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Sharada Bhujangam

शारदा भुजङ्गम् in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 9× repetitions·🕐 Early morning during Navaratri (especially Mahanavami), Vasant Panchami, or before study and creative work·📜 Composed by Adi Shankaracharya (Shankaracharya virachita); preserved in the Stotra tradition and at the Sringeri Sharada Peetham
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Meaning

Sharada Bhujangam (Sharada Bhujanga Prayata Ashtakam) is an eight-verse hymn by Adi Shankaracharya in the flowing bhujangaprayata metre, in praise of Goddess Sharada (Saraswati) as worshipped at Sringeri. Each verse vividly describes the Mother's beauty, compassion and wisdom and ends with the refrain 'I ever worship Mother Sharada, my own Mother.' It is sung especially during Navaratri for the grace of knowledge and the arts.

Origin & Story

Composed by Adi Shankaracharya (Shankaracharya virachita); preserved in the Stotra tradition and at the Sringeri Sharada Peetham · Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE) · 8th century CE

Adi Shankaracharya, the great Advaita teacher, established four monastic seats (mathas) across India, the southern one being at Sringeri in Karnataka, where he consecrated Goddess Sharada. This Bhujanga Prayata Ashtakam is his ecstatic eight-verse hymn to her, composed in the lilting bhujangaprayata metre. Each verse paints the Mother in loving detail — her nectar-giving form, her compassionate glance, her rosary and book, her mounts and her enchanting smile — and surrenders to her as 'my own Mother', making it one of the most beloved Saraswati hymns in the Shankara tradition.

As told in scripture

Tradition at Sringeri holds that Goddess Sharada herself accompanied Adi Shankaracharya and made the seat her permanent abode, blessing sincere devotees with the gift of speech and learning. Devotees relate that those who were dull or mute have, through her grace and the recitation of such hymns, become eloquent and wise — echoing the hymn's praise of her as the one before whom even silent tongues find voice.

Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

Suvakshoja-kumbhaam Sudhaa-poorna-kumbhaam Prasaadaavalambaam Prapunyaavalambaam Sadaasyendu-bimbaam Sadaanoshtha-bimbaam Bhaje Shaaradaambaam Ajasram Madambaam (1)

Meaning:I ever worship Mother Sharada (Saraswati), my own Mother — she whose form is gracious and brimming like pots filled with the nectar of knowledge, who is the refuge of grace and the abode of great merit, whose face is ever radiant like the moon and whose lips glow like the bimba fruit.

Verse 2

Kataakshe Dayaardraam Kare Jnaana-mudraam Kalaabhir-vinidraam Kalaapaih Subhadraam Purastreem Vinidraam Purastunga-bhadraam Bhaje Shaaradaambaam Ajasram Madambaam (2)

Meaning:I worship Mother Sharada — whose sidelong glance is tender with compassion, who shows the Jnana-mudra in her hand, who is ever awake (sleepless) through the arts, made blessed by all the kalas, the foremost Goddess shining like the Tungabhadra river.

Verse 3

Lalaamaanka-phaalaam Lasad-gaana-lolaam Sva-bhaktaika-paalaam Yashah-shree-kapolaam Kare Tvaksha-maalaam Kanat-pratna-lolaam Bhaje Shaaradaambaam Ajasram Madambaam (3)

Meaning:I worship Mother Sharada — whose forehead bears a beautiful mark, who delights in melodious song, who is the sole protector of her devotees, whose cheeks shine with glory and grace, holding a rosary in her hand.

Verse 4

Suseemanta-veneem Drishaa Nirjitaineem Ramat-keera-vaaneem Namad-vajra-paaneem Sudhaa-mantharaasyaam Mudaa Chintya-veneem Bhaje Shaaradaambaam Ajasram Madambaam (4)

Meaning:I worship Mother Sharada — whose braided hair is beautifully parted, whose eyes surpass the doe's, whose speech is sweet as a parrot's, before whom Indra bows, whose face is gentle as nectar and whose tresses are worthy of loving contemplation.

Verse 5

Sushaantaam Sudehaam Drigante Kachaantaam Lasat-sallataangeem Anantaam Achintyaam Smaret-taapasaih Sanga-poorva-sthitaam Taam Bhaje Shaaradaambaam Ajasram Madambaam (5)

Meaning:I worship Mother Sharada — supremely serene and beautiful of form, with curls at the corners of her eyes, her body slender as a graceful creeper, infinite and beyond thought, on whom ascetics meditate in their hearts.

