The aarti of Saraswati, goddess of knowledge, music and speech — sung on Vasant Panchami, during Navratri's Saraswati puja and at schools and vidyalayas.
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Refrain
जय सरस्वती माता,
मैया जय सरस्वती माता ।
सद्गुण वैभव शालिनी,
त्रिभुवन विख्याता ॥
Whoever came to the goddess for refuge, she uplifted; entering even the maid Manthara's speech, she set in motion Ravana's destruction.
Stanza 4
विद्या ज्ञान प्रदायिनि,
ज्ञान प्रकाश भरो ।
मोह अज्ञान और तिमिर का,
जग से नाश करो ॥
vidya jnana pradayini,
jnana prakasha bharo
moha ajnana aura timira ka,
jaga se nasha karo
vidyā jñāna pradāyini,
jñāna prakāśa bharo
moha ajñāna aura timira kā,
jaga se nāśa karo
Bestower of learning and wisdom, fill us with the light of knowledge; destroy delusion, ignorance and darkness from the world.
Stanza 5
धूप दीप फल मेवा,
मां स्वीकार करो ।
ज्ञानचक्षु दे माता,
जग निस्तार करो ॥
dhupa dipa phala meva,
mam svikara karo
jnanacakshu de mata,
jaga nistara karo
dhūpa dīpa phala mevā,
māṃ svīkāra karo
jñānacakṣu de mātā,
jaga nistāra karo
Accept, Mother, our incense, lamp, fruit and offerings; grant us the eye of wisdom and carry the world across.
Closing
मां सरस्वती की आरती,
जो कोई जन गावे ।
हितकारी सुखकारी,
ज्ञान भक्ति पावे ॥
mam sarasvati ki arati,
jo koi jana gave
hitakari sukhakari,
jnana bhakti pave
māṃ sarasvatī kī āratī,
jo koī jana gāve
hitakārī sukhakārī,
jñāna bhakti pāve
Whoever sings this aarti of Mother Saraswati gains what is beneficial and brings joy — knowledge and devotion.
When it is recited: Vasant Panchami, Saraswati Puja during Sharad Navratri, Vidyarambha ceremonies, and daily in homes of students and musicians.
Traditional significance: The aarti describes the moon-faced goddess on her swan, veena in the left hand and mala in the right, and asks for the light of knowledge and the destruction of ignorance — the classic prayer of every student.
Questions
Why does the aarti mention Manthara and Ravana?
The stanza recalls that even world-changing speech moves by the goddess's power: by prompting Manthara's words she set in motion Rama's exile — and with it, the destruction of Ravana. Vak (speech) is her domain.
Source: Traditional — as sung in North Indian community worship. Regional versions may vary — this text follows the version most widely used in community worship.