taranilasaraswatimahavidyadasha-mahavidya

𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌾 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍 (𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍 / 𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌸𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍀 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍)

Tara Stotram (Tarashtakam / Nilasaraswati Stotram) in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 At dawn, midday and dusk (trisandhya), as the hymn itself prescribes; Tuesdays and during Navaratri are especially favoured·📜 Brihannila Tantra (Brihannila-tantra); a celebrated Tantric hymn to Tara / Nilasaraswati

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Brihannila Tantra (Brihannila-tantra); a celebrated Tantric hymn to Tara / Nilasaraswati · Traditional (anonymous); part of the Tara / Nilasaraswati Tantric corpus · Medieval Tantric period

Tara is venerated especially in eastern India, with her great seat at Tarapith in Bengal, where the sage Vasishtha is said to have perfected her sadhana after receiving the 'Chinachara' method. As Nilasaraswati she unites the fierce, liberating power of the Mahavidyas with the grace of the goddess of speech. This Tarashtakam, preserved in the Brihannila Tantra, is among the most widely recited hymns in her worship and is also known as the Nilasaraswati Stotram.

✦ As told in scripture

It is traditionally held that constant recitation of this Tarashtakam awakens vak-siddhi — the power of speech — so that a once dull or tongue-tied devotee becomes as eloquent as Brihaspati and as gifted in poetry as the great poets; the hymn itself affirms that even a lowly, weary man, by serving Tara's feet, gains every excellence.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌸𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌮𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑍗𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍇 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌲𑍀𑌢𑌪𑌦𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑍇 𑌶𑌵𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌿 𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍇𑌰𑌾𑌨𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍋𑌰𑍁𑌹𑍇। 𑌫𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌲𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍀𑌵𑌰𑌲𑍋𑌚𑌨𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑌯𑌨𑍇 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌕𑌪𑌾𑌲𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌲𑍇 𑌖𑌡𑍍𑌗𑌂 𑌚𑌾𑌦𑌧𑌤𑍀 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌵 𑌶𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌯𑍇॥௧॥

Mātar nīlasarasvati praṇamatāṁ saubhāgyasampatprade pratyālīḍhapadasthite śavahṛdi smerānanāmbhoruhe। phullendīvaralocane trinayane kartrīkapālotpale khaḍgaṁ cādadhatī tvam eva śaraṇaṁ tvām īśvarīm āśraye॥1॥

Meaning:O Mother Nilasaraswati, bestower of good fortune and prosperity on those who bow to you, standing in the warrior's posture upon the heart of the corpse, with a smiling lotus-face, eyes like blossomed blue lotuses, three-eyed, holding the curved knife, skull-cup and blue lotus and bearing the sword — you alone are my refuge; I take shelter in you, the Supreme Mistress.

Verse 2

𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌾𑌮𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌿 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌲𑌤𑌿𑌕𑍇 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍀𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌿 𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌪𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌜𑌾𑌤𑌰𑌚𑌨𑌾𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍇। 𑌨𑍀𑌲𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍀𑌵𑌰𑌲𑍋𑌚𑌨𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌯𑍁𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌧𑍇 𑌸𑍗𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌧𑌨𑍇𑌨 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌯𑌾 𑌸𑌿𑌞𑍍𑌚 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍃𑌶𑌮𑍍॥௨॥

Vācām īśvari bhaktikalpalatike sarvārthasiddhīśvari gadyaprākṛtapadyajātaracanāsarvārthasiddhiprade। nīlendīvaralocanatrayayute kāruṇyavārānnidhe saubhāgyāmṛtavardhanena kṛpayā siñca tvam asmādṛśam॥2॥

Meaning:O Mistress of speech, wish-granting creeper for devotees, ruler of all attainments, giver of mastery in prose, Prakrit and verse and of every accomplishment, three-eyed with blue-lotus eyes, ocean of compassion — graciously sprinkle one like me with the nectar that increases good fortune.

