Lyrics · Meaning · Audio
Twelve names of Saraswati — Bharati, Saraswati, Sharada, Hamsavahana and more — counted off one by one, with the prayer “may Saraswati dwell on the tip of my tongue.”
Traditional Saraswati hymn
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Saraswati Dvadasha Nama Stotram
Son of Kali · Power of Saraswati
Each line shows an easy way to say it, with its English meaning. Turn on the Sanskrit, the exact pronunciation or the word-by-word meaning whenever you want to go deeper.
सरस्वती त्वियं दृष्ट्या वीणापुस्तकधारिणी ।
Saraswati Tviyam Drishtya Vina Pustaka Dharini
sarasvatī tviyaṃ dṛṣṭyā vīṇāpustakadhāriṇī
May Saraswati, seen holding the veena and the book,
हंसवाहनसंयुक्ता विद्यादानकरी मम ॥
Hamsavahana Samyukta Vidyadanakari Mama
haṃsavāhanasaṃyuktā vidyādānakarī mama
riding her swan, grant me the gift of learning.
प्रथमं भारती नाम द्वितीयं च सरस्वती ।
Prathamam Bharati Nama Dvitiyam Cha Saraswati
prathamaṃ bhāratī nāma dvitīyaṃ ca sarasvatī
The first name is Bharati, the second Saraswati,
तृतीयं शारदा देवी चतुर्थं हंसवाहना ॥
Tritiyam Sharada Devi Chaturtham Hamsavahana
tṛtīyaṃ śāradā devī caturthaṃ haṃsavāhanā
the third Goddess Sharada, the fourth the swan-rider,
पञ्चमं जगती ख्याता षष्ठं वागीश्वरी तथा ।
Panchamam Jagati Khyata Shashtham Vagishvari Tatha
pañcamaṃ jagatī khyātā ṣaṣṭhaṃ vāgīśvarī tathā
the fifth is known as Jagati, the sixth Vagishvari,
सप्तमं कुमुदी प्रोक्ता अष्टमं ब्रह्मचारिणी ॥
Saptamam Kumudi Prokta Ashtamam Brahmacharini
saptamaṃ kumudī proktā aṣṭamaṃ brahmacāriṇī
the seventh is called Kumudi, the eighth Brahmacharini,
नवमं बुद्धिदात्री च दशमं वरदायिनी ।
Navamam Buddhidatri Cha Dashamam Varadayini
navamaṃ buddhidātrī ca daśamaṃ varadāyinī
the ninth Buddhidatri, the tenth Varadayini,
एकादशं चन्द्रकान्तिर्द्वादशं भुवनेश्वरी ॥
Ekadasham Chandrakantir Dvadasham Bhuvaneshvari
ekādaśaṃ candrakāntirdvādaśaṃ bhuvaneśvarī
the eleventh Chandrakanti, the twelfth Bhuvaneshvari.
ब्राह्म्या द्वादश नामानि त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः ।
Brahmya Dvadasha Namani Trisandhyam Yah Pathen Narah
brāhmyā dvādaśa nāmāni trisandhyaṃ yaḥ paṭhennaraḥ
Whoever recites these twelve names of Brahmi at the three junctions of the day —
सर्वसिद्धिकरी तस्य प्रसन्ना परमेश्वरी ॥
Sarva Siddhikari Tasya Prasanna Parameshvari
sarvasiddhikarī tasya prasannā parameśvarī
the supreme Goddess, pleased with them, grants every success.
सा मे वसतु जिह्वाग्रे ब्रह्मरूपा सरस्वती ॥
Sa Me Vasatu Jihvagre Brahmarupa Saraswati
sā me vasatu jihvāgre brahmarūpā sarasvatī
May Saraswati, whose form is the Absolute, dwell on the tip of my tongue.
This short hymn lists twelve names of Saraswati, counting them as it goes: “first is Bharati, second Saraswati, third Goddess Sharada, fourth the one who rides the swan…” It is easy for children to learn and is often taught at school.
Each name shows a different face of the Goddess: Bhāratī, the eloquent; Śāradā, of Kashmir; Haṃsavāhanā, carried by the swan of discernment; Vāgīśvarī, queen of speech; Brahmacāriṇī, the pure; Buddhidātrī, giver of intelligence; Varadāyinī, giver of boons; Bhuvaneśvarī, queen of the worlds.
The hymn ends with the wish every student shares: sā me vasatu jihvāgre — “may she dwell on the tip of my tongue.” Some versions differ in one or two names; this page gives a common one.
Saraswati’s swan, the haṃsa, is said to be able to separate milk from water when they are mixed. It stands for viveka — the ability to tell the real from the unreal, the true from the false.
That is why one of her twelve names is Hamsavahana: knowledge is not just information, but the power to discern.
When to chant
How many times
Once at each of the three sandhyas, or once daily.
Sit with your books in front of you.
Count the twelve names on your fingers as you chant.
End with the last line, picturing the Goddess resting on your tongue.
The sounds that trip people up most in this hymn, and how to say them.
bhāratī
bhaa-ra-tee.
haṃsavāhanā
hum-sa-vaa-ha-naa.
jihvāgre
jih-vaa-gray — “on the tip of the tongue.”
What are the 12 names of Saraswati?
Bharati, Saraswati, Sharada, Hamsavahana, Jagati, Vagishvari, Kumudi, Brahmacharini, Buddhidatri, Varadayini, Chandrakanti and Bhuvaneshvari.
Why do some lists differ?
The hymn is passed down in several regional versions; one or two names, such as the eleventh, vary.
What are its benefits?
The hymn says the Goddess becomes pleased and grants every success to whoever recites the twelve names at the three junctions of the day.