Lakshmi Pooja

In modern times, Lakshmi Pooja continues to be a widely celebrated festival, with people lighting electric lamps and fireworks and decorating homes with a blend of traditional and contemporary designs. While the core religious rituals remain, the celebration also embraces communal harmony, charity, and the exchange of gifts, symbolizing a prosperous and unified society.

In essence, Lakshmi Puja is not just about seeking material wealth but about celebrating light, prosperity, and the spiritual wealth that comes from leading a balanced and harmonious life.

1. Vighneśvara dhyānam – Invocation

Ring the bell and light lamp.
om śuklāmbaradharam viṣṇum śaśivarṇam caturbhujam ǀ
prasanna vadanam dhyāyet sarva vighnopa śāntaye ǁ

2. ācamanam – Purification

Take a spoonful of water into your right hand and drink each time.
om keśavāya svāhā ǀ
om nārāyaṇāya svāhā ǀ
om mādhavāya svāhā ǀ

Take a spoonful of water to wash your hands into the plate in front of you.
om govindāya namaḥ ǁ

3. digbandhaḥ – Protection from evil spirits

Move your right hand in the air around the head with your index finger pointing out.
om bhūrbhuvaḥ suvaḥ

4. prāṇāyāmaḥ – Breathing exercises

Do 3 sets of pranayama. Others will chant gayatri mantra at this time.
Om bhūr-bhuvah svah ।
tat-savitur-vareṇyam
bhargo devasya dhīmahi ।
dhiyo yo naḥ pracho-dayāt ॥

5. Pūjā sankalpaḥ – Declaration

Put a tulsi leaf in your right hand and pour some water in it. Close it with your left hand and place it on your right knee.
om mamopātta-samasta-duritakshayadvārā
śrī parameṣvara prītyartham asmin śubha-muhūrte
jñāna-vairāgya sidhyartham vidyā-vinaya-prāptyartham
śrī sadguru-prasāda-sidhyartham ca
śrī lakshmi pūjām kariṣye ǀ

Pour water and tulsi onto plate in front of you.

6. ghaṇṭānādhaḥ – Invitation to the Gods

Ring the bell and chant.
āgamārtham tu devānām gamanārtham tu rakshasām ǀ
kurve ghaṇṭā-ravam tatra devatāḥvāna-lakshaṇam ǁ

7. śrī gaṇeśa- smaraṇam – Invocation of Ganesh

Fold hands and chant. Place two bananas on betel leaf in front of Ganesha.
vakratuṇḍa mahākāya
sūryakoṭi samaprabha ǀ
nirvighnam kuru me deva
sarvakāryeṣu sarvadā ǁ
om śrī mahāgaṇapataye namaḥ ǁ

Dip flower in water and sprinkle on fruit.
naivedyam nivedayāmi ǁ

Wave the smell towards Ganeshs with the thumb touching each finger shown below.
om prāṇāya svāhā – Pinky
om apānāya svāhā – Ring finger
om vyānāya svāhā – Middle finger
om udānāya svāhā – Index finger
om samānāya svāhā – All fingers
om brahmaṇe svāhā – All fingers

8. guru-smaraṇam – Invocation of Guru

Fold hands and chant.
gurur braḥmā gurur viṣṇuḥ gurur devo maheśvaraḥ ǀ
guruḥ sākśāt para brahma tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ ǁ
om śrī gurubhyo namaḥ ǁ

Offer a flower.

9. devatā dhyānam – Invocation of Lakshmi

Fold hands and chant.
namaste’stu mahāmāye śrīpīṭhe sura-pūjite
śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-haste mahālakshmi namo’stu te

Offer a flower.

