108 names of Saraswati with meaning

The Shri Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali gives 108 names of Saraswati, each an epithet that recalls a quality, a deed or a form. Every name below comes with its transliteration and a short meaning written for this site.

All 108 names of Saraswati with meaning

Numbered in the order they are recited. The first column gives the name and the line it is offered with; the second, its transliteration.

108 names of Saraswati: Shri Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali
#	Name (Sanskrit)	Transliteration	Meaning
1	सरस्वती ॐ सरस्वत्यै नमः	Sarasvati Om Sarasvatyai Namah	Saraswati, goddess of learning
2	महाभद्रा ॐ महाभद्रायै नमः	Mahabhadra Om Mahabhadrayai Namah	The greatly auspicious one
3	महामाया ॐ महामायायै नमः	Mahamaya Om Mahamayayai Namah	The great power of illusion
4	वरप्रदा ॐ वरप्रदायै नमः	Varaprada Om Varapradayai Namah	Giver of boons
5	श्रीप्रदा ॐ श्रीप्रदायै नमः	Shriprada Om Shripradayai Namah	Giver of prosperity
6	पद्मनिलया ॐ पद्मनिलयायै नमः	Padmanilaya Om Padmanilayayai Namah	Who dwells in the lotus
7	पद्माक्षी ॐ पद्माक्ष्यै नमः	Padmakshi Om Padmakshyai Namah	With lotus-like eyes
8	पद्मवक्त्रका ॐ पद्मवक्त्रकायै नमः	Padmavaktraka Om Padmavaktrakayai Namah	With a lotus-like face
9	शिवानुजा ॐ शिवानुजायै नमः	Shivanuja Om Shivanujayai Namah	Younger sister of Shiva
10	पुस्तकभृत् ॐ पुस्तकभृते नमः	Pustakabhrit Om Pustakabhrite Namah	Bearer of a book
11	ज्ञानमुद्रा ॐ ज्ञानमुद्रायै नमः	Jnanamudra Om Jnanamudrayai Namah	Showing the gesture of knowledge
12	रमा ॐ रमायै नमः	Rama Om Ramayai Namah	The delightful one
13	परा ॐ परायै नमः	Para Om Parayai Namah	The supreme one
14	कामरूपा ॐ कामरूपायै नमः	Kamarupa Om Kamarupayai Namah	Who takes any form at will
15	महाविद्या ॐ महाविद्यायै नमः	Mahavidya Om Mahavidyayai Namah	The great knowledge
16	महापातकनाशिनी ॐ महापातकनाशिन्यै नमः	Mahapatakanashini Om Mahapatakanashinyai Namah	Destroyer of grave sins
17	महाश्रया ॐ महाश्रयायै नमः	Mahashraya Om Mahashrayayai Namah	The great refuge of all
18	मालिनी ॐ मालिन्यै नमः	Malini Om Malinyai Namah	Wearer of garlands
19	महाभोगा ॐ महाभोगायै नमः	Mahabhoga Om Mahabhogayai Namah	Possessed of great abundance
20	महाभुजा ॐ महाभुजायै नमः	Mahabhuja Om Mahabhujayai Namah	With mighty arms
21	महाभागा ॐ महाभागायै नमः	Mahabhaga Om Mahabhagayai Namah	The most blessed one
22	महोत्साहा ॐ महोत्साहायै नमः	Mahotsaha Om Mahotsahayai Namah	Full of great energy
23	दिव्याङ्गा ॐ दिव्याङ्गायै नमः	Divyanga Om Divyangayai Namah	With a divine form
24	सुरवन्दिता ॐ सुरवन्दितायै नमः	Suravandita Om Suravanditayai Namah	Honoured by the gods
25	महाकाली ॐ महाकाल्यै नमः	Mahakali Om Mahakalyai Namah	Mahakali, the great dark power
26	महापाशा ॐ महापाशायै नमः	Mahapasha Om Mahapashayai Namah	Holder of the great noose
27	महाकारा ॐ महाकारायै नमः	Mahakara Om Mahakarayai Namah	Of immense form
28	महाङ्कुशा ॐ महाङ्कुशायै नमः	Mahankusha Om Mahankushayai Namah	Holder of the great goad
29	पीता ॐ पीतायै नमः	Pita Om Pitayai Namah	Golden-yellow in hue
30	विमला ॐ विमलायै नमः	Vimala Om Vimalayai Namah	Spotless and pure
31	विश्वा ॐ विश्वायै नमः	Vishva Om Vishvayai Namah	The universe itself
32	विद्युन्माला ॐ विद्युन्मालायै नमः	Vidyunmala Om Vidyunmalayai Namah	Brilliant as a garland of lightning
33	वैष्णवी ॐ वैष्णव्यै नमः	Vaishnavi Om Vaishnavyai Namah	The power of Vishnu
34	चन्द्रिका ॐ चन्द्रिकायै नमः	Chandrika Om Chandrikayai Namah	Bright as moonlight
35	चन्द्रवदना ॐ चन्द्रवदनायै नमः	Chandravadana Om Chandravadanayai Namah	With a moon-like face
