Saraswati

Traditional Tantric/Puranic bija mantra

ॐ ऐं सरस्वत्यै नमः

Om, salutations to Saraswati.

Gayatri-pattern mantra dedicated to Saraswati, Puranic/Tantric tradition

ॐ ऐं वाग्देव्यै विद्महे कामराजाय धीमहि । तन्नो देवी प्रचोदयात् ॥

Om, let us come to know the Goddess of Speech; let us meditate on the giver of fulfillment; may that Goddess illumine our understanding.

Traditional dhyana shloka, popularly attributed to sage Agastya

या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता । या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना ॥ या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा पूजिता । सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥

She who is white as jasmine, moonlight, snow, and a pearl garland, robed in pure white, holding the graceful staff of the veena, seated on a white lotus, ever worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the other gods — may that radiant goddess Saraswati, destroyer of all dullness, protect me.

Continuation verse of the traditional Agastya-attributed Saraswati Stotram

दोर्भिर्युक्ता चतुर्भिः स्फटिकमणिनिभैरक्षमालान्दधाना । हस्तेनैकेन पद्मं सितमपि च शुकं पुस्तकं चापरेण ॥

Endowed with four arms, she holds a rosary of crystal-like beads, a white lotus in one hand, and in another a parrot and a book.

Traditional verse of unrecorded authorship, continuous use in Indian educational custom for centuries

सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि । विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ॥

Salutations to you, O Saraswati, giver of boons and fulfiller of wishes. I begin my studies; may I always attain success.