1. Vighneśvara dhyānam – Invocation
Ring the bell and light lamp.
om śuklāmbaradharam viṣṇum śaśivarṇam caturbhujam ǀ
prasanna vadanam dhyāyet sarva vighnopa śāntaye ǁ
2. ācamanam – Purification
Take a spoonful of water into your right hand and drink each time.
om keśavāya svāhā ǀ
om nārāyaṇāya svāhā ǀ
om mādhavāya svāhā ǀ
Take a spoonful of water to wash your hands into the plate in front of you.
om govindāya namaḥ ǁ
3. digbandhaḥ – Protection from evil spirits
Move your right hand in the air around the head with your index finger pointing out.
om bhūrbhuvaḥ suvaḥ
4. prāṇāyāmaḥ – Breathing exercises
Do 3 sets of pranayama. Others will chant gayatri mantra at this time.
Om bhūr-bhuvah svah ।
tat-savitur-vareṇyam
bhargo devasya dhīmahi ।
dhiyo yo naḥ pracho-dayāt ॥
5. Pūjā sankalpaḥ – Declaration
Put a tulsi leaf in your right hand and pour some water in it. Close it with your left hand and place it on your right knee.
om mamopātta-samasta-duritakshayadvārā
śrī parameṣvara prītyartham asmin śubha-muhūrte
jñāna-vairāgya sidhyartham vidyā-vinaya-prāptyartham
śrī sadguru-prasāda-sidhyartham ca
śrī sarasvatī pūjām kariṣye ǀ
Pour water and tulsi onto plate in front of you.
6. ghaṇṭānādhaḥ – Invitation to the Gods
Ring the bell and chant.
āgamārtham tu devānām gamanārtham tu rakshasām ǀ
kurve ghaṇṭā-ravam tatra devatāḥvāna-lakshaṇam ǁ
7. śrī gaṇeśa- smaraṇam – Invocation of Ganesh
Fold hands and chant. Place two bananas on betel leaf in front of Ganesha.
vakratuṇḍa mahākāya
sūryakoṭi samaprabha ǀ
nirvighnam kuru me deva
sarvakāryeṣu sarvadā ǁ
om śrī mahāgaṇapataye namaḥ ǁ
Dip flower in water and sprinkle on fruit.
naivedyam nivedayāmi ǁ
Wave the smell towards Ganeshs with the thumb touching each finger shown below.
om prāṇāya svāhā – Pinky
om apānāya svāhā – Ring finger
om vyānāya svāhā – Middle finger
om udānāya svāhā – Index finger
om samānāya svāhā – All fingers
om brahmaṇe svāhā – All fingers
8. guru-smaraṇam – Invocation of Guru
Fold hands and chant.
gurur braḥmā gurur viṣṇuḥ gurur devo maheśvaraḥ ǀ
guruḥ sākśāt para brahma tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ ǁ
om śrī gurubhyo namaḥ ǁ
Offer a flower.
9. devatā dhyānam – Invocation of Saraswati
Fold hands and chant.
yā kundendu tuṣāra hāra dhavalā yā śubhra vastrāvṛtā
yā vīṇā varadanḍa maṇḍitakarā yā śveta padmāsanā ǀ
yā brahmācyuta śankara prabhṛtibhiḥ devaissadā vanditā
sā mām pātu sarasvatī bhagavatī niśśeṣa-jāḍhyāpahā ǁ
Offer a flower.
10. devatā-āvāhanam – Welcoming
Touch your heart with left hand and keep right hand touching Saraswati’s feet.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ āvāhayāmi ǁ
11. āsanam – Offering a seat
Offer a flower.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ āsanam samarpayāmi ǁ
12. pādyam – Washing feet
Pour a spoonful of water at Saraswati’s feet.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ pādyam samarpayāmi ǁ
13. arghyam – Washing hands
Pour a spoonful of water on Saraswati’s hands.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ arghyam samarpayāmi ǁ
14. ācamanam – Rinsing mouth
Show a spoonful of water to Saraswati and pour it on the plate in front of you.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ ācamanam samarpayāmi ǁ
15. snānīyam – Offering bath
Sprinkle water on Saraswati.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ snānīyam samarpayāmi ǁ
16. vastram – Giving clothes
Offer a flower to Saraswati.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ śubha-vastram samarpayāmi ǁ
17. gandhalepanam – Perfume
Take chandan with your right ring finger and put it on Saraswati forehead.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ gandham samarpayāmi ǁ
18. akśatāḥ – Kumkum and Rice
Take some rice on your right ring finger and dip it in the kumkum. Apply it to Saraswati’s forehead.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ akśatān samarpayāmi ǁ
19, puṣpam – Flower
Offer a flower garland to Saraswati.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ puṣpāṇi samarpayāmi ǁ
20. arcana – 108 Names
Offer a flower petal each time a name is chanted.
