Saraswati · Vandana
Saraswati Vandana (Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala)
A classical Sanskrit invocation of Saraswati, goddess of learning, speech and the arts. It is recited by students and before study, music and examinations, and is central to Vasant Panchami worship.
The text
या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना । या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥ शुक्लां ब्रह्मविचारसारपरमामाद्यां जगद्व्यापिनीं वीणापुस्तकधारिणीमभयदां जाड्यान्धकारापहाम् । हस्ते स्फाटिकमालिकां विदधतीं पद्मासने संस्थितां वन्दे तां परमेश्वरीं भगवतीं बुद्धिप्रदां शारदाम् ॥
Transliteration
Yā kundendu-tuṣāra-hāra-dhavalā yā śubhra-vastrāvṛtā, yā vīṇā-vara-daṇḍa-maṇḍita-karā yā śveta-padmāsanā; yā brahmācyuta-śaṅkara-prabhṛtibhir devaiḥ sadā vanditā, sā māṃ pātu sarasvatī bhagavatī niḥśeṣa-jāḍyāpahā.
Meaning in English
May the goddess Saraswati protect me, she who is white as the jasmine, the moon and a garland of dew, clothed in spotless white, her hand adorned with the vina, seated on the white lotus, ever revered by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the gods, who removes all dullness and inertia. The second verse bows to her as the pure, primeval one pervading the world, holding vina and book and the gesture of fearlessness, dispelling the darkness of ignorance, a crystal rosary in her hand, seated on the lotus, the supreme goddess Sharada who bestows intelligence.
About this text
A classical Sanskrit invocation of Saraswati, goddess of learning, speech and the arts. It is recited by students and before study, music and examinations, and is central to Vasant Panchami worship.
