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Diwali Puja and Havan
Many have requested us to compile an article on what pujas are performed on Diwali and a
simple havan to accompany the puja... Since Diwali falls on Amavasya (New Moon) in the
month of Kartik, Ma Kali is worshipped, since Mata is the presiding Deity that’s
worshipped on Amavasya. But many mainly from North India also perform a Lakshmi Puja
as well. So the both pujas are given below with a simple havan as well. Of course if you are
performing the puja and havan no meat should be consumed on this day and if you on
medication then vegetarian salt food should be consumed. Now Diwali is celebrated on the
15th day (Amavasya) of the dark moon in October/November. This year the 15th day
(Amavasya) starts at 23h04 on the 22nd and ends at 23h55 on the 23rd. So the dark moon
night will be on the 23 rd October. Officially though Amavasya falls on the 23 rd as when the
sunrises on the 23rd Amavasya tithi (Vedic day) is transiting hence this day becomes
Amavasya (New Moon) day. The puja and havan etc should be performed within the times
given above.
After having a bath, you should wear fresh clothes. Then at your prayer place, sprinkle
water to purify the place. Then sprinkle ata (flour) on a clean board/tile (or see what you can
use – use your discretion). This is called a mandala/bedi (a place where the prayer is going
to be performed.). On the mandala place a Lord Ganesh murti and a small murti of Mother Lakshmi and Ma
Kali (or if you just have a picture of Mother Lakshmi and Mother Kali). Wash your hands and then place some water in your right hand and sip water from the
palm of the right hand, chant Om Vishnu, wash your hands again and do this two more
times...
Say in English “O Lord, on this day the 15th day of the dark moon in this month of Kartik, I
(your name) am performing my Mother Kali and Mother Lakshmi Puja and Havan.
Take a betel leaf, betel nut, rice and flower petals and pray to Shree Ganeshji “Om
ganapataye aavaahayaamee sthapayamee” (praying to Lord Ganesh to remove all obstacles
in the path of your prayer) and keep on the bedi. Offer Lord Ganesha incense, lamp, flower
petals and some sweet rice and then betel leaf and then finally lamp. Then offer Lord
Ganesha his favourite food viz. kheer (sweet rice), sugar candy and laddus. Mother Kali is now invoked and worshipped via the Murti or picture. Take another betel
leaf, betel nut, rice and flower petals and pray to Mother Kali “Om Kali­devi­yai
aavaahayaamee sthapayamee” and place in front of murti or picture. Pray to Mother Kali
asking Ma to please accept your prayers.
Now chant the following: ­ 1) Om swagatam su swagatam ­ Om Kali­devi­yai namah
(Swagatam means O Mother Kali I welcome you.)
Now garland the picture/murti. Then offer flower or flower petals. (Pushpam = flowers)
2) Om idam pushpam – Om Kali­devi­yai namah
Then offer incense (Dhoopam = incense)
3) Om tato dhoopam aghraa­payaami – Om Kali­devi­yai namah
Then offer a clay lamp (with a wick and ghee) (Deepam = lamp)
4) Om prat­yaksha deepam darshayaami – Om Kali­devi­yai namah
You offer the above items by turning the items seven times around the picture/murti. 5) Om naivedyam samar­payaami – Om Kali­devi­yai namah
(Offer cut fruit or sweet rice ­ Naivedyam = food)
You can also place a small lota/chumbhu of dhaar next to the picture/murti.
Now place the brick in front of you that has 9 camphors and cloves and light the camphor
and pray to the Mata. Now many will ask “What if I don't get a beera, is my puja answered
or not”? Please understand this is not a bargaining prayer, whether you get a beera or not is
inconsequential... Ask Mata and leave it to her. After that take the lota of Dhaar and turn 9
times in a clockwise direction around the camphor and then drop 9 little drops of Dhaar in
front of the brick. The rest you offer in your Thaan (an already specified place where you
offer your Dhaar) later on after the havan is completed. *** Do note that Dipika has a very
comprehensive article on Camphor, Dhaar and cloves. Do email us for a copy should you
requite it. 6) Offer prayers for forgiveness Om yaani kaani cha paapaani janmaantara kritaanee cha, taani sarvaani vinashyanti
pradakshinaa pade pade //
*** Do note that some aspirants offer Mata Halwa Puri, and so forth but that is optional,
the above puja method is simple and very cost effective.
