Saraswati Vandanaa – Let’s Adore Saraswati!

Saraswati Vandanaa – Let’s Adore Saraswati!

Paa-wa-kaa nah Saraswatee, vaaje-bhir vaaji-nee-watee

Yajyäm washtu dhiyaa-vasuh

पावका नः सरस्वती वाजेभिर् वाजिनीवती

यज्याम् वश्तु धियावसुः

 

Veda is called Saraswati because It overflows with Knowledge. Veda has an abundance of nourishing resources for us and is rich in intelligence and action. Through its vital resources, It purifies us.  May Veda desire to make our Life-Sacrifice complete.

 

Choda-yi-tree soo-nri-taa-naam, chetantee su-matee-naam

Yajyäm dadhe Saraswatee

चोदयित्री सूनृतानाम् चेतंती सुमतीनाम्

यज्याम् दधे सरस्वते

Veda inspires in us words that are truthful, sweet and healing.  She also awakens in us thoughts that are filled with grace and compassion.  May Veda uphold our Life-Sacrifice.

 

Maho arnah Saraswatee, pra-cheta-ya-ti ketu-naa

Dhiyo vishwaa vi raajati – Rig Veda 1:3:10-12

महो अर्नः सरस्वती प्रचेतयति केतुना

धियो विश्वा वि राजति – Rig Veda 1:3:10-12

 

When we act on Veda, when we read, study and teach Veda, a vast Ocean of Knowledge opens up itself. This Knowledge, in a very special way, illumines the intelligence of everyone.

 

Come, let us all glorify Mother Saraswati.  In the first of these three Mantras, Veda is called Saraswati because It overflows with various kinds of Knowledge – physical, social, natural, health, psychological, spiritual and other sciences. When we productively apply these sciences, Veda enhances our life-style, taking away inconveniences, shortcomings and flawed tendencies from our daily experience. Veda possesses an abundance of resources to strengthen our body, mind, intellect and ego.  These resources include food, wealth, strength, speed, energy and vitality, and scientific knowledge. In being read and studied, Veda inspires us to make productive use of these resources, face up to challenges in life, act intelligently, perform our required duties and successfully find a place of acceptance in society.  In view of blessings that it has to offer us, we ask that Veda help us make our earthly sojourn complete.

 

We are told in the second Mantra that Veda creates in us inclinations to speak words that are sweet, truthful and healing and to think thoughts that are gracious and compassionate. Parents at home must speak honey-like words to each other. Siblings must act harmoniously with, and not hate, each other, and speak words productive of benevolence.[1] This is the Vedic formula for a successful family. Individuals make up a family, families make up a neighborhood, neighborhoods make up a village and a town, towns make up a city, cities make up a state, states make up a country, and countries make up the world.  If families can register peace, grace and benevolence in their home interactions, the whole world will consequently be peaceful, graceful and benevolent. So, we cherish the sentiment that Veda, filled with strategies for success in family, society and country, may uphold, nurture and nourish our individual life, so that all of us at home create and enjoy a harmonious interconnectedness. Let’s demonstrate that life at home can be truly synonymous with harmony.

 

The third Mantra informs that through activity, through the act of intensely reciting, studying and teaching the Veda, a vast Ocean of Knowledge opens up itself in front of us. There are 20,358 Mantras contained in the Rig, Yajur, Saam and Atharva Vedas. The sum-total knowledge of the Veda is so vast that it takes an equally vast collection of auxiliary literature to explain it to mankind.[2] In ancient times, a student was required to study Veda and its extended auxiliary literature to be considered a scholar.  This Knowledge illumines the minds of all who seek Wisdom.

 

Word-For-Word Meaning

Saraswatee  – Veda [see Nighantu ]; Vaaji-neewatee – is filled with vital resources;  Vaajebhih – with these resources;  Nah Paawakah – She is our purifier;  Dhiyaa-vasuh iti Karma-vasuh [See Nirukta 11:26] – rich in action; Washtu – May she desire; Yajyäm – our sacrifice; Chodayitree – She is the inspirer; Soonritaanaam – of sweet words; Chetantee – She is the awakener; Sumateenaam – of gracious thoughts;  Dadhe – May She uphold; Yajyäm – our sacrifice; Ketunaa – through activity; Prachetayati – She makes visible; Mahah Arnah – a vast ocean; Vi raajati – She illumines; Vishwaa Diyah – everyone’s intelligence.

 

[1] Anuvratah pituh putro, maatraa bhawatu sam-manaah

Jaayaa patye madhu-mateem, vaacham vadatu shanti-waam

Maa bhraataa bhraataram dwikshan, maa swasaaram uta swasaa

Sanyanchah sa-vrataa bhootwaa, vaacham vadata bhadrayaa -AV 3:30:2-3

अनुव्रतः पितुः पुत्रो मात्रा भवतु सम्मनाः

जाया पत्ये मधुमतीम् वाचम् वदतु शन्तिवाम्

मा भ्राता भ्रातरम् द्विक्शन् मा स्वसारम् उत स्वसा

सन्यंचः सव्रता भोत्वा वाचम् वदत भद्रया -AV 3:30:2-3

[2] This includes books called Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads, Pratishakhyas,  Sutras, Darshanas, and books on Grammar, Etymology, Ritual, Prosody, Astronomy, etc.

 

Satish Prakash, PhD, Vyakaranacharya

Founder-Acharya, Maharshi Dayananda Gurukula

Missionary of the Arya Samaj