॥ About Goddess Saraswati Devi ॥
After creating the cosmic universe, Lord Brahma realized that he lacked forms, concepts and orders. He felt lost and needed help organizing the universe. He decided to create the very incarnation of knowledge to help him in this Herculean task and the goddess Saraswati emerged from his mouth. She taught him how to create order in the cosmos, as we know it. The sun, the moon and the stars are born. The oceans have emerged and the seasons have changed. The brave Brahma then called Saraswati – Vagdevi, the goddess of speech and sound. Thus, Lord Brahma became the Creator of the world with Saraswati as a source of wisdom.
Another legend tells how the goddess Saraswati found the living Somras Gandharvas without war. Gandharvas are thought to be demi-gods from the fragrance of flowers. They stole the Soma plant from the gods, because it was believed that its dizzying and invigorating sap made the devas invasive. This angered the gods, but the goddess Saraswati promised to recover the plant without a fight. She entered the garden of Gandharvas and began to create beautiful music with his veena: the charming melodies of ragas and raginis. Hypnotized, the Gandharvas asked for music and the goddess Saraswati agreed to teach them if they returned the Soma plant. As a result, the gods got back their Soma plant and the Gandharvas learned music to become celestial musicians whose melodies could awaken the mind like no other intoxicating.
While Brahma and goddess Saraswati are considered the creators of the universe, few people know that they have never enjoyed domestic happiness. Legends say that it emerged from the forehead of his father, Brahma. When Brahma saw the beautiful Saraswati, he fell in love with her beauty and intelligence. Goddess Saraswati did not like his lust, so she decided to escape his gaze. But no matter which direction she was moving, Brahma had another head just to look at her. One head pushed in each direction and one especially, so he had 5 heads to be able to see anywhere.
This distressed goddess Saraswati cursed a lot and she cursed Lord Brahma for having too few temples to worship him. When the lust of Brahma began to change the order of the world, Lord Shiva intervened as Bhairava, Lord of Terror. When Bhairava tore the fifth Brahma head, he returned to himself. He needed to make a yagna to clean himself, but he needed a woman for that. So Brahma took Saraswati as his wife. However, she remained distant and distracted since the marriage was out of duty, and the two never enjoyed marital happiness.
Saraswati Moola Mantra:
Om Eim (Aim) Sarasvatyei Namaha!
Sarasvati Gayatri Mantra:
Om Sarasvatyai Vidmahe
Brahmapatnyai Dhiimahi
Tanno Sarasvati Prachodayaat
॥ Saraswati Dhyan Mantra ॥
ॐ सरस्वती मया दृष्ट्वा, वीणा पुस्तक धारणीम् ।
हंस वाहिनी समायुक्ता मां विद्या दान करोतु में ॐ ।।
>Om Saraswati Mayaa Drishtwa, Veena Pustak Dharnim ।
Hans Vahini Samayuktaa Maa Vidya Daan Karotu Me Om ॥
॥ Saraswati Beej Mantra ॥
The Beej (or Seed ) Mantra(s) invoking Goddess Saraswati are based on mono-syllables. The Beej Mantra for Saraswati is based on the two words “Bhreem” and “Shreem”. The Mantras are simple –
i. “Aum Shreem Bhreem Saraswathaye Namaha”
ii. ॐ ऎं सरस्वत्यै ऎं नमः ll – “Aum Aing Saraswathye Namah“
Meaning: Salutations to Goddess Saraswati.
Benefit: Chanting the Bhij mantra of Saraswati can increase intelligence and the power of speech.
॥ Saraswati Mantra – Vidya Mantra for Students ॥
सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि ।
विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ॥
“Saraswati Namasthubhyam Varade Kamarupini
Vidhyarambam Karishyami Siddhir Bavathume Sadha”
Meaning: Ode to the Goddess to tremendously enhance focussing power and retention capacity of the mind.
Benefit: This sloka is found to improve memory, power and concentration in studies.
॥ Mahasaraswati Mantra ॥
ॐ ऐं महासरस्वत्यै नमः ।
Om Aing Mahasaraswatyai Namah ।
Saraswati Mantra To Gain Powerful and Proper Speech
Recite this Saraswati Mantra one lakh times. By reciting this Saraswati Mantra one becomes famous by acquiring a lot of knowledge.
वद वद वाग्वादिनी स्वाहा ।
॥ Vad Vad Vaagwaadinee Swaha । ॥
Meaning: ‘Vag Devi, bestow on me the power of speech.’
Benefit: For children with speech disabilities, chanting this mantra regularly can help them gain a proper speech and also improve their communication skills in the future.
॥ Saraswati Mantra For Enhancing Intelligence ॥
Recite this Saraswati Mantra one lakh times. By reciting this Saraswati Mantra enhances intelligence, creativity and knowledge.
