Lakshmi Puja, Vidhi, Mantra
Diwali is the biggest Indian festival, celebrated on the darkest night (Amavasya). It is a five-day festival Dhanteras (Day 1), Naraka Chaturdasi (Day2), Lakshmi Puja (Day 3), Govardhan Puja (Day 4), Bhai Dooj (Day 5). Lakshmi Puja falls on the Third day of five day festival of Diwali in the Hindu month of Kartik.
Lakshmi Puja Vidhi
The Lakshmi Puja for Diwali is done in the evening. After the sun sets, we should pray to Goddess Laxmi in the ”Sthir Lagan” of “Pradosh Kaal”.
- Clean your home – The first step is to clean and purify your home thoroughly. As it is believed Maa Lakshmi visits an only clean house. You can draw rangoli at doorsteps to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.
- Set the platform – Place a platform and cover it with a red cloth in the north-east direction and your family members an sit facing it.
- Create a rice bed on the platform and place a Kalash over it.
- Pour water into the Kalash, fill it only up to 75% and put betel nut, flowers, a coin, and some rice inside the Kalash, and arrange mango leaves around the opening.
- Place a thali on the Kalash where Goddess Lakshmi will sit.
- You can decorate the thali by making a lotus flower with turmeric powder and placing some coins on it.
- Lord Ganesh usually sits on the right side of the Kalash.
- Light the lamp, diya, and incense sticks.
- Pray to Lord Ganesh and put tilak and offer flowers, dhoop, sweets to Lord.
- Start the Lakshmi puja by putting the tilak of roli and rice on Goddess’s forehead.
- Make the offering of flowers, dhoop, sweets to the Goddess.
- Recite mantra for invoking Goddess Lakshmi.
- Perform the Lakshmi aarti and pray to Goddess for the good health and wealth of your family and in the end, distribute the prasad among family members.
The story of Goddess Lakshmi
On this day Mother Lakshmi emerged from the ocean of milk called the Ksheer Sagar. She brought with her wealth and prosperity for mankind. On that day, Lakshmi Pooja was performed to honor Her and as such, every year on Diwali day, Hindus perform Her prayer and worship. The making and distribution of various sweets and total vegetarian foods are the order of the day. This practice is alive and well to this very day. Many people believe that Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and good fortune, visits the homes of devotees on this day. Worship of Lakshmi is performed in the evening.
The puja allegedly destroys the distressing energies in the environment as well as invokes the arrival (in addition to Lakshmi) of other gods who are said to bring happiness, opulence, prosperity, stability, and wealth.
Lakshmi Mantra
ॐ श्रीं गं सौम्याय गणपतये वर वरद सर्वजनं मे वशमानय स्वाहा॥
Om Shreem Gam Saumyaya Ganpataye Vara Varada
Sarvajanam Me Vashamanaya Svaha॥
दन्ताभये चक्रवरौ दधानं, कराग्रगं स्वर्णघटं त्रिनेत्रम्।
धृताब्जयालिङ्गितमाब्धि पुत्र्या-लक्ष्मी गणेशं कनकाभमीडे॥
Dantabhaye Chakravarau Dadhanam, Karagragam Swarnghatam Trinetram।
Dhritabjayalingitamabdhi Putrya-Lakshmi Ganesham Kanakabhamide॥
ॐ गणेश ऋणं छिन्धि वरेण्यं हुं नमः फट्॥
Om Ganesha Rinam Chhindhi Varenyam Hum Namah Phat॥
Suggested Read: 11 Powerful Lakshmi Mantra