Verse 3

𑌖𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇 𑌗𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌸𑌮𑍂𑌹𑌪𑍂𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌤𑌨𑍋 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌵𑍇𑌷𑍋𑌜𑍍𑌜𑍍𑌵𑌲𑍇 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌘𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌵𑍀𑌤𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑌕𑌟𑌿𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌧𑍂𑌤𑌘𑌣𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌿𑌤𑍇। 𑌸𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌃𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌗𑌲𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌃𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌮𑌿𑌲𑌨𑍍𑌮𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌯𑍀𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌜- 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌣𑌿𑌨𑍃𑌮𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌦𑌾𑌮𑌲𑌲𑌿𑌤𑍇 𑌭𑍀𑌮𑍇 𑌭𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌯॥௩॥

Kharve garvasamūhapūritatano sarpādiveṣojjvale vyāghratvakparivītasundarakaṭivyādhūtaghaṇṭāṅkite। sadyaḥkṛttagaladrajaḥparimilanmuṇḍadvayīmūrddhaja- granthiśreṇinṛmuṇḍadāmalalite bhīme bhayaṁ nāśaya॥3॥

Meaning:O short-statured one, your body filled with the fullness of pride, brilliant with serpent ornaments, your lovely waist wrapped in tiger-skin and marked with swaying bells, beautifully adorned with a garland of freshly severed, dripping human heads — O fierce Goddess, destroy my fear.

Verse 4

𑌮𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌲𑌲𑌨𑌾𑌬𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌿𑌕𑍇 𑌹𑍁𑌂𑌫𑌟𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌮𑌯𑌿 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌵 𑌶𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌕𑍇 𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍃𑌶𑌃। 𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌜𑌨𑌨𑌿 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌧𑌾𑌮𑌘𑌟𑌿𑌤𑌾 𑌸𑍍𑌥𑍂𑌲𑌾𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍂𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑌾 𑌪𑌰𑌾 𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌹𑌿 𑌗𑍋𑌚𑌰𑌾 𑌕𑌥𑌮𑌪𑌿 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍍𑌞𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌨𑍁𑌤𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌯𑍇॥௪॥

Māyānaṅgavikārarūpalalanābindvarddhacandrāmbike huṁphaṭkāramayi tvam eva śaraṇaṁ mantrātmike mādṛśaḥ। mūrtis te janani tridhāmaghaṭitā sthūlātisūkṣmā parā vedānāṁ nahi gocarā kathamapi prājñair nutām āśraye॥4॥

Meaning:O Mother of Maya and of the formless states of consciousness, marked with the bindu and crescent, embodiment of Hum and Phat, you alone are the refuge of one like me, O Goddess whose essence is mantra. Your form, O Mother, is fashioned of the three abodes — gross, exceedingly subtle and supreme — not at all within the reach of the Vedas; praised by the wise, I take refuge in you.

Verse 5

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌜𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌯𑌾 𑌸𑍁𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌿𑌨𑍋 𑌗𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌪𑌰𑌮𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑌯𑌨𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌸𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑌃। 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌧𑌿𑌮𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌨𑍇 𑌪𑌟𑍁𑌤𑌨𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍁𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌪𑌦𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌨𑍇 𑌹𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌖𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌧𑍀𑌃 𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌤𑍇॥௫॥

Tvatpādāmbujasevayā sukṛtino gacchanti sāyujyatāṁ tasyāḥ śrīparameśvaratrinayanabrahmādisāmyātmanaḥ। saṁsārāmbudhimajjane paṭutanur devendramukhyāsurān mātas te padasevane hi vimukhān kiṁ mandadhīḥ sevate॥5॥

Meaning:By serving your lotus feet the meritorious attain union with you — becoming equal to Shiva, the three-eyed Lord, Brahma and the rest. What dull-witted person would instead serve Indra and the other gods, who are skilled only at drowning in the ocean of worldly existence and who are themselves turned away from the service of your feet?

