Sri Saraswati Dwadasa Nama Stotram

Sri Saraswati Dwadasa Nama Stotram is a short hymn of five verses that recites twelve names of the goddess of learning. The first verse is a dhyana asking Saraswati, holding veena and book and riding a swan, to give knowledge. The next three verses count out the twelve names, "prathamam, dvitiyam", first, second, and so on, and the last verse gives the phala-shruti. The text does not name its author. Because it is so easy to memorise, it is one of the first hymns many children learn at home.

Verse by verse

Verse 1: May this Saraswati, seen holding veena and book and seated with her swan, grant me learning.

Verse 2: The first name is Bharati, the second Saraswati, the third Sharada Devi, the fourth Hamsavahana. Bharati is the goddess of speech, Saraswati the flowing stream of knowledge, and Sharada is familiar to Kannada devotees as Sharadamba of Sringeri.

Verse 3: The fifth is known as Jagati, the sixth Vagishvari, the seventh Kaumari, the eighth Brahmacharini. Vagishvari rules over speech, while Kaumari and Brahmacharini point to her purity and austerity.

Verse 4: The ninth is Buddhidhatri, giver of understanding, the tenth Varadayini, giver of boons, the eleventh Kshudraghanta and the twelfth Bhuvaneshvari, ruler of the worlds.

Verse 5: Whoever recites these twelve names of Brahmi at the three sandhyas pleases the supreme Goddess, who grants every accomplishment. The hymn closes with the prayer that Saraswati, whose form is Brahman, dwell on the tip of my tongue.

Significance

Remembering the names of the deity is itself worship, and these twelve names make that possible for children and elders who cannot manage a long stotra. The final line, "sa me vasatu jihvagre", is a prayer that one's speech be truthful, kind and informed.

How and when to chant

The phala-shruti recommends the three sandhyas, morning, noon and evening. If that is not possible, say it once a day before sitting down to study. On the Saraswati puja days of Navaratri, place books, pens and instruments before the Goddess and offer a white flower or akshata for each of the twelve names. It also suits Vidyarambha on Vijayadashami and Vasanta Panchami.