The gold saints are stated to be galaxy buster level but who's the strongest in your views. I have mine personal choice. But well it's obvious as stated by the series author it's Virgo Shaka the man closest to the gods.
Here's how Virgo Saints fight and why I think he's the strongest.
Saints of Virgo
The Cosmo of the Virgo Saints is boundless and serene. Likewise, to call what they do "fighting" is too crude
a word. The lotus position is their battle stance and the mind is their weapon. They will simply sit there and meditate
you to death. To face them is to traverse the labyrinth of the soul, through the winding corridors of a myriad Heavens
and Hells
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Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo Libra Scorpio Sagittarius Capricorn Aquarius Pisces
Saints of Virgo
The Cosmo of the Virgo Saints is boundless and serene. Likewise, to call what they do "fighting" is too crude
a word. The lotus position is their battle stance and the mind is their weapon. They will simply sit there and meditate
you to death. To face them is to traverse the labyrinth of the soul, through the winding corridors of a myriad Heavens
and Hells. Shaka is the Virgo Saint of modern times in the original Saint Seiya, Asmita is the Virgo Saint of the 18th
century in Lost Canvas, and Shijima is the Virgo Saint of the 18th century in Next Dimension.
... Virgo Cloth
.
Virgo Shaka
Shaka grew up on the banks of the sacred
river Ganges in India. Ever since he was little he
was in direct communion with Shakyamuni Buddha, who
taught him about the nature of reality. Shaka himself could
be considered a Bodhisattva: a being on the verge
of Enlightenment who stays incarnate to help others.
He is known as the Man Closest to God, both in piety
and power although, by his own admission, the one godly
trait Shaka doesn't have is mercy towards the weak. His
meditative discipline and vast array of mental abilities make
him a frightening enemy indeed. Shaka also doesn't register
absolute ideas like Good and Evil, and this sometimes leaves
him confused about which side to take. Things only become
clear to him after his fight with Phoenix Ikki, who showed
him the limitless potential of the human heart. Shaka
then pledged himself completely to Athena's cause
of love and justice, and proved himself a vital
asset in her Holy War with Hades. Without
his insight into the 8th sense, Athena's
army would've been doomed.
.
Virgo Asmita
Although Asmita was born blind, he could
see straight into people's hearts. Indeed, he could
feel the anguished cries of the whole world! He alone
among the Saints of Athena was allowed to keep his native
religion of Buddhism, and this raised suspicions about Asmita's
loyalties among the other Saints. Truth be told, Asmita had his
doubts about Athena. He could not understand why a goddess
would volunteer to incarnate and suffer as mortals do.
How could such a foolish goddess lead them?
...
To resolve his confusion Asmita decided to test one of Athena's
most loyal Saints: Pegasus Tenma. From his meditation chamber in
the Virgo temple, Asmita sent his consciousness all the way to the
Underworld and challenged Tenma to an illusory battle. It was
only after Asmita was satisfied by the strength of Tenma's
heart that he truly pledged himself to Athena. And so he
sat in his temple for several days, cultivating within
himself the Essence of Cosmo, and then poured
his entire life force into a Holy Rosary
sealing the souls of Specters.
.
Virgo Shijima
Like Shaka, Shijima is known as the Man
Closest to God. He has heightened psychic senses
and spends a lot of his time meditating. Shijima was the
first to perceive that the goddess Athena from modern times
was traveling back to the 18th century. He, along with Taurus
Ox and Capricorn Izou, were there to greet her when she landed
at her shrine, but when the dust settled, they saw that she had
reverted to the state of an infant. When the Pope arrived
he assured them that he'd take care of her and sent the
Gold Saints away. Shijima wasn't so sure. He sensed that
something was wrong and stuck around long enough to catch
the Pope trying to kill the defenseless goddess. When Shijima
jumped in to protect her, Pisces Cardinal showed up. The Pope
told him that Shijima was a traitor, but Cardinal said this was
highly unlikely, because Shijima had the strongest sense of
justice of the Gold Saints. He then shot a deadly Bloody
Rose at Shijima, catching him completely by surprise.
