How to Perform Lakshmi Maataa Puja for Divali

How to Perform Lakshmi Maataa Puja for Divali

Prepared by Swaha Dharma Sansad under the guidance of Paramacharya of Swaha, Pt. Hardeo Persad

Puja Checklist

Items required for Puja:

1. Murti or picture of Lakshmi Maataa
2. Chandan
3. Flowers
4. Tulsi leaves
5. Mango leaf
6. Perfume and incense
7. Lota filled with water
8. Thaali with deeyaa for aarti
9. Six deeyas prepared with ghee and wick
10. Thaali with prasaad

 

Items required for Havan:

1. Agni Kund
2. A few pieces of wood
3. Ghee in container with spoon
4. Matches
5. Camphor
6. Guggul, rice, sugar and black till
7. Havan samagri (if available)
8. One soparee

 

Devotee Preparation:

• Ensure that you are fully prepared, physically and mentally, to engage in worship.
• All articles to be used must be assembled and placed in close proximity to the altar upon which the murti or religious picture is placed.
• Dress appropriately (in clean clothes), having already purified the body externally.
• Take a few moments to relax the mind and body, and then sit comfortably before the altar to begin worship. Performing puja as a family is highly recommended.

 

Performing Lakshmi Maataa Puja

1. Holding a flower in clasped hands, focus upon the image of the Divine Mother and recite the following invocation mantras:

Hari Om Tat Sat (3 times)

Om Shree Ganayshaayay Namah

Om Shree Saraswatyai Namah

 

Om Vakratunda Mahaa Kaaya, Soorya Koti Sama Prabha

Nirvighnam Kurumay Deva, Sarva Kaaryeshu Sarvadaa

 

Om Namastaystu Mahaamaayay

Shreepeethay Surpoojitay

Shankha Chakra Gadaa Hastay

Mahaa Lakshmi Namostutay

Om Shree Sidheshwari Mahaa Lakshmi Namostutay

 

2. Place flower at the base of the murti or picture and bow. Take up the lota of water and sprinkle 3 drops of water on the murti with the mango leaf while reciting:

Om Shree Lakshmi Maataayai Namaha, Snaanam Samarpayaami

 

3. Using the ring finger of the right hand, place chandan while reciting:

Om Shree Lakshmi Maataayai Namaha, Chandanam Samarpayaami

 

4. Offer flowers and/or a mala while reciting:

Om Shree Lakshmi Maataayai Namaha, Pushpam Samarpayaami

 

5. Offer perfume and pass lighted incense around the murti while reciting:

Om Shree Lakshmi Maataayai Namaha, Dhoopam Samarpayaami

 

6. Perform aarti with the thaali and lighted deeya while chanting:

Om Shree Lakshmi Maataayai Namaha, Deepam Samarpayaami

 

7. Light the fire in the Agni Kund using some pieces of wood and a piece of camphor. Hold flowers in your hands, look at the fire and say:

Om Shree Agin Devaayai Namaha, Aavahanam Samarpayaami

Om Shree Agin Devaayai Namaha, Aasanam Samarpayaami

 

8. Place flowers by the right side of the Agni Kund and bow to the flame. Using the mango leaf, pass water around the fire 3 times, saying:

Om Shree Agin Devaayai Namaha, Snaanam Samarpayaami

 

9. Offer ghee into the fire 5 times, repeating the Gayatri mantra:

Om Bhur Bhuva Suvah

Tat Savitur Varenyam

Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi

Dhiyo Yonaha Prachodayaat Swaha

10. Mix the guggul, rice, sugar and black till together in a thaali. Add havan samagri if available. Pick up and offer a little at a time for each of the following mantras:

Om Shri Ganeshaayay Namaha Swaha

Om Namo Bhagwatay Vaasudevayay Swaha

Om Shri Now Graha Devaayai Swaha

Om Shri Agin Devaayai Swaha

Om Sthaan Devaayai Swaha

Om Shri Hanumantaayay Namaha Swaha

Om Shri Ishta Devaayai Swaha

Om Shri Graam Devaayai Swaha

Om Shri Baastu Devaayai Swaha

Om Shri Kul Devaayai Swaha

Om Shri A-tat Karam Pradhaan Devaayai Swaha

Om Shri Teintis Karor Devaayai Swaha

Om Namas Chandikaayai Swaha

Om Sreem Hreem Saraswatyai Swaha

Om Shri Gouri Devaayai Swaha

Om Shri Lakshmi Devaayai Swaha

Om Namaha Shivaaya Swaha

Om Sarva Devaayai Swaha

Om Sarva Devi Swaha

Om Anant Swaroopaayay Swaha

 

