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What is the Meaning of “Saraswati”?
The word ‘Saras’ means lake and ‘wati’ means the one who possesses. ‘Saras’ also translates as speech. Hence the word Saraswati signifies a river and a person who is exceptionally proficient at speaking. Saraswati Devi is the goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning.
The Ya Kundendu Shloka
Ya Kundendu Sloka is the most famous hymn of Vidyarupini Saraswati Devi.
The shloka is-
या कुन्देन्दु तुषार हार धवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता
या वीणा वरदण्ड मण्डितकरा या श्वेत पद्मासना ।
या ब्रह्माच्युतशंकर प्रभृतिभिर्देवः सदा पूजिता
सा मां पातु सरस्वति भगवती निःशेष जाड्यापहा ॥१॥
yā kundendu tuṣāra hāra dhavalā yā śubhravastrāvṛtā
yā vīṇā varadaṇḍa maṇḍitakarā yā śveta padmāsanā |
yā brahmācyutaśaṃkara prabhṛtibhirdevaḥ sadā pūjitā
sā māṃ pātu sarasvati bhagavatī niḥśeṣa jāḍyāpahā ||1||
Which literally means: I pray to Saraswati Devi who is as pure and white as a jasmine flower, as cool as the moon, who shines like a garland of pearls and snow, who wears pure white clothes, whose hand holds the veena and gives benedictions, who sits on a pure white lotus and whom Lord Brahma, Lord Achyuta and Lord Shankara praise.
Oh goddess Saraswati, please protect me and dispel my ignorance completely.
A Brief Description of Saraswati Devi
Chanting this Shloka pleases Goddess Saraswati. Thousands of mouths cannot describe her glories. She gives new meaning to life, shifting the Urja Shakti into higher centers for creative endeavors. Devi Saraswati symbolizes internal and external purity, represented by her qualities and appearance.
She adorns a white saree. Though plain, the saree has a golden border. Devi Saraswati is the consort of the creator Brahma. The consort is also called Ardhangini or the one who shares the traits of her husband. This applies true for the goddess. Saraswati Devi is the feminine personification of creativity.
To know about Saraswati Beeja Mantra, watch our video titled Benefits of Saraswati Mantra | Saraswati Beej Mantra Benefits.
She is called Brahmani, Brahmi, Bharati, Vani, and Vachi based on her qualities. She is four-handed. Her two hands gracefully hold the veena, while her other two hands hold a mala and the Vedas. In some representations, she holds a lotus in place of the japa mala.
The Vedas, veena, and mala, – all these mean much more than what we conceive. The veena represents music. Music gives life. Sound therapy works on one’s emotions and dissolves stress. Playing soothing music speeds up the growth of plants which is scientifically proven.
The Vedas have the entire science of creation hidden within them and are the repository of knowledge. Devi’s smile shows how effortlessly she gives the rarest of benedictions. Japa mala symbolizes concentration. Without concentration, it is impossible to achieve higher states of being. Painters and dancers venerate Saraswati Devi and chant this shloka throughout their artistic careers.
Hence, Saraswati Devi is the extract of happiness and joy. The happiness of a child and the giggling of an infant represents joy that is undiluted and of the purest kind, untouched by duplicity.
Benefits of Chanting the Ya Kundendu Shloka
Chanting this shloka every day helps achieve that blissful state. The goddess removes the veil of ignorance that blocks one’s creative flow. On hearing this shloka, she blesses one with the power of speech and wisdom. This shloka is safe to chant even without initiation as it does not contain Beeja mantras.
For students, this shloka is like a touchstone. Before attending school or college, chant this shloka with closed eyes every day. Devi assists her devotees and blesses them with sharper intelligence and memory.
7/8 Questions from Sanatana Dharma
The scores generated in this Quiz may or may not be absolute. There may be right or wrong answers to each Question. A percentage towards 100 indicates that you are more aligned to the overall subject matter.
Simple Process of Chanting the Ya Kundendu Shloka
Now I shall share the simple process of chanting this shloka. The conditions are very flexible and can be a part of daily sadhana. I recommend performing this sadhana early in the morning. Sit on a mat and close your eyes. Visualize the smiling countenance of the divine mother. While reciting the shloka, imagine a beam of light emerging from her eyes piercing into your Anahata chakra or the heart center.
Thus you are absorbing her powers and she shall infuse you with Satvik energy for the rest of the day.
Follow this process for a continued span of 41 days. You shall see a massive improvement in your career and experience a unique sense of fulfillment you have never experienced before. With the grace of Mother Saraswati, the dumb can talk, the lame can dance, and the blind can see.
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