Diwali Puja Method and Mantras - The Great Ritual for Wealth and Prosperity

In Hinduism, the festival of Diwali is not just a celebration of lighting lamps; it's a grand festival to welcome the great power, Mahalakshmi. This Puja, when performed at the auspicious time, is believed to bring stable wealth (Sthir Lakshmi) and prosperity into one's life.

Here is the complete detailed procedure and essential mantras for Diwali Puja:

1. Beginning the Worship: Purity and Purification

Before commencing the Puja, it is essential for the body and mind to be purified.

Pavitrikaran Mantra (Purification)

First, sprinkle water over yourself, the seating mat (asan), and the puja materials using a kusha grass or flower:

"Om Apavitraḥ Pavistro Vā Sarvāvasthāṁ Gato'pi Vā । Yaḥ Smaret Puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ Sa Bāhyābhyantaraḥ Śuciḥ॥" (Meaning: Whether pure or impure, in all conditions, the one who remembers the lotus-eyed Lord, is purified externally and internally.)

Achaman and Asan Shuddhi (Sipping Water and Seat Purification)

Sip water three times (Achaman), then wash your hands:

• Om Keśavāya Namaḥ
• Om Mādhavāya Namaḥ
• Om Nārāyaṇāya Namaḥ

Next, chant this mantra to purify your seat:

"Om Pṛthvī Tvayā Dhṛtā Lokā Devi Tvaṁ Viṣṇunā Dhṛtā । Tvaṁ Ca Dhārayamāṁ Devi Pavitraṁ Kuru Cāsanam॥"

Chandan Lepan (Applying Sandalwood Paste)

Apply sandalwood paste with your ring finger while chanting:

"Chandanasya Mahat Puṇyam Pavitraṁ Pāpanāśanam, Āpadāṁ Harate Nityam Lakṣmī Tiṣṭha Sarvadā।"

2. Sankalp Mantra: The Foundation of Worship

No Puja is complete without the Sankalp (vow/intention). Hold offerings—a flower, fruit, betel nut, betel leaf, silver coin, coconut (with water), sweets, and dry fruits—in your hand and chant the full Sankalp Mantra.

Saṅkalpa mantra: “Ōma viṣṇu viṣṇu viṣṇu:, Ōma tatsādyā śrī purāṇapuruṣōttamasya viṣṇurāgya pravarmānasya brāhmaṇōhni dusarā parād'dha śrī svētāvarahakalpa sātavā vaivasvatamanavantarā, aṭhṭhāvīsāvā kaliyuga, tujhyā nagarī kaliyugācā pahilā ṭappā. Bud'dhāvatāra vīra vikramādityanr̥patē: 2082 Tamē'bdē sid'dhārthī nāma sanvatsarē dakṣiṇāyanē hēmantā rītō mahāmaṅgalyapradē masanama masōttamē kārtika māsē kr̥ṣṇa pakṣē amāvasa tithī sōmavasarē hasta nakṣatrē vaidhr̥ti yōgādi yōganiṣēṣēṇi suganyōśanēma (suganyōgādi śagunāmē). Lēna) mī yā kuḷātīla āhē (mājhē nāva ghyā) sarva pāpān̄cyā nāśāsāṭhī, sarva duṣṭān̄cyā śāntīsāṭhī, śrutismr̥tīta sāṅgitalēlyā phaḷān̄cyā prāptīsāṭhī, kuladēvatān̄cyā pūjēsāṭhī. Mahāgaṇapatī navagraha praṇavā.”

(Note: While chanting the Sankalp, ensure you mention the name of your city/village and your Gotra (lineage).)

3. Kalash Pujan (Invocation of Varuna Devta)

Tie a sacred thread (Mauli) on the Kalash (pot) and place mango leaves on top. Put a betel nut, Durva grass, Akshat (rice grains), and a coin inside the Kalash. Place a coconut wrapped in cloth on the pot. Hold Akshat and a flower, and invoke Varuna Devta:

Aavahan Mantra: "Oṃ Tattvāyāmi Brahmaṇā Vandamānastadāśāste Yajamāno Havibhiḥ । Aheḍamāno Varuṇeha Bodhyuruśaṁsa Māna Āyuḥ Pramiṣīḥ । (Asmin Kalaśe Varuṇaṁ Sāṅga Sapārivāraṁ Sāyudha Saśaktikamāavāhayāmi, Oṃ Bhūrbhuvaḥ Svaḥ Bho Varuṇa Ihāgaccha Ihatiṣṭha. Sthāpayāmi Pūjayāmi॥)"

4. Diwali Ganesha Puja Method

As per tradition, Lord Ganesha is worshipped first. Hold a flower in your hand and meditate on Ganesha.

5. Mahalakshmi Puja Method and Mantras

After Ganesha Puja, the ritual for Mahalakshmi Puja begins:

Dhyan Mantra (Meditation)

First, meditate upon Goddess Lakshmi:

"Oṁ Yā Sā Padmāsanasthā, Vipula-Kaṭi-Taṭī, Padma-Dalāyatākṣī. Gambhīrāvartanābhiḥ, Stana-Bhara-Namitā, Śubhra-Vastrottarīyā.. Lakṣmī Divyairgajendraiḥ. Ja-Khacitaiḥ, Snāpitā Hema-Kumbhaiḥ. Nityaṁ Sā Padma-Hastā, Mama Vasatu Gṛhe, Sarva-Māṅgalya-Yuktā॥"

Pratiṣṭhā, Snān, Vastra, and Ornamentation

• Pratiṣṭhā and Aavahan (Installation and Invocation): Hold Akshat and chant: “Oṁ Bhūrbhuvaḥ Svaḥ Mahālakṣmī, Ihāgaccha Iha Tiṣṭha, Etāni Pādyādyācamanīya-Snānīyaṁ, Punarācamanīyam.”
• Snān (Bathing): “Oṁ Mandākinyā Samānītaiḥ, Hemāmbhoruha-Vāsitaiḥ Snānaṁ Kuruṣva Deveśi, Salilaṁ Ca Sugandhibhiḥ.. Oṁ Lakṣmyai Namaḥ.॥”
• Rakta Chandan (Red Sandalwood) and Sindoor: "Idam Rakta Chandanaṁ Lepanam Oṁ Lakṣmyai Namaḥ." and “Idaṁ Sindūrābharaṇaṁ Oṁ Lakṣmyai Namaḥ.”
• Pushpa/Vastra: "Oṁ Mandāra-Pārijātādyaiḥ, Anekaiḥ Kusumaiḥ Śubhaiḥ. Pūjayāmi Śive, Bhaktyā, Kamalāyai Namo Namaḥ.. Oṁ Lakṣmyai Namaḥ, Puṣpāṇi Samarpayāmi." Then offer red clothes with “Idam Rakta Vastra Samarpayāmi.”

Anga Puja (Limb Worship)

Hold Akshat in your left hand and offer grains with your right hand, chanting:

• Oṁ Capalāyai Namaḥ Pādau Pūjayāmi (Worshiping the feet)
• Oṁ Cañcalāyai Namaḥ Jānūṁ Pūjayāmi (Worshiping the knees)
• Oṁ Kamalāyai Namaḥ Kaṭi Pūjayāmi (Worshiping the waist)
• Oṁ Śriyai Namaḥ Śiraṁ Pūjayāmi (Worshiping the head) (and all other Anga Puja Mantras).

Ashta Siddhi and Ashta Lakshmi Puja

Similar to Anga Puja, offer Akshat while chanting the mantras:

• Ashta Siddhi (Eight Powers): Oṁ Aṇimne Namaḥ, Oṁ Mahimne Namaḥ, Oṁ Garimṇe Namaḥ, Oṁ Laghimne Namaḥ, Oṁ Prāptyai Namaḥ, Oṁ Prākāmyai Namaḥ, Oṁ Īśitāyai Namaḥ, Oṁ Vaśitāyai Namaḥ.
• Ashta Lakshmi (Eight Forms of Lakshmi): Ōma adyē lakṣmī namaḥ, ōma vidyālakṣmī namaḥ, ōma saubhāgya lakṣmī namaḥ, ōma amr̥tā lakṣmī namaḥ, ōma lakṣmī namaḥ, ōma satya lakṣmī namaḥ, ōma bhōgalakṣmī namaḥ, ōma yōga lakṣmī nama:

Offering Prasad (Naivedya) and Conclusion

• Naivedya/Sweets: Offer the food with the mantra: "Idaṁ Nānāvidhi Naivedyāni Oṁ Mahālakṣmiyai Samarpayāmi." (For sweets: "Idaṁ Śarkarā Ghṛta Samāyuktaṁ Naivedyaṁ Oṁ Mahālakṣmiyai Samarpayāmi.").
• Achaman and Tambul: "Idaṁ Ācamanayaṁ Oṁ Mahālakṣmiyai Namaḥ." Then offer betel leaf and nut.
• Pushpanjali: "Eṣaḥ Puṣpāñjali Oṁ Mahālakṣmiyai Namaḥ."

6. Worship of Other Deities

• After Kalash Pujan, worship Kubera (Oṁ Kuberāya Namaḥ) and Indra (Oṁ Indrādi Daśadikpālāya Namaḥ) along with all other deities.
• After Goddess Lakshmi’s Puja, it is customary to worship Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.
• Business owners should also perform Pūjan of their business ledger/safe (Galla Pūjan).

Finally, seek forgiveness for any unintentional mistakes (Kshamā Prārthanā) and conclude the ceremony with the Ārti.