Stotra · Saraswati

Saraswati Vandana — Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala

“Yā kundendu tuṣāra hāra dhavalā” is the classic Sanskrit prayer to Saraswati, goddess of knowledge, music and speech. It is recited by students before study and at school assemblies across India.

When to recite: Recited before study, examinations, music practice and the start of learning (Vidyarambh), and on Vasant Panchami.

Verses

1. या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता
   या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना ।
   या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता
   सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥१॥

   yā kundendutuṣārahāradhavalā yā śubhravastrāvṛtā
   yā vīṇāvaradaṇḍamaṇḍitakarā yā śvetapadmāsanā |
   yā brahmācyutaśaṅkaraprabhṛtibhirdevaiḥ sadā vanditā
   sā māṃ pātu sarasvatī bhagavatī niḥśeṣajāḍyāpahā || 1 ||

   She who is white as the jasmine, the moon, frost and a pearl necklace, who is clothed in pure white, whose hands are adorned with the vina, who is seated on a white lotus, and who is ever worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the gods — may that goddess Saraswati, who removes all dullness, protect me.

2. शुक्लां ब्रह्मविचारसारपरमामाद्यां जगद्व्यापिनीं
   वीणापुस्तकधारिणीमभयदां जाड्यान्धकारापहाम् ।
   हस्ते स्फटिकमालिकां विदधतीं पद्मासने संस्थितां
   वन्दे तां परमेश्वरीं भगवतीं बुद्धिप्रदां शारदाम् ॥२॥

   śuklāṃ brahmavicārasāraparamāmādyāṃ jagadvyāpinīṃ
   vīṇāpustakadhāriṇīmabhayadāṃ jāḍyāndhakārāpahām |
   haste sphaṭikamālikāṃ vidadhatīṃ padmāsane saṃsthitāṃ
   vande tāṃ parameśvarīṃ bhagavatīṃ buddhipradāṃ śāradām || 2 ||

   I bow to the radiant Sharada, the supreme goddess — the essence of the contemplation of Brahman, the primordial one who pervades the world, holding the vina and a book, granting fearlessness, dispelling the darkness of ignorance, holding a crystal rosary, seated on a lotus, and giving wisdom.