All the gods, the ancient Manus, noble kings, and men of every age and place, each performed their worship in the prescribed manner. Once, the sage Nārada, ever eager for wisdom, approached the Lord and asked, “O best of those who know the Veda, tell me of the offerings used in worship—food, flowers, sandalwood, and the like. I am eager to hear the proper way.” Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme, replied, “Listen, O sage, to the procedure for worshipping Sarasvatī, the revered Mother of the world. This worship is especially auspicious on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Māgha, or on the day one begins their studies. After bathing and performing one’s daily duties, one should, with a heart full of devotion, establish a sacred pot. Upon this pot, the wise should meditate on Ganesha, the Sun, Fire, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and the goddess Śivā, as will be described. Meditate upon them dwelling in the external pot, as tradition teaches. As for the offerings: whatever is prescribed in the Vedas for worship and food presentation should be used—fresh butter, curd, milk, puffed rice, and sweets made of sesame. Swastika symbols, sugar, unbroken grains of white rice, clarified butter, oblations seasoned with salt, and various other dishes are all appropriate. Cakes, swastika, ripe mangoes, coconut and its water, saffron, ginger root, and ripe fruits suitable to the season and place, pure and white, are also fitting. Fragrant white flowers, richly scented white sandalwood, garlands of white blossoms, ornaments of pearls and gems—these too are offered. Whatever is praised in the scriptures, whatever meditation is beautiful and esteemed in the Vedas, all that should be included. One should meditate upon Sarasvatī herself—radiant in white, smiling, exceedingly charming, clad in garments purified by fire. She is worshipped with devotion by the hosts of gods, by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and all the divine beings. Thus, meditating from the very root, the wise offer everything with a full heart. For those whose chosen deity is Sarasvatī, O sage, auspiciousness ever abides. The root of all these offerings is the supreme Vedic eight-syllable mantra, which ends with Sarasvatī in the fourth case and invokes the wife of fire. That mantra is: ‘Śrīṃ Hrīṃ Sarasvatyai Svāhā.’ Long ago, Nārāyaṇa, the ocean of mercy, gave this sacred mantra to Vālmīki. Bhrigu gave it to Shukra at the holy Pushkara during the solar festival. Brahmā, pleased, bestowed it upon Bhrigu at the hermitage of Badarika. Vibhāṇḍaka imparted it to the wise Ṛṣyaśṛṅga on Mount Meru. Śiva gave it to the sage Kaṇāda and to Gautama. Śeṣa taught it to Pāṇini and to the wise Bharadvāja. By reciting this mantra four hundred thousand times, its perfection is attained. Now, O foremost of Brāhmins, hear of the divine armor—kavaca—bestowed by the Creator in ancient times. Bhrigu once asked, “All-knowing Lord, progenitor of all, worshipped by every worshipper, tell me, O Lord, the armor of Sarasvatī that conquers the universe.” Brahmā replied, “This armor is the very essence of the Vedas, delightful to hear, spoken of and honored in the Vedas. It was once revealed to me by Kṛṣṇa himself in Goloka, within the sacred forest of Vṛndāvana. It is exceedingly secret and supreme, like a wish-fulfilling tree. By reciting and retaining it, Bṛhaspati became wise; the eloquent sage Vālmīki became the foremost of poets. Kaṇāda, Gautama, Kaṇva, Pāṇini, and Śākaṭāyana, having received this, divided the Vedas and all the Purāṇas. Śātātapa, Saṃvarta, Vasiṣṭha, and Parāśara—these great sages too were blessed by it.” Thus, the tradition of Sarasvatī’s worship and her sacred mantra, passed from deity to sage, from sage to seeker, brings wisdom, auspiciousness, and the blessings of the Divine Mother to all who follow with devotion.