Ashtottara ShatanamavaLi translates to the Garland or a Row of 108 names recited during worship of any God. In this particular post, this refers to the worship of the Goddess of Knowledge.
It is a practice of worshiping Saraswati at the time of the initiation of the first alphabet to a child. This occasion is known as the Aksharabhyasam ceremony.
The child gets introduced to education after the Saraswati worship.
This worship can be performed by chanting stotrams of the Goddess and through the recitation of the 108 names of Saraswati. While reciting the names, you can offer flowers and kumkuma/haldi to Saraswati at each name. The same procedure can be followed for celebrating Basant Panchami Day.
Now, I am providing the 108 names along with their meanings (shown in brackets)
Om saraswatyai namaha (My salutations to Goddess Saraswati)
Om mahAbhadrAyai namaha (Mahabhadra, the Protector)
Om mahAmAyAyai namaha (the great mystic forcce)
Om varapradAyai namaha (Provider of Gifts and Boons)
Om sri pradAyai namaha (Provider of Fame and Wealth)
Om padmanilayAyai namaha (Her Abode is Lotus)
Om padmAkshyai namaha (Lotus-Eyed Mother)
Om padmavaktrAyai namaha (Lotus-Faced Mother)
Om shivAnujAyai namaha (Sister of Shiva)
Om pustakabhrutE namaha || 10 || (Holder of Books)
Om jnAnamudrAyai namaha (the Symbol of Knowledge)
Om ramAyai namaha (Pleasing One)
Om parAyai namaha (Celestial Being)
Om kAmaroopAyai namaha (Changes Forms at will)
Om mahAvidyAyai namaha (Goddess of Great Knowledge)
Om mahApaataka nAsinyai namaha (Destroyer of Greatest Sins)
Om mahAshrayAyai namaha (The Ultimate Refuge)
Om mAlinyai namaha (Wears huge Garlands)
Om mahAbhOgAyai namaha (Experiencable, Pleasing Mother)
Om mahAbhujaayai namaha || 20 || (She has large shoulders)
Om mahAbhAgAyai namaha (She is the Primeordial or Atom)
Om mahOtsAhAyai namaha (Extremely Enthusiastic)
Om divyAngAyai namaha (Possesses Divine Organs)
Om suravanditAyai namaha (Respected by Angels)
Om mahAkAlyai namaha (the Eternal Time)
Om mahApAshAyai namaha (Bears a large Noose of Affection)
Om mahAkArAyai namaha (Huge Formed)
Om mahAnkushAyai namaha (Has a large Hook)
Om piitAyai namaha (Dressed in Golden Robe)
Om vimalAyai namaha || 30 || (Pure Being)
Om vishvAyai namaha (Universal Being)
Om vidyunmAlAyai namaha (Bears a Garland of Lighting)
Om vaishnavyai namaha (She is Vaishnavi Devi)
Om chandrikAyai namaha (Crescent of Moon)
Om chandravadanAyai namaha (Moon-Like Face)
Om chandralekhA vibhooshitAyai namaha (Adorned by the rays of Moon)
Om sAvitryai namaha (She is Savitri, the Glowing Sun)
Om surasAyai namaha (Pleasant Nectar or Essence of KNowledge)
Om dEvyai namaha (The Mother Goddess)
Om divyAlankAra bhooshitAyai namaha || 40 || (Decorated with Divine Ornaments)
Om vAgdEvyai namaha (Goddess of Speech)
Om vasudhAyai namaha (Goddess of Earth)
Om tiivrAyai namaha (Sharp and Quick)
Om mahAbhadrAyai namaha (Protector, Saviour)
Om mahAbalAyai namaha (Strong, Powerful)
Om bhOgadAyai namaha (Gifter of Boons)
Om bhAratyai namaha (Bharati is her Name)
Om bhAmAyai namaha (Passionate Lady)
Om gOvindAyai namaha (Saviour/Protector, Krishna's Wife)
Om gOmatyai namaha || 50 || (Having Cows or Feelings of a Cow)
Om shivAyai namaha (Auspicious and Gentle)
