Devi
Ya Kundendu — Saraswati vandana
या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता । या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना । या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता । सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥
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 māṁ pātu sarasvatī bhagavatī niḥśeṣa-jāḍyāpahā
Simple reading: Yaa kun-den-du tu-shaa-ra haa-ra dha-va-laa, yaa shubh-ra vas-traa-vri-taa, yaa vee-naa va-ra dan-da man-di-ta ka-raa, yaa shve-ta pad-maa-sa-naa, yaa brah-maach-yu-ta shan-ka-ra pra-bhri-ti-bhir de-vaih sa-daa van-di-taa, saa maam paa-tu sa-ras-va-tee bha-ga-va-tee nih-she-sha jaad-yaa-pa-haa
About this mantra
The best-known dhyana verse of Saraswati — one long stanza in the śārdūlavikrīḍita metre, widely sung as a school prayer in India. Three lines describe her; the fourth asks for one thing, the removal of dullness.
Meaning
She who is white as the jasmine flower, the moon, and a garland of snow; who is robed in white; whose hands are graced by the veena; who is seated on a white lotus; whom Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and all the gods forever praise — may that Saraswati, remover of all dullness, protect me. Every image is white on white — jasmine, moon, snow, robe, lotus — because what the verse finally asks, the removal of jadya (dullness), needs a mind first shown what unclouded looks like.
When to recite it
Before study and every first lesson — recited at Vasant Panchami, on school mornings, and by anyone beginning again at any age.
Word by word
- कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवलाkundendu-tuṣāra-hāra-dhavalā
- white as jasmine, moon, and snow-garland
- शुभ्रवस्त्रावृताśubhra-vastrāvṛtā
- robed in radiant white
- वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकराvīṇā-vara-daṇḍa-maṇḍita-karā
- hands graced by the noble veena
- श्वेतपद्मासनाśveta-padmāsanā
- seated on a white lotus
- या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिताyā brahmācyuta-śaṅkara-prabhṛtibhir devaiḥ sadā vanditā
- she whom Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and all the gods forever praise
- सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहाsā māṁ pātu sarasvatī bhagavatī niḥśeṣa-jāḍyāpahā
- may that goddess Saraswati, remover of all dullness, protect me
Source: Traditional Sarasvatī vandana (Sarasvatī Stotra)