About this stotra
The Saraswati Dwadasa Nama Stotram is a hymn that honors Goddess Saraswati through her twelve sacred names. It begins by describing her beautiful form - seated on a swan, holding a veena and books, symbolizing her role as the goddess of knowledge, music, and learning. The stotra then systematically lists her twelve names:Bharati - The eloquent one, goddess of speech and expressionSaraswati - The flowing one, associated with the sacred river and flow of knowledge Sharada - The giver of essence, associated with autumn and learning Hamsavahana - She who rides the swan, symbol of discrimination and wisdom Jagati - The one known throughout the world Vageeshvari - The supreme goddess of speech and words Kaumari - The youthful maiden, ever fresh and vibrant Brahmacharini - The celibate one devoted to knowledge and spiritual practiceBuddhidhatri - The bestower of intelligence and wisdom Varadayini - The giver of boons and blessings Kshudraghanta - She with small bells, whose gentle sound awakens consciousness Bhuvaneshvari - The goddess of the universe, the supreme ruler of all worldsThe stotra concludes with a promise that those who recite these twelve names three times daily will receive the goddess's blessings and accomplish their goals. The final prayer is particularly moving - the devotee asks that Saraswati, who embodies ultimate reality itself, reside on the tip of their tongue. This simple prayer captures the heart of what devotees seek: not just academic knowledge or skill with words, but the ability to speak truth, to express wisdom, and to have their words carry the grace of the divine. It's a reminder that true learning goes beyond memorizing facts. Rather it is about allowing knowledge and truth to flow naturally through us.
Saraswati Dwadasa Nama Stotram lyrics and meaning
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
सरस्वती त्वयं दृष्ट्या वीणापुस्तकधारिणी ।
हंसवाह समायुक्ता विद्यादानकरी मम ॥ 1 ॥
sarasvatī tvayaṃ dṛṣṭyā vīṇāpustakadhāriṇī ।
haṃsavāha samāyuktā vidyādānakarī mama ॥ 1 ॥
O Saraswati! You are visible to us holding the veena and book, seated on a swan vehicle, and you are the bestower of knowledge upon me.
Word by word
- सरस्वती (sarasvatī)
- Saraswati
- त्वयम् (tvayam)
- by you
- दृष्ट्या (dṛṣṭyā)
- by sight
- वीणापुस्तकधारिणी (vīṇāpustakadhāriṇī)
- holding veena and book (vīṇā:veena | pustaka:book | dhāriṇī:holding)
- हंसवाह (haṃsavāha)
- swan vehicle (haṃsa:swan | vāha:vehicle)
- समायुक्ता (samāyuktā)
- endowed with
- विद्यादानकरी (vidyādānakarī)
- bestower of knowledge (vidyā:knowledge | dāna:bestowing | karī:one who does)
- मम (mama)
- to me
॥ २ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 2
प्रथमं भारती नामा द्वितीयं च सरस्वती ।
तृतीयं शारदादेवी चतुर्थं हंसवाहना ॥ 2 ॥
prathamaṃ bhāratī nāmā dvitīyaṃ cha sarasvatī ।
tṛtīyaṃ śāradādēvī chaturthaṃ haṃsavāhanā ॥ 2 ॥
The first name is Bharati, the second is Saraswati, the third is Sharada Devi, and the fourth is Hamsavahana (She who rides the swan).
Word by word
- प्रथमं (prathamaṃ)
- first
- भारती (bhāratī)
- Bharati
- नाम (nāma)
- name
- द्वितीयं (dvitīyaṃ)
- second
- च (ca)
- and
- सरस्वती (sarasvatī)
- Saraswati
- तृतीयं (tṛtīyaṃ)
- third
- शारदादेवी (śāradādevī)
- Sharada Devi (śāradā:Sharada | devī:goddess)
- चतुर्थं (caturthaṃ)
- fourth
- हंसवाहना (haṃsavāhanā)
- She who rides the swan (haṃsa:swan | vāhanā:vehicle)
॥ ३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 3
पञ्चमं जगतीख्यातं षष्ठं वागीश्वरी तथा ।
कौमारी सप्तमं प्रोक्तमष्टमं ब्रह्मचारिणी ॥ 3 ॥
pañchamaṃ jagatīkhyātaṃ ṣaṣṭhaṃ vāgīśvarī tathā ।
kaumārī saptamaṃ prōktamaṣṭamaṃ brahmachāriṇī ॥ 3 ॥
The fifth is Jagati (renowned in the world), the sixth is Vageeshvari (Goddess of Speech), the seventh is called Kaumari (the youthful one), and the eighth is Brahmacharini (the celibate one devoted to knowledge).