While Cardinal and the Pope were
talking, Shijima escaped
with baby Athena.
Virgo Techniques
Storing Cosmos Storing Cosmo*
People in the series are told to beware of Shaka opening his eyes. This is because when Shaka's eyes are closed
(and they normally are) he is actually in conservation mode, accumulating Cosmo that would otherwise by used by this
sense. When his eyes open, this stored up Cosmo is released, allowing Shaka to maximize his most powerful attacks.
Asmita, on the other hand, is actually blind, and keeps his eyes closed to maximize his other senses. Still, his power
does heighten when he opens them, as demonstrated by him opening his eyes to charge the Holy Rosary of 108 Beads.
Om Om
Virgo utters the mantra "Om," the primordial sound of the universe, to focus himself and amplify his Cosmo
energy. In meditation practice this mantra is chanted to stimulate the Third Eye (Ajna) chakra, which represents
intuitive perception and self-mastery.
Kahn Kaan
(Haam)
Virgo utters the mantra "Kaan" to erect a psychic barrier and shield himself from attacks. This can also
reflect the attacks back to the aggressor. The "Kaan" mantra (more commonly known as "Haam") invokes
the Buddhist deity Acalanatha, whose name means "Immovable." His flames purify evil and delusion, so as long
as they burn inside Virgo, he can't be harmed.
Pressure Ball Pressure Ball*
This is another defensive technique, although it could easily turn offensive. Virgo creates a ball of light using air
pressure to repel an attack. He can also expand this pressure to crush whatever it envelops, or release the pressure to
blow an opponent away.
Tenpou Rin In Tenpou Rin In
Virgo makes the gesture of Dharmachakra Mudra, symbolizing the turning of the wheel (chakra) of cosmic law (dharma), in
order to clear his mind of all doubts that might hold him back during battle.
Illusion Illusion*
Virgo's unmatched levels of meditative concentration give him a vast array of mental powers, including the ability
to manifest vivid illusions of whatever he pleases. He is also immune to mental attacks from others.
Buddha's Palm Buddha's Palm*
Virgo can contain targets through this spatial illusion. They may travel and run for what they believe are great
distances, when in fact they remain inside the infinite palm of the Buddha.
This is a reference to the parable about Sun Wukong (Son Goku in Japanese), the Monkey King. When the Buddha made a bet
with him that Sun Wukong couldn't escape from his palm, Sun Wukong, who was known for being able to travel hundreds
of miles in one leap, agreed. And so Sun Wukong ran until he hit upon five pillars which he thought were the end of the
universe. He marked his presence there and ran all the way back, only to discover that the pillars he had marked were
actually the five fingers of the Buddha's hand.
Holy Rosary Holy Rosary of 108 Beads*
As the god of the Underworld, Hades is able to resurrect his Specter soldiers no matter how many times they are killed.
But Athena has her own secret weapon. Sanctified by Asmita and wielded by Shaka, it is a holy rosary strewn together
from the fruits of the mokurenji tree found deep in the Underwold. Its 108 beads match the number of Specters in
Hades' army. This rosary seals their souls and prevents them from being brought back to life, thereby leveling the
playing field between Athena and Hades. Every time a Specter dies, its corresponding bead turns black.
Psychokinesis Psychokinesis
Virgo is able to manipulate physical objects with his mind, which includes levitating himself, shattering his
opponent's armor, and draining their Cosmo to cause paralysis.
Blast Close Range Blast*
Virgo can hit his opponent with this quick but deadly energy blast which he dispenses through direct contact via his
palm.
Tenma Koufuku Tenma Koufuku
(Demon Pacification)
This is an incredibly powerful blast of Cosmo that Virgo could radiate locally or send after targets over a distance.
It's is usually preceded by a centering technique such as Om, and its execution is often accompanied by splashes of
scenery from Buddhism's heavens and hells. Sometimes the imagery could be of Virgo on the ocean floor surrounded by
skulls, followed by a laughing woman on a horse. But perhaps the most beautiful preparation for this attack is from the
Hades OVA, where the accumulation and expansion of Virgo's Cosmo is represented by the unfurling of a radiant lotus
flower.
