Verses
The 108 Sacred Names
The 108 sacred names of the Deity, canonically chanted with 'Om' and 'Namah' for Archana and Japa.
Om, salutations to Sarasvati: the Goddess of the Flowing Stream of Wisdom, Arts, and Vedic Knowledge.
Verse 1
Om, salutations to Mahabhadra: the Supremely Auspicious Mother who confers immense welfare.
Verse 2
Om, salutations to Mahamaya: the Supreme Sovereign of Divine Illumination and creative power.
Verse 3
Om, salutations to Varaprada: the Gracious Bestower of boons, intellect, and creativity.
Verse 4
Om, salutations to Shriprada: the Granter of refined spiritual beauty, wisdom, and dignity.
Verse 5
Om, salutations to Padmanilaya: the Goddess who resides within the pure white lotus of contemplation.
Verse 6
Om, salutations to Padmakshi: the Lotus-Eyed Mother whose serene gaze awakens higher intellect.
Verse 7
Om, salutations to Padmavaktra: the Lotus-Faced Goddess.
Verse 8
Om, salutations to Shivanuja: the Auspicious Sister born of the divine light of Shiva.
Verse 9
Om, salutations to Pustakabhrit: the Bearer of the sacred book of knowledge.
Verse 10
Om, salutations to Jnanamudra: the Goddess showing the Chin-Mudra of knowledge, uniting the individual soul with the Absolute.
Verse 11
Om, salutations to Rama: the Delightful Goddess who enchants the mind with beauty and poetry.
Verse 12
Om, salutations to Para: the Transcendent Supreme Reality beyond speech and thought.
Verse 13
Om, salutations to Kamarupa: the Goddess who can assume any beautiful form to guide sincere students.
Verse 14
Om, salutations to Mahavidya: the Great Transcendental Wisdom that grants liberation from samsara.
Verse 15
Om, salutations to Mahapatakanashini: the Purifier who destroys the heaviest sins through the gift of right knowledge.
Verse 16
Om, salutations to Mahashraya: the Supreme Refuge of scholars, sages, poets, and spiritual seekers.
Verse 17
Om, salutations to Malini: the Goddess adorned with the garland of Sanskrit alphabets (Akshamala).
Verse 18
Om, salutations to Mahabhoga: the Granter of the great spiritual bliss of absorption in Truth.
Verse 19
Om, salutations to Mahabhuja: the Goddess with powerful divine arms upholding scripture and stringed lute.
Verse 20
Om, salutations to Mahabhaga: the Exalted One possessing the highest fortune of divine enlightenment.
Verse 21
Om, salutations to Mahotsaha: the Inspiring Energy that infuses boundless enthusiasm into seekers.
Verse 22
Om, salutations to Divyanga: the Goddess whose every limb radiates transcendental light and perfection.
Verse 23
Om, salutations to Suravandita: the Goddess adored and praised by all the celestial gods and gandharvas.
Verse 24
Om, salutations to Mahakali: the Fierce Form who destroys the demon of ignorance (Avidya).
Verse 25
Om, salutations to Mahapasha: the Goddess wielding the cosmic noose to rein in wandering desires.
Verse 26
Om, salutations to Mahakara: the Vaster-than-the-Universe Form of Universal Consciousness.
Verse 27
Om, salutations to Mahankusha: the Goddess holding the sharp goad of discrimination to tame the elephant of the ego.
Verse 28
Om, salutations to Pita: the Goddess adorned with auspicious golden turmeric and yellow hues of dawn.
Verse 29
Om, salutations to Vimala: the Stainless Mother free from all intellectual confusion and doubt.
Verse 30
Om, salutations to Vishva: the All-Encompassing Reality manifesting as the entire cosmic tapestry.
Verse 31
Om, salutations to Vidyunmala: the Goddess radiant like a garland of flashing celestial lightning.
Verse 32
Om, salutations to Vaishnavi: the Creative Power of Lord Vishnu maintaining truth and order.
Verse 33
Om, salutations to Chandrika: the Cool Moonlight of wisdom soothing the burning intellect.
Verse 34
Om, salutations to Chandravadana: the Moon-Faced Goddess radiating calm, unruffled serenity.
Verse 35
Om, salutations to Chandralekhavibhushita: the Goddess adorned with the crescent moon.
Verse 36
Om, salutations to Savitri: the Creative Solar Power who stimulates and inspires righteous action.
Verse 37
Om, salutations to Surasa: the Goddess of sweet, delightful essence (rasa).
Verse 38
Om, salutations to Devi: the Divine Goddess.
