Maha Saraswati Stotram: Here we post the translation of “One hundred and eight” names of Goddess Saraswati as it appears in her Ashtottara Shatanama Stotra. If there is any improvements or corrections to be incorporated in the translations do tell us. 1. Sarasvati The name comes from the root word “saras” which means “anything which flows”. So, Saraswati is “she who flows” or “she who has flow in her”. She is called as vakdevi (goddess of speech) because speech is result of flow of sound/vibration. Thus, she is the source of sound and hence the very source of this cosmos. She is also called Goddess of Knowledge/Jnana, because Knowledge is infinite and ever flowing. In short, Sarasvati is the personification of ever flowing Knowledge. 2. Mahabhadra It literally means “Very auspicious” or “Very pleasant/gentle/gracious”. 3. Mahamaya It literally means “Great Illusion”. According to Hindu philosophy, the whole universe is merely an illusion/maya. Maya means, that which is not. The universe consisting of dualities, opposites and multiplicities is nothing but an apparent manifestation of one indivisible Whole (God/Brahman). Brahman manifests this multiplicity within himself. This power of Brahman to manifest apparent multiplicity still maintaining wholeness is Maya. Hence, Mahamaya is the mother of whole cosmos, because she is the source of all manifestation. 4. Varaprada It literally means “granter of boons”. She can fulfill everything a person desires. 5. Shriprada It means “granter of wealth”. Here “Shri” not only refers to money, but also to prosperity, health, happiness and bliss. It refers to balance in both physical and spiritual existences. That is, she can grant materialistic, intellectual and spiritual prosperity. 6. Padmanilaya Padma means lotus. Lotus represents detachment and purity. And Nilaya means residence/dwelling place. Padmanilaya is Her name because she is seated upon lotus. A esoteric meaning is that, she who is firmly established in detachment. 7. Padmakshi Padma means lotus, akshi means eyes. She is lotus eyed. Esoterically speaking, she witnesses everything through the eyes of detachment (unbiased). 8. Padmavaktraga Vaktraga means face. Her face is beautiful like a lotus. 9. Shivaanuja Literally it means, she who is born after Shiva. 10. Pustakadhrt Pustaka means book or manuscript which signifies knowledge. “dhrt” means holding/bearing/possessing. Hence Pustakadhrt means she who possesses all Knowledge both mundane and transcendental. 11. Jnanamudra A symbol/ personification of Knowledge. 12. Ramaa “Ramaa” means fortune, splendor, prosperity which are attributes of Goddess Lakshmi. Hence, here Saraswati is identified with Lakshmi. 13. Paraa “Paraa” means “Existance”. It may also mean “Beyond”. So, here it can mean that Saraswati represents “Sat/Cosmic Existance” which is beyond any rational comprehension. 14. Kamarupa Kama means desires. Rupa means form. Hence, Kamarupa is she who has herself taken the form of all desires. The source and the body of all desires is Saraswati. Hence, she is also the fulfiller of all desires. 15. Mahavidya She is the Great Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge. Esoterically, she is one amongst the Dasha Mahavidyas, the ten aspects of the primordial shakti. 16. Mahapaatakanaashini She who destroys all weakness and sins. 17. Mahashraya She is the great refuge to everyone in the universe. She being the mother of the universe, she looks after all her children. Nobody is orphan or left out in the world, She is always there for everyone. Once a person realizes this and takes refuge in her, then there would be nothing he would ever worry about. 18. Maalinii It means “shining” or “the one with garland”. 19. Mahabhoga It means “Great Enjoyer”/Great Witness(Experience). She is both the granter of all boons, desires and prosperity as well as enjoyer of those fruits. She is the doer of action as well as the dispenser and the enjoyer of the fruits of action. 20. Mahaabhuja It means “Great/Huge arms”. Arms represent Karma (actions performed). She is the performer as well as the controller of all actions. 21. Mahabhaga Bhaaga means portion/ part. Mahabhaga refers to being infinitesimally small. She is not only infinitely vast but also infinitesimally small. 