Tenku Hajaa Chimimoryo Tenkuuhaja Chimimouryou
(Heaven's Supremacy over Evil Spirits of Rivers and Mountains)
The Chimimouryou are malevolent spirits that haunt Japan's rivers and mountains, prey on the souls of both the
living and the dead. Virgo is able to assert dominion over them and command them to attack his enemies.
Rikudou Rinne Rikudou Rinne
(Six Paths of Transmigration)
Virgo sends an opponent to one of the six Samsara, or Buddhist realms of rebirth, according to their karma:
1) Jigokukai: the realm of Hell. Fire seas, blood lakes, and needle mountains. Those who dwell here suffer endless
agony.
2) Gakikai: the realm of Hungry Ghosts. Those who dwell here are thin as a rake, with a bulging stomach. They hunger and
thirst forever, even eating rotten meat. It's a realm for those who are very greedy.
3) Chikushoukai: the realm of Beasts. This is a realm for those who are animalistic, where the law of the jungle
rules.
4) Shurakai: the realm of the warring Ashura. Blood and slaughtering. Never being allowed to rest, but always fighting
other people, every day.
5) Jinkai: the realm of humans. Happiness, anger, grief, and joy. Those who dwell in this unstable world are tortured by
extremes of feeling.
6) Tenkai: the realm of Heaven. Though it's called Heaven, it's the most dangerous of the realms, because at
any time one can fall back into the lower realms.
The lingering power of Rikudou Rinne can also send Virgo's opponent to Sai no Kawara, a riverbank in the
netherworld where children who died prematurely go for causing grief to their parents. They build little towers using
the pebbles they find there as a form of prayer, but demons keep coming to destroy these.
Tenbu Horin Tenbu Hourin
(Heavenly Dancing Treasure Wheel)
This is Virgo's most powerful attack and invariably involves him opening his eyes. As both an offensive and
defensive technique, it incapacitates Virgo's opponents and leaves them completely at his mercy. It is based on the
Buddhist understanding of reality, where the mortal senses (Five Aggregates) are treated as hindrances to the perception
of ultimate truth. In this way Tenbu Hourin can be linked to the great Heart (of Wisdom) Sutra. And so, at Virgo's
command, Tenbu Hourin strips his victims of touch, taste, sight, hearing, smell, and even the 6th sense of the mind,
leaving behind a living corpse. Unless, of course, they are able to transcend this and achieve the 7th sense.
Arayashiki Arayashiki
(Alaya-vijnana)
Although Buddhism universally acknowledges six types of consciousness (the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste,
touch, and mind), the Yogacara school of Buddhism adds two more: the 7th consciousness of karmic formation, and the 8th
which is the foundation of the previous seven and is responsible for rebirth. This seems to be the basis for the eight
senses encountered in the Saint Seiya series. Awakening the 8th sense/consciousness, known in Japan as Arayashiki,
clears the path to Enlightenment. The original Sanskrit name for it is Alaya-vijnana, or "store
consciousness." It stores all past experiences and is thereby the source of a person's karma.
All the Gold Saints have mastered the 7th sense, but Shaka is the first of his generation to fully realize the 8th sense. In order to fully grasp the Buddha's teaching that death is not the end, he had to die. His connection to Shakyamuni Buddha is especially pronounced here, since Shaka gained total Enlightenment and "died" beneath a pair of Sal trees. These are revered as the trees Queen Maya held onto in order to give birth to the Buddha, as well as the trees he spread around the place of his Parinirvana. Arayashiki allowed Shaka to transcend death and enter the realm of Hades in the flesh. It also made him immune to the crippling effects of Hades' cursed barrier. By achieving the 8th sense Shaka lived up to his title of "The Man Closest to God."
Well Leo Regulus comes close as he used the Athena Reclamtion by himself and the forbidden Zodiac Reclamation.