Verse 39
Om, salutations to Divyalankarabhushita: the Goddess adorned with divine ornaments.
Verse 40
Om, salutations to Vagdevi: the Supreme Sovereign Deity of Speech, Eloquence, and Truth.
Verse 41
Om, salutations to Vasudha: the Goddess who bears wealth, like the Earth herself.
Verse 42
Om, salutations to Tivra: the Goddess of intense, penetrating power.
Verse 43
Om, salutations to Mahabhadra: the Supremely Auspicious Mother who confers immense welfare.
Verse 44
Om, salutations to Mahabala: the Goddess of great strength.
Verse 45
Om, salutations to Bhogada: the Giver of enjoyment and worldly blessings.
Verse 46
Om, salutations to Bharati: Bharati, the Goddess of speech and learning.
Verse 47
Om, salutations to Bhama: the Radiant Goddess.
Verse 48
Om, salutations to Govinda: the Goddess who is the Protector of speech (go), known by this feminine form of Govinda.
Verse 49
Om, salutations to Gomati: the Goddess rich in speech and the sacred river Gomati.
Verse 50
Om, salutations to Shiva: the Auspicious Goddess.
Verse 51
Om, salutations to Jatila: the Goddess with matted locks.
Verse 52
Om, salutations to Vindhyavasa: the Goddess who dwells in the Vindhya hills.
Verse 53
Om, salutations to Vindhyachalavirajita: the Goddess who shines upon the Vindhya mountain.
Verse 54
Om, salutations to Chandika: Chandika, the fierce form of the Goddess.
Verse 55
Om, salutations to Vaishnavi: the Creative Power of Lord Vishnu maintaining truth and order.
Verse 56
Om, salutations to Brahmi: Brahmi, the Goddess of Brahma's power of knowledge.
Verse 57
Om, salutations to Brahmajnanaikasadhana: the sole means of realising Brahman, the Supreme Reality.
Verse 58
Om, salutations to Saudamini: the Goddess radiant as lightning.
Verse 59
Om, salutations to Sudhamurti: the Goddess whose form is nectar.
Verse 60
Om, salutations to Subhadra: the Supremely Auspicious Goddess.
Verse 61
Om, salutations to Surapujita: the Goddess worshipped by the gods.
Verse 62
Om, salutations to Suvasini: the auspicious, ever-blessed Goddess.
Verse 63
Om, salutations to Sunasa: the Goddess of the fair nose.
Verse 64
Om, salutations to Vinidra: the Ever-Wakeful Goddess.
Verse 65
Om, salutations to Padmalochana: the Lotus-Eyed Goddess.
Verse 66
Om, salutations to Vidyarupa: the Goddess whose very form is knowledge.
Verse 67
Om, salutations to Vishalakshi: the Broad-Eyed Goddess whose expansive gaze encompasses all knowledge.
Verse 68
Om, salutations to Brahmajaya: the Consort of Brahma.
Verse 69
Om, salutations to Mahaphala: the Giver of the great fruit of all endeavours.
Verse 70
Om, salutations to Trayimurti: the Goddess whose form is the three Vedas.
Verse 71
Om, salutations to Trikalajna: the Goddess who knows past, present and future.
Verse 72
Om, salutations to Triguna: the Goddess of the three gunas.
Verse 73
Om, salutations to Shastrarupini: the Goddess embodied as the sacred scriptures.
Verse 74
Om, salutations to Shumbhasurapramathini: the Slayer of the demon Shumbha.
Verse 75
Om, salutations to Shubhada: the Giver of auspiciousness.
Verse 76
Om, salutations to Svaratmika: the Goddess whose very nature is musical sound (svara).
Verse 77
Om, salutations to Raktabijanihantri: the Destroyer of the demon Raktabija.
Verse 78
Om, salutations to Chamunda: Chamunda, the slayer of the demons Chanda and Munda.
Verse 79
Om, salutations to Ambika: Ambika, the Divine Mother.
Verse 80
Om, salutations to Mundakayapraharana: the Goddess who strikes down the demon Munda's form.
Verse 81
Om, salutations to Dhumralochanamardana: the Crusher of the demon Dhumralochana.
Verse 82
Om, salutations to Sarvadevastuta: the Goddess praised by all the gods.
Verse 83
Om, salutations to Saumya: the gentle, serene Goddess.
Verse 84
Om, salutations to Surasuranamaskrita: the Goddess honoured by both gods and asuras.
Verse 85
Om, salutations to Kalaratri: Kalaratri, the dark night that dissolves ignorance and fear.
