Guide

Sri Vaishnava Family Guide for Deepavali

A booklet of prayers, Sanskrit mantras in English transliteration, meanings and the sequence of worship.

1. The significance of Lakshmi Pooja

In Sri Vaishnava sampradaya, Sri Mahalakshmi is not merely the bestower of material prosperity. She is the Divine Mother, eternally united with Sriman Narayana.

She is Karuna Svarupini — the embodiment of compassion — and Purushakara, the compassionate intercessor who guides the souls towards the Lord.

We worship Sri and Narayana together as the Divya Dampati.

Our prayer on Deepavali is for:

Dhana – prosperity and resources.

Dhanya – food and abundance.

Arogya – health.

Vidya – knowledge.

Sadbuddhi – good judgement.

Bhakti – devotion.

Kainkaryam – the opportunity to serve the Lord and His creation.

The greatest blessing is to live with gratitude, compassion and contentment.

2. Materials required

Arrange the following before beginning:

Picture or idol of Sri Mahalakshmi, preferably with Sriman Narayana.

Clean cloth for the altar.

Brass or silver lamp, oil or ghee and wicks.

Flowers, turmeric and kumkum.

Sandalwood paste.

Akshata – rice mixed with turmeric.

Kalasha, water, mango leaves and coconut.

Incense sticks and camphor.

Fruits, milk, sweets or payasam.

Betel leaves and betel nuts.

A small bell.

A plate for offerings.

Coins or jewellery may also be placed before the Goddess as a symbolic offering of one's livelihood and possessions.

3. Preparation and beginning of worship

Clean the Pooja area and decorate the entrance with kolam.

Light the lamp.

Sit facing the altar with a peaceful mind.

Remember your Acharya and offer a mental prayer for his blessings.

If customary in your household, recite:

Śrīmate Rāmānujāya Namaḥ.

Śrīmate Nigamānta Mahādeśikāya Namaḥ.

Remember your own Acharya parampara as taught in your family.

Ganesha Dhyana

Sloka

Śuklāmbaradharam Viṣṇum

Śaśivarṇam Chaturbhujam

Prasannavadanam Dhyāyet

Sarvavighnopaśāntaye.

Word meanings

Śukla – white.

Ambara – garment.

Dharam – wearing.

Viṣṇum – the all-pervading one.

Śaśivarṇam – moon-coloured.

Chaturbhujam – four-armed.

Prasanna – pleasant.

Vadanam – face.

Dhyāyet – may one meditate.

Sarva – all.

Vighna – obstacles.

Upaśāntaye – for their removal.

Meaning: May we meditate upon the auspicious, radiant Lord with a pleasant face, so that all obstacles may be removed.

This is a traditional preliminary prayer used before worship.

You may also recite:

Vakratunda Mahākāya

Sūryakoṭi Samaprabha

Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva

Sarvakāryeṣu Sarvadā.

Meaning: O Lord with the curved trunk and mighty form, radiant like millions of suns, remove all obstacles from my undertakings.

4. Sankalpa – Declaration of intention

Take a little water and akshata in your right palm.

Say:

Mama upātta samasta duritakṣayadvārā

Śrī Mahālakṣmī prītyartham

Dīpāvalī parvaṇi

Śrī Mahālakṣmī pūjām kariṣye.

Word meanings

Mama – my.

Upātta – accumulated.

Samasta – all.

Durita – shortcomings or sins.

Kṣaya – removal.

Dvārā – through.

Śrī Mahālakṣmī – Divine Mother Lakshmi.

Prītyartham – for the pleasure of.

Dīpāvalī parvaṇi – on the festival of Deepavali.

Pūjām – worship.

Kariṣye – I shall perform.

Meaning: For the removal of accumulated shortcomings and for the pleasure of Sri Mahalakshmi, I undertake this worship on Deepavali.

Add mentally:

May the Lord bless my family with health, happiness, wisdom, devotion and the opportunity to serve others.

5. Kalasha Pooja

Fill a small vessel with clean water. Place mango leaves around its mouth and a coconut on top, if this is your family custom.

Recite:

Gange Cha Yamune Chaiva

Godāvari Sarasvati

Narmade Sindhu Kāveri

Jale'smin Sannidhim Kuru.

Word meanings

Gange – O Ganga.

Cha – and.

Yamune – O Yamuna.

Chaiva – and also.

Godāvari – Godavari.

Sarasvati – Saraswati.

Narmade – Narmada.

Sindhu – Sindhu.

Kāveri – Kaveri.

Jale – in this water.

Asmin – this.

Sannidhim – presence.

Kuru – please establish.

Meaning: May the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri sanctify this water with their presence.

Offer flowers to the kalasha.

The water may subsequently be used for sprinkling and purification.

6. Dhyana – Meditating upon Sri Mahalakshmi

Close your eyes and contemplate the Divine Mother.

Recite:

Mānātīta prathita vibhavām

Maṅgalaṁ maṅgalānām

Vakṣaḥ pīṭhīm Madhuvijayino

Bhūṣayantīm svakāntyā.

