Why Actors should Pray Goddess Saraswati for Success

Goddess Saraswati

Prayer

Start with a prayer for knowledge and art from your religion or simply pray

" God, give me the knowledge and skills to be a great actor". 

Repeat this 11 times.

Those who believe

Why actors should pray Goddess Saraswati?

Because Maa Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and arts, represents the free flow of wisdom and consciousness. She is the mother of the Vedas, and chants to her, called the 'Saraswati Vandana'  (Details below), often begin and end the Vedic lessons.

It is believed that goddess Saraswati endows human beings with the powers of excellence in art, speech, wisdom and learning. She has four hands representing four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness and ego. She has sacred scriptures in one hand and a lotus – the symbol of true knowledge – in the second.

With her other two hands, she plays the music of love and life on a string instrument called the Veena. She is dressed in white – the symbol of purity – and rides on a white swan – symbolizing Sattwa Guna or purity and discrimination
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The learned and especially actors, singers and dancers should attach greater importance to the worship of goddess Saraswati. 

So, if you believe, then the best is to worship and pray to Goddess Saraswati, a source of art and knowledge  Sit on the floor or on a chair, keep your hands stretched on above your knees, touching your first finger with thumbs and palms up towards you. Try to recollect the illuminating face of the Goddess  with your eyes closed. Repeat the following Mantra 11 times:

ॐ श्री सरस्वत्यै नमः 

Om Shri Saraswati-ya Namaha 
Repeat this Mantra  108 times once a day with any "mala" or at least 11 times

What is Saraswati Vandana?

Saraswati Vandana Shloka by Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar

The goddess Saraswati is the authority on academics and the arts. Everybody from musicians to scientists following Hinduism pray to her for guidance and knowledge. The Saraswati Vandana Mantra is recited by her devotees every morning for good luck. Everyone has a different version for the vandana which just means holy song. So as an acting student or as an actor, you ask for knowledge as a performing artist.

Mantra

Yaa Kundendu tushaara haara-dhavalaa, Yaa shubhra-vastra'avritaa

Yaa veena-vara-danda-manditakara, Yaa shweta padma'asana

Yaa brahma'achyuta shankara prabhritibhir, Devai-sadaa vandita

Saa Maam Paatu Saraswati Bhagavatee Nihshesha jaadya'apahaa.

Shuklaam Brahmavichaara Saara paramaam Aadhyaam Jagadvyapinim,

Veena Pustaka Dhaarineem Abhayadaam Jaadya'andhakaara'apahaam

Haste Sphaatika Maalikam Vidadhateem Padmasane Sansthitaam

Vande taam Parmeshwareem Bhagavateem Buddhipradaam Shardam.----

Sanskrit / संस्कृत:

या कुंदेंदु तुषारहार धवला, या शुभ्र वस्त्रावृता |

या वीणावर दण्डमंडितकरा, या श्वेतपद्मासना ||

या ब्रह्माच्युतशंकरप्रभ्रृतिभिर्देवै: सदा वन्दिता |

सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेष जाड्यापहा ||

शुक्लां ब्रह्मविचार सार परमां आद्यां जगद्व्यापिनीं

वीणा पुस्तक धारिणीं अभयदां जाड्यान्धकारापाहां|

हस्ते स्फाटिक मालीकां विदधतीं पद्मासने संस्थितां

वन्दे तां परमेश्वरीं भगवतीं बुद्धि प्रदां शारदां||

Hindi / हिंदी अनुवाद:

जो कुंद फूल, चंद्रमा और वर्फ के हार के समान श्वेत हैं, जो शुभ्र वस्त्र धारण करती हैं|

जिनके हाथ, श्रेष्ठ वीणा से सुशोभित हैं, जो श्वेत कमल पर आसन ग्रहण करती हैं||

ब्रह्मा, विष्णु और महेश आदिदेव, जिनकी सदैव स्तुति करते हैं|

हे माँ भगवती सरस्वती, आप मेरी सारी (मानसिक) जड़ता को हरें||

English Translation

She, who is as fair as the Kunda flower, white as the moon, and a garland of Tushar flowers;and who is covered in white clothes

She, whose hands are adorned by the excellent veena, and whose seat is the pure white lotus;

She, who is praised by Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh; and prayed to by the Devas

O Mother Goddess, remove my mental dullness!

Updated Post 04-03-2015