Verse 6

𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌦𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌜𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌯𑌰𑌜𑍋𑌮𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌕𑍋𑌟𑍀𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌾 𑌜𑌯𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌰𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌜𑌯𑌿𑌨𑍋 𑌨𑌿𑌃𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌮𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍇 𑌗𑌤𑌾𑌃। 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌨𑍇 𑌨 𑌮𑍇 𑌸𑌮 𑌇𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑍍𑌪𑌰𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑌹𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑍇 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌯𑌤𑌂 𑌯𑌥𑌾 𑌶𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌵𑍀 𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌯𑌮𑍍॥௬॥

Mātas tvatpadapaṅkajadvayarajomudrāṅkakoṭīriṇas te devā jayasaṅgare vijayino niḥśaṅkam aṅke gatāḥ। devo'haṁ bhuvane na me sama iti spardhāṁ vahantaḥ pare tattulyāṁ niyataṁ yathā śaśiravī nāśaṁ vrajanti svayam॥6॥

Meaning:O Mother, the gods whose crowns are stamped with the dust of your two lotus feet become victorious in the battle for triumph and rest fearlessly in your lap; while others who boast 'I am a god, none in the world is my equal' inevitably perish of themselves, just as the moon and sun (wane).

Verse 7

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌲𑌾𑌯𑌨𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍁𑌂 𑌚 𑌶𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾 𑌨 𑌤𑍇 𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌪𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌤𑌪𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌚𑌰𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌸𑌗𑌣𑌾 𑌯𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌪𑌾𑌃। 𑌦𑍈𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌵𑌪𑍁𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌵𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌖𑌚𑌰𑌾 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌘𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌕𑌾 𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌵𑍋 𑌡𑌾𑌕𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌃 𑌕𑍁𑌪𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌜𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌂 𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌲𑍇॥௭॥

Tvannāmasmaraṇāt palāyanaparān draṣṭuṁ ca śaktā na te bhūtapretapiśācarākṣasagaṇā yakṣaś ca nāgādhipāḥ। daityā dānavapuṅgavāś ca khacarā vyāghrādikā jantavo ḍākinyaḥ kupitāntakaś ca manujān mātaḥ kṣaṇaṁ bhūtale॥7॥

Meaning:At the mere remembrance of your name, hosts of ghosts, goblins, demons and rakshasas, yakshas and serpent-lords, daityas and mighty danavas, sky-roaming beings, tigers and other beasts, dakinis, and even angry Death himself are unable even to look at your devotees and flee in an instant upon the earth.

Verse 8

𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌃 𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌗𑌣𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌕𑌮𑍁𑌖𑌾𑌃 𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌥𑌾 𑌵𑍈𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌪𑌿 𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌨𑍇 𑌗𑌜𑌘𑌟𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍍𑌭𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌥𑌾 𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌨𑌮𑍍। 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌦𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌯𑌾 𑌖𑌲𑍁 𑌨𑍃𑌣𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑍇 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌾𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌲𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌨𑍋𑌭𑌵𑍋𑌽𑌤𑍍𑌰 𑌭𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍋𑌽𑌪𑌿 𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌸𑍍𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌃॥௮॥

Lakṣmīḥ siddhigaṇaś ca pādukamukhāḥ siddhās tathā vairiṇāṁ stambhaś cāpi varāṅgane gajaghaṭāstambhas tathā mohanam। mātas tvatpadasevayā khalu nṛṇāṁ siddhyanti te te guṇāḥ klāntaḥ kāntamanobhavo'tra bhavati kṣudro'pi vācaspatiḥ॥8॥

Meaning:Lakshmi, the host of siddhis, the paduka and other attainments, the paralysing of foes and of herds of elephants, and bewildering of others — O beautiful one, all these powers truly come to people by the service of your feet; even a lowly, weary man becomes here as charming as Kamadeva and as eloquent as Brihaspati.

