Lakshmi Puja

Laksmi Puja
Goddess Lakshmi
Observed by	Hindus
Type	Hindu, Indian and Nepalese
Begins	Ashvin Amavasya
Date
Frequency	annual
Related to	Diwali

Lakshmi Puja is a Hindu religious festival that falls on Amavasya, the third day of Diwali. It is often sung during the Tihar festival in Nepal. Adherents show reverence to the Goddess Lakshmi by placing small oil lamps or candles inside and outside their homes. They pray for prosperity and well-being for their families and businesses.

According to legend, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and Vishnu's wife, visits her devotees and bestows gifts and blessings upon each of them. To welcome the Goddess, devotees clean their houses, decorate them with finery and lights, and prepare sweet treats and delicacies as offerings. Devotees believe the happier Lakshmi is with the visit, the more she blesses the family with health and wealth.

The auspicious time for puja

After Lakshmi Puja, lamps are lit all over the house

Lakshmi Puja, or the worship of the goddess of wealth, is the main event of Diwali in North and West India. It is popularly believed that Lakshmi likes cleanliness and will visit the cleanest house first. Hence, the broom is worshiped with offerings of haldi (turmeric) and kumkum (vermilion) on this day. Lamps are lit in the evening to welcome the goddess as they are believed to light up her path. On this day, a supported light of knowledge is said to dawn upon humanity. This self-enlightenment is expressed through the twinkling lamps that illuminate the abode of the worshippers. It is believed that on this day, the goddess walks through the green fields and loiters through the by-lanes and showers her blessings on mankind for glory and prosperity.

The third day of Diwali is believed to be the most auspicious day; this is when Lakshmi Puja is performed. With pomp and ceremony, Lakshmi is invited into the homes of devotees to partake of the gifts that are a part of the puja. The most auspicious time for the puja is decided when amavasya tithi prevails during pradosh kaal or the evening time. On this day, the sun enters its second course and passes the constellation Libra, which is represented by the balance or scale. Hence, the sign of Libra is believed to suggest the balancing and closing of account books.

Lakshmi Puja is celebrated as a part of Tihar, a second national festival of Nepal after Dashain. In Nepal, it is celebrated for five days, which include Kag (crow) Tihar; Kukur (dog) Tihar; Gai (cow) Tihar in the morning and Laxmi pooja at night; Maha puja (self puja); Goru (Ox and Bull) Tihar and Gobardhan Puja; and finally, Bhai Tika (bhai dhooj)—respectively the first, second, third, fourth and fifth days. On Lakshmi Puja in Nepal, people buy gold and silver, precious gemstones, new utensils of copper, brass and bronze as a sign of good luck, prosperity, money and wealth. These are then used to Lakshmi at night. Nepalese people perform this worship at a place cleansed with holy water, cow dung and red mud; they light the whole house with candles and lamps. From Lakshmi Puja, Deusi and Bhailo is played by gathering with friends.

Lakshmi Puja consists of a combined puja of five deities: Ganesha is worshiped at the beginning of every auspicious act as Vighneshvara; goddess Lakshmi is worshiped in her three forms; Mahalakshmi the goddess of wealth and money, Mahasaraswati the goddess of books and learning, and Mahakali. Kubera the treasurer of the gods is also worshiped..

Rite of a Diwali Puja

In the beginning, the houses are cleaned and a rangoli is drawn at the doorstep to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.

The Ritual Elements

The puja requires the following elements:

• Silver and Gold coins
• Ten Betel Nuts (Supari)
• Uncooked Rice
• Five Paan or Mango leaves
• A Coconut
• Water in a small pot (a "Lota")
• Red vermillon ("Kumkum") for applying the tilak
• Oil Lamps ("Diyas")
• Holi-type colored powders
• Indian sweets (Mithai)
• Camphor
• Incense sticks (Agarbatti)
• Dry fruits (almonds, cashews)

• A Thali
• Rose or other flower petals
• Raksha Sutra* A new notebook
• Panchamrita
• A piece of red cloth for putting the puja items
• Ghee to light the lamps
• Rose water
• Water
• Icons of:
  • Ganesha
  • Saraswati
  • Lakshmi
  • Shiva

The rite

The puja begins by laying down a piece of new cloth on a raised platform. Handfuls of grains are sprayed in the center of the cloth and a kalasha made of gold, silver, or copper is placed there. Three-quarters of the kalasha is filled with water and betel nut, a flower, a coin, and some rice grains are added to it. Five kinds of leaves are arranged; if a specified species is not available, leaves from a mango tree are used. A small dish filled with rice grains is placed on the kalasha. A lotus is drawn over the rice grains with turmeric powder and the idol of Goddess Lakshmi is placed over the top of the kalasha, and coins are placed around it.

The idol of Lord Ganesha is placed in front of the kalasha, on the right hand side pointing towards the south-west. Ink and account books of the worshippers' business are kept on the platform. A lamp is lit and the puja starts by offering turmeric, kumkuma, and flowers to the Goddess Lakshmi. Then haldi, kumkum, and flowers are offered to the water that will later be used for the puja. The river goddess Saraswati is requested to become part of that water. Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped by reciting the Vedic mantras addressed to her: then flowers are offered to the idol.

The idol of Lakshmi is placed in a plate and is bathed with water, panchamrita (a mixture of milk, curd, ghee or clarified butter, honey, and sugar) and then with water containing a gold ornament or a pearl. The idol is cleaned and placed back on the kalasha. Alternately, flowers, water and panchamrita are sprinkled on the idol.

Offerings such as sandal paste, garland of cotton beads, saffron paste, ittar {perfume}, turmeric, kumkum, abir, and gulal are made to the Goddess. Flowers, such as marigold flowers, and leaves of Bael (wood apple tree) are also offered. An incense stick is lit and dhoop is performed. An offering of sweets, coconut, fruits, and tambul is made later. Puffed rice and batasha (varieties of Indian sweets) are placed near the idol. Puffed rice, batasha, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds are poured over the idol. Swastika are made on the safe in which the worshiper keeps their valuables and it is worshiped as a symbol of Lord Kubera.

Towards the end of the ritual, Aarti is performed which is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. The Aarti is accompanied by a small bell and is performed during silent and sublime atmosphere.

External links

• Ashta Lakshmi Deepa Puja
• Diwali and Dhanteras Lakshmi Puja Muhurtha for anycity in the world
• Simple Lakshmi Puja vidhi book in PDF in Sanskrit and English by mypanchang.com