The Saraswati Stotram — the beloved "Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala" prayer to Goddess Saraswati, deity of knowledge, music and speech.
या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना। या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा पूजिता सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा॥१॥
ya kundendutusharaharadhavala ya shubhravastravrita ya vinavaradandamanditakara ya shvetapadmasana। ya brahmachyutashankaraprabhritibhirdevaih sada pujita sa mam patu sarasvati bhagavati nihsheshajadyapaha॥1॥
dorbhiryukta chaturbhih sphatikamaninibhairakshamalam dadhana hastenaikena padmam sitamapi cha shukam pustakam chaparena। bhasa kundendushankhasphatikamaninibha bhasamana'samana sa me vagdevateyam nivasatu vadane sarvada suprasanna॥2॥
surasurasevitapadapankaja kare virajatkamaniyapustaka। virinchipatni kamalasanasthita sarasvati nrityatu vachi me sada॥3॥
The Saraswati Stotram — the beloved "Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala" prayer to Goddess Saraswati, deity of knowledge, music and speech.
Meaning
It pictures Saraswati as white as jasmine, the moon and snow, robed in white, holding the veena, seated on a white lotus and worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva — and prays for the removal of dullness.
Benefits
Recited by students and seekers for knowledge, memory, eloquence, success in studies and the arts, and the removal of ignorance and mental dullness.
The Saraswati Stotram (Ya Kundendu) above is given in both Devanagari (Sanskrit) and Roman transliteration so you can read it in whichever script you are comfortable with — switch between the two using the buttons above, share the link, or download a PDF.