Praarthane (Invocation)



Shuklaambhara-dharam Vishnum Shashi Varnam
Chartur-bhujam

Prasanna Vadanam Dhyayeth Sarva Vighna-upa Shaantaye

Abheepsi-taa-rtha Siddyartham Pujito-yaha Suraihi-api

Sarva Vighna- cchide Tasmai Sri Ganaadi Pataye Namaha



I meditate upon Vishnu having a pleasant face, with
four arms and clad In bright clothes and a pacifier
all obstacles. I Prostrate to the king of Ganas,
worshopped by Devas, bestower of wealth and who cuts
asunder all obstacles

(Fold your hands in a Namaskara-with palms together reverentially. )
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Sankalpa (Taking the Oath)


Evam guna visheshana vishishtayaam, shubha- tithau,
mama upaattha samastha duritha-kshaya-dvaara Sri
Parameshvara preetyartam mama dharma, artha, kaama,
moksha chaturvidha phala-purushaartha siddyartham
sakala vidyaa paarangatva siddyartham Sri Mahaa
Saraswati Puja-n-cha karishye



On this auspicous day, I vow to perform the Mahaa
Saraswathi puja to please the Divine Almighty,to
remove all afflictions, to acquire the four fruits -
code of duty, wealth, desires and liberation, and to
acquire knowledge and wisdom.

( Place a flower at the feet of the goddess )
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Dhyaanam (Meditation on the form of Goddess
Saraswathi)



Neehara-haara Ghana-saara Sudhaa-karaa-bhyaam

Kalyyana-daam Kanaka Champaka-daama Bhoosham

Utthunga-peena Kucha-kumbha Manoharaa-ngeem

Vaaneem Namaami Manasaa Vachanaam Vibhut-yai



I meditate upon the form of Goddess Saraswati wearing
garlands of gold and flowers, standing tall and high
with very pleasing and fully developed body. I
prostrate in mind and speech to such a splendour.

(Meditate on this form of Goddess and place a flower
at the feet of the the deity.
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Aavahanam (Invoking the Goddess)


Chattr-Bhujaam Chandra-varnaam Chatu-raa-nana
Vallabham

Aava-hayaa-mi Vaani Thvaam Aashri-taa-rti
Vinaashi-neem



I invoke Saraswati who is resembling moon and has four
hands, is the consort of four headed Brahma.
O!saraswati, You are the destroyer of all afflictions
of your devotees.

(Place a flower at the feet of the Deity )
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Aasana ( offering a seat)



Aasanam Sangri-haa-nedam Aashrite Sakala-Amarai-hi

Aadhya-te Sarva Muni-bhi-hi Aarti-de Sura-vyrinaam



Kindly accept the seat, I offer You, O! Saraswati, who
is worshipped by all Devas and Yogis and who is terror
to Asuraas.

(Offer a flower at the feet of the goddess )
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Paadhya (Washing Goddess' feet)

Paadhyam-aadhyanta Shunyaa-yai Vedhyaa-yai
Veda-vaadi-bhi-hi

Daasyaami Vaani varade Deva-raja-sama-archite



May I offer water (to wash your feet) to you, Vaani,
who is endless and who is cognizable only by the
masters of Veda

(Take a spoon of water to the feet of the Deity , and
pour it into Arghya vessel)
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Arghya (Washing Goddess' hands)



Agha-hantri Gri-haa-ne-da-mardhyam-ashtaanga Samyutam

Ambaa-svi-laa-naam jagataam Ambujaa-sana Sundari



May I offer you Arghyam (water to wash hands),
enriched with eight ingredients, O!Amba, who is the
destroyer of all sins, the most beautiful in all of
the worlds.

(Take a spoon of water to the Diety and discharge into
Arghya Vessel)
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Aachamana ( offering water for rinsing mouth or
sipping)



Aachamya-thaam Toyam-idam Aashri-ta-rtha Praddayini

Aatha-bhu-vadanaa-vaase Aadhi-haarini Te namaha



May I offer water for Aachamana to you, O!Saraswati,
who bestows all the aspirations of those who depend on
you, who resides on the tongue of Brahma, the Creator
and who destroys all the afflictions of devotees.

(Take a spoon of water to the Diety and dispose into
the Arghya vessel)
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Shuddha-udaka Snaana (Offering bath to the Goddess)



Saadhvee-naam Agrate Ganye Saadhu-sangha Samaa-dhyate

Saraswati Namaha-tubhyam Snaanam svee-kuru Samprati



May I offer you bath O! Saraswati, who is the first
among the celibate women and who is the resort of
sages.

(Take two spoons of water, show to the Diety and
dispose into the Arghya vessel )
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Vastra (offering Clothes to the Goddess)-this should be pure white
and made of pure silk.



Dukoola-dvitayam Devi Duritaa-paha Vybhave

Vidhi-priye Grihaa-nedam Sudhaa-nidhi Samam Shive



May I offer you two auspicous silk clothes, O! the
Consort of Brahma, who destroys all afflictions.

(Place two flowers on the godess. )

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Mangala-Dravya(offering auspicious cosmetics to the
Goddess)



Kumkumam-anjana-sindura-kanchukaa-dikam Ambike

Sowbhaagya-dravyam-akhilam Sura-vandye Grihaana-me



O! Ambike, please accept sowbhaagya dravyas(things
that bestow good fortune) like kumkum(red powder),
anjanam(black paste), and kanchuka(a dress for the
upper part of the body). You are worshipped by Devas

(Offer Kumkum etc. or flowers in lieu of kumkum)
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Gandha ( offering perfume to the Goddess)



Andha-kaari-priya-aaraadhye Gandham-uttama-Sowrabham

Grihaana Vaani varade Gandharva-pari-pujite



May I offer sandal paste to you, O! Vaani, who is
worshipped by Shiva and Gandharvas.

(Offer sandal paste or flower in leiu of, to the
Deity)

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*
Pushpa Puja ( Offering Flowers)



Punnaaga-jaati-mallatyaadi pushpa-jaatam Grihaana Me

Pumartha-daayini pare pustakaadya Kara-ambuje

May I offer flowers to you, O! devi, who holds the
book in the hand and who is the bestower of
aspirations of men.

(Place flowers at the feet of the Diety)
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Anga Puja ( Worship of Devi's Body)

Brahman-yai Paadow pujayaami (feet)

Brahmana-murthaye Gulphow pujayaami (ankle)

Jagat-swarupin-yai Jangham pujayaami (ankle to the
knee)

Jagada-dya-yai Jaanuneem pujayaami (knee)

Chaaru-vilaasin-yai Ooru pujayaami (Thighs)

Kamala-bhooma-yai Katim pujayaami (lower hips)

Janma-heenaa-yai Jaghanam pujayaami (hips)

Gambheera-naabhaye Naabhim pujayaam (navel)

Hari-pujyaa-yai Udharam pujayaami (stomach)

Loka-maatre Stanow pujayaami (breasts)

Vishaala-vakshase Vaksha-sthala pujayaami (chest)

Gaana-vichakshanaa-yai Kantam pujayaaami (neck)

Skandha-prapujyaa-yai Skadow pujayaami (shoulders)

Ghana-baahuve baahoo pujayaami (arms)

Pusthaka-dhaarin-yai Hastam pujayaami (hands)

Shrotreeya -bandhuve Shrotram pujayaami (ears)

veda-swarupaa-yai Vaktram pujayaami (tongue)

Sunaa-saa-yai Naasikam pujayaami (nose)

Bimba-samaano-shta-yai Oshtaa pujayaami (lips)

Kamala-chakshushe Nethrai pujayaami (eyes)

Tilaka-dhaarin-yai Phaalam pujayami (forehead)

Sarva-pradaa-yai Mukham pujayaami (face)

Sri Saraswat-yai Shira pujayaami (head)

Brahma-roopin-yai Sarva-angaani pujayaami (all parts
of the body)

Nava-shakti Puja( worship of nine powers)

Medhaa-yai namaha (intelligence)

Shri-yai namaha (wealth, affluence)

Smrit-yai namaha (memory)

Prabhaa-yai namaha (effulgence)

Padmaayai namaha (fortune)

Vidya-ishwar-yai namaha (supreme knowledge)

Pragnaa-yai namaha (wisdom)

Dhrit-yai namaha (steady or firm-minded)
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Namaste Shaaradaa Devi Kashmira Pura Vaasini

Thvaam-Aham Praarthaye Nityam Vidyaa-buddhim-cha
Dehi-me


I prostrate to Shaaradaa, the resident of kaashmira
pura. I pray daily for you to grant me wisdom and
knowkedge

(light the incense stick and play in a circular motion
three times or place a flower in lieu of)
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Deepam (Offering Light)



Aksha-sutraam Kusha-dharaa-paasha Pustaka-dhaarinee

Muktaa-haara Samaayuktam Vaachi-thishtatu-me-sadaa



O! Saraswati, who is holding a noose, a book, and a
rosary, please reside always on my tongue.

(play a lighted wick in a circular motion three times)

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Nyveydyam (Offering Food)

Kadali-phala Saamraani-cha Supakvaan Phalaa-ni-cha

Kanda-mula-vyanja-naa-ni Sopa-dam-sham Manoharam



May I offer, O! saraswati, well ripened fruits,
vegetables and prepared food.

(offer the fruits and/or other food to Devi)
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Mangala-Aarathi



Neeraajanam Sa-karpuram Ghrita-varti Saman-vitam

Grihaana Mangalam Deepam Saraswat-yai Namostu-Tay



O! saraswati, may I offer this auspicious light of
camphor and wick smeared with ghee.

I salute You.

(play the camphor light three times in a circular
motion before the image of saraswati.

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Prayer-prarthana


Thvam-eva Vaani Nikhi-laa-scha Vedaa

Thvam-Shabdha Shakthi-scha thadaa-rtha shakthi-hi

Thvam-Brahma-vidyaa-si-paraa Pareshi

Thvaam-Brahma Shakthi Sharanam Prapadye



O! Vaani, You are in entirity the Vedas, You are the
power of sound, You are the Brahman and You are the
Brahma -Vidya. I seek refuge in You.

(Fold your hands in Namaskara)
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Namaskara (Prostration)



Paahi Paahi Jagat-vandye Samasta Bhakta-vatsale

Namaha-tubhyam Namaha-tubhyam Namaha-tubhyam
Namo-nama-ha

Save me O! Saraswati, who is worshipped by the entire
universe and bestower of goodwill to Her Devotees, I
prostrate to You.

(Do a prostration)

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Samaapti ( Conclusion)

Padmaa-sa-ne Padma-kare Sarva Lokaika Pujitay

Mahaa Saraswati Devi Supritaa-bhava Sarvadaa



O! Goddess Maha Saraswati, who is worshipped by all in
the world, be pleased with me all the time.

(place a flower at the feet of the deity )

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OM Shanti-hi ! OM Shanti-hi ! OM Shanti-hi !

OM Peace! OM Peace! Om Peace!

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abstracted from the web for those who luv to do elaborate rituals...
check with your local bengalee community associations and join in the
sarswati puja festivities. we are celeberating saraswati puja next
week on feb 23 in washington dc at a local school. check out on
sanskriti.com

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