11. Pick up the remaining mixture in the thaali, and together with a soparee, offer it into the fire saying:

Om Poornamadah Poornamidam, Poornaat Poornamudachyatay

Poornasya Poornamaadaaya, Poornamayvaa Vashishyatay

Om Namaha Shivaaya Swaha

12. Pass water 3 times around the fire saying:

Om Shree Agin Devaayai Namaha, Aachmanam Samarpayaami

 

13. Bow to the fire by passing hands over the flames and then over the body saying:

Om Shri Agin Devaayai Namostutay

 

14. Take flowers in hand and fan smoke towards pictures saying:

Om Shree Agin Devaayai Namaha, Dhoopam Samarpayaami

 

15. Place the flowers down at the right of the Agni Kund. Place some flowers and a tulsi leaf in the thaali with the offering of prasaad. Pass water around the thaali three times, take up your hands and focus upon Lakshmi Maataa while reciting:

Om Shree Lakshmi Maataayai Namaha, Naivaydyam Samarpayaami

 

16. Touch the thaali containing the prasaad to the feet of the image and then bow to it. Place the six deeyas in front of the murti and light them. Then take flowers in your hand and offer your own personal prayers, saying whatever mantras you know. You can also sing various bhajans in praise of the Divine Mother. The Mahaa Lakshmi Ashta Stotra below can be recited:

Om Namastaystu Mahaamaayay

Shreepeethay Surpoojitay

Shankha Chakra Gadaa Hastay

Mahaa Lakshmi Namostutay

O Mahamaayaa, abode of fortune, who is worshipped by the Devas, I salute You.

O Mahaa Lakshmi, wielder of the conch, discus and mace, obeisance to You.

 

Namastay Garuraarudhay

Kolaasurbhayankaree

Sarva Paapa Haray Devi

Mahaa Lakshmi Namostutay

Salutations to you O Mother, who rides Garud and who was a terror to the Asur Kola.

O Mahaa Lakshmi remover of all miseries, obeisance to You.

 

Sarvagyay Sarva Varaday

Sarva Dushta Bhayankaree

SarvaDukha Haray Devi

Mahaa Lakshmi Namostutay

O Mother Lakshmi, Knower of all, Giver of boons, Destroyer of evil, Remover of sorrows,

Obeisance to You, O Mahaa Lakskmi.

 

Siddhi Buddhi Praday Devi

Bhukti Mukti Pradaayinee

Mantra Murtay Sadaa Devi

Mahaa Lakshmi Namostutay

O Mother, You are the giver of intelligence, success, worldly enjoyment and liberation. You are

always present in our mantras and murtis. O Mahaa Lakshmi, obeisance to You.

 

Aadhyanta Rahitee Devi

Aadhya Shaktay Maheshwaree

Yogaajay Yogasambhootay

Maha Lakshmi Namostutay.

O Maheshwaree, who is without beginning or end, O primeval energy, who is born of yoga, O

Mahaa Lakshmi, obeisance to You.

 

Sthoolam Sooksham Mahaa Raudray

Mahaa Shaktay Mahodaray

Mahaa Paapa Haray Devi

Mahaa Lakshmi Namostutay

O Mahaa Lakshmi, who is both gross and subtle, who is most terrible, who possesses great

power and prosperity and who removes all unrighteousness, obeisance to You.

 

Padmaasan Sthitay Devi

Paarbrahma Swaroopinee

Parmeshi Jagan Maatar

Mahaa Lakshmi Namostutay

O Devi, who sits on the lotus, who is the Supreme Brahman, the great Lord and Mother of the

universe, O Maahaa Lakshmi, obeisance to You.

 

Svaytaambar Dharay Devi

Naanaa Lankaar Bhooshitay

Jagat Sthitay Jagan Matar

Mahaa Lakshmi Namostutay

O Devi, robed in white and decked in various types of ornaments, Mother of the universe, support of the world, obeisance to You.

 

17. Place flowers down in front of the murti. Clasp hands together and offer a closing prayer:

Om Mantra Heenam Kriyaa Heenam

Bhakti Heenam Janaar-danam

Yat Poojitam Mayaa Deva

Pari Poornam Tadas-tumay

 

Om Twameva Maataa Cha Pitaa Twameva

Twameva Bandhus Cha Sakhaa Twameva

Twameva Vidyaa Dravinam Twameva

Twameva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva

Om Shaanti Shaanti Shaanti, Hari Om

Boliyay Shree Devi Maataa Ki Jai!