This is the best-loved prayer to Goddess Saraswati. Children in schools across India say it before lessons, and musicians and students pray it on Basant Panchami.
Ya Kundendu Tusharahara Dhavala (Saraswati Vandana): full text
या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता
या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना।
या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता
सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा॥
In Roman letters
Ya kundendu tushara hara dhavala ya shubhra vastravrita
Ya veena vara danda mandita kara ya shveta padmasana
Ya brahmachyuta shankara prabhritibhir devaih sada vandita
Sa mam patu Sarasvati Bhagavati nihshesha jadyapaha
Meaning in simple words
The Goddess is as white as jasmine, the moon and frost. She wears white clothes, holds a veena, sits on a white lotus, and is always worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The prayer asks: may that Goddess Saraswati protect me and take away all my dullness and ignorance.
How to recite it
Bathe, sit in a clean place, light a diya and read with a calm mind. For an aarti, sing together and ring the bell. Check today's panchang for the best day and time. Today's panchang.
Questions people ask
When should I recite the Ya Kundendu Tusharahara Dhavala (Saraswati Vandana)?
Basant Panchami, Thursdays and before study. You can also read it on any day with faith.
Who wrote the Ya Kundendu Tusharahara Dhavala (Saraswati Vandana)?
Traditional shloka.