Name Mantra | Name Meaning |
ॐ सरस्वत्यै नमः। | The Goddess of Knowledge |
ॐ महाभद्रायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Supremely Auspicious |
ॐ महामायायै नमः। | The Goddess Who has Great Illusion |
ॐ वरप्रदायै नमः। | The Goddess Who Bestows Boons |
ॐ श्रीप्रदायै नमः। | The Goddess Who Bestows Wealth |
ॐ पद्मनिलयायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Home is in a Lotus |
ॐ पद्माक्ष्यै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Eyes are Like Lotus |
ॐ पद्मवक्त्राकायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Face is Like Lotus |
ॐ शिवानुजायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Younger Sibling of Shiva |
ॐ पुस्तकभृते नमः। | The Goddess Who is Holding a Book |
ॐ ज्ञानमुद्रायै नमः। | The Goddess Who Sits in the Mentioned Posture |
ॐ रमायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Enticing |
ॐ परायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Beyond Everything |
ॐ कामरूपायै नमः। | The Goddess Who Takes Various Forms as Desired |
ॐ महाविद्यायै नमः। | The Goddess Who has Great Knowledge |
ॐ महापातक नाशिन्यै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Destroyer of Fallen-Beings |
ॐ महाश्रयायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Supreme Refuge |
ॐ मालिन्यै नमः। | The Goddess Who has a Garland |
ॐ महाभोगायै नमः। | The Goddess By Whom Great Enjoyment is Being Caused |
ॐ महाभुजायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Arms are Great |
ॐ महाभागायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Luck is Great |
ॐ महोत्साहायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Strength is Supreme |
ॐ दिव्याङ्गायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Limbs are Divine |
ॐ सुरवन्दितायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Adored by the Gods |
ॐ महाकाल्यै नमः। | The Goddess of Time and Death |
ॐ महापाशायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Noose is Eminent |
ॐ महाकारायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Form is Supreme |
ॐ महाङ्कुशायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Stick (Goad) is Eminent |
ॐ पीतायै नमः। | The Goddess who is yellow-skinned |
ॐ विमलायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Spotless |
ॐ विश्वायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Entire Cosmos |
ॐ विद्युन्मालायै नमः। | The Goddess Who Wears a Shining Garland |
ॐ वैष्णव्यै नमः। | The Shakti of Lord Vishnu |
ॐ चन्द्रिकायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is as Bright as Moonlight |
ॐ चन्द्रवदनायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Face is as Beautiful as Moon |
ॐ चन्द्रलेखाविभूषितायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Adorned by a Digit of the Moon |
ॐ सावित्र्यै नमः। | Ray of Light |
ॐ सुरसायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Charming |
ॐ देव्यै नमः। | The Goddess |
ॐ दिव्यालङ्कारभूषितायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Adorned by Divine Ornaments |
ॐ वाग्देव्यै नमः। | The Goddess of speech |
ॐ वसुधायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Earth |
ॐ तीव्रायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Speed is Fast |
ॐ महाभद्रायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Supremely Auspicious |
ॐ महाबलायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Strength is Supreme |
ॐ भोगदायै नमः। | The Goddess Who Bestows Enjoyment |
ॐ भारत्यै नमः। | The Goddess of Speech |
ॐ भामायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Personification of Passion and Splendor |
ॐ गोविन्दायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Protector or Controller of Cows |
ॐ गोमत्यै नमः। | A Place Having Herds of Cows |
ॐ शिवायै नमः। | The Goddess Who Delivers Liberation or Enlightment |
ॐ जटिलायै नमः। | The Goddess Who has Matted Hairs |
ॐ विन्ध्यावासायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Dwelling Place is Mount Vindhya |
ॐ विन्ध्याचलविराजितायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Seated in Mount Vindhya |
ॐ चण्डिकायै नमः। | The Fierce One, the Wrathful Goddess |
ॐ वैष्णव्यै नमः। | The Power of Lord Vishnu |
ॐ ब्राह्मयै नमः। | The Power of Brahma |
ॐ ब्रह्मज्ञानैकसाधनायै नमः। | The Only Medium to Attain Brahma-Jnana (Enlightment) |
ॐ सौदामिन्यै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Resplendence is Like Lightening |
ॐ सुधामूर्त्यै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Form is Like Nectar |
ॐ सुभद्रायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Extremely Beautiful |
ॐ सुरपूजितायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Worshipped by Gods |
ॐ सुवासिन्यै नमः। | The Goddess Who Fills her Abode (the Whole Cosmos) with Auspiciousness |
ॐ सुनासायै नमः। | The Goddess Who has Beautiful Nose |
ॐ विनिद्रायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Sleepless |
ॐ पद्मलोचनायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Eyes are Like Lotus |
ॐ विद्यारूपायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Knowledge Personified |
ॐ विशालाक्ष्यै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Eyes are Large |
ॐ ब्रह्मजायायै नमः। | The Wife of Brahma |