Then offer your personal prayers to Mother Kali. Ask Ma for whatever you want and Ma
being so merciful will grant what you desire. But be careful what you desire for…
This procedure is the simple way but at the end of the Havan I have provided a detailed
D.I.Y Lakshmi puja. Mother Lakshmi is now invoked and worshipped via the Murti or
picture. Take another betel leaf, betel nut, rice and flower petals and pray to Mother
Lakshmi “Om Lakshmi­devi­yai aavaahayaamee sthapayamee” and place in front of murti
or picture. Pray to Mother Lakshmi asking Ma to please accept your prayers. Now chant the following: ­ 1) Om swagatam su swagatam ­ Om Lakshmi­devi­yai namah
(Swagatam means O Mother Lakshmi I welcome you.)
Now garland the picture/murti.
Then offer flower or flower petals. (Pushpam = flowers)
2) Om idam pushpam – Om Lakshmi­devi­yai namah
Then offer incense (Dhoopam = incense)
3) Om tato dhoopam aghraa­payaami – Om Lakshmi­devi­yai namah
Then offer a clay lamp (with a wick and ghee) (Deepam = lamp)
4) Om prat­yaksha deepam darshayaami – Om Lakshmi­devi­yai namah
You offer the above items by turning the items seven times around the picture/murti. 5) Om naivedyam samar­payaami – Om Lakshmi­devi­yai namah
(Offer cut fruit or sweet rice ­ Naivedyam = food)
You can also place a small lota/chumbhu of milk next to the picture/murti.
Now place the brick in front of you that has 9 camphors and cloves and light the camphor
and pray to the Mata. Now many will ask “What if I don't get a beera, is my puja answered
or not”? Please understand this is not a bargaining prayer, whether you get a beera or not is
inconsequential... Ask Mata and leave it to her. After that take the lota of milk and turn 9
times in a clockwise direction around the camphor and then drop 9 little drops of milk in
front of the brick. The rest you offer in your Thaan (an already specified place where you
offer your Dhaar) later on after the havan is completed.
6) Offer prayers for forgiveness Om yaani kaani cha paapaani janmaantara kritaanee cha, taani sarvaani vinashyanti
pradakshinaa pade pade //
*** Do note that some offer Mata Halwa Puri, and so forth but that is optional, the above
puja method is simple and very cost effective.
Then offer your personal prayers to Mother Lakshmi. Ask Ma for whatever you want and
Ma being so merciful will grant what you desire. But be careful what you desire for… After
the puja proper it's time for the Ma Lakshmi and Ma Kali havan.
How to perform your own Lakshmi/Kali Devi Havan
The Lakshmi/Kali devi Havan is performed in your home. Have all the requirements for the
havan arranged on a tray beforehand. Make sure in the havan kund you have about two
handfuls of sand (Why you may ask it's because when ghee is offered into the kund the ghee
won't leak out of the kund and mess the floor, the sand absorbs the ghee), then place wood
in the kund. Place kusha/darbha grass on the four sides of the kund. Then place a few
tablets of camphor in the kund. Now light the few tablets of camphor in the havan kund....
You can add more camphor in the kund as the havan continues... Sit facing East or North.
Chant the mantra to invoke Agni­dev:­ Om Agni Devtaa bhyo namah aavaahayaamee
sthapayamee. Now offer Incense, clay Lamp and a flower 7 times around the kund.
Offer a Tulsi Twig into the fire. (this is optional).
The Samaghree consists of (Black Til, white rice, jaw {jau}, nav­dhan, and lobhan).