36	चन्द्रलेखाविभूषिता ॐ चन्द्रलेखाविभूषितायै नमः	Chandralekhavibhushita Om Chandralekhavibhushitayai Namah	Adorned with the crescent moon
37	सावित्री ॐ सावित्र्यै नमः	Savitri Om Savitryai Namah	Savitri, power of the sun
38	सुरसा ॐ सुरसायै नमः	Surasa Om Surasayai Namah	Full of fine flavour (rasa)
39	देवी ॐ देव्यै नमः	Devi Om Devyai Namah	The Goddess herself
40	दिव्यालङ्कारभूषिता ॐ दिव्यालङ्कारभूषितायै नमः	Divyalankarabhushita Om Divyalankarabhushitayai Namah	Adorned with divine ornaments
41	वाग्देवी ॐ वाग्देव्यै नमः	Vagdevi Om Vagdevyai Namah	Goddess of speech
42	वसुधा ॐ वसुधायै नमः	Vasudha Om Vasudhayai Namah	Giver of wealth, like the earth
43	तीव्रा ॐ तीव्रायै नमः	Tivra Om Tivrayai Namah	The intense, fierce one
44	महाभद्रा ॐ महाभद्रायै नमः	Mahabhadra Om Mahabhadrayai Namah	The supremely auspicious one
45	महाबला ॐ महाबलायै नमः	Mahabala Om Mahabalayai Namah	Of great strength
46	भोगदा ॐ भोगदायै नमः	Bhogada Om Bhogadayai Namah	Giver of enjoyments
47	भारती ॐ भारत्यै नमः	Bharati Om Bharatyai Namah	Bharati, goddess of speech
48	भामा ॐ भामायै नमः	Bhama Om Bhamayai Namah	The radiant one
49	गोविन्दा ॐ गोविन्दायै नमः	Govinda Om Govindayai Namah	Bearing the name Govinda
50	गोमती ॐ गोमत्यै नमः	Gomati Om Gomatyai Namah	Rich in cows; also the river Gomati
51	शिवा ॐ शिवायै नमः	Shiva Om Shivayai Namah	The auspicious one
52	जटिला ॐ जटिलायै नमः	Jatila Om Jatilayai Namah	With matted locks
53	विन्ध्यवासा ॐ विन्ध्यवासायै नमः	Vindhyavasa Om Vindhyavasayai Namah	Dweller in the Vindhya hills
54	विन्ध्याचलविराजिता ॐ विन्ध्याचलविराजितायै नमः	Vindhyachalavirajita Om Vindhyachalavirajitayai Namah	Resplendent on the Vindhya mountains
55	चण्डिका ॐ चण्डिकायै नमः	Chandika Om Chandikayai Namah	Chandika, the fierce one
56	वैष्णवी ॐ वैष्णव्यै नमः	Vaishnavi Om Vaishnavyai Namah	Vaishnavi, Vishnu's power
57	ब्राह्मी ॐ ब्राह्म्यै नमः	Brahmi Om Brahmyai Namah	Brahmi, Brahma's power
58	ब्रह्मज्ञानैकसाधना ॐ ब्रह्मज्ञानैकसाधनायै नमः	Brahmajnanaikasadhana Om Brahmajnanaikasadhanayai Namah	The one means to knowledge of Brahman
59	सौदामिनी ॐ सौदामिन्यै नमः	Saudamini Om Saudaminyai Namah	Bright as lightning
60	सुधामूर्ति ॐ सुधामूर्त्यै नमः	Sudhamurti Om Sudhamurtyai Namah	Embodiment of nectar
61	सुभद्रा ॐ सुभद्रायै नमः	Subhadra Om Subhadrayai Namah	Most auspicious and kind
62	सुरपूजिता ॐ सुरपूजितायै नमः	Surapujita Om Surapujitayai Namah	Worshipped by the gods
63	सुवासिनी ॐ सुवासिन्यै नमः	Suvasini Om Suvasinyai Namah	Finely dressed, auspicious lady
64	सुनासा ॐ सुनासायै नमः	Sunasa Om Sunasayai Namah	With a beautiful nose
65	विनिद्रा ॐ विनिद्रायै नमः	Vinidra Om Vinidrayai Namah	Ever wakeful, never sleeping
66	पद्मलोचना ॐ पद्मलोचनायै नमः	Padmalochana Om Padmalochanayai Namah	With eyes like lotuses
67	विद्यारूपा ॐ विद्यारूपायै नमः	Vidyarupa Om Vidyarupayai Namah	Whose form is learning
68	विशालाक्षी ॐ विशालाक्ष्यै नमः	Vishalakshi Om Vishalakshyai Namah	With large, wide eyes
69	ब्रह्मजाया ॐ ब्रह्मजायायै नमः	Brahmajaya Om Brahmajayayai Namah	Consort of Brahma
70	महाफला ॐ महाफलायै नमः	Mahaphala Om Mahaphalayai Namah	Bearer of great fruit
71	त्रयीमूर्ति ॐ त्रयीमूर्त्यै नमः	Trayimurti Om Trayimurtyai Namah	Embodiment of the three Vedas
72	त्रिकालज्ञा ॐ त्रिकालज्ञायै नमः	Trikalajna Om Trikalajnayai Namah	Knower of past, present and future
73	त्रिगुणा ॐ त्रिगुणायै नमः	Triguna Om Trigunayai Namah	Possessing the three gunas
74	शास्त्ररूपिणी ॐ शास्त्ररूपिण्यै नमः	Shastrarupini Om Shastrarupinyai Namah	Embodiment of the scriptures
75	शुम्भासुरप्रमथिनी ॐ शुम्भासुरप्रमथिन्यै नमः	Shumbhasurapramathini Om Shumbhasurapramathinyai Namah	Crusher of the demon Shumbha
76	शुभदा ॐ शुभदायै नमः	Shubhada Om Shubhadayai Namah	Giver of good
77	स्वरात्मिका ॐ स्वरात्मिकायै नमः	Svaratmika Om Svaratmikayai Namah	Whose essence is sound and tone
78	रक्तबीजनिहन्त्री ॐ रक्तबीजनिहन्त्र्यै नमः	Raktabijanihantri Om Raktabijanihantryai Namah	Slayer of the demon Raktabija
79	चामुण्डा ॐ चामुण्डायै नमः	Chamunda Om Chamundayai Namah	Chamunda, slayer of Chanda and Munda
80	अम्बिका ॐ अम्बिकायै नमः	Ambika Om Ambikayai Namah	Ambika, the Mother
81	मुण्डकायप्रहरणा ॐ मुण्डकायप्रहरणायै नमः	Mundakayapraharana Om Mundakayapraharanayai Namah	Who struck down the body of Munda
82	धूम्रलोचनमर्दना ॐ धूम्रलोचनमर्दनायै नमः	Dhumralochanamardana Om Dhumralochanamardanayai Namah	Slayer of the demon Dhumralochana
83	सर्वदेवस्तुता ॐ सर्वदेवस्तुतायै नमः	Sarvadevastuta Om Sarvadevastutayai Namah	Praised by all the gods
84	सौम्या ॐ सौम्यायै नमः	Saumya Om Saumyayai Namah	Gentle and serene
85	सुरासुरनमस्कृता ॐ सुरासुरनमस्कृतायै नमः	Surasuranamaskrita Om Surasuranamaskritayai Namah	Saluted by gods and demons alike
86	कालरात्रि ॐ कालरात्र्यै नमः	Kalaratri Om Kalaratryai Namah	Kalaratri, the night of dissolution
87	कलाधारा ॐ कलाधारायै नमः	Kaladhara Om Kaladharayai Namah	Upholder of the arts
88	रूपसौभाग्यदायिनी ॐ रूपसौभाग्यदायिन्यै नमः	Rupasaubhagyadayini Om Rupasaubhagyadayinyai Namah	Giver of beauty and good fortune
89	वाग्देवी ॐ वाग्देव्यै नमः	Vagdevi Om Vagdevyai Namah	The presiding deity of speech
90	वरारोहा ॐ वरारोहायै नमः	Vararoha Om Vararohayai Namah	Of graceful, beautiful form
91	वाराही ॐ वाराह्यै नमः	Varahi Om Varahyai Namah	Varahi, power of the Boar incarnation
92	वारिजासना ॐ वारिजासनायै नमः	Varijasana Om Varijasanayai Namah	Seated on a lotus
93	चित्राम्बरा ॐ चित्राम्बरायै नमः	Chitrambara Om Chitrambarayai Namah	Wearing many-coloured garments
94	चित्रगन्धा ॐ चित्रगन्धायै नमः	Chitragandha Om Chitragandhayai Namah	With varied fragrances
95	चित्रमाल्यविभूषिता ॐ चित्रमाल्यविभूषितायै नमः	Chitramalyavibhushita Om Chitramalyavibhushitayai Namah	Adorned with colourful garlands
96	कान्ता ॐ कान्तायै नमः	Kanta Om Kantayai Namah	The lovely one
97	कामप्रदा ॐ कामप्रदायै नमः	Kamaprada Om Kamapradayai Namah	Giver of what is desired
98	वन्द्या ॐ वन्द्यायै नमः	Vandya Om Vandyayai Namah	Worthy of reverence
99	विद्याधरसुपूजिता ॐ विद्याधरसुपूजितायै नमः	Vidyadharasupujita Om Vidyadharasupujitayai Namah	Duly worshipped by the Vidyadharas
100	श्वेतानना ॐ श्वेताननायै नमः	Shvetanana Om Shvetananayai Namah	With a radiant white face
101	नीलभुजा ॐ नीलभुजायै नमः	Nilabhuja Om Nilabhujayai Namah	Whose arms are dark blue
102	चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदा ॐ चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदायै नमः	Chaturvargaphalaprada Om Chaturvargaphalapradayai Namah	Giver of the fruits of life's four aims
103	चतुराननसाम्राज्या ॐ चतुराननसाम्राज्यायै नमः	Chaturananasamrajya Om Chaturananasamrajyayai Namah	The sovereign power of four-faced Brahma
104	रक्तमध्या ॐ रक्तमध्यायै नमः	Raktamadhya Om Raktamadhyayai Namah	Red at the centre
105	निरञ्जना ॐ निरञ्जनायै नमः	Niranjana Om Niranjanayai Namah	Spotless and untainted
106	हंसासना ॐ हंसासनायै नमः	Hamsasana Om Hamsasanayai Namah	Seated on a swan
107	नीलजङ्घा ॐ नीलजङ्घायै नमः	Nilajangha Om Nilajanghayai Namah	Whose shanks are dark blue
108	ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मिका ॐ ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मिकायै नमः	Brahmavishnushivatmika Om Brahmavishnushivatmikayai Namah	Essence of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva

How the 108 names of Saraswati are recited

Sit before an image of Saraswati, or simply face east, after a bath if you can.
Say each line in turn — Om, the name, namah — and if you are doing an archana, offer a flower, a leaf or a few grains of rice with each name.
Keep an even pace. A name said with attention is the point of the practice; speed is not.
Close with a moment of silence, and with aarti if it is part of your worship.

Saraswati mantras with meaning

Source of this list of Saraswati's 108 names

श्रीसरस्वत्यष्टोत्तरशतनामावलिः — Namavali form of the Saraswati Ashtottarashatanama Stotram, which closes by calling itself the 108 names of Goddess Saraswati; the sources consulted do not name a parent text.

The Sanskrit is traditional and in the public domain. We compared two independently published editions name by name and settled every difference against a third; the editions are listed below. The meanings are written for this site.

sanskritdocuments.org — श्रीसरस्वती अष्टोत्तरनामावली (सरस्वत्यष्टोत्तरशतनामावलिः १)
stotranidhi.com — श्री सरस्वती अष्टोत्तरशतनामावली

Where editions differ, this page follows the reading most sources give; the other reading is noted:

8. पद्मवक्त्रकायै — also read as पद्मवक्त्रायै
42. वसुधायै — also read as वसुदायै
53. विन्ध्यवासायै — also read as विन्ध्यावासायै

A short meaning cannot hold everything an epithet carries; where a name has several senses, the commonest is given.

108 names of Saraswati: common questions

What is the Shri Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali?

A traditional list of 108 names of Saraswati. In worship each is offered as 'Om … namah' — 'Om, salutation to …' — often with a flower or a few grains of rice for each name.

How often are the 108 names of Saraswati recited?

There is no fixed rule. Many recite them every morning in daily worship; others keep them for the deity's weekly day or festival.

What are the first and last of the 108 names of Saraswati?

The list opens with Sarasvati and closes with Brahmavishnushivatmika.

108 names of Saraswati with meaning

All 108 names of Saraswati with meaning

How the 108 names of Saraswati are recited

Source of this list of Saraswati's 108 names

108 names of Saraswati: common questions

Related Saraswati mantra and name pages