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Essential tips for inviting Goddess Lakshmi into your home at the beginning of Diwali
Lakshmi Puja holds immense significance during Diwali, symbolizing the invitation of peace, wealth, and prosperity into our homes for the new year. While lighting a lamp before the idol of Goddess Lakshmi is a simple way to perform the puja, we offer a comprehensive guide to conduct a more elaborate ritual, including altar preparation and recitation of the Puja, ensuring a bright and auspicious Diwali celebration.
Important Considerations
- On the morning of Diwali, clean and adorn your home with marigolds and leaves to attract Goddess Lakshmi's blessings.
- In the evening, set up an altar with a clean red cloth, a kalash, idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi, and offerings of your choice.
- Illuminate oil lamps and perform the Lakshmi Puja with your family, offering flowers, garlands, or coins to the Goddess.
Step-by-Step Guide
Neaten up your home.
Give your home a thorough cleaning and adorn it with marigolds and leaves. As you welcome Goddess Lakshmi into your home during the puja, ensure your surroundings are clean and welcoming. Sweep and tidy the floors, walls, and your possessions. Then, sprinkle Gangajal or turmeric-infused water to purify the atmosphere, and arrange clusters of marigolds, mango leaves, and banana leaves throughout your home.
- If Gangajal is unavailable, substitute it with a mixture of turmeric and water.
- In Hindu tradition, the vibrant yellows and golds of marigolds symbolize wisdom and prosperity, while mango leaves represent love and auspiciousness.
Set up the puja altar.
Place a red cloth and a handful of rice on the altar after sundown. Select a small, elevated surface and cover it with a clean (preferably new) red cloth. Then, scatter a handful of rice onto the center of the altar, gently flattening it to create a stable base.
Prepare the kalash.
Position the kalash atop the rice mound and fill it. Settle a silver or bronze kalash in the center of the rice bed. Then, pour water into it until it’s ¾ full. Add 1 betel nut, a marigold flower, a coin, and a pinch of rice to the water. Arrange 5 mango leaves around the kalash’s mouth in a fan shape. Finally, place a small plate with turmeric on the mango leaves and draw a lotus in the turmeric.
- The kalash holds significance in Hindu traditions, symbolizing the elixir of life and often serving as an offering to deities like Lakshmi.
Showcase the Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha figurines.
Position the idols near the kalash on the altar. Place the image or figurine of Goddess Lakshmi toward the center of the altar. Then, position the image or figurine of Lord Ganesha southwest of the kalash. Set a small plate of rice in front of Goddess Lakshmi and draw a lotus with turmeric on the rice. Place a few coins in front of the goddess.
- While situating the Lord Ganesha idol, offer a brief prayer to Lord Ganesha.
Seek success in your career.
Arrange objects related to your profession on the altar. Organize items like books, laptops, tools, or writing implements near Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha—whatever tools or symbols of wealth are associated with your work or occupation. This act symbolizes offering your achievements to the deities and requesting further success in your endeavors.
Illuminate the darkness.
Adorn the idols with tilak and kindle an oil lamp. Apply a mark of turmeric (tilak) on the idols, then light an oil lamp (diya) with five wicks on the altar during Lakshmi Puja. Alternatively, you can use five separate lamps.
- The diyas symbolize purity and goodness, signifying the dispelling of darkness.
- Decorate your diyas to enhance their allure to the deities.
Recite the Lakshmi Puja mantra.
Assemble your family at the altar and chant the initial part of the puja. Sit facing the platform and apply tilak to the kalash. Then, recite the following mantra: “Ya Sa Padmasanastha Vipul-Kati-Tati Padma-Patrayatakshi, Gambhirartav-Nabhih Stana-Bhara-Namita Shubhra-Vasttariya. Ya Lakshmirdivya-Roopairmani-Gana-Khachitaih Svapita Hema-Kumbhaih, Sa Nityam Padma-Hasta Mam Vasatu Grihe Sarva-Maangalya-Yukta.”
- This mantra invokes Goddess Lakshmi to reside in your home, bringing fortune and blessings.
Present offerings to the Goddess.
Offer blossoms to Goddess Lakshmi while chanting the following mantra. Present blossoms and grains of rice to the Goddess following the prayer, then chant: “Nana-Ratna-Samayuktam, Karta-Swar-Vibhushitam. Aasanam Dev-Devesh! Preetyartham Prati-Grihyataam. Shri Lakshmi-Devyai Aasanarthe Panch-Pushpani Samarpayami.”
- This ritual entails offering Goddess Lakshmi a seat adorned with gold and various jewels for my pleasure. Thus, I present five flowers for the seat of Bhagawati Shri Lakshmi.”
Purify the Lakshmi idol.
Bathe the Lakshmi idol in panchamrita. Lift the Lakshmi idol and place it in a thali. Bathe it with water first, then with panchamrita (a mixture of milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, and jaggery, symbolizing purity, progeny, victory, sweet speech, and happiness respectively). Rinse it with water again, wipe it dry, and return it to the kalash.
Offer additional presents.
Adorn the Goddess Lakshmi with garlands and other offerings. Adorn the idol of Goddess Lakshmi with a garland of marigold or betel tree leaves. Then, present offerings such as turmeric, lit incense, coconut, fruits, sweets, puffed rice, coins, or your preferred puja gifts.
Conclude the puja.
Conclude the Puja by singing the Lakshmi Puja Aarti. Alternatively, silently read or recite the aarti while meditating on the goddess. Concluding the puja with this aarti is believed to bring health, wealth, and peace in the new year.
- “Om Jai Lakshmi Mata,Maiya Jai Lakshmi Mata / Tumako Nishidin Sevat,Hari Vishnu Vidhata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata / Uma Rama Brahmani,Tum Hi Jag-Mata / Surya-Chandrama / DhyavatNaarad Rishi Gata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata / Durga Roop Niranjani,Sukh Sampatti Data / Jo Koi Tumako Dhyavat,Riddhi-Siddhi Dhan Pata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata / Tum Patal-Nivasini,Tum Hi Shubhdata / Karma-Prabhav-Prakashini,Bhavanidhi Ki Trata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata / Jis Ghar Mein Tum Rahti,Sab Sadgun Aata / Sab Sambhav Ho Jata,Man Nahi Ghabrata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata / Tum Bin Yagya Na Hote,Vastra Na Koi Pata / Khan-Pan Ka Vaibhav,Sab Tumase Aata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata / Shubh-Gun Mandir Sundar, Kshirodadhi-Jata / Ratna Chaturdash Tum Bin,Koi Nahi Pata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata / Mahalakshmi Ji Ki Aarti,Jo Koi Jan Gata / Ur Anand Samata,Paap Utar Jata / Om Jai Lakshmi Mata'
Pointers
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Diwali falls on the darkest day of the Hindu month of Kartik, which varies each year in the Gregorian calendar.
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This is a condensed Lakshmi Puja. For the complete puja, visit SBM.org.