Now we start the havan... every time “swaahaa” is chanted, offer samaghree into the fire. Om Ganapataye swaahaa
Om sooryaaya swaahaa Om somaaya swaahaa
Om angaarkaaya swaahaa
Om budhaaya swaahaa
Om brihaspataye swaahaa
Om shukraaya swaahaa
Om shanaish­charaaya swaahaa
Om raahave swaahaa
Om ketave swaahaa
Om Prajaapataye swaahaa
Om Indraaya swaahaa
Om Agnaye swaahaa
Om Somaaya swaahaa
Om Bhooh swaahaa
Om Bhuvah Swaahaa
Om Swah Swaahaa
Om Hanumate swaahaa
Om aim hreem kleem chaamun daayai vich chai swaahaa X (3 or 9 or 11 or 108 times)
Ya Devi Sarva­bhute­shu, Shakti Rupena Samstita, Namas­tasyai Namas­tasyai Namas­
tasyai, Namo Namah swaahaa
Ya Devi Sarva­bhute­shu, Buddhi Rupena Samstita, Namas­tasyai Namas­tasyai Namas­
tasyai, Namo Namah swaahaa
Ya Devi Sarva­bhute­shu, Lakshmi Rupena Samstita, Namas­tasyai Namas­tasyai Namas­
tasyai, Namo Namah swaahaa
“Om trayam bakkam yajaa­mahe sugan­dhim pushti­vardhanam urvaa­rooka­miva bandha­
naam mrityor mooksheeya maamritaat” Om swaahaa
om shareeng hareeng kaleeng hareeng shree maha lakshmiyai swaahaa X (3 or 9 or 11 or
108 times)
Om Namo Naaraaya­naaya swaahaa
Om Namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaayaa swaahaa
Om Shree Vishnave swaahaa
Om shreeng hreeng sarasvat­yai swaahaa
Om Brahmaye Swaahaa
Om Sarva Devee Devebhyo swaahaa.
Offer samaghree 9 times with the Maha Mantra “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna
Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare” to allay for any
mistakes committed during the havan.
Offer water three times around the havan kund. Finally place two purees on top of each other, on top of this place a betel leaf, then place the
balance of the samaghree on top of the betel leaf, then place a betel nut, a few drops of ghee
and then chant “Om sarvam vai poornam swaahaa”
And place this in the middle of the fire. Offer the rest of the ghee into the fire.
Now you can chant (or play on a CD/cassette player) Ma Lakshmi or Ma Kali's Aarti. After the Aarti you should bow down before the fire and then stand up and your final prayer
is to chant the Maha­mantra three times which is as follows (“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare“) to nullify any
mistakes you made while performing these prayers to Mother Lakshmi and Mother Kali.
D.I.Y Diwali Lakshmi Puja
* How to make Panchamrit for the puja below:­ In a standard size cup add 3/4 cup milk, 2
Tsps of yoghurt (maas), 1 Tsp of Sugar or Jaggery (Gur), 1 tsp honey, a drop of ghee. Mix
this well and that’s your Panchamrit. You can add some coconut water and cut fruits like
banana, apple, pear etc. This is optional.
Why is Amavasya falling in the Deepavali period considered as auspicious?
Generally Amavasya is considered inauspicious, but the Amavasya that occurs in the
Dipavali period is extremely beneficial and prosperity­bestowing. During Deepavali the
worship of Mother Lakshmi is highly recommended. The subtle­effects of the Lakshmi puja
postively affects both the husband and wife. When the husband and wife remember and
worship Lakshmi devi with spiritual emotion, a spiral of spiritual emotion and positive
vibrations are generated in both of them. A flow of positive energy is attracted in the image
of Lakshmi Devi and its spiral is thus generated. Through the spiral the flows of positive
Energy are emitted in the environment. These flows of positive Energy are emitted towards
the worshipper also and its spiral is generated in him/her. Particles of positive Energy is
then spread in the body of the worshipper and the immediate environment. A flow of Bliss is
attracted at the venue of worship. Through this flow a spiral of Bliss is created and the
positive vibrations of Bliss spread in the environment. Make a Kusha ring with a Kusha grass. If there are four members in your family then make
4 Kush Rings. In the morning or evening of the puja proper, after having a bath, you should wear fresh
clothes. Then at your prayer place, sprinkle water to purify the place. Then sprinkle Ata
(flour) on a clean board/tile (or see what you can use – use your discretion). This is called a
mandala/bedi (a place where the prayer is going to be performed.). Place a Lord Ganesh
Murti or picture on the Bedi and next to the picture of Lord Ganesh, place a picture of Lord
Vishnu/Satyanarayan (you can use the picture given below). And next to the picture of Lord
Vishnu/Satyanarayan on the right side when you are facing the picture, place your Lakshmi
Lamp. Fill a clay/brass/copper pot with white or basmati rice, place five fresh washed mango leaves
in the pot and place a coconut (you should already have cleaned the coconut) in the pot.
Thereafter place a red cloth on the coconut. Then place this pot at the centre of the
mandala. Fresh grains are used in the worship as they convey the idea of growth and
prosperity.
