Laxmi Poojan

Lakshmi puja is a Hindu ritual performed specially during Diwali, the festival of lights. According to tradition, Hindus people light small oil lamps ( Diya) outside and inside their home on Diwali to welcome "Lakshmi" goddess of wealth and prosperity to bless them.

Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped to acquire or to preserve wealth. It is believed that Lakshmi (wealth) goes only to those houses which are clean and where the people are hardworking. She does not visit the places which are unclean/dirty or where the people are lazy.

In the Sri Vaishnava philosophy however, Sri (Lakshmi) is honoured as the "Iswarigm sarva bhootanam" i.e. the Supreme goddess and not just the goddess of wealth. This is an important distinction between Sri Vaishnavism and other materialistic philosophies.

Steps of Dipawali Puja:

• Gauri Ganesh Puja

• Kalash Pujan

• Matrika Pujan

• Laxmi Ganesh Pujan

• Kuber Pujan

• Kali Pujan

• Saraswati Pujan

Begin Puja by laying down down new cloth on a raised platform. Spread out a handful of grains in the center of the cloth and place a kalash (pitcher) made of gold, silver, copper, or terracotta. Fill three-fourth of the kalash with water and place a betel nut, a flower, a coin, and some rice grains in it. Arrange five kinds of leaves or mango leaves in the kalash. Place a small dish on the kalash and fill it with rice grains. Draw a lotus with turmeric powder ( haldi ) over the rice grains and place the idol of goddess Lakshmi over it, along with coins.

Place the idol of Ganesha: In front of the kalash, on the right (South-West direction), place the idol of Ganesha. Also place ink and books related to your business or occupation on the platform. Light a lamp and begin the puja by offering haldi, kumkum, and flowers to the platform on which the kalash is placed. Then offer haldi, kumkum, and flowers to the water that is to be used for the puja. Invoke the river goddesses to be part of this water.

Invoke goddess: Lakshmi by reciting the Vedic mantras addressed to her. One can also recite the mantras mentioned in the Puranas or simply Reciting

"Om Shri Gauri Ganesh Devatayae Namo Namah"

"Om Shri Laxmi Ganesh Devatayae Namo Namah"

"Om Gan Ganapataye Namo Namah"

"Om Shrim Shiryae Namo Namah"

" Shri Sukt Patham"

take some flowers in your hands, close your eyes, and think of goddess Lakshmi being showered with gold coins by two elephants standing on either side of Her and chant Her name. Then offer the flowers to the idol.

Place the idol of Lakshmi: Place the idol of Lakshmi in a plate and bathe it with water, panchamrit (a mixture of milk, curd, ghee or clarified butter, honey, and sugar) and then with water containing some gold ornament or a pearl. Wipe the idol clean and place it back on the kalash. Alternately, you can just sprinkle water and panchamrit on the idol with a flower.

Offerings: Offer sandal paste, saffron paste, perfume ( itr ), haldi, kumkum, abeer, and gulal to the goddess. Offer a garland of cotton beads to the goddess. Offer flowers, especially the marigold flowers and leaves of Bel (wood apple tree). Light an incense stick and dhoop. Make an offering of sweets, coconut, fruits, and tambul. Make an offering of puffed rice and batasha. Pour some puffed rice, batasha, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds over the idol. Safe where you keep money and jewelry; Worship this safe as a symbol of Lord Kuber.

Aarti: Finally, perform the aarti for goddess Lakshmi. Always remember that She abhors loud noise. So the aarti should be accompanied only by a small bell. Do not clap hands, as is the practice when performing aarti for other gods. A peaceful and sublime atmosphere should prevail during the diwali day pujan. Do not light crackers while the puja is on or immediately after it.

Aarti Shri Lakshmi Ji Ki (English Version)

Om jai lakshmi maata, maiya jai lakshmi maata...

Tumko nishdin sevat, har vishnu vidhataa, Om jai lakshmi maata...

Uma rama bhramaani, tum hi jag maata, maiya tum hi jag maata...

Surya chandrma dhyavat, naarad rishi gata. Om jai lakshmi maata...

Durga roop niranjani, sukh sampati daata, maiya sukh sampati daata...

Jo koi tum ko dhyavat, riddhi-siddhi paata. Om jai lakshmi maata...

Tum pataal nivasini, tum hi shubh data, maiya tum hi shubh daata...

Karam prabhaav prakashini, bhav nidhi ki traata. Om jai lakshmi maata...

Jis ghar main tum rehti, sab sadgun aata, maiya sab sadgun aata...

Sub sambhav ho jaata, mann nahin ghabrata. Om jai lakshmi maata...

Tum bin yagya na hove, vastra no koi paata, maiya vastra na koi paata...

Khaan-paan ka vaibhav, sub tumse aata. Om jai lakshmi maata...

Shubhgun mandir sundar, ksheerodadhi jaata, maiya ksheerodadhi jaata...

Ratan chaturdash tum bin, koi nahi paata. Om jai lakshmi maata...

Mahalakshmi ji ki aarti, jo koi nar gaata, maiya jo koi nar gaata...

Ur anand samaata, pap utar jaata. Om jai lakshmi maata...

Ritual Elements -Poojan Samagri