Items for Abhishek (Water, Milk, Dahee, Honey, Sugar, Panchamrit*), 1 to 2 ozs in separate containers.
Mother Saraswati murti or picture in a taali
10 to 12 flowers (108 flowers or petals if doing optional offering)
Mango leaf or spoon
Thaali with deeya with oil and wick
5 to 6 Napkins (for drying murti)
Piece of cotton wool or saffron cloth
Chandhan
Sindhoor
Saffron
Handful of washed white rice
3 sticks of Agarbhati (incense)
Essence/perfume
Fruit or prasad or sweet
1 suparee
1 coin
1 block crushed camphor
3 to 4 cloves (with head)
Bell
*Panchamrit is a sweet drink prepared using five ingredients that are yogurt or dahee, milk, honey, sugar and ghee.
Set up:
Clean area for Archana
Wash all leaves or flowers
Make (spoon) with Mango leaf
Step 1: Purification
Take lota of water in hand and sprinkle water over all puja items.
Om Apavitrah pavitro va sarvavastham gato pi va sa bahyabhyantarah suchi.
Step 2: Washing of Hands
Any religious or ritualistic act should begin with acamana or ceremonial sipping of water with prescribed mantras. Wash hands then sip water three times and wash hands again.
Wash: Om Shri Hasta Prakshalam Samarpayaami.
Sip: Om Shri Keshavaya Namaha
Sip: Om Madhavaya Namaha
Sip: Om Shri Narayanaya Namaha
Wash: Om Shri Hasta Prakshalam Samarpayaami.
Step 3: Seek Blessing
Focus on Shri Ganesh, Mother Saraswatie and Guru seeking blessing to start worship.
Om Shri Ganeshaya Namaha.
Om Shri Sarawatyai Namaha
Om Shri Guru Bhyo Namaha
Step 4: Contemplation
Place your thoughts on the deity being invited. Focus on the form of the deity and characteristics.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Dhyaanam Samarpayaami.
Step 5: Invitation
Invite the deity for the archana. Place a paan before the feet of the murti. Hold flower in hand, say mantra then offer the flower on the paan leaf.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Aavahanam Samarpayaami.
Step 6: Offer a seat
Invite the deity to take a seat for you to worship. Take and hold another flower in hand, say mantra then offer the flower. on the
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Aasanam Samarpayaami.
Step 7: Wash Feet of Deity
Washing the deity’s feet with clean water as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Paadyam Samarpayaami.
Step 8: Wash Mouth & Hands of Deity
Offering the deity water to rinse hands and mouth as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Argyam Samarpayaami.
Step 9: Offer Deity Water to Sip
Offer the deity water to drink while the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Aachmanam Samarpayaami.
Step 10: Bathe the Deity
Bathing the deity with various auspicious items as the mantra is chanted.
Bathe with Water
Bathe with Milk
Bathe with Dhahi
Bathe with Ghee
Bathe with Honey
Bathe with Sugar
Bathe with Panchamrit
After offering all items wash and dry the deity and place on a clean taali.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Shhudhoka Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Dughdha Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Dhahi Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Grit Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Madhu Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Sharkaraa Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha atha Paanchamrita Snaanam Samarpayaami.
Step 11: Offer Clothes/Cloth/Cotton
Dressing the deity with clean clothes as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Vastra Samarpayaami.
Step 12: Chandhan, Sindoor, Saffron
Apply to the Deity’s forhead.
Offer Chandhan as tilak.
Offer Sindhoor as tilak
Offer Saffron as tilak
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Chandanam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Sindhooram Tilakam Samarpayaami.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Haridra Tilakam Samarpayaami.
Step 13: Offer Washed Rice
Offer washed rice to the deity.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha atha akshataan Samarpayaami.
Step 14: Flower Bath/Optional 108 offering
Either adorn the deity with flowers and/or optionally offer 108 flowers or petals. Offering one at the end of each mantra on the recitation of the word “namaha”.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha atha Pushpam Samarpayaami.
Chant 108 times.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha.
Step 15: Incense Aarti
Light incense sticks, perform incense aarti to the deity while chanting the mantra. Place safely in an incense stand or in a container safely.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Dhoopam Samarpayaami.
Step 16: Essence/Sandalwood paste
Sprinkle essence/perfume/rose water or spread fresh sandalwood paste on the deity as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Ghandam Samarpayaami.
Step 17: Offer a light
Wave the deeya/lamp/light to illuminate the freshly decorated deity while chanting the mantra.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Deepaha Samarpayaami.
Step 18: Offer Prasad
Offer water to the deity then offer prasad, fruit, sweet. The offering can be as elaborate or as simple as circumstances allow.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Naivedyam Samarpayaami.
Step 19: Offer Water
Offer the deity water to drink as the mantra is chanted. Offer the water to the mouth of the deity.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Aachmanam Samarpayaami.
Step 20: Offer Kasaili
Offering the deity betel nut/Kasaili as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Taambulam Samarpayaami.
Step 21: Offer Coins
Offer a washed coin to the deity as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Dakshinaam Samarpayaami.
Step 22: Offer Camphor and Cloves
Offer a washed cloves (which has a head) and a small piece of camphor to the deity as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Niranjanam Samarpayaami.
Step 23: Offer a Handful of Flowers
Offer a handful of flowers or petals to the deity as the mantra is chanted.
Om Shri Saraswatyai Namaha Pushpanjali Samarpayaami.
Step 24: Mother Saraswati Aarti
Jai Saraswati Mata, Maiya Jai Saraswati Mata। Sadaguna Vaibhava Shalini, Tribhuvana Vikhyata॥ Jai Saraswati Mata॥
Chandravadani Padmasini, Dyuti Mangalakari। Sohe Shubha Hansa Sawari, Atula Tejadhari॥ Jai Saraswati Mata॥
Bayen Kara Mein Veena, Dayen Kara Mala। Shisha Mukuta Mani Sohe, Gala Motiyana Mala॥ Jai Saraswati Mata॥
Devi Sharana Jo Aye, Unaka Uddhara Kiya। Paithi Manthara Dasi, Ravana Samhara Kiya॥ Jai Saraswati Mata॥
Vidya Gyana Pradayini, Gyana Prakasha Bharo। Moha Agyana Aur Timira Ka, Jaga Se Nasha Karo॥ Jai Saraswati Mata॥
Dhupa Deepa Phala Mewa, Maa Swikara Karo। Gyanachakshu De Mata, Jaga Nistara Karo॥ Jai Saraswati Mata॥
Maa Saraswati Ki Aarti, Jo Koi Jana Gave। Hitakari Sukhakari Gyana Bhakti Pave॥ Jai Saraswati Mata॥
Jai Saraswati Mata, Jai Jai Saraswati Mata। Sadaguna Vaibhava Shalini, Tribhuvana Vikhyata॥ Jai Saraswati Mata॥
Step 25: Closing Prayer
Firstly turn clockwise 3 times.
Say Closing Prayer.
Finally Atha Udvasana, ask the deity to forgive you for any mistakes your may have unknowingly made.