When a child is to be administered Aksharaabhyaasam (the ceremony of learning the first alphabet by a child), the child's parents worship Goddess Saraswati and seek her blessings for the child.
Again, when the child is to be admitted to school, this Goddess is worshiped along with Lord Ganesha.
On Basant Panchami day and during the Navaratri celebrations, we worship Saraswati and seek her blessings for the overall welfare and stability of our mental powers.
Now, I am providing some prayers and mantras of Mother Saraswati along with their meanings.
Saraswati Stuti Hymns
Here are two hymns glorifying the beauty and auspiciousness of Mother Saraswati.
Yaa kundendu Tushaara
yaa kundEndu tushaara haara dhavaLaa yaa subhra vastrAvrutA
yaa veeNaa varadanda mandita karaa yaa svEta padmAsanA |
yaa brahmAchyuta shankara prabhutibhir dEvaih sadaa vanditA
saa maam paatu saraswatii bhagavatii nissheEsha jaadyApahA || (1)
In Sanskrit
या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता
या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना।
या ब्रह्माच्युत शंकरप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता
सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा॥
Meaning:
O, Mother Saraswati! You are fair like a jasmine-hued moon wearing a pure and white frosty, dew-filled garland and are engulfed in white clothes. Your hands bear the magnificent VeeNa and a boon bestower staff and your throne is a white Lotus. You are adored and revered by Lords like Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva always. Such venerable Mother, please protect me and remove all my stupidity and ignorance.
neehaara hAra ghanasAra sudhAkarAbhAm
kalyANadAm kanaka champaka daama bhooshAm
uttunga peena kuchakumbha manOharAngim
vaaNii namaami manasA vachasA vibhootyai || (2)
Sanskrit
नीहार हार घनसार सुधाकराभाम्
कल्याणदाम् कनक चम्पक दाम भूषाम
उततुङ्ग पीन कुचकुम्भ मनोहराङ्गिम्
वाणीं नमामि मनसा वचसा विभूत्यैः ||
Meaning:-
O Mother Saraswati! You are cool and refreshing, like the fragrance of sandalwood, and your face shines like the light of the sun. You are auspicious and revered, adorned with a golden champak garland. You are beautiful-bodied, with an elevated chest and breasts. O Mother of Sound and Music, I prostrate before you with my pure mind, language, and soul.
Saraswati Prayer Slokas
Aksharaabhyaasam (Schooling-Time) Prayer
Saraswati namastubhyam vara dE kaamaroopiNi
vidyaarambham karishyaami siddhir bhavatu mE sadaa || (3)
In Sanskrit
सरस्वती नमस्तुभ्यम् वर दे कामरूपिणी
विद्यारंभं करिष्यामि सिद्धिः भवतु मे सदा ||
Meaning:
O Mother Saraswati! My Salutations to You. Please bestow me with a boon. I am going to begin my studies. Wish me an ever-lasting success in my endeavor.
Saraswati, mahaabhAgE, vidyE, kamala lOchanE,
vidyAroopE, vishAlAkshi, vidyAm dEhi namOstutE|| (4)
In Sanskrit
सरस्वती महाभागे विद्ये कमल लोचने
विद्यारूपे विशालाक्षि विद्यां देहि नमोस्तुते ||
Meaning:
O Saraswati, Auspicious One; you are the Knowledge, your eyes resemble lotus petals, you are the personification of all knowledge and education; O Large-Eyed One, gift me Knowledge, I am prostrating before you.
Om Saraswati, mayaa drushtvaa veeNaa-pushtak dhAriNeem,
hansvAhini samAyuktaa, maam vidyAdAn karOtu mE, Om|| (5)
In Sanskrit
ॐ सरस्वती मया दृष्ट्वा वीणा-पुस्तक धारिणीम्
हन्सवाहिनी समायुक्ता माम् विद्यादान करोतु में ॐ ||
Meaning:
Mother Saraswati! Grace upon me, You who bears the musical instrument Veena and a Book; riding upon the Swan(hansa), please bestow me with the boon of Knowledge.
Saraswati Mantras (Meditation Slokas)
Om Aing saraswatyai namaha || (1)
In Sanskrit
ॐ ऐं सरस्वत्यै नमः ||
In the above mantra, Om and Aing are two primordial sounds for meditation.
yaa dEvi sarvabhootEshu vidyAroopENa samsthitaa
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namO namaha || (2)
In Sanskrit
या देवि सर्वभूतेषु विद्यारूपेण संस्थिता
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ||
Meaning:
You, Goddess, are present in all living beings in the form of knowledge!
I offer my salutations to you again and again.
Out of these two mantras, the first one is generally for meditating purposes repeating the line 108 times.
The second sloka is recited lyrically while meditating on the Goddess for a certain number of times.