This is the opening of Sri Stuti by Swami Vedanta Desika.

The complete verse is given in the stotra section below.

Its central thought is that Sri is the embodiment of all auspiciousness and eternally adorns the chest of Sriman Narayana.

7. Avahanam – Inviting the Divine Mother

Join your palms and pray:

Āgaccha Devi Deveśi

Tejomayi Mahālakṣmi

Kriyamāṇām mayā pūjām

Gṛhāṇa suravandite.

Word meanings

Āgaccha – please come.

Devi – Divine Mother.

Deveśi – Goddess of the Devas.

Tejomayi – full of divine radiance.

Mahālakṣmi – Great Lakshmi.

Kriyamāṇām – being performed.

Mayā – by me.

Pūjām – worship.

Gṛhāṇa – please accept.

Suravandite – worshipped by the Devas.

Meaning: O radiant Mahalakshmi, worshipped by the Devas, please accept the worship offered by me.

This is a simple devotional invocation, not a substitute for an Acharya-prescribed āvāhana procedure.

8. Shodashopachara – Sixteen offerings

Treat the Divine Mother as an honoured guest in your home.

The following is a simple home-worship sequence. Different family and temple paddhatis may arrange or expand the sixteen offerings differently.

At each stage say:

Om Śrī Mahālakṣmyai Namaḥ.

Āsanam Samarpayāmi – I offer a seat.

Āsanam – seat.

Samarpayāmi – I offer.

Pādyam Samarpayāmi – I offer water for washing the feet.

Pādyam – water for the feet.

Arghyam Samarpayāmi – I offer water as a mark of welcome.

Arghyam – ceremonial welcome offering.

Āchamanīyam Samarpayāmi – I offer water for sipping.

Āchamanīyam – water for ritual sipping.

Snānam Samarpayāmi – I offer a ceremonial bath.

Snānam – bathing.

Vas tram Samarpayāmi – I offer clothes.

Vastram – garment.

Ābharaṇam Samarpayāmi – I offer ornaments.

Ābharaṇam – jewellery or ornaments.

Gandham Samarpayāmi – I offer sandalwood paste.

Gandham – fragrance or sandalwood.

Akṣatān Samarpayāmi – I offer sacred rice.

Akṣatān – consecrated rice grains.

Puṣpaiḥ Pūjayāmi – I worship with flowers.

Puṣpaiḥ – with flowers.

Pūjayāmi – I worship.

Dhūpam Āghrāpayāmi – I offer incense.

Dhūpam – incense.

Āghrāpayāmi – I present for fragrance.

Dīpam Darśayāmi – I show the sacred lamp.

Dīpam – lamp.

Darśayāmi – I show.

Naivedyam Nivedayāmi – I offer food.

Naivedyam – food offering.

Nivedayāmi – I submit or offer.

Tāmbūlam Samarpayāmi – I offer betel leaves and nuts.

Tāmbūlam – betel offering.

Nīrājanam Darśayāmi – I offer the sacred waving of light.

Nīrājanam – ceremonial light offering.

Mantrapushpam Samarpayāmi – I offer flowers accompanied by prayer.

Mantra – sacred prayer.

Pushpam – flower.

Samarpayāmi – I offer.

Practical note: If worshipping a framed picture, offer water symbolically in a small vessel. Do not pour water or milk over the photograph. If using an idol, perform abhishekam only if appropriate for the material and according to your family's practice.

9. Lakshmi Archana – The 108 names

Offer one flower or a few akshata grains with each name.

The simplest form of offering is:

Om Śrī Mahālakṣmyai Namaḥ.

You may also recite these ten auspicious names:

Om Prakṛtyai Namaḥ.

Om Vikṛtyai Namaḥ.

Om Vidyāyai Namaḥ.

Om Sarvabhūtahitapradāyai Namaḥ.

Om Śraddhāyai Namaḥ.

Om Vibhūtyai Namaḥ.

Om Padmāyai Namaḥ.

Om Padmapriyāyai Namaḥ.

Om Kamalāyai Namaḥ.

Om Viṣṇupriyāyai Namaḥ.

Meaning of the names

Prakṛti – the primordial divine nature.

Vikṛti – the power of manifestation.

Vidyā – knowledge.

Sarvabhūtahitapradā – one who brings welfare to all beings.

Śraddhā – faith.

Vibhūti – divine glory.

Padmā – the lotus Goddess.

Padmapriyā – one who loves the lotus.

Kamalā – the lotus Goddess.

Viṣṇupriyā – beloved of Vishnu.

For the complete 108 names, use a Sri Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamavali text from your family's prayer collection.

10. Important prayers to recite

A. Mahalakshmi Ashtakam

Opening verse:

Namastestu Mahāmāye

Śrīpīṭhe Surapūjite

Śaṅkhachakragadāhaste

Mahālakṣmi Namostu Te.

Word meanings

Namaste – salutations.

Astu – may they be.

Mahāmāye – great divine power.

Śrīpīṭhe – seated upon the sacