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Mantra · 108 names from Sarasvati to Brahma-Vishnu-Shivatmika, Chandika's too

Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali

ॐ सरस्वत्यै नमः ।

Also known as Saraswati Ashtothram

In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.

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What the Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali is

The Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali gives Saraswati's 108 names one by one, framing each with Om before and namah after so that it can be offered as a salutation of its own, usually with a flower or a pinch of rice. Its names are taken, one at a time, from a fifteen-verse Sanskrit hymn, the Sri Sarasvati Ashtottara Shatanama Stotram, whose first line runs sarasvati mahabhadra mahamaya varaprada; its author is unknown and printed collections such as S. V. Radhakrishna Sastri's Sri Devi Nama Stotra Manjari list it as traditional. The names open on the lotus: she dwells in it, has its eyes and its face. Then come the book in her hand (Name 10) and the gesture of knowledge (Name 11). A long middle run turns to the battle-goddess, and the list closes on her as the swan-seated one and as the single nature of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Mahabhadra, Vaishnavi and Vagdevi each occur twice, and lotus-eyed comes in two wordings.

Why Saraswati's names include Chandika's battles

No Purana frames this list with a scene, and no sage is named as its speaker. What gives it shape is a theology older than the list itself. The Devi Mahatmya divides its thirteen chapters into three episodes, and Shakta tradition assigns the last and longest of them, from the fifth chapter on, to Mahasaraswati. That episode is the war against the demon brothers Shumbha and Nishumbha, and the namavali carries its roll call: Shumbhasurapramathini, who crushed Shumbha (Name 75), the slayer of Raktabija (Name 78), Chamunda (Name 79), the one who struck down Munda (Name 81) and the one who crushed Dhumralochana (Name 82). Read this way, the goddess of the book and the goddess of the battlefield are one person. The Pradhanika Rahasya, an appendix printed with the Devi Mahatmya, explains another puzzling name. It says that the primal Mahalakshmi brought forth Mahakali and Mahasaraswati, and that Mahakali in turn produced a male and a female pair, Rudra and Saraswati, which makes Saraswati the sister of Shiva; this is the sense of Shivanuja, Name 9. Names 53 and 54, the dweller on the Vindhya hills, recall the promise in the Devi Mahatmya's eleventh chapter that the Goddess will be born again and destroy demons in the Vindhya range, a form worshipped as Vindhyavasini.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiॐ सरस्वत्यै नमः ।

Tamilௐ ஸரஸ்வத்யை நமஃ ।

Teluguఓం సరస్వత్యై నమః ।

Kannadaಓಂ ಸರಸ್ವತ್ಯೈ ನಮಃ ।

Malayalamഓം സരസ്വത്യൈ നമഃ ।

EnglishRoman transliterationoṃ sarasvatyai namaḥ |

“Sarasvati, the flowing one, goddess of speech and learning.”

ॐ: oṃ — Om, the sacred syllable
सरस्वत्यै: sarasvatyai — to Sarasvati, the flowing one (Name 1)
नमः: namaḥ — salutation
महाभद्रायै: mahābhadrāyai — to the greatly auspicious one (Name 2)
महामायायै: mahāmāyāyai — to the great Maya (Name 3)
वरप्रदायै: varapradāyai — to the giver of boons (Name 4)
श्रीप्रदायै: śrīpradāyai — to the giver of Shri, grace (Name 5)
पद्मनिलयायै: padmanilayāyai — to her who dwells in the lotus (Name 6)
पद्माक्ष्यै: padmākṣyai — to the lotus-eyed one (Name 7)
पद्मवक्त्रकायै: padmavaktrakāyai — to the lotus-faced one (Name 8)

Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali lyrics in full

All 108 names, each framed by Om and namah, in the order of the fifteen-verse stotram.

All 108 verses, in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali PDFAll 108 verses with their meanings, in Sanskrit. Free to print and keep.

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Name 1

ॐ सरस्वत्यै नमः ।

Sarasvati, the flowing one, goddess of speech and learning.

Name 2

ॐ महाभद्रायै नमः ।

The greatly auspicious one.

Name 3

ॐ महामायायै नमः ।

The great Maya, the power that veils and reveals the world.

Name 4

ॐ वरप्रदायै नमः ।

The giver of boons.

Name 5

ॐ श्रीप्रदायै नमः ।

The giver of prosperity and grace (Shri).

Name 6

ॐ पद्मनिलयायै नमः ।

She who dwells in the lotus.

Name 7

ॐ पद्माक्ष्यै नमः ।

The lotus-eyed one.

Name 8

ॐ पद्मवक्त्रकायै नमः ।

She whose face is like a lotus.

Name 9

ॐ शिवानुजायै नमः ।

The younger sister of Shiva.

Name 10

ॐ पुस्तकभृते नमः ।

She who holds the book.

Name 11

ॐ ज्ञानमुद्रायै नमः ।

She who shows the gesture of knowledge (jnana mudra).

Name 12

ॐ रमायै नमः ।

The delightful one, Rama.

Name 13

ॐ परायै नमः ।

The supreme one.

Name 14

ॐ कामरूपायै नमः ।

She who takes any form at will.

Name 15

ॐ महाविद्यायै नमः ।

The great knowledge, Mahavidya.

Name 16

ॐ महापातकनाशिन्यै नमः ।

The destroyer of great sins.

Name 17

ॐ महाश्रयायै नमः ।

The great refuge.

Name 18

ॐ मालिन्यै नमः ।

She who wears garlands.

Name 19

ॐ महाभोगायै नमः ।

She of great abundance and enjoyment.

Name 20

ॐ महाभुजायै नमः ।

The mighty-armed one.

Name 21

ॐ महाभागायै नमः ।

The greatly fortunate one.

Name 22

ॐ महोत्साहायै नमः ।

She of great energy and zeal.

Name 23

ॐ दिव्याङ्गायै नमः ।

She whose body is divine.

Name 24

ॐ सुरवन्दितायै नमः ।

She who is saluted by the gods.

Name 25

ॐ महाकाल्यै नमः ।

The great Kali.

Name 26

ॐ महापाशायै नमः ।

She who holds the great noose.

Name 27

ॐ महाकारायै नमः ।

She of vast form.

Name 28

ॐ महाङ्कुशायै नमः ।

She who holds the great goad.

Name 29

ॐ पीतायै नमः ।

The golden-yellow one.

Name 30

ॐ विमलायै नमः ।

The stainless one.

Name 31

ॐ विश्वायै नमः ।

She who is the whole universe.

Name 32

ॐ विद्युन्मालायै नमः ।

She who wears a garland of lightning.

Name 33

ॐ वैष्णव्यै नमः ।

Vaishnavi, the power of Vishnu.

Name 34

ॐ चन्द्रिकायै नमः ।

The moonlight.

Name 35

ॐ चन्द्रवदनायै नमः ।

The moon-faced one.

Name 36

ॐ चन्द्रलेखाविभूषितायै नमः ।

She who is adorned with the crescent moon.

Name 37

ॐ सावित्र्यै नमः ।

Savitri, the sacred power of the sun and of the Gayatri verse.

Name 38

ॐ सुरसायै नमः ।

She of sweet essence.

Name 39

ॐ देव्यै नमः ।

The goddess.

Name 40

ॐ दिव्यालङ्कारभूषितायै नमः ।

She who is adorned with divine ornaments.

Name 41

ॐ वाग्देव्यै नमः ।

The goddess of speech.

Name 42

ॐ वसुधायै नमः ।

The earth, the bearer of wealth.

Name 43

ॐ तीव्रायै नमः ।

The intense one.

Name 44

ॐ महाभद्रायै नमः ।

The greatly auspicious one (the name occurs a second time).

Name 45

ॐ महाबलायै नमः ।

She of great strength.

Name 46

ॐ भोगदायै नमः ।

The giver of enjoyments.

Name 47

ॐ भारत्यै नमः ।

Bharati, the goddess of eloquent speech.

Name 48

ॐ भामायै नमः ।

The radiant one.

Name 49

ॐ गोविन्दायै नमः ।

Govinda, she who grants speech and knowledge (go also means speech).

Name 50

ॐ गोमत्यै नमः ।

Gomati, rich in light, also the name of a sacred river.

Name 51

ॐ शिवायै नमः ।

The auspicious one, Shiva.

Name 52

ॐ जटिलायै नमः ।

She who wears matted locks.

Name 53

ॐ विन्ध्यवासायै नमः ।

She who dwells in the Vindhya hills.

Name 54

ॐ विन्ध्याचलविराजितायै नमः ।

She who shines on the Vindhya mountain.

Name 55

ॐ चण्डिकायै नमः ।

Chandika, the fierce one.

Name 56

ॐ वैष्णव्यै नमः ।

Vaishnavi, the power of Vishnu (the name occurs a second time).

Name 57

ॐ ब्राह्म्यै नमः ।

Brahmi, the power of Brahma.

Name 58

ॐ ब्रह्मज्ञानैकसाधनायै नमः ।

The sole means to the knowledge of Brahman.

Name 59

ॐ सौदामिन्यै नमः ।

The lightning flash.

Name 60

ॐ सुधामूर्त्यै नमः ।

The embodiment of nectar.

Name 61

ॐ सुभद्रायै नमः ।

The very auspicious one.

Name 62

ॐ सुरपूजितायै नमः ।

She who is worshipped by the gods.

Name 63

ॐ सुवासिन्यै नमः ।

She who is fragrant and finely adorned.

Name 64

ॐ सुनासायै नमः ।

She with a beautiful nose.

Name 65

ॐ विनिद्रायै नमः ।

The ever-wakeful one, free of sleep.

Name 66

ॐ पद्मलोचनायै नमः ।

The lotus-eyed one.

Name 67

ॐ विद्यारूपायै नमः ।

She whose form is knowledge.

Name 68

ॐ विशालाक्ष्यै नमः ।

The wide-eyed one.

Name 69

ॐ ब्रह्मजायायै नमः ।

The consort of Brahma.

Name 70

ॐ महाफलायै नमः ।

The giver of great fruit.

Name 71

ॐ त्रयीमूर्त्यै नमः ।

The embodiment of the three Vedas.

Name 72

ॐ त्रिकालज्ञायै नमः ।

The knower of past, present and future.

Name 73

ॐ त्रिगुणायै नमः ।

She who holds the three gunas.

Name 74

ॐ शास्त्ररूपिण्यै नमः ।

She whose form is the scriptures.

Name 75

ॐ शुम्भासुरप्रमथिन्यै नमः ।

She who crushed the demon Shumbha.

Name 76

ॐ शुभदायै नमः ।

The giver of good.

Name 77

ॐ स्वरात्मिकायै नमः ।

She whose very nature is sound and musical note.

Name 78

ॐ रक्तबीजनिहन्त्र्यै नमः ।

The slayer of the demon Raktabija.

Name 79

ॐ चामुण्डायै नमः ।

Chamunda.

Name 80

ॐ अम्बिकायै नमः ।

Ambika, the mother.

Name 81

ॐ मुण्डकायप्रहरणायै नमः ।

She who struck down the body of the demon Munda.

Name 82

ॐ धूम्रलोचनमर्दनायै नमः ।

She who crushed the demon Dhumralochana.

Name 83

ॐ सर्वदेवस्तुतायै नमः ।

She who is praised by all the gods.

Name 84

ॐ सौम्यायै नमः ।

The gentle, serene one.

Name 85

ॐ सुरासुरनमस्कृतायै नमः ।

She to whom gods and demons alike bow.

Name 86

ॐ कालरात्र्यै नमः ।

Kalaratri, the dark night of dissolution.

Name 87

ॐ कलाधारायै नमः ।

The support of all the arts.

Name 88

ॐ रूपसौभाग्यदायिन्यै नमः ।

The giver of beauty and good fortune.

Name 89

ॐ वाग्देव्यै नमः ।

The goddess of speech (the name occurs a second time).

Name 90

ॐ वरारोहायै नमः ।

The noble and beautiful one.