22. Mahotsaha It means “Great Enthusiasm/ Great Strength”. She is the source and personification of these attributes. 23. Divyaangaa She who has celestial body. 24. Suravandita She who is extolled and praised by the gods. 25. MahaKaLi Kaala means time. She is the personification of time principle. Also here Saraswati is being identified with Goddess KaLi. 26. Mahapaashaa She who binds all by her maya. Here Paasha means a tie, a rope to bind/trap. 27. MahaKaara It means “Huge Form”. It is symbolically representing her infinitely vast form. 28. Mahaankusha She who controls the whole universe. Ankusha means a goad (weapon) to control. 29. Siitaa It literally means “Furrow”. Symbolically speaking, just as plough prepares the ground for the emergence of new plant life, she arranges karmas for continuation of this cosmos (her lila/manifestion). 30. Vimalaa Vimala means pure. She is the personification of purity. 31. Vishwa She is the entire cosmos. She is everything. 32. Vidhyunmala She who wears a shining garland. 33. Vaishnavi. Here Saraswati is identified with Vaishnavi, the Shakti of Lord Vishnu. 34. Chandrika She who is as bright as moonlight. 35. Chandravadana She who’s face is as beautiful as moon. 36. Chandralekhaa vibhushita She who wears a crescent moon on her head. 37. sAvitri It literally means “ray of light/solar ray”. It implies that, just as a ray of light removes darkness, so also Sarasvathi, the Goddess of Knowledge removes Ignorance. 38. Surasaa It means “she who represents all good things in life”. 39. Devi Goddess 40. Divyalankarabhushita She who is adorned by celestial ornaments. 41. Vagdevi It means Goddess of speech. She is the source of sound. She is the primordial sound OM. 42. Vasudha Literally it means “earth”. It is referring to the attribute of earth who not only bears the burden of everything (both living and non living who have taken shelter in her) but also nourishes them. That is why earth is also referred as “Mother”. Saraswathi is the originator as well as nourisher of whole cosmos. She bears the burden of whole cosmos. 43. tiivra It may be meaning both “all powerful/intensive” and “All pervading”. She is the sum total of all existence. She pervades everything. In her, she includes everything that exists. 44. mahabhadra It literally means “Very auspicious” or “Very pleasant/gentle/gracious”. 45. mahabalA “Balaa” means “Strength”. She represents “Great strength”. 46. bhogada It means she who grants worldly enjoyments. 47. bharatii She is the goddess of speech; 48. bhAmA She is personification of passion and splendor. 49. govindA It literally means protector/controller of cows. Here Cow is symbolic of our senses. So she is controller of senses. 50. gomatii It literally means a place having herds of cows. Symbolically it means Saraswati embodies all senses inside her. In other words she is the senses herself. 51. shivaa It literally means “Final Emancipation”, that is she who delivers liberation/enlightment. 52. jaTilaa She who has “matted hairs”. 53. vindhyavaasa She whose abode is in Vindhya mountain 54. vindhyachalaviraajita She who is seated in vindhya mountains. 55. chandika The Fierce one, the wrathful. Chandi represents Universal Shakti in its most fierce and uncontrolled aspect. Chandika is the summation of MahaKali, MahaLakshmi and Mahasaraswati. And here, Saraswati is identified with Chandika. 56. Vaishnavi Here Saraswati is identified with Maha Lakshmi, the Power of Vishnu. 57. Braahmii Here Saraswati is identified with The Power of Brahma. 58. Brahmajnaneikasaadhana She is the only medium to attain Brahma-Jnana (Enlightment). That is, Saraswati bestows Ultimate Knowledge to those who seek. 59. Saudaamini Lightning, She is as strong and effulgent as lightning. 60. sudhamurthi She is the very personification of divine nectar (of Jnana-Knowledge and Ananda-Bliss). 61. subhadra She is auspicious and beautiful 62. surapoojita She who is even worshipped by gods. 63. suvaasini “Su” means “Good” and Vaasini means “living”. It could mean “She who lives in beautiful abode/Universe” or “She who fills her abode (the whole cosmos) with auspiciousness”. 