We have supplied a picture above of how this should look.
Sit facing East or North by the Bedi...
Recite the following mantra:
Take a little water from a clean cup using a teaspoon. Each time put a little water in your
right hand palm and sip it, chanting “OM VISHNU”. Wash your hands and repeat 2 more
times. Now wash your hands one last time. Then take a little rice and flower petals and say
in English “O Lakshmi­Narayan on this Amavasya day, in the month of Kartik, I (state
your name), I am performing my Lakshmi­Narayan to praise, honour and worship You both.
Please accept my prayer to You both”. Now leave this down on the bedi.
Take a betel leaf, betel nut, coin, rice and flower petals and chant Shree Ganeshji's mantra
“Om ganapataye aavaaha­yaamee stha­payamee” and keep on the bedi in front of the Lord
Ganesh murti/picture. Pray to Lord Ganesh to remove all obstacles in the path of your
prayers. Offer on the betel leaf offered to Lord Ganesh on the bedi 4 drops of water,
Panchamrit, chandan dot (on the betel leaf), sprinkle rice and then flower petals (on the
betel leaf), turn incense and lamp 7 times (clockwise, around the betel leaf), offer half a
teaspoon sweet rice on the betel leaf and then offer betel leaf with a betel nut and place in
front of the first betel leaf then finally offer lamp 7 times clockwise around the murti. Then
offer Lord Ganesha his favourite food viz. kheer (sweet rice), sugar candy and laddus. * Do note the lamp above (offered to Lord Ganesh) is the clay lamp on a saucer, which has a
wick and ghee in it. This is not the Lakshmi Lamp.
Take another betel leaf, betel nut, coin, rice and flowers and pray to the 9 planets. Leave on
the bedi. Take a little rice and every time you chant namah offer on the betel nut… Om sooryaaya namah Om somaaya namah
Om angaarkaaya namah
Om budhaaya namah
Om brihaspataye namah
Om shukraaya namah
Om shanaish­charaaya namah
Om raahave namah
Om ketave namah
Offer on the betel leaf offered to the 9 Planets on the bedi 4 drops of water, Panchamrit,
chandan dot (on the betel leaf), sprinkle rice and then flower petals (on the betel leaf), turn
incense and lamp 7 times (clockwise, around the betel leaf), offer half a teaspoon sweet rice
on the betel leaf and then offer betel leaf with a betel nut and place in front of the first betel
leaf then finally offer lamp 7 times clockwise around the 9 planets betel leaf.
Commence with Mother Lakshmi's puja. Take a betel leaf, betel nut, coin, rice and flowers
and pray to Mother Lakshmi “Om Lakshmi Mata aavaahayaamee sthapayamee” and keep
on the bedi. Offer on the betel leaf offered to Mother Lakshmi on the bedi 4 drops of water,
Panchamrit, little sindhur, chandan dot (on the betel leaf), sprinkle rice and then flower
petals (on the betel leaf), turn incense and lamp 7 times (clockwise, around the betel leaf),
offer half a teaspoon sweet rice on the betel leaf and then offer betel leaf with a betel nut
and place in front of the first betel leaf then finally offer lamp 7 times clockwise around the
Betel leaf. When this is done you can chant the Lakshmi Chalisa now.
Now commence with Lord Vishnu (Narayana's) puja. Take another betel leaf, betel nut,
coin, rice and flowers and pray to Lord Vishnu “Om Vishnudev aavaahayaamee
sthapayamee” and keep on the bedi. Then on the betel leaf offered to Lord Vishnu on the
bedi 4 drops of water, Panchamrit, chandan dot (on the betel leaf), sprinkle rice and then
flower petals (on the betel leaf), offer one Tulsi leaf, then turn incense and lamp 7 times
(clockwise, around the betel leaf), offer half a teaspoon sweet rice on the betel leaf and then
offer betel leaf with a betel nut and place in front of the first betel leaf then finally offer
lamp 7 times clockwise around the Betel leaf. Now the Havan commences which we have provided above.
DO NOTE:­ On the 23rd October these are the most auspicious times for these days
to perform these pujas and havan.... On the 23rd:­ Sunrise to 05h59 or 07h31 – 14h59 or 16h31 – Sunset.
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Compiled for the upliftment of Sanathan Dharma Narottam das & Arjun Nandlal
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