10. devatā-āvāhanam – Welcoming

Touch your heart with left hand and keep right hand touching Sarawati’s feet.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ āvāhayāmi ǁ

11. āsanam – Offering a seat

Offer a flower.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ āsanam samarpayāmi ǁ

12. pādyam – Washing feet

Pour a spoonful of water at Lakshmi’s feet.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ pādyam samarpayāmi ǁ

13. arghyam – Washing hands

Pour a spoonful of water on Lakshmi’s hands.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ arghyam samarpayāmi ǁ

14. ācamanam – Rinsing mouth

Show a spoonful of water to Sarawati and pour it on the plate in front of you.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ ācamanam samarpayāmi ǁ

15. snānīyam – Offering bath

Sprinkle water on Lakshmi.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ snānīyam samarpayāmi ǁ

16. vastram – Giving clothes

Offer a flower to Lakshmi.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ śubha-vastram samarpayāmi ǁ

17. gandhalepanam – Perfume

Take chandan with your right ring finger and put it on Lakshmi’s forehead.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ gandham samarpayāmi ǁ

18. akśatāḥ – Kumkum and Rice

Take some rice on your right ring finger and dip it in the kumkum. Apply it to Lakshmi’s forehead.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ akśatān samarpayāmi ǁ

19. puṣpam – Flower

Offer a flower garland to Lakshmi.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ puṣpāṇi samarpayāmi ǁ

20. arcana – 108 Names (aṣṭottara-nāma-pūjā)

Offer a flower petal each time a name is chanted.