Word by word
- पञ्चमं (pañcamaṃ)
- fifth
- जगतीख्यातं (jagatīkhyātaṃ)
- renowned in the world (jagatī:world | khyātaṃ:renowned)
- षष्ठं (ṣaṣṭhaṃ)
- sixth
- वागीश्वरी (vāgīśvarī)
- Goddess of Speech (vāk:speech | īśvarī:goddess)
- तथा (tathā)
- and
- कौमारी (kaumārī)
- the youthful one
- सप्तमं (saptamaṃ)
- seventh
- प्रोक्तम् (proktam)
- is called
- अष्टमं (aṣṭamaṃ)
- eighth
- ब्रह्मचारिणी (brahmacāriṇī)
- celibate one devoted to knowledge (brahma:knowledge | cāriṇī:celibate one)
॥ ४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 4
नवमं बुद्धिधात्री च दशमं वरदायिनी ।
एकादशं क्षुद्रघण्टा द्वादशं भुवनेश्वरी ॥ 4 ॥
navamaṃ buddhidhātrī cha daśamaṃ varadāyinī ।
ēkādaśaṃ kṣudraghaṇṭā dvādaśaṃ bhuvanēśvarī ॥ 4 ॥
The ninth is Buddhidhatri (bestower of intelligence), the tenth is Varadayini (giver of boons), the eleventh is Kshudraghanta (the one with small bells), and the twelfth is Bhuvaneshvari (Goddess of the universe).
Word by word
- नवमं (navamaṃ)
- ninth
- बुद्धिधात्री (buddhidhātrī)
- bestower of intelligence (buddhi:intelligence | dhātrī:bestower)
- च (ca)
- and
- दशमं (daśamaṃ)
- tenth
- वरदायिनी (varadāyinī)
- giver of boons (vara:boon | dāyinī:giver)
- एकादशं (ekādaśaṃ)
- eleventh
- क्षुद्रघण्टा (kṣudraghaṇṭā)
- one with small bells (kṣudra:small | ghaṇṭā:bells)
- द्वादशं (dvādaśaṃ)
- twelfth
- भुवनेश्वरी (bhuvaneśvarī)
- Goddess of the universe (bhuvana:universe | īśvarī:goddess)
॥ ५ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 5
ब्राह्मी द्वादश नामानि त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः ।
सर्वसिद्धिकरी तस्य प्रसन्ना परमेश्वरी ।
सा मे वसतु जिह्वाग्रे ब्रह्मरूपा सरस्वती ॥ 5 ॥
brāhmī dvādaśa nāmāni trisandhyaṃ yaḥ paṭhēnnaraḥ ।
sarvasiddhikarī tasya prasannā paramēśvarī ।
sā mē vasatu jihvāgrē brahmarūpā sarasvatī ॥ 5 ॥
Whoever recites these twelve names of the divine Brahmi (Saraswati) at the three junctions of the day (dawn, noon, and dusk), the Supreme Goddess becomes pleased and grants all accomplishments to that person. May that Saraswati, in the form of Brahman itself, reside on the tip of my tongue.
Word by word
- ब्राह्मी (brāhmī)
- divine Brahmi
- द्वादश (dvādaśa)
- twelve
- नामानि (nāmāni)
- names
- त्रिसन्ध्यं (trisandhyaṃ)
- three junctions of the day (tri:three | sandhyaṃ:junctions of the day)
- यः (yaḥ)
- whoever
- पठेत् (paṭhet)
- recites
- नरः (naraḥ)
- person
- सर्वसिद्धिकरी (sarvasiddhikarī)
- grants all accomplishments (sarva:all | siddhikarī:grants accomplishments)
- तस्य (tasya)
- to that person
- प्रसन्ना (prasannā)
- pleased
- परमेश्वरी (parameśvarī)
- Supreme Goddess (parama:supreme | īśvarī:goddess)
- सा (sā)
- she
- मे (me)
- my
- वसतु (vasatu)
- reside
- जिह्वाग्रे (jihvāgre)
- on the tip of tongue (jihvā:tongue | agre:on the tip)
- ब्रह्मरूपा (brahmarūpā)
- in the form of Brahman (brahma:Brahman | rūpā:form)
- सरस्वती (sarasvatī)
- Saraswati
ॐ