Om jatilAyai namaha (Rough or Difficult Being)
Om vindhyavAsAyai namaha (Lives in Vindhya Pradesh)
Om vindhyAchala virAjitAyai namaha (Dwells on Vindhya Hill)
Om chandikAyai namaha (Bearer of Crescent Moon or Glow)
Om vaishnavyai namaha (She is Vaishnavi or Celestial Being)
Om brAhmyai namaha (The Consort of Brahma)
Om brahmajnAnaikasAdhanAyai namaha (The lone path for Brahmajnana)
Om soudAminyai namaha (She is Lightning)
Om sudhAmoortyai namaha || 60 || (She is the Nectar)
Om subhadrAyai namaha (Protector from Ignorance)
Om surapoojitAyai namaha (Worshiped by Angels)
Om suvAsinyai namaha (A Nice Refuge for Wisdom Seekers)
Om sunAsAyai namaha (Having beautiful nose, or Easily Approachable)
Om vinidrAyai namaha (Dispels Slumber)
Om padmalOchanAyai namaha (Lotus-Eyed)
Om vidyAroopAyai namaha (Wisdom personified)
Om vishAlAkshyai namaha (Large-Eyed)
Om brahmajAyAyai namaha (Created from Brahma)
Om mahAphalAyai namaha || 70 || (She is the Great Fruit/Boon)
Om trayiimoortyai namaha (One of the Three Goddesses)
Om trikAlajNAyai namaha (Knower of Past, Present, Future)
Om triguNAyai namaha (Three qualities of Satva, Rajas, and Tamas)
Om shAstraroopiNyai namaha (She is the essence of Science, Arts, etc.)
Om shumbhAsura pramathinyai namaha (Destroyer demon Shumbhaasura)
Om shubhadAyai namaha (She is Auspicious Protector)
Om svarAtmikAyai namaha (She is the Soul of Speech & Letters)
Om raktabiija nihantryai namaha (Slayer of Raktabija, a Demon)
Om chAmundAyai namaha (the Slayer of Chanda and Munda demons)
Om ambikAyai namaha || 80 || (She is the Supreme Goddess)
Om mundakAya praharaNAyai namaha (Slayer of Mundaka demon)
Om dhoomralOchana mardanAyai namaha (Slayer of Grey-Eyed Dhoomra)
Om sarvadEvastutAyai namaha (Entire Gods sing her glories)
Om soumyAyai namaha (Pleasant in nature)
Om surAsura namaskrutAyai namaha (Revered by Angels and Demons)
Om kAlarAtryai namaha (She is the Dark Night or Kali)
Om kaLAdhArAyai namaha (The base or abode of Arts)
Om roopasoubhAgya dAyinyai namaha (Bestower of Form and Prosperity)
Om vAgdEvyai namaha (The Speech Goddess)
Om varArOhAyai namaha || 90 || (Bestower of endless boons)
Om vArAhyai namaha (Herself, she is the Boon)
Om vArijAsanAyai namaha (Lotus-Seated)
Om chitrAmbarAyai namaha (Amazingly Dressed One)
Om chitragandhAyai namaha (Bears astounding scents)
Om chitramAlya vibhooshitAyai namaha (Adorned with magnificient garlands)
Om kAntAyai namaha (the Essence of Womanhood)
Om kAmapradAyai namaha (Bestower of Desires and Wants)
Om vandyAyai namaha (Reverable Goddess)
Om vidhyAdhara supoojitAyai namaha (Worshiped by vidyAdharAs, skilled celestials)
Om shvEtAnanAyai namaha || 100 || (Her face is Pure-White hued, soft and beautiful)
Om niilabhujAyai namaha (Blue-Hued Shoulders)
Om chaturvarga phalapradAyai namaha (Granter of 4 Fruits of Dharmaartha, kaama, moksha)
Om chaturAnana sAmrAjNyAyai namaha (Queen of Four-Faced Brahma)
Om raktamadhyAyai namaha (Essence of (Blood) Life, or Red-garlanded)
Om niranjanAyai namaha (Indifferent and Blissful)
Om hansAsanAyai namaha (She is Swan-Faced)
Om niilajanghAyai namaha (Blue-Hued Thighs)
Om brahmavishNusivAtmikAyai namaha || 108 || (Dwells in Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva)