Verse 86
Om, salutations to Kaladhara: the Support and Bearer of all the arts.
Verse 87
Om, salutations to Rupasaubhagyadayini: the Giver of beauty and good fortune.
Verse 88
Om, salutations to Vagdevi: the Supreme Sovereign Deity of Speech, Eloquence, and Truth.
Verse 89
Om, salutations to Vararoha: the Graceful Goddess of noble bearing.
Verse 90
Om, salutations to Varahi: Varahi, the powerful Matrika form of the Goddess.
Verse 91
Om, salutations to Varijasana: the Goddess seated on a lotus.
Verse 92
Om, salutations to Chitrambara: the Goddess in wonderful, colourful garments.
Verse 93
Om, salutations to Chitragandha: the Goddess accompanied by wonderfully diverse and divine fragrances.
Verse 94
Om, salutations to Chitramalyavibhushita: the Goddess adorned with wondrous garlands.
Verse 95
Om, salutations to Kanta: the Beautiful and Beloved Goddess.
Verse 96
Om, salutations to Kamaprada: the Fulfiller of devotees' desires.
Verse 97
Om, salutations to Vandya: the Goddess worthy of reverence.
Verse 98
Om, salutations to Vidyadharasupujita: the Goddess well worshipped by the Vidyadharas.
Verse 99
Om, salutations to Shvetanana: the Goddess of the fair, radiant face.
Verse 100
Om, salutations to Nilabhuja: the Goddess with dark-blue arms.
Verse 101
Om, salutations to Chaturvargaphalaprada: the Giver of the fruits of the four aims of life: dharma, artha, kama and moksha.
Verse 102
Om, salutations to Chaturananasamrajya: the Goddess who shares the sovereignty of the four-faced Brahma.
Verse 103
Om, salutations to Raktamadhya: the Goddess of the rosy-hued centre.
Verse 104
Om, salutations to Niranjana: the Stainless Goddess, free of all impurity.
Verse 105
Om, salutations to Hamsasana: the Goddess seated upon the swan.
Verse 106
Om, salutations to Nilajangha: the Goddess with dark-blue limbs.
Verse 107
Om, salutations to Brahmavishnushivatmika: the Goddess who is the very Self of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
Verse 108
Worship Guidelines & Chanting Benefits (Phalashruti)
PhalashrutiDaily or auspicious lunar days (Ekadashi, Purnima, Pradosham)
Brahma Muhurta (4:00 AM – 6:00 AM) or Evening Dusk (Sandhya)
Ghee lamp (Deepa), Incense (Dhoopa), Fresh flowers & Water offering
- Peace of mind, spiritual upliftment, and harmonious energy in the home
Background
This litany of 108 names of Saraswati follows, in order, the Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali that Sanskrit Documents files as 'sarasvati aShTottarashata nAmAvaliH 1' (a traditional text), beginning with Sarasvati, Mahabhadra, Mahamaya, Varaprada and Shriprada. A few names recur in that list, such as Mahabhadra and Vagdevi. The names, numbered 1 to 108, picture the white-clad Goddess with the veena, the Vedas, a crystal rosary and a water pot, seated on a swan, and they are chanted on Vasant Panchami, at Navaratri Saraswati Puja and daily by students and scholars.
Did You Know?
The Symbolism of the White Swan (Hamsa)
Name 106 (Hamsasana) honors the swan seat of the Goddess; the swan is said to drink only the milk when offered a mixture of water and milk, allegorically teaching the seeker to extract spiritual truth from the mixture of worldly experience.
The Three Vedas as Her Form
Name 71 (Trayimurti) names the Goddess whose form is the 'trayi', the three Vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama), reminding the seeker that Saraswati is the source of sacred knowledge itself.
The Warrior Aspect
Names 75, 78 and 79 (Shumbhasurapramathini, Raktabijanihantri, Chamunda) recall the episodes of the Devi Mahatmya, showing that the Goddess of learning is also the fearless protector who destroys ignorance and evil.
The Sacred River Saraswati
Name no. 1 (Sarasvati) recalls the legendary Vedic river praised in the Rigveda (2.41.16) as 'Ambitame Naditame Devitame' (best of mothers, best of rivers, best of goddesses), which nourished the ancient rishis.
The Chin-Mudra of Non-Duality
Name 11 (Jnanamudra) highlights the gesture of the right hand where index finger meets thumb, illustrating the mystical realization that the individual soul (Jivatman) is non-different from the Absolute (Paramatman).
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