Laxmi Puja

The five days from the Trayodashi of Kartik Krishna ShuklaPakchya to the duitiya of Shukla Paksha are called Yama Panchak. God of death, Yamraj being one of the important deities among others of this five days festival, all these five days oil lamps are lighted (deepdan= giving light) outside the house near the Tulsi plant (holy basil) in the evening. On the first day of Yama Panchak the crow and on the second day, the dog is worshiped and both are fed. On the third day, the goddess Lakshmi is worshiped (Laxmi Puja), and on the fourth day, the worship of the cattle as cow, ox, and bulls, the worship of the Govardhan Mountains, and the fifth day of the festival is celebrated with great zest plus enjoyment by receiving seven colors tika among brothers and sisters in the forehead and exchanging of gifts take place between them. This day after deepdan, during the evening, the Tihar festival or Yama Panchak is concluded. Of these five days, the days of Lakshmi puja and Bhai Tika are taken with special importance and celebrated with utmost zest.

Goddess Laxmi is worshiped on the day of Kartik Krishna Pakchya Ausi date for obtaining wealth, welfare and good luck, etc. Laxmi Puja is also for obtaining two types of knowledge/vidya, “Para” and “Apara” (“Para” Vidhya is spiritualism or Bramhavidhya, which remains with the creature not just in this life but, in the afterlife too and Apara Vidhya is, knowledge gained in this material life for the pursuit of material objects and perishes with the human body). On this day, one should get up early, perform the daily karma of bathing, then observe fast the whole day in the name of Goddess Laxmi, and in the evening worship goddess Laxmi. At the beginning of the worship, Deep-Kalash-Ganesh (Oil Lamp-small Copper vessel with water- Ganesh) is worshiped in the decorated furnished temple. On this day especially Ganesh, Indra, Kuber, and Lakshmi should be worshiped with great piety after establishing and consecrating their image. If a decorated pavilion could not be constructed, the place of worship can be a copper or bronze plate by making a figure of Asthadal (lotus flower with eight leaves) in its middle and a bright figure of Laxmi should be installed in the middle of the Ashtadal.

Laxmi Puja Resolution

पूर्णसंकल्पसिद्धिरस्तु, ……..गोत्रोत्पन्न सपरिवारोSहं मम श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणोक्तफलप्राप्तिद्वारा महालक्ष्मीप्रसन्नद्वारा अप्राप्तलक्ष्मीप्राप्त्यर्थं प्राप्तलक्ष्मीचिरकालपर्यन्तं स्थातुम् अस्यां सुखरात्र्यां महालक्ष्म्या इन्द्रकुबेरयोश्च पूजनमहं करिष्ये।

(Literally meaning: In my house as stated by the Vedas, Puranas, scriptures, for the sake of receiving Laxmi that I have not yet received and that Laxmi which already obtained can remain in my household for a long time, I worship Mahalaxmi, Indra, and Kuber, etc.) After this, reciting ॐ मनोजूति… mantras performing the worships of Indra, Kuber, and Laxmi / Lakshmi, one should perform the sixteen acts of homage (षोडशोपचार= sodasopchar) as follows.

ॐ अमलकमलसंस्था–तद्रजः पुञ्जवर्णा ।
करकमलधृतेष्टा भीतियुग्माम्बुजा च ।
मणिमुकुटवित्रतालङ्कृता कल्पजालै–
र्भवतु भुवनमाता सन्ततं श्रीः श्रियै नः ।।

१. ध्यानं समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
२. आसनं समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।

Offer Kush (sacred grass used at sacred religious ceremonies; Eragrostis cynosuroides) and flowers to Lakshmi for her seat.

३. पाद्यं समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
४. अघ्र्यं समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
५. आचमनीयं समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
६. स्नानीयं समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
७. पञ्चामृतस्नानं समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
८. शुद्धोदकस्नानं समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
९. वस्त्रं, यज्ञोपवीतं उपवस्त्रं च समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
१०. श्रीखण्डादि चन्दनं समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
११. अक्षतान् समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
१२. पुष्पं, पुष्पमालां, दूर्वाङ्कुरान्, समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
१३. नानाविधानि नैवेद्यानि, फलानि च समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः। आचमनीयं च समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
१४. ऋतुफलं, ताम्बूलं च समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः। सुगन्धिद्रव्यं समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
१५. न्यूनतातिरिक्तये द्रव्यदक्षिणां समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।

Worshipping prayers

Worship the figure with Flowers, sandalwood, and white rice grains.