Name 91

ॐ वाराह्यै नमः ।

Varahi, the power of the Boar incarnation.

Name 92

ॐ वारिजासनायै नमः ।

She who is seated on a lotus.

Name 93

ॐ चित्राम्बरायै नमः ।

She who wears bright, many-coloured garments.

Name 94

ॐ चित्रगन्धायै नमः ।

She who is anointed with varied fragrances.

Name 95

ॐ चित्रमाल्यविभूषितायै नमः ।

She who is adorned with many-coloured garlands.

Name 96

ॐ कान्तायै नमः ।

The lovely, beloved one.

Name 97

ॐ कामप्रदायै नमः ।

The fulfiller of wishes.

Name 98

ॐ वन्द्यायै नमः ।

She who is worthy of worship.

Name 99

ॐ विद्याधरसुपूजितायै नमः ।

She who is worshipped well by the Vidyadharas.

Name 100

ॐ श्वेताननायै नमः ।

The fair-faced one.

Name 101

ॐ नीलभुजायै नमः ।

She whose arms are dark blue.

Name 102

ॐ चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदायै नमः ।

The giver of the fruit of the four aims of life (dharma, artha, kama, moksha).

Name 103

ॐ चतुराननसाम्राज्यायै नमः ।

She who is the sovereignty of four-faced Brahma.

Name 104

ॐ रक्तमध्यायै नमः ।

She who is red at the waist.

Name 105

ॐ निरञ्जनायै नमः ।

The spotless one.

Name 106

ॐ हंसासनायै नमः ।

She who is seated on the swan.

Name 107

ॐ नीलजङ्घायै नमः ।

She whose shanks are dark blue.

Name 108

ॐ ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मिकायै नमः ।

She who is the essence of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

The syllable people get wrong

In Name 7, padmākṣyai (पद्माक्ष्यै, 'to the lotus-eyed'), the cluster kṣ runs straight into yai with no vowel between them: say 'pad-MAAK-shyai', three syllables, not 'pad-maa-kshi-yai'. The ā of māk is long and carries the weight.

When the Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali is chanted

Weekday. Friday

Festival. Saraswati Puja in Navaratri

Questions

Both hold the identical 108 names, in identical order, but in two forms. The stotram is fifteen verses of continuous Sanskrit in which the names stand in the nominative, Sarasvati, Mahabhadra, Mahamaya. The namavali takes each name out of the verse, turns it into the dative, sarasvatyai, 'to Saraswati', and frames it with Om and namah. The stotram is read straight through; the namavali is recited one salutation at a time, as an offering.

Because the list treats Saraswati as Mahasaraswati, the form of the Goddess that Shakta tradition places over the last episode of the Devi Mahatmya. In that episode the Goddess and her emanations destroy Dhumralochana, Chanda and Munda, Raktabija, and finally Shumbha and Nishumbha. Names 75 to 82 recall those victories, which is why Chandika, Chamunda, Ambika and Kalaratri appear in a list that also praises the book, the swan and the musical note.

Mahabhadra, 'greatly auspicious', is Name 2 and again Name 44. Vaishnavi is Names 33 and 56, and Vagdevi, 'goddess of speech', is Names 41 and 89. Padmakshi and Padmalochana, Names 7 and 66, both mean lotus-eyed. The repeats are already present in the fifteen-verse stotram and appear in every printed list, so they are kept rather than replaced; each still counts as one of the 108.

Name 100, Shvetanana, gives her a fair face, while Name 101, Nilabhuja, gives her dark blue arms and Name 107, Nilajangha, dark blue shanks. Name 104, Raktamadhya, makes her red at the waist. The list does not explain the colours. They belong to a meditative image of the Goddess in which white, blue and red are placed on different parts of one body, rather than to the all-white Saraswati of the familiar 'ya kundendu' verse.

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Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali

What the Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali is

Why Saraswati's names include Chandika's battles

The mantra, in six scripts

Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali lyrics in full

The syllable people get wrong

When the Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali is chanted

Questions

Have your chart read before you decide

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