Saraswathi Pooja Vidhi

Place the Goddess Saraswathi's photo frame or idol facing the East or West besides, the books
representing saraswathi. Musical instruments are also kept for the puja. Books are wrapped in a
silk cloth. (Red or Pink)
First light the oil lamp. Apply sandalwood paste and kumkum on the forehead, palms and feet of
the Goddess and then garland with flowers. Also apply on the books and musical instruments.
Sit with folded legs on a small mat facing the Goddess.
Ganapati Dyanam
Do salutation and contemplate on Lord Vighneswara chanting :OM Shuklam bharadharam Vishnum, Shashi Varnam chaturbhujam ! Prasanna Vadanam
Dyayethe, Sarva Vighno Upashanth aye !!
Pranayam
Om boohu, Om bhuvaha, Oghum suvaha,
Om mahaha, Om janaha, Oghum satyam,
Om tat sa Vithurvarenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi, dheeyo yonah pracho dayathu
Om apaha, Jyothi rasa, amrutham brahma
Bhur bhuvasuvarom
Pooja Sankalpam
Let the right palm rest on the right knee facing upwards. Cover it with the left palm chant the
following mantra :
OM Mamopaatha Samashta,
Duritha kshaya dwara,
Shri parameswara preethyartham,
Asmin shubha muhurthey,
Jnyaana Vairagya Siddhyartham,
Vidhya-Vinaya praapthyartham
Shri sadguru prasaada-siddhyartham cha
Shri Saraswathi poojaam karishyey !!
Ring the bell as you chant the following mantra
Aagamaartham tu Devanaam, Gamanaartham tu rakshasaam.
Kurvey ghantaa ravam thathra Devataahvaan - lakshanam !!
Chant the following mantras with contemplation
Vakra tunda mahakaya, suryakoti samaprabha,
Nirvignam kuru mey devaa, sarva karyeshu sarvadaa.
Om shri Maha Ganapataye namaha.

Offer a flower
Gurur brahma, Guru Vishnu, Gurur devoh maheshwaraha,
Guruh saakshaath param brahma, tasmai shri guravey namaha
Om shri Gurubhyo namaha
Offer a flower
!! OM Shri Saraswathyey namaha !!
1. Yaa Kundendu tushaara haara dhavalaa
Yaa shubhra vastraa vritha
Yaa veena vara danda manditakara
Yaa shwetha Padmaasanaa
Yaa brahma achyutha shankara prabhritibhi
Devai sadaa vanditha
Saa maam paathu Saraswathi Bhagawathi
Nishesha Jaadyaa pahaa !!
2. Namasthey sharada devi kashmira puravasini,
Thwa maham prarthye nityam, vidhyaanam cha dehi mey !!
3. Saraswathi thriyam drishta veena pustaka dhaarini,
Hamsa Vaahana Samyuktha Vidhyaa daanakaree mamah !!
4. Padma patra vishalakshi padma kesara varninee
Nityam padmaalaya devi, saamaam paatu saraswathi !!
5. Sharada sharadaambhoja vadana vadanaam buje
Sarvada Sarvadaasmakam sannidhi sannidhim kuru !!
Devatha Aavaahanam :Touch your chest with left palm, touch also the feet of the goddess with right palm and chant :
Aagachch deva deveshey, tejo raashey jaga janni,
kriya maannaam mayaa pooja, gruhaan sura sattamey.
Om shri saraswathyey Namaha ! Aavaahayaami !!
Aasanam :Offer flower, akshata at the feet of the goddess chanting :Om shri Saraswathyey Namah ! Aasanam Samarpayaami !!
Paadhyam :Offer a spoonful of water at the feet of Goddess chanting :OM Shri saraswathyey Namah ! Paadhyam samarpayaami !!

Arghyam :Offer a spoonful of water to the Goddess chanting :OM Shri Saraswathyey Namaha ! Arghyam Samarpayaami !!
Aachamanam :Pour down a spoonful of water chanting :OM Shri Saraswathyey Namaha ! Aachamanam Samarpayaami !!
Snaaneeyam :Sprinkle water gently chanting :
OM Sri Saraswathyey Namaha ! Snaaneeyam Samarpayaami !!
Vastram :Offer a flower / akshata to the Goddess chanting :
OM Shri Saraswathyey Namaha Shubra Vastram Samarpayaami.
Gandha lepanam :Apply sandalpaste and kumkum on the forehead,
and feet of the Goddess chanting :OM Shri Saraswathyey Namaha ! Gandham Samarpayaami !!
Akshatha :Smear the rice with kumkum. Offer it at the feet of the Goddess chanting :OM Shri Saraswathyey Namaha ! Akshathaan Samarpayaami !!
Pushpam :Offer flower / garland to the Goddess chanting :OM Shri Saraswathyey Namaha / Pushpaani Samarpayaami
Archana :Take a flower / tulsi leaf / akshata, chanting one name of the Goddess, offer it at the feet of
Goddess.
Repeat for each name of the goddess: (Twelve (12) names)
1 OM Saraswathyey Namaha