ॐ महाफलायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Greatest Retribution |
ॐ त्रयीमूर्त्यै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Trinity |
ॐ त्रिकालज्ञायै नमः। | The Goddess Who Knows Everything About the Past, the Present and the Future |
ॐ त्रिगुणायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Personification of the 3 Gunas-Tamas, Rajas and Sattva |
ॐ शास्त्ररूपिण्यै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Treatises Personified |
ॐ शुम्भासुरप्रमथिन्यै नमः। | The Goddess Who Tormented the Demon Shumbha |
ॐ शुभदायै नमः। | The Goddess Who Bestows Auspicion |
ॐ स्वरात्मिकायै नमः। | The Goddess Who exists as Sound |
ॐ रक्तबीजनिहन्त्र्यै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Slayer of Raktabīja |
ॐ चामुण्डायै नमः। | The Goddess Who Killed the Demons Chanda and Munda |
ॐ अम्बिकायै नमः। | The Mother Goddess |
ॐ मुण्डकायप्रहरणायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Dispeller of Muṇda |
ॐ धूम्रलोचनमर्दनायै नमः। | The Goddess Who Killed the Demon Dhumralochana |
ॐ सर्वदेवस्तुतायै नमः। | The One Who Praised by all Gods and Goddesses |
ॐ सौम्यायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Gentle and Cheerful |
ॐ सुरासुर नमस्कृतायै नमः। | Both Gods and Demons Bow to Her |
ॐ कालरात्र्यै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Night of Deluge |
ॐ कलाधारायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Support of Artistry |
ॐ रूपसौभाग्यदायिन्यै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Giver of Beauty and Good Fortune |
ॐ वाग्देव्यै नमः। | The One Who is the Goddess of Speech |
ॐ वरारोहायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Elegant |
ॐ वाराह्यै नमः। | The Power of Varaha |
ॐ वारिजासनायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Seated on a White Lotus |
ॐ चित्राम्बरायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Clothes are Variegated |
ॐ चित्रगन्धायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Fragrance is Variegated |
ॐ चित्रमाल्यविभूषितायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Adorned With Variegated Flowers |
ॐ कान्तायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Beautiful |
ॐ कामप्रदायै नमः। | The Goddess Who Bestows Desires |
ॐ वन्द्यायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Worthy of Worship |
ॐ विद्याधरसुपूजितायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Well Worshipped by Knowledge-Holders |
ॐ श्वेताननायै नमः। | The Goddess Who have fair face |
ॐ नीलभुजायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Arms are of Blue Colour |
ॐ चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदायै नमः। | The Goddess Who Bestows Retribution to the Four-Sections of Society |
ॐ चतुरानन साम्राज्यायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Empire is the world Created by Four-Headed Brahma |
ॐ रक्तमध्यायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Source of all Shakti |
ॐ निरञ्जनायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is Dispassionate |
ॐ हंसासनायै नमः। | The Goddess Whose Seat is of Swan |
ॐ नीलजङ्घायै नमः। | The Goddess Who has Blue Thighs |
ॐ ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवान्मिकायै नमः। | The Goddess Who is the Soul of Brahma, Visnu and Shiva |
21. dhūpaḥ – Incense
Light the agarbati and lift up to Saraswati. Ring the bell.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ dhūpam āghrāpayāmi ǁ
22. dīpaḥ – Lamp
Light up oil lamp and raise it to the level of Saraswati’s eyes. Ring the bell.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ dīpam darśayāmi ǁ
23. naivedyam – Prasad
Dip a flower into the water and sprinkle on Prasad. Put on plate in front of you.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ naivedyam nivedayāmi ǁ
Wave the smell towards Saraswati with the thumb touching each finger shown below.
om prāṇāya svāhā – Pinky
om apānāya svāhā – Ring finger
om vyānāya svāhā – Middle finger
om udānāya svāhā – Index finger
om samānāya svāhā – All fingers
om brahmaṇe svāhā – All fingers
24. mangala-nīrājanam – Aarti
Light camphor and rotate around Saraswati. Ring the bell.
na tatra sūryo bhāti na candra tārakam
nemā vidyuto bhānti kuto S ayamagniḥ ǀ
tameva bhāntam anubhāti sarvam
tasya bhāsā sarvamidam vibhāti ǁ
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ mangala-nīrājanam samarpayāmi ǁ
25. puṣpānjaliḥ – Conclusion
Offer flower.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ puṣpānjalim samarpayāmi ǁ
26. pradakśiṇa-namaskāraḥ – Circumambulation
Stand up and turn around clockwise 3 times.
om śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ ǀ
pradakśiṇa-namaskāran samarpayāmi ǁ
27. prārthanā – Forgiveness
Fold hands and chant.
kāyena vācā manasendriyairvā
buddhyātmanā vā prakṛte svabhāvāt ǀ
karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai
nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayāmi ǁ
28. śānti mantraḥ – Closing prayer
Fold hands and chant.
om pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidam pūrṇāt pūrṇamudacyate ǀ
pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate ǁ
om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
hariḥ om śrī gurubhyo namaḥ hariḥ om