Diwali/Deepavali - Continuation Of Rituals - Vishnu and Lakshmi Pooja

I would like to repeat that though the post may  seem long, the ritual is quite simple and quick.

Now let us move on to the pooja of Lord Mahavishnu (Satyanarayana).

Hold the copper pot with water in your right hand and cover the mouth of the pot with your left hand while  chanting the following sloka 3 times :

Om shanthakaram bhujagashayanam padmanabham suresham

Viswakaram gaganasadrisham meghavarnam shubhangham

Lakshmiikantham kamalanayanam yogihridyanagamyam

Vande vishnumbhavabhayaharam sarvalokaikanatham

Now pour the water over the idol while chanting ‘Om namo narayanaya’ 11 times

Then make every family member take flowers in their right hand and chant the following sloka 21 times (the sloka is by Adi Sankara ). Shower the idol with flowers after each recital..

Vidham shum vidhannirrmalannirvikalpam

Niriihannirakaraomkargamyam

Gunatheethamavyakthamekanthuriyum

Param brahmam yum veda thasme namasthe

Now we shall perform the Diwali pooja for Lakshmi devi. Firstly invoke Lakshmi devi by chanting the following famous sloka 3 times :-

Om sarvamangala maangalye shive sarvarthe saadhike

Saranye tryambike gowri narayani namosthute

<

Then pour water over the idol of Lakshmi devi while chanting the following sloka 5 times :-

Om prakratheem vikratheem vidyaam sarvabhoothahithapradhaaam

Shradhaam vibhuutheem surabheem namami paramathmikaam

Then make every family member take flowers in their right hand and then chant each of the following mantras 7 times. Shower the idol with flowers after each recital.

Om Sarvatheerthathmike

Om Sarvamanthrathmike

Om Sarvathanthrathmike

Om Sarvayanthrathmike

Om Sarvachakrathmike

Om Sarvashakthyathmike

Om Sarvathathwamike

Om Sarvavidhyathmike

Om Sarvasarvathmike

Then apply a ‘tilak’ (dot on the forehead) with sandalwood paste on each idol/photo. This ends the initial invocation ceremony of each God.

Now it is important that the whole family sing appropriate ‘bhajans’ of God together. This is a useful stress reliever and also spreads positive vibration in the whole vicinity, which is an essence of the Diwali/Deepavali celebration. Flowers may be showered onto the idols throughout the ‘bhajan’ session. The collective devotion of the family will help to bring God’s blessings to the whole household.

To end the pooja for the day, chant the following sloka 3 times :-

Om karacharana krithamva

Kayajam karmajam va

Shravana nayanajam va

Manasamvaparadhim

Vihidhamavihidham va sarvemethakshamaswa

[To ask forgiveness for any mistakes/sins that happened knowingly or unknowingly]

Then light camphor and while rounding it in front of the idols, chant the following sloka 3 times:-

Om sarvepi sughinahsanthuu

Sarve santhuuniramayah

Sarvam bhadranipashyanthuu

Ma kashchit dukhamapnoyat

[Meaning – Let all living beings be happy and free from disease. Let everything go according to God’s will. Let nobody suffer any sadness]

Then the whole family may bow in front of god and express their gratitude to God. Then the youngsters may get the blessings of the elders and then share sweets. Om

Please do share comments about the rituals you perform during Diwali/Deepavali

_______________________________________________

FIRST PART - GANESHA POOJA

_______________________________________________