga represents the stronger Gold Saint has sparked endless debates among fans. Based solely on canonical appearances, Shaka’s performance against three revived Gold Saints simultaneously suggests superior combat capabilities. However, Saga was technically in a living-dead state during their encounter, making direct comparisons problematic. Their official descriptions—one as “God’s incarnation” and the other as “the man closest to God”—suggest they operate at comparable levels. The original series favors Shaka’s showcase, while Gold Legend gives Saga more impressive moments.
Other Virgo Incarnations Through the Ages
In The Lost Canvas, we meet Asmita, another exceptional Virgo Gold Saint who was actually the first to comprehend the Eighth Sense. Born blind rather than simply closing his eyes to accumulate energy like Shaka, Asmita theoretically possessed even greater cosmic awareness. The prayer beads Shaka used so effectively against the Specters were actually created through Asmita’s ultimate sacrifice—permanently eliminating the Specters’ infinite resurrection ability.
The Saint Seiya Omega iteration took conceptual liberties that many fans found excessive. While previous Virgo Saints were described as “closest to God,” this version was literally designated as a god—raising logical questions about why a deity would serve as a Saint when divine cloths presumably exist. This represents such a departure from established lore that most enthusiasts consider it non-canonical in spirit.
The Virgo Legacy: Enlightenment and Power
What makes the Virgo Gold Saint truly fascinating is how he embodies both ultimate spiritual enlightenment and tremendous combat capability. Unlike other Saints who draw power primarily from devotion to Athena, the Virgo Saint accesses power through Buddhist enlightenment and cosmic understanding. This unique positioning allows him to operate with autonomy while still contributing to the protection of humanity.
The Virgo Gold Saint represents the perfect balance between spiritual pursuit and martial responsibility—a guardian who protects not out of obligation, but from a place of profound understanding about the interconnectedness of all things. His methods may seem inscrutable to others, but they reflect a deeper wisdom that transcends conventional warfare.
Whether as Shaka calmly facing overwhelming odds or Asmita sacrificing himself for a greater purpose, the Virgo Gold Saint remains one of the most compelling figures in the Saint Seiya universe—a character who embodies the pursuit of enlightenment while demonstrating why Virgo truly deserves its title as “the closest to God.”