1	ॐ प्रकृत्यै नमः।	Om Prakrityai Namah।
2	ॐ विकृत्यै नमः।	Om Vikrityai Namah।
3	ॐ विद्यायै नमः।	Om Vidyayai Namah।
4	ॐ सर्वभूतहितप्रदायै नमः।	Om Sarvabhutahitapradayai Namah।
5	ॐ श्रद्धायै नमः।	Om Shraddhayai Namah।
6	ॐ विभूत्यै नमः।	Om Vibhutyai Namah।
7	ॐ सुरभ्यै नमः।	Om Surabhyai Namah।
8	ॐ परमात्मिकायै नमः।	Om Paramatmikayai Namah।
9	ॐ वाचे नमः।	Om Vache Namah।
10	ॐ पद्मालयायै नमः।	Om Padmalayayai Namah।
11	ॐ पद्मायै नमः।	Om Padmayai Namah।
12	ॐ शुचये नमः।	Om Shuchaye Namah।
13	ॐ स्वाहायै नमः।	Om Swahayai Namah।
14	ॐ स्वधायै नमः।	Om Swadhayai Namah।
15	ॐ सुधायै नमः।	Om Sudhayai Namah।
16	ॐ धन्यायै नमः।	Om Dhanyayai Namah।
17	ॐ हिरण्मय्यै नमः।	Om Hiranmayyai Namah।
18	ॐ लक्ष्म्यै नमः।	Om Lakshmyai Namah।
19	ॐ नित्यपुष्टायै नमः।	Om NityaPushtayai Namah।
20	ॐ विभावर्यै नमः।	Om Vibhavaryai Namah।
21	ॐ अदित्यै नमः।	Om Adityai Namah।
22	ॐ दित्ये नमः।	Om Dityai Namah।
23	ॐ दीपायै नमः।	Om Dipayai Namah।
24	ॐ वसुधायै नमः।	Om Vasudhayai Namah।
25	ॐ वसुधारिण्यै नमः।	Om Vasudharinyai Namah।
26	ॐ कमलायै नमः।	Om Kamalayai Namah।
27	ॐ कान्तायै नमः।	Om Kantayai Namah।
28	ॐ कामाक्ष्यै नमः।	Om Kamakshyai Namah।
29	ॐ क्ष्रीरोधसंभवाम् नमः। ॐ क्रोधसंभवायै नमः।	Om Kshirodhasambhavam Namah। Om Krodhasambhavayai Namah।
30	ॐ अनुग्रहप्रदायै नमः।	Om Anugrahapradayai Namah।
31	ॐ बुद्धये नमः।	Om Buddhaye Namah।
32	ॐ अनघायै नमः।	Om Anaghayai Namah।
33	ॐ हरिवल्लभायै नमः।	Om Harivallabhyai Namah।
34	ॐ अशोकायै नमः।	Om Ashokayai Namah।
35	ॐ अमृतायै नमः।	Om Amritayai Namah।
36	ॐ दीप्तायै नमः।	Om Diptayai Namah।
37	ॐ लोकशोकविनाशिन्यै नमः।	Om Lokashokavinashinyai Namah।
38	ॐ धर्मनिलयायै नमः।	Om Dharmanilayayai Namah।
39	ॐ करुणायै नमः।	Om Karunayai Namah।
40	ॐ लोकमात्रे नमः।	Om Lokamatre Namah।
41	ॐ पद्मप्रियायै नमः।	Om Padmapriyayai Namah।
42	ॐ पद्महस्तायै नमः।	Om Padmahastayai Namah।
43	ॐ पद्माक्ष्यै नमः।	Om Padmakshyai Namah।
44	ॐ पद्मसुन्दर्यै नमः।	Om Padmasundaryai Namah।
45	ॐ पद्मोद्भवायै नमः।	Om Padmodbhavayai Namah।
46	ॐ पद्ममुख्यै नमः।	Om Padmamukhyai Namah।
47	ॐ पद्मनाभप्रियायै नमः।	Om Padmanabhapriyayai Namah।
48	ॐ रमायै नमः।	Om Ramayai Namah।
49	ॐ पद्ममालाधरायै नमः।	Om Padmamaladharayai Namah।
50	ॐ देव्यै नमः।	Om Devyai Namah।
51	ॐ पद्मिन्यै नमः।	Om Padminyai Namah।
52	ॐ पद्मगन्धिन्यै नमः।	Om Padmagandhinyai Namah।
53	ॐ पुण्यगन्धायै नमः।	Om Punyagandhayai Namah।
54	ॐ सुप्रसन्नायै नमः।	Om Suprasannayai Namah।
55	ॐ प्रसादाभिमुख्यै नमः।	Om Prasadabhimukhyai Namah।
56	ॐ प्रभायै नमः।	Om Prabhayai Namah।
57	ॐ चन्द्रवदनायै नमः।	Om Chandravadanayai Namah।
58	ॐ चन्द्रायै नमः।	Om Chandrayai Namah।
59	ॐ चन्द्रसहोदर्यै नमः।	Om Chandrasahodaryai Namah।
60	ॐ चतुर्भुजायै नमः।	Om Chaturbhujayai Namah।
61	ॐ चन्द्ररूपायै नमः।	Om Chandrarupayai Namah।
62	ॐ इन्दिरायै नमः।	Om Indirayai Namah।
63	ॐ इन्दुशीतलायै नमः।	Om Indushitalayai Namah।
64	ॐ आह्लादजनन्यै नमः।	Om Ahladajananyai Namah।
65	ॐ पुष्टयै नमः।	Om Pushtayai Namah।
66	ॐ शिवायै नमः।	Om Shivayai Namah।
67	ॐ शिवकर्यै नमः।	Om Shivakaryai Namah।
68	ॐ सत्यै नमः।	Om Satyai Namah।
69	ॐ विमलायै नमः।	Om Vimalayai Namah।
70	ॐ विश्वजनन्यै नमः।	Om Vishwajananyai Namah।
71	ॐ तुष्टयै नमः।	Om Tushtayai Namah।
72	ॐ दारिद्र्यनाशिन्यै नमः।	Om Daridryanashinyai Namah।
73	ॐ प्रीतिपुष्करिण्यै नमः।	Om Pritipushkarinyai Namah।
74	ॐ शान्तायै नमः।	Om Shantayai Namah।
75	ॐ शुक्लमाल्यांबरायै नमः।	Om Shuklamalyambarayai Namah।
76	ॐ श्रियै नमः।	Om Shriyai Namah।
77	ॐ भास्कर्यै नमः।	Om Bhaskaryai Namah।
78	ॐ बिल्वनिलयायै नमः।	Om Bilvanilayayai Namah।
79	ॐ वरारोहायै नमः।	Om Vararohayai Namah।
80	ॐ यशस्विन्यै नमः।	Om Yashaswinyai Namah।
81	ॐ वसुन्धरायै नमः।	Om Vasundharayai Namah।
82	ॐ उदारांगायै नमः।	Om Udarangayai Namah।
83	ॐ हरिण्यै नमः।	Om Harinyai Namah।
84	ॐ हेममालिन्यै नमः।	Om Hemamalinyai Namah।
85	ॐ धनधान्यकर्ये नमः।	Om Dhanadhanyakaryai Namah।
86	ॐ सिद्धये नमः।	Om Siddhaye Namah।
87	ॐ स्त्रैणसौम्यायै नमः।	Om Strainasoumyayai Namah।
88	ॐ शुभप्रदाये नमः।	Om Shubhapradayai Namah।
89	ॐ नृपवेश्मगतानन्दायै नमः।	Om Nripaveshmagatanandayai Namah।
90	ॐ वरलक्ष्म्यै नमः।	Om Varalakshmyai Namah।
91	ॐ वसुप्रदायै नमः।	Om Vasupradayai Namah।
92	ॐ शुभायै नमः।	Om Shubhayai Namah।
93	ॐ हिरण्यप्राकारायै नमः।	Om Hiranyaprakarayai Namah।
94	ॐ समुद्रतनयायै नमः।	Om Samudratanayayai Namah।
95	ॐ जयायै नमः।	Om Jayayai Namah।
96	ॐ मंगळा देव्यै नमः।	Om Mangala Devyai Namah।
97	ॐ विष्णुवक्षस्स्थलस्थितायै नमः।	Om Vishnuvakshassthalasthitayai Namah।
98	ॐ विष्णुपत्न्यै नमः।	Om Vishnupatnyai Namah।
99	ॐ प्रसन्नाक्ष्यै नमः।	Om Prasannakshyai Namah।
100	ॐ नारायणसमाश्रितायै नमः।	Om Narayanasamashritayai Namah।
101	ॐ दारिद्र्यध्वंसिन्यै नमः।	Om Daridryadhwamsinyai Namah।
102	ॐ देव्यै नमः।	Om Devyai Namah।
103	ॐ सर्वोपद्रव वारिण्यै नमः।	Om Sarvopadrava Varinyai Namah।
104	ॐ नवदुर्गायै नमः।	Om Navadurgayai Namah।
105	ॐ महाकाल्यै नमः।	Om Mahakalyai Namah।
106	ॐ ब्रह्माविष्णुशिवात्मिकायै नमः।	Om Brahmavishnushivatmikayai Namah।
107	ॐ त्रिकालज्ञानसंपन्नायै नमः।	Om Trikalajnanasampannayai Namah।
108	ॐ भुवनेश्वर्यै नमः।	Om Bhuvaneshwaryai Namah।