2 OM Mahaabhadraayey Namaha
3 OM Mahaamaayaayey Namaha
4 OM Varapradaayey Namaha
5 OM Padmanilayaayey Namaha
6 OM Padmaakshyey Namaha
7 OM Pusthakabhruthey Namaha
8 OM Jnanamudraayey Namaha
9 OM Kamarupaayey Namaha
10 OM Mahaavidhyaayey Namaha
11 OM Mahaapaathaka Naashinyey Namaha
12 OM Vidhyaadhara Supujithaayey Namaha
Archana (Optional) - 108 names
Dhupam Deepam :Light up the Agarbhathi & small lamp, show it to the Goddess,
ringing the bell with the left hand, chant :
OM Shri Saraswathyey Namaha !
Dhupam Aaghraapayaami !!
Om shri Saraswathyey Namaha,
Deepam darshayaami.
Naivedyam :Keep the prasadam (fruits, Paayasam, Vada, Coconut) in a plate in front of the Goddess. Put a
tulsi leaf on it. Close your eyes, joining the palms, chant the mantra offering mentally the
naivedyam to the Goddess.
OM bhur bhuvasuvaha, that sa vithur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dheemahi, dhiyo yonah prachodayaath !!
Take 2 spoonful of water on your right palm, circumbulate
the water drops around the naivedyam chanting :Deva Savitha Prasuva
Again 2 spoonful as above :

Satyam twarthena parishinchami

Take 2 spoonful on your right palm, and drop it
on your right side near the Prasadam saying :
Amrathahopastarana masi
Make gesture of offering to the Goddess chanting
OM pranaaya swaha
OM Apaanaya swaha
OM Vyaanaya swaha
OM Udaanaaya swaha
OM Samaanaaya swaha
OM Brahmaney swaha
Drop 2 spoonful of water through right palm on the right side of the naivedyam saying :
OM shri Saraswathyey Namaha !
Naivedyam Nivedayaami !!
Drop 2 spoonful of water on right side of naivedyam :
Nivedanan antaram aachamaniyam samarpayaami
2 drops - repeat
Madhyey Madhyey amruta paaniyam samarpayaami
2 drops - repeat
Amrutaapidhaa namasi
2 drops - repeat
Hasta prakshaalanam samarpayaami
2 drops - repeat
Paadha prakshaalanam samarpayaami
2 drops - repeat
Aachamaniyam samarpayaami
Then offer Tulsi leaves or flowers at the feet of the Goddess after chanting :
" Poogi phala samaayuktam,
Naagavalli dalai yurtham
Karpoora churna sanyuktam
Taamboolam prati gruhataam
Taamboolam Samarpayaami
Mangala Neerajanam :-

Light up the camphor, show it to the Goddess, also ringing the bell with the left hand, chant :Na thathra suryo bhaathi, Na chandra taarakam
Nemaa Vidhyutho bhaanthi kuthoyam agnihi !!
Thameva bhaantham anubhaathi sarvam,
Thasya bhaasa sarvamidham vibhaathi
Om sri Saraswathyey namaha !
Karpoora Neeraajanam samarpayaami !!
Mangala Neeraajanam samarpayaami !!
Pushpaanjali :With folded hand pray and offer flowers & tulsi
OM sri Saraswathyey Namaha !
Pushpaanjalim Samarpayaami !!
Pradakshina Namaskaram
While standing, turn round in a clockwise manner at the
same spot thrice, with joined palms, chanting,
Yaani kaani cha paapaani Janmaanthara Krithaani cha !
Thaani Thaani Vinashyanthi pradakshina padey padey !!
Then prostrate to the Goddess
Rajopchaara : (Optional)
One may offer vocal music, instrumental music, bhajans, dance etc. by household members.
Prarthana
Sit on the mat and pray :
Kaayena Vaacha Manasendriyayurva
Budyaatmanaa va prakrutehe swabhaavathu !
Karomi yadhyathu sakalam parasmey
Narayanaayethi samarpayaami !!
Pour down a spoonful of water through the finger tips and chant :
OM thath Sath Brahmaarpana Mastu !!
Gently push the idol / picture on the spot, to repose it finally saying :
Yathasthanam prathista payaami