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Saraswati Dwadasanama Stotram

Saraswati Dwadasanama Stotram in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 At the three sandhyas — dawn, noon and dusk; especially during Navaratri and Vasant Panchami·📜 Traditional Sanskrit dwadasa-nama (twelve-name) stotra of Goddess Saraswati, recited in the Devi and Saraswati worship tradition

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Saraswati Dwadasanama Stotram enumerates the twelve sacred names of Goddess Saraswati — Bharati, Saraswati, Sharada, Hamsavahini, Jagati, Vagishwari, Kaumari, Brahmacharini, Buddhidatri, Varadayini, Kshudraghanta and Bhuvaneshwari. It opens with a salutation to the veena-and-book-bearing Goddess and closes with the promise that reciting these names thrice daily grants all success and the gift of eloquent speech. It is a favourite short stotra for students during Navaratri and Vasant Panchami.

Origin & Story

Traditional Sanskrit dwadasa-nama (twelve-name) stotra of Goddess Saraswati, recited in the Devi and Saraswati worship tradition · Traditional (anonymous); preserved in the Puranic and stotra tradition · Ancient/medieval (exact date unknown)

Dwadasa-nama (twelve-name) stotras are a classical genre in which a deity is praised through a fixed garland of twelve names, each name carrying a distinct shade of the deity's power. This Saraswati Dwadasanama gathers her most beloved epithets — from Bharati and Sharada to Vagishwari and Bhuvaneshwari — into a compact hymn. Beginning with the icon of the veena-and-book-bearing Goddess on her swan, it teaches that simply remembering these twelve names at the three sandhyas opens the flow of knowledge and speech, which is why it became a cherished daily prayer of students.

✦ As told in scripture

By tradition, those who keep this twelve-name garland on their lips at the three junctions of the day find Saraswati 'seated on the tip of the tongue' — the dull becoming sharp, the hesitant becoming fluent, and seekers gaining sudden clarity in study and debate, just as the concluding verse promises.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Saraswatim Namasyaami Veenaa-pustaka-dhaarineem Hamsa-vaaha-samaayuktaam Vidyaa-daana-kareem Mama

Meaning:I bow to Goddess Saraswati, who holds the veena and the book, who is borne by the swan, the bestower of the gift of knowledge upon me.

Verse 2

Prathamam Bhaaratee Naama Dviteeyam Cha Saraswatee Triteeyam Shaaradaa Devee Chaturtham Hamsa-vaahinee

Meaning:The first name is Bharati, the second is Saraswati; the third is the Goddess Sharada, and the fourth is Hamsavahini (she who rides the swan).

Verse 3

Panchamam Jagatee Khyaataa Shashtham Vaageeshwaree Tathaa Kaumaaree Saptamam Proktaa Ashtamam Brahmachaarinee

Meaning:The fifth is renowned as Jagati (the all-pervading), and the sixth is Vagishwari (mistress of speech); the seventh is declared to be Kaumari, and the eighth is Brahmacharini.

Verse 4

Navamam Buddhi-daatree Cha Dashamam Varadaayinee Ekaadasham Kshudra-ghantaa Dvaadasham Bhuvaneshwaree

Meaning:The ninth is Buddhidatri (giver of intellect), the tenth is Varadayini (granter of boons); the eleventh is Kshudraghanta, and the twelfth is Bhuvaneshwari.

Verse 5

Braahmee Dvaadasha-naamaani Tri-sandhyam Yah Pathen-narah Sarva-siddhi-karee Tasya Prasannaa Parameshwaree Saa Me Vasatu Jihvaagre Brahma-roopaa Saraswatee

Meaning:These are the twelve names of Brahmi (Saraswati). The person who recites them at the three junctions of the day (morning, noon and dusk) — to him the Supreme Goddess becomes gracious and grants all success. May that Saraswati, the very form of Brahman, ever dwell upon the tip of my tongue.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Saraswatim Namasyaami🔊I bow to Goddess Saraswati

Veenaa-pustaka-dhaarineem🔊Who holds the veena and the book

Hamsa-vaaha-samaayuktaam🔊Who is borne by the swan (whose vehicle is the hamsa)

Vidyaa-daana-kareem🔊The bestower of the gift of knowledge

Prathamam Bhaaratee🔊The first name is Bharati (goddess of speech/eloquence)

Dviteeyam Saraswatee🔊The second name is Saraswati (the flowing one / giver of essence)

Triteeyam Shaaradaa🔊The third name is Sharada (she worshipped in autumn)

Chaturtham Hamsa-vaahinee🔊The fourth is Hamsavahini (she who rides the swan)

Panchamam Jagatee🔊The fifth, renowned as Jagati (the all-pervading)

Shashtham Vaageeshwaree🔊The sixth is Vagishwari (mistress of speech)

Kaumaaree Saptamam🔊The seventh is declared to be Kaumari (the youthful maiden)

Ashtamam Brahmachaarinee🔊The eighth is Brahmacharini (the chaste seeker of Brahman)

Navamam Buddhi-daatree🔊The ninth is Buddhidatri (giver of intellect)

Dashamam Varadaayinee🔊The tenth is Varadayini (granter of boons)

Ekaadasham Kshudra-ghantaa🔊The eleventh is Kshudraghanta (she of the little bells)

Dvaadasham Bhuvaneshwaree🔊The twelfth is Bhuvaneshwari (sovereign of the worlds)

Tri-sandhyam Yah Pathen-narah🔊The person who recites these at the three junctions of the day (morning, noon, evening)

Sarva-siddhi-karee🔊She grants all accomplishments / success

Saa Me Vasatu Jihvaagre🔊May she dwell on the tip of my tongue

Benefits of Chanting Saraswati Dwadasanama Stotram

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Reciting the twelve names thrice daily grants all-round success (sarva-siddhi)

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Bestows the gift of eloquent and pleasing speech (vak-siddhi)

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Sharpens intellect, memory and concentration for students

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Each name invokes a distinct power of the Goddess of knowledge

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Short and easy to memorise, ideal for daily practice

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Especially fruitful during Navaratri and Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja)

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Removes ignorance and obstacles to learning and the arts

How to Chant Saraswati Dwadasanama Stotram

Repetitions3times

Best TimeAt the three sandhyas — dawn, noon and dusk; especially during Navaratri and Vasant Panchami

The stotra itself prescribes recitation at the three junctions of the day (tri-sandhyam) — morning, midday and evening. Sit facing east or north, with a book or veena placed before you as a symbol of learning. Recite the opening salutation, then the four verses of the twelve names, and conclude with the phala-shruti verse praying that Saraswati dwell on the tip of your tongue. Daily practice for the nine nights of Navaratri is traditionally recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Saraswati Dwadasanama Stotram written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is a short Sanskrit hymn that lists the twelve (dwadasha) sacred names (nama) of Goddess Saraswati. Reciting these twelve names is believed to bestow knowledge, eloquence and success, and the stotra is popular among students and seekers of wisdom.

They are Bharati, Saraswati, Sharada, Hamsavahini, Jagati, Vagishwari, Kaumari, Brahmacharini, Buddhidatri, Varadayini, Kshudraghanta and Bhuvaneshwari. Each name highlights a different aspect of the Goddess of knowledge, speech and the arts.

The hymn itself recommends recitation three times a day (tri-sandhya) — at dawn, noon and dusk. It is considered especially auspicious during Navaratri, on Vasant Panchami, and before exams or study.

The closing verse promises that one who recites them thrice daily pleases the Supreme Goddess, who then grants all accomplishments (sarva-siddhi) and the boon of eloquent speech, praying that Saraswati ever reside on the tip of the devotee's tongue.