Verse 6

Kurange Turange Mrigendre Khagendre Maraale Madebhe Mahokshe'dhiroodhaam Mahatyaam Navamyaam Sadaa Saama-roopaam Bhaje Shaaradaambaam Ajasram Madambaam (6)

Meaning:I worship Mother Sharada — who rides upon the deer, the horse, the lion, the eagle, the swan, the rutting elephant and the mighty bull, who on the great ninth day (Mahanavami) ever takes the form of the Sama-Veda chants.

Verse 7

Jvalat-kaanti-vahnim Jagan-mohanaangeem Bhaje Maanasaambhoja-subhraanta-bhringeem Nija-stotra-sangeeta-nritya-prabhaangeem Bhaje Shaaradaambaam Ajasram Madambaam (7)

Meaning:I worship Mother Sharada — whose radiance blazes like fire, whose form enchants the whole world, the bee delighting in the lotus of the devotee's mind, whose limbs glow with the splendour of song, dance and her own hymns of praise.

Verse 8

Bhavaambhoja-netraaja-sampoojyamaanaam Lasan-manda-haasa-prabhaa-vaktra-chihnaam Chalach-chanchalaa-chaaru-taatanka-karnaam Bhaje Shaaradaambaam Ajasram Madambaam (8)

Meaning:I worship Mother Sharada — worshipped by Brahma the lotus-eyed, whose face is marked by the radiance of a gentle smile, whose ears sway with beautiful, glittering earrings.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

Suvakshoja-kumbhaam🔊Whose bosom is graceful and full like sacred pots (of nourishment)
Sudhaa-poorna-kumbhaam🔊Like pots brimming with nectar (sudhaa) — the giver of the nectar of knowledge
Prasaadaavalambaam🔊The support/refuge of (divine) grace
Prapunyaavalambaam🔊The abode of great merit and auspiciousness
Sadaasyendu-bimbaam🔊Whose face is ever radiant like the orb of the moon
Bhaje🔊I worship / I adore
Shaaradaambaam🔊Mother Sharada (Goddess Saraswati)
Ajasram🔊Ceaselessly, forever, without interruption
Madambaam🔊My own Mother
Kataakshe Dayaardraam🔊Whose sidelong glance is moist with compassion
Kare Jnaana-mudraam🔊Who holds the Jnana-mudra (gesture of wisdom) in her hand
Kare Tvaksha-maalaam🔊Who holds the akshamala (rosary) in her hand
Sva-bhaktaika-paalaam🔊The sole protector of her devotees
Ramat-keera-vaaneem🔊Whose speech is sweet and delightful like a parrot's
Namad-vajra-paaneem🔊Before whom Indra (the wielder of the vajra) bows
Jvalat-kaanti-vahnim🔊Whose radiance blazes like fire
Jagan-mohanaangeem🔊Whose form enchants the whole world
Lasan-manda-haasa🔊Adorned with a gentle, luminous smile

Benefits of Chanting शारदा भुजङ्गम्

Invokes the grace of Goddess Sharada (Saraswati) for knowledge, memory and eloquence

Especially powerful during Navaratri and on Mahanavami for students and seekers

Bestows mastery in music, dance, poetry and all the arts (kalas)

The melodious bhujangaprayata metre calms and concentrates the mind for study

Removes mental dullness and kindles intuitive wisdom and discrimination

Recited at Sringeri Sharada Peetham and by followers of Adi Shankaracharya for divine blessings

Deepens devotion to the Divine Mother as the source of all learning

How to Chant शारदा भुजङ्गम्

Repetitions9times
Best TimeEarly morning during Navaratri (especially Mahanavami), Vasant Panchami, or before study and creative work

Sit facing east or north before an image of Goddess Sharada or Saraswati, ideally with a book, veena or musical instrument placed before you. Chant the eight verses melodiously, observing the flowing bhujangaprayata rhythm. Recite all eight verses as one continuous offering, completing with the refrain 'Bhaje Sharadambam Ajasram Madambam'. Daily recitation for nine days of Navaratri is especially recommended for students and artists.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete शारदा भुजङ्गम् 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.
Sharada Bhujangam, properly Sharada Bhujanga Prayata Ashtakam, is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Goddess Sharada (a form of Saraswati). It is named after its metre, bhujangaprayata, whose rhythm resembles the graceful gliding of a serpent.
Sharada (Sharadamba) is a revered form of Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge, speech and the arts. Adi Shankaracharya consecrated Goddess Sharada at the Sringeri Sharada Peetham in Karnataka, and she is the presiding deity of learning there.
It is most auspicious during Navaratri, particularly on Mahanavami and during Saraswati Puja, and on Vasant Panchami. Students and artists also recite it before exams, performances or any new learning endeavour.
It means 'I ever worship Mother Sharada, my own Mother.' This refrain closes every verse, expressing the poet's continuous, child-like surrender to the Divine Mother as the source of all wisdom.

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