Saraswathi Pooja | How to worship Saraswathi at Home | Pillaicenter

1
How to worship Saraswathi at Home
www.pillaicenter.com
2
www.pillaicenter.com
3
Goddess Saraswathi Goddess Saraswathi is the
goddess of Knowledge and education. Along with
Lakshmi and Parvathi, she is an important female
deity of Hinduism. Saraswathi is the wife of
Brahma, the creator, and is the sister of Lord
Shiva. Goddess Saraswathi has a golden
complexion and is seen wearing white garments and
ornaments. She has four hands her upper hands
hold Japa mala and Vedas, and her lower hands
play the veena. Saraswathi is seated on a white
lotus and besides her sits a white swan, her
mount. Lord Brahma can perform the function of
creation properly only by hearing to the Veena
Ghana (Music emanating from Veena) of Saraswathi.
Her veena echoes the Veda mantras. It is believed
that, pleased by Saraswathis devotion and
dedication towards him, Brahma gave her the boon
to stay in his tongue. White colour represents
purity and highest Knowledge. That is the reason
why the Goddess of supreme knowledge, Saraswathi
and the things related to her are depicted in
white.
www.pillaicenter.com
4
Goddess Saraswathi Temples Not many individual
temples for Saraswathi exist however, small
Saraswathi shrines are found almost in every
Powerspot. The Saraswathi temple at Koothanur and
Sringeri Saradambal temple are some important
individual temples dedicated to Saraswathi.
Basant Panchami and Saraswathi pooja are her
significant festivals. Praying to Saraswathi will
help your studies and career. Festivals of
Goddess Saraswathi Basant Panchami and Saraswathi
Pooja (Sarada Navaratri) are the two important
festivals of Goddess Saraswathi. Vasant Panchami
is an ideal day to worship Goddess Saraswathi.
Vasant Panchami is also known as Shri Panchami
and Saraswati Panchami. People worship Goddess
Saraswati during Vasant Panchami to be
enlightened with knowledge and to be freed of
lethargy and ignorance. It is a common practice
to initiate children into education during Vasant
Panchami. This ritual is known as Akshar-Abhyasam
or Vidya-Arambham/Praasana. Astrologers consider
Vasant Panchami as Abujha day which is auspicious
to start all good work. Devotees observe the last
day of Sarada Navratri (Mahanavami) as Ayudha
Puja and Saraswati Puja. It is celebrated in
different ways at different parts of India. The
festival Dussehra is celebrated in Karnataka,
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala.
On Durga Ashtami day, the books and tools and are
kept in the puja room at front of the
idol/portrait of Goddess Saraswati. The tools and
books remain in front of the Goddess on the
Mahanavami day and are removed from the pooja
only on the tenth day (Vijayadashami). In
Gujarat, Saraswati Puja celebrated during Diwali
is also known as Sharda Puja and Chopda Puja.
www.pillaicenter.com
5

• Things required for Saraswathi Pooja at Home
• An idol or portrait of Goddess Saraswati
• A clean and plain white cloth
• Preferably white flowers like white lilies,
  jasmine and white lotuses.
• Mango leaves and bilva patra
• Turmeric, Vermillion powder, sandal paste, some
  puffed rice and 5 types of fruits which must
  include coconut and bananas
• A kalash, betel nut, betel leaves, Diya (lamp)
  and incense sticks.
• An ink and an inkpot (If pooja done by a
  student).
• Subject books or religious books.

www.pillaicenter.com
6

• Procedure of the Saraswathi Pooja performed at
  Home
• The person performing the puja must rise early
  and have bath.
• Before taking the bath, the person must apply a
  mixture of neem and turmeric paste on his/her
  body to purify the body.
• One should then place the Idol and kalash on a
  clean platform on top of a white cloth.
• Decorate it with turmeric, Kumkum, rice, garlands
  and flowers.
• Keep your books, ink pot, pen or any other thing
  that you need to (such as a musical instrument,
  paint brush etc).
• Fill the kalash with water, place a sprig of five
  mango leaves, put a betel leaf over it.
• You should also keep an idol of Ganesh alongside
  the idol of Saraswathi.
• Chant the Saraswathi mantras and shlokas
• Light the lamp in front of Goddess Saraswathi and
  offer her Prasad. Also offer the belpatra and
  mango leaves.
• Finally, sit in silence in your puja room and
  invoke the Goddess and ask her to bestow her
  blessings upon you and your family.
• Later, you should first consume the Prasad
  yourself and distribute it to your friends,
  neighbours and family.

www.pillaicenter.com
7
Saraswathi mantras Vidya Mantra Saraswati
Namasthubhyam Varade Kamarupini Vidhyarambam
Karishyami Siddhir Bavathume Sadha Meaning My
Humble salutations to Goddess Saraswati, the one
who blesses with boons and grants wishes As I
begin my education, kindly bestow upon me the
knowledge and intellect I require to attain
wisdom.   Saraswati Vandana Shloka Ya Kundendu
Tushara Hara Dhavala, Ya Shubhra Vastravrita Ya
Veena Varadanda Manditakara, Ya Shveta
Padmasana Ya Brahmachyuta Shankara Prabhritibihi,
Devaih Sada Pujita Sa Mam Pattu Saraswati
Bhagavatee Nihshesha Jadyapaha?1?  
www.pillaicenter.com
8
Meaning Salutations to Goddess Saraswati, who
wears a garland of white pearls the one who is
dressed in white the one who holds a Veena in
her hand the one who holds the blessing mudra
and the one who is seated on a white
lotus. Brahma, Vishnu and Shankara hail and
worship you, O Goddess Saraswati, bless me and
eliminate ignorance.
www.pillaicenter.com