Verse 9

𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍍 𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑌠𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌰𑌃। 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌨𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍇 𑌚 𑌸𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌨𑍇 𑌨𑌿𑌯𑌤𑌃 𑌶𑍁𑌚𑌿𑌃॥௯॥

Tārāṣṭakam idaṁ puṇyaṁ bhaktimān yaḥ paṭhen naraḥ। prātar madhyāhnakāle ca sāyāhne niyataḥ śuciḥ॥9॥

Meaning:The devout man who, controlled and pure, recites this holy Tara Ashtakam at dawn, midday and dusk gains poetic genius and learning and becomes a knower of the meaning of all scriptures; obtaining imperishable wealth and enjoying desired pleasures, attaining fame, beauty, freedom from disease and the love of all, and becoming renowned in the worlds, he at last attains liberation.

Verse 10

𑌲𑌭𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌶𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌵𑍇𑌤𑍍। 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌮𑌨𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌯 𑌭𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌭𑍋𑌗𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌥𑍇𑌪𑍍𑌸𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍍॥௧௦॥

Labhate kavitāṁ vidyāṁ sarvaśāstrārthavid bhavet। lakṣmīm anaśvarāṁ prāpya bhuktvā bhogān yathepsitān॥10॥

Verse 11

𑌕𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌚 𑌨𑍈𑌰𑍁𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌷𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑍇𑌤𑍍। 𑌵𑌿𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌚𑌾𑌪𑌿 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌮𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌨𑍁𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍॥௧௧॥

Kīrtiṁ kāntiṁ ca nairujyaṁ sarveṣāṁ priyatāṁ vrajet। vikhyātiṁ cāpi lokeṣu prāpyānte mokṣam āpnuyāt॥11॥

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌃 𑌨𑍀𑌲𑌸𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌤𑌿🔊mātaḥ nīlasarasvatiO Mother Nilasaraswati (the blue Saraswati, another name of Tara)

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌮𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑍗𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍇🔊praṇamatāṁ saubhāgyasampatpradeBestower of good fortune and prosperity on those who bow to you

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌲𑍀𑌢𑌪𑌦𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑍇🔊pratyālīḍhapadasthiteStanding in the warrior's pratyalidha posture

𑌶𑌵𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌿 𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑍇🔊śavahṛdi sthiteStanding upon the heart of a corpse (Shiva as Shava)

𑌫𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌲𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍀𑌵𑌰𑌲𑍋𑌚𑌨𑍇🔊phullendīvaralocaneWith eyes like fully-blossomed blue lotuses

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌨𑌯𑌨𑍇🔊trinayaneThree-eyed one

𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀-𑌕𑌪𑌾𑌲-𑌉𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌲🔊kartrī-kapāla-utpalaHolding the scissors/curved knife, the skull-cup, and the blue lotus

𑌖𑌡𑍍𑌗𑌂 𑌚 𑌆𑌦𑌧𑌤𑍀🔊khaḍgaṁ ca ādadhatīAnd bearing the sword

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍍 𑌏𑌵 𑌶𑌰𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊tvam eva śaraṇamYou alone are my refuge

𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌾𑌮𑍍 𑌈𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌿🔊vācām īśvariO Goddess/ruler of speech (granter of eloquence)

𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌲𑌤𑌿𑌕𑍇🔊bhaktikalpalatikeO wish-fulfilling creeper for the devotees

𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌧𑍇🔊kāruṇyavārānnidheO ocean of compassion

𑌸𑍗𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌧𑌨𑍇𑌨 𑌸𑌿𑌞𑍍𑌚🔊saubhāgyāmṛtavardhanena siñcaSprinkle (me) with the nectar that increases good fortune

𑌮𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌦𑌾𑌮-𑌲𑌲𑌿𑌤𑍇🔊muṇḍadāma-laliteAdorned beautifully with a garland of severed heads