ॐ श्रियै नमः। ॐ लक्ष्म्यै नमः। ॐ वरदायै नमः। ॐ विष्णुपत्न्यै नमः। ॐ क्षीरसागरवासिन्यै नमः। ॐ हिरण्यरूपायै नमः। ॐ सुवर्णमालिन्यै नमः। ॐ पद्मवासिन्यै नमः। ॐ मुक्तालङ्कारिण्यै नमः। ॐ तुर्यायै नमः। ॐ चन्द्राननायै नमः। ॐ विश्वमूर्त्यै नमः। ॐ वरदायै नमः। ॐ मुक्त्यै नमः। ॐ मुक्तिदात्र्यै नमः। ॐ ऋद्ध्यै नमः। ॐ समृद्ध्यै नमः। ॐ तुष्ट्यै नमः। ॐ धनेश्वर्यै नमः। ॐ ऋद्धायै नमः। ॐ भोगिन्यै नमः। ॐ भोगदायै नमः। ॐ धान्यै नमः।

Angapuja (Worship of different parts of figure)

Worship the figure with Flowers, sandalwood, and white rice grains.

ॐ चपलायै नमः, पादौ पूजयामि।
ॐ चञ्चलायै नमः, जानुनी पूजयामि।
ॐ कमलवासिन्यै नमः, कटिं पूजयामि।
ॐ क्षान्त्यै नमः, नाभिं पूजयामि।
ॐ मन्मथवासिन्यै नमः, स्तनौ पूजयामि।
ॐ ललितायै नमः, भुजद्वयं पूजयामि।
ॐ मायायै नमः, मुखमण्डलं पूजयामि।
ॐ श्रियै नमः, शिरः पूजयामि।
ॐ पद्मकुसुमयुतायै नमः, सर्वाङ्गं पूजयामि।
१६.  (lighting oil lamp and incense) धूपं आघ्रापयामि, दीपं च दर्शयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
१७. (offer Lakshmi’s special decoration, Saubhagya (combination of different items of good fortune) – vermillion, gajal, Tika, Mangalsutra, Umbrella, Chamar, Charanpaduka (sandal), fan, mirror etc.) सौभाग्द्रव्याणि समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः।
१८. आरार्तिक्यं, पुष्पाञ्जलीं, प्रदक्षिणां, क्षमापनं च समर्पयामि, लक्ष्म्यै नमः। (Offer oil lamp, flowers, salutation and ask for forgiveness etc.

Laxmi Puja Prayer

ॐ कमला चपला लक्ष्मीश्चलमूर्तिर्हरिप्रिया।
पद्मा पद्मालया सम्पदुच्चैः श्रीः पद्मधारिणी।।
नमस्ते सर्वदेवानां वरदासि हरिप्रिये।
या गतिस्त्वत्प्रपन्नानां सा मे भूयात्वदर्चनात्।।
या देवि सर्वभूतेषु लक्ष्मीरूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः।।
शारदेन्दुकलाकान्तिः स्निग्धनेत्रा चतुर्भुजा।
पद्मयुग्मा चाभयदा करव्यग्रकराम्बुजा।।
विष्णोर्वक्षसि पद्मे च शङ्खे चक्रे गदाधरे।
लक्ष्मिदेवि यथाSसि त्वं मयि नित्यं तथा भव।।

After this, one should worship Indra with his prayer इन्द्राय नमः (Indraya Namah) and Kuber with his कुबेराय नमः (Kuberaya Namah) and perform worship with prayers.

Prayer for Kuber–

ॐ धनदाय नमस्तुभ्यं निधिपद्माधिपाय च।
भवन्तु त्वत्प्रसादान्मे धनधान्यादिसम्पदः।।

After that, with Purnapatro, Donations the process of offering should be concluded, and spend the night by chanting or reciting Chandipath, Sri sukta, Lakshmi sukta, hymn, mantras, etc.
Lakshmi / Laxmi puja should be concluded by Deepawali (lighting oil or ghee lamps) in the evening. During the rainy season of monsoon, a wide variety of insects originate. They can only be eliminated using oil or pure ghee from cows. Therefore, the lamps of the Dipawali must be used in houses, animal shelters, and temples.

ततः प्रदोषसमये दीपान् दद्यान्मनोहरात्।
देवालये मठे वाSपि प्राकारोद्यानवीथिषु।।

The electrical light can illuminate but not serve as a disinfectant. Therefore, ghee or oil lamp is considered as best for Deepawali and other good deeds. It is said, as per the numbers of oil and ghee lamps offered to Lakshmi / Laxmi, one would reside in heaven for that many thousand years.

यावन्दीपप्रसंख्या तु घृतेनापूर्य बोधिता।
तावद्युगसहस्राणि स्वर्गे लोके महीयते।।

Similarly, there is a tradition that tells us also to get rid of Alakshmi / Alaxmi (bad luck, negative omen) from the house, therefore at midnight, villagers and townspeople women by striking Nanglo (a medium-sized round plate-like object made out of bamboo) making a thumping sound try to get rid of Alakshmi i.e. poverty, untimely death, disease, pestilence, negative thoughts from the house and its exterior.

एवं गते निशीथे तु जने निद्रार्धलोचने।
तावन्नगरनारीभिः शूर्पडिम्डिमवादनैः।
निष्कास्यते प्रहृष्टाभिरलक्ष्मीः स्वगृहाङ्गणात्।।

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