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं श्रीं वाग्देव्यै सरस्वत्यै नमः ।
Om Aing Hreeng Shreeng Vaagdevyai Saraswatyai Namah ।
॥ Saraswati Mantra For Wealth and Knowledge ॥
Recite this Saraswati Mantra one lakh times. Recite this Saraswati Mantra for wealth and knowledge.
ॐ अर्हं मुख कमल वासिनी पापात्म क्षयम् कारी वद वद वाग्वादिनी सरस्वती ऐं ह्रीं नमः स्वाहा ।
Om Arham Mukha Kamal Vaasinee Paapaatma Kshayam Kaari Vad Vad Vaagwaadinee Saraswati Aing Hreeng Namah Swaaha ।
॥ Saraswati Vandana ॥
या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता
या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना ।
या ब्रह्माच्युतशंकरप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा पूजिता
सा मां पातु सरस्वति भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥१॥
“Yaa Kundendu tushaara haaradhavalaa, Yaa shubhravastraavritha
Yaa veenavara dandamanditakara, aa shwetha padmaasana ।
Yaa brahmaachyutha shankara, prabhritibhir Devaisadaa Vanditha
Saa Maam Paatu Saraswatee Bhagavatee Nihshesha jaadyaapahaa ॥”
Meaning: ‘May the Goddess Saraswati protect me. She is fair like the jasmine-colored moon, and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops. She is adorned in radiant white attire, on whose beautiful arm rests the veena, and whose throne is a white lotus. She is surrounded and respected by the Gods. Please remove my weariness, sluggishness and ignorance.’
॥ Saraswati Mantra for Knowledge ॥
सरस्वति महाभागे विद्ये कमललोचने ।
विद्यारूपे विशालाक्षि विद्यां देहि नमोस्तुते ॥
“Saraswati Mahabhage Vidye Kamalalochane
Vishwaroope Vishaalaakshi Vidyam dehi namosthute”
Meaning: Salutation to the Goddess for bestowing upon me the best of knowledge and the ease of learning.
Benefit: Chanting this mantra with devotion on a regular basis can help get the desired knowledge to the fullest. Those who have difficulties with their learning can resort to this mantra as the ultimate solace.
॥ Saraswati Puranokta Mantra ॥
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु विद्या-रूपेण संस्थिता,
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
“Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Vidyarupena Samsthita।
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥”
Meaning: ‘SaIutation to the Goddess Saraswati who bestows upon me the fearlessness of life in the form of knowledge and intelligence.’
Benefit: Recitation of this Mantra gives inner peace and strength in times of distress.
॥ Saraswati Mantra for Illumination ॥
“महो, अर्णः सरस्वती प्रचेयति केतुना, धियो विश्व विराजति“
“Maho, Arnah Saraswati Pracheyati Ketuna, Dhiyo Vishwa Virajati”
Meaning: Ode to the Mother to help remove all the unnecessary fear from the heart and enlighten the mind with more knowledge and intelligence.
Benefit: This mantra is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati to illuminate the minds of knowledge seekers and to dispel the fear of new worldly experiences.
॥ Saraswati Gayatri Mantra ॥
ॐ वागीश्वर्यै विद्महे वाग्वादीन्ये दीमहे तन्नः सरस्वती प्रचोदयात ॥
“Om Vageeshwaryae Vidmahe Vagwadeenyae Dhimahe Tannah Saraswati Prachodayat”
Meaning: ‘Let me meditate on the goddess of speech. Oh, wife of Lord Brahma, give me higher intellect, and let Goddess Vani illuminate my mind.’
Benefit: Chanting this mantra can sharpen the capabilities of students and calm the senses of those who feel panic before the exams and other big events.
॥ Other Important Saraswati Mantra ॥
Saraswati Ekakshar Mantra: ‘Aim॥’
Saraswati Dvyakshar Mantra: ‘Aim Lrim॥’
Saraswati Tryakshar Mantra: ‘Aim Rum Svom॥’
Saraswati Mantra: ‘Om Aim Kleem Sauh॥’
Saraswati Mantra: ‘Om Aim Namah॥’
Saraswati Ashtakshara Mantra: This mantra comprises of the 108 names of Goddess Saraswati and it is advised that all knowledge seekers should practice it, to gain high and pure knowledge.
Benefit: Ashtakshara Namavali is best recited before undertaking any new academic activities on the first day of schooling, before academic exams and results
Thus, as we can see Saraswati mantras have the power to dispel ignorance and confusion and bestow intelligence to the chanter. So the invocations should not only be limited to the times of distress and instead should be recited as many times as possible throughout the day.
It should be made sure that one is fully committed to the Saraswati mantras and is willing to maintain his/her inner peace constantly. This will relax the mind and make it more receptive to positive energy.