21. dhūpaḥ – Incense

Light the agarbati and lift up to Lakshmi. Ring the bell.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ dhūpam āghrāpayāmi ǁ

22. dīpaḥ – Lamp

Light up oil lamp and raise it to the level of Lakshmi’s eyes. Ring the bell.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ dīpam darśayāmi ǁ

23. naivedyam – Prasad

Dip a flower into the water and sprinkle on Prasad. Put on plate in front of you.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ naivedyam nivedayāmi ǁ

Wave the smell towards Lakshmi with the thumb touching each finger shown below.
om prāṇāya svāhā – Pinky
om apānāya svāhā – Ring finger
om vyānāya svāhā – Middle finger
om udānāya svāhā – Index finger
om samānāya svāhā – All fingers
om brahmaṇe svāhā – All fingers

24. mangala-nīrājanam – Aarti

Light camphor and rotate around Lakshmi. Ring the bell.
na tatra sūryo bhāti na candra tārakam
nemā vidyuto bhānti kuto S ayamagniḥ ǀ
tameva bhāntam anubhāti sarvam
tasya bhāsā sarvamidam vibhāti ǁ
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ mangala-nīrājanam samarpayāmi ǁ

25. puṣpānjaliḥ – Conclusion

Offer flower.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ puṣpānjalim samarpayāmi ǁ

26. pradakśiṇa-namaskāraḥ – Circumambulation

Stand up and turn around clockwise 3 times.
om śrī lakshmyai namaḥ ǀ
pradakśiṇa-namaskāran samarpayāmi ǁ

27. prārthanā – Forgiveness

Fold hands and chant.
kāyena vācā manasendriyairvā
buddhyātmanā vā prakṛte svabhāvāt ǀ
karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai
nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayāmi ǁ

28. śānti mantraḥ – Closing prayer

Fold hands and chant.
om pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidam pūrṇāt pūrṇamudacyate ǀ
pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate ǁ
om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
hariḥ om śrī gurubhyo namaḥ hariḥ om