64. Sunaasaa She who has beautiful nose. 65. vinidraa It means “Sleepless/Awake”. There are three states of existence- waking, dreaming and deep sleep. But, there is a fourth state-Turiya which is beyond deep sleep. Saraswati represents this Turiya-Eternally awoken state of bliss beyond deep sleep (nidra). 66. padmalochana She whose eyes are as beautiful as lotus. 67. vidyaarupa She is the personification of Vidya (Knowledge- secular, spiritual and transcendental). 68. vishaalaakshi It means “Broad eyed”. 69. brahmajaaya It means “the wife of Brahma”. 70. mahaaphalaa It literally means “Great fruit”. According to Hindu Dharma, there are four Purusharthas in life-Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha, the last being the ultimate goal. Saraswati being Moksha herself grants it (along with other purusharthas) to everyone. Here Mahaphala refers to Moksha. 71. trayimoorti She is the Personification/source/mother of all three Vedas (Rik, Yajus and sama). 72. trikaalagnya She who knows everything about the past, the present and the future. 73. triguna She is the personification of the 3 Gunas-Tamas, Rajas and Sattva. 74. shastra roopini She is the very Shastras/Scriptures ( Shruti , Smruti, Agamas) which has been laid down to guide the world. 75. shumbhasura-pramathini She who tormented the demon Shumbha. Shumbha represents one’s asmita- “I – ness”. Saraswati the embodiment of Knowledge destroys this false identity. 76. shubhadaa One who grants wealth, prosperity and all other auspicious things. 77. sarvatmika She is omnipresent. She pervades the whole universe. 78. raktabeeja-nihantri She who slays the demon Raktabeeja. Raktabeeja represents one’s desires. Here Saraswati is identified with Kali, the embodiment of detachment, who destroys all desires. 79. chamunda She who killed the demons Chanda and Munda. Here also Saraswati is identified with Kali. 80. ambika It means “Mother”. The name stresses the motherly aspect of the Saraswathi. Further, Ambika represents that aspect of Shakti which killed the demon Dhumralochana. Ambika is also called Koushiki as she manifested from the Koshas of Parvati. 81. mundakaya praharana She who killed demon Munda (That is Kali). 82. dhumralochana-mardana She who killed the demon Dhumralochna (Kaushiki). 83. sarvadevastuta Praised by all gods and goddesses. 84. soumya Gentle and cheerful 85. sura-asura namaskruta Both gods and demons bow to her. 86. kaalaraatri Here Saraswati is identified with Kalaratri (goddess of night). 87. kaladhaaraa She who holds crescent moon on her head. Here Saraswati is identified with Parvati. 88. roopa soubhagyadayini She who grants beauty, wealth and prosperity. 89. vagdevi Goddess of speech. 90. varaaroha It can have two different meanings. It may mean “She who rides”, that is she who controls everything in the universe. The other meaning could be “She who has beautiful hips” 91. vaaraahi Here Sarswati is identified with Vaarahi, the Power of Varaha. (The Boar avatara of Vishnu) 92. vaarijaaasanaa She who is seated on lotus. 93. chitraambaraa She who is adorned with bright garments/garments made of lotus. 94. chitragandhaa She who has fragrance of the lotus. 95. chitramaalyavibhooshita She who is adorned by garland of lotus. 96. kaanta It means “Lovely woman/earth”. 97. kaamapradaa She who grants all desires 98. vandyaa She who is very respectable/adorable (Pujaneeya). She to whom everyone bows to in reverence. 99. vidyaadharaa supoojitaa She who is revered as the supporter/nourisher of Knowledge. 100. shwetaasanaa She who is seated on White seat (may be a Swan or a lotus) 101. neelbhujaa She who has blue shoulders. 102. chaturvargaphalapradaa She who grants fruits (of action) to every person belonging to all the four categories of society (Brahmin, Kshatriya,Vaishya,Shudhra) 103. chaturaananasaamraajya She who rules in all the four directions. 104. raktamadhyaa Rakta means red and red represents Shakti/energy. Hence,”Raktamadhya” means the Centre/source of all Shakti/Energies. 105. Niranjanaa It means “Pure”. She is purity personified. 106. Hansaasanaa She who is seated on Swan. 107. Neelajanghaa She who has blue thighs. 108. Brahmavishnushivaatmikaa She who is the essence of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva https://youtube/watch?v=pAVsqGsvqgA
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 09:49:35 +0000
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