𑌭𑍀𑌮𑍇 𑌭𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌯🔊bhīme bhayaṁ nāśayaO fierce one, destroy (my) fear

𑌹𑍁𑌂𑌫𑌟𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌮𑌯𑌿🔊huṁphaṭkāramayiO embodiment of the seed-sounds Hum and Phat

𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌕𑍇🔊mantrātmikeO Goddess whose very essence is mantra

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌜𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌯𑌾 𑌸𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊tvatpādāmbujasevayā sāyujyatāmBy serving your lotus feet (devotees attain) union/liberation

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌤𑍍 𑌪𑌲𑌾𑌯𑌨𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌃🔊tvannāmasmaraṇāt palāyanaparāḥAt the remembrance of your name (they) take to flight

𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍🔊tārāṣṭakam idaṁ puṇyamThis meritorious Tara Ashtakam

𑌲𑌭𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊labhate kavitāṁ vidyāmAttains poetic power and learning

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌮𑍍 𑌆𑌪𑍍𑌨𑍁𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍🔊prāpyānte mokṣam āpnuyātAnd in the end attains liberation (moksha)

Benefits of Chanting Tara Stotram (Tarashtakam / Nilasaraswati Stotram)

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Bestows mastery over speech (vak-siddhi), eloquence and poetic genius — Tara is Nilasaraswati, goddess of the word

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Grants deep learning and the ability to understand the meaning of all scriptures

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Removes fear of ghosts, demons, wild beasts and even death, as the hymn declares they flee at the remembrance of her name

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Confers good fortune, imperishable wealth (Lakshmi) and the love and goodwill of all

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Grants tantric siddhis such as stambhana (paralysing of foes) and mohana when practised under a guru

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Leads the devout reciter, in the end, to liberation (moksha)

How to Chant Tara Stotram (Tarashtakam / Nilasaraswati Stotram)

Repetitions11times

Best TimeAt dawn, midday and dusk (trisandhya), as the hymn itself prescribes; Tuesdays and during Navaratri are especially favoured

Bathe and purify yourself, sit facing east or north, and recite this Tarashtakam with devotion and concentration, ideally at the three sandhya times — dawn, midday and dusk. Tara is a profound Tantric Mahavidya; her formal mantra-upasana is undertaken under the guidance of a qualified guru, but the stotram may be recited devotionally for the blessings of speech, wisdom and protection. Keep the mind steady and dwell on her form as Nilasaraswati, granter of the word.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Tara Stotram (Tarashtakam / Nilasaraswati Stotram) written in the Grantha 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.

Tara is the second of the ten Mahavidyas, the great Tantric wisdom-goddesses. She is closely related to Kali but is especially the goddess of speech and saving knowledge — 'Tara' means 'she who saves/ferries across'. In her form as Nilasaraswati ('blue Saraswati') she grants eloquence, learning and poetic power, while standing fierce upon a corpse as the supreme deliverer.

Nila means 'blue' and Saraswati is the goddess of speech and learning. Tara is dark blue in complexion and, like Saraswati, is the bestower of vak-siddhi — mastery of the word, poetry and scripture. This hymn directly invokes her as 'Matar Nilasaraswati', uniting her fierce Tantric aspect with the grace of the goddess of wisdom.

The opening verse describes her holding the kartri (curved knife or scissors), the kapala (skull-cup), the utpala (blue lotus) and the khadga (sword), while standing in the warrior's pratyalidha posture upon the heart of a corpse. These symbolise the cutting away of ignorance, the dissolution of the ego, awakened wisdom and the destruction of obstacles.

The closing verses promise that one who recites it thrice daily, pure and disciplined, gains poetic genius, learning and knowledge of all scriptures, lasting wealth and desired enjoyments, fame, beauty, health, the love of all, renown in the worlds, and finally liberation (moksha).