O, the great Goddess Saraswati, the lotus-eyed personified
knowledge... O, large-eyed Goddess, taking the form of the whole
universe, thou shower me with all the powers and glories of all
knowledge that exist.
May that Goddess - Bhagavathi - the blessed Saraswathi presiding
deity of learning and remover of our lethargy, laziness and
ignorance, protect us. She is pure and white like the jasmine,
the full moon and the garland like formation of dewdrops. She is
dressed in a spotless robe. She has in her hand, the auspicious
instrument veena. She is seated on a white lotus. She is the one
who is always respected by Brahma the creator, Vishnu the
preserver, Shankara the annihilator and other Gods.
Oh ! Goddess, Saraswathi, my humble prostrations unto Thee, who are the
fulfiller of all my wishes. I start my studies with the request that
thou will bestow Thy blessings on me
I promise myself before Hayagriva, the Deva who is the personification
of Jnana (knowledge) and Happiness(Ananda), who is very pure, and who is
the basis of all learning.)
The other important shloka is one to Goddess Saraswati, the God of
learning:
I meditate on the daughter of sage Matanga, Who plays on the jewel
studded Veena, Who is most pretty and who speaks sweetest words, Who is
worshipped by Indra , the king of devas, And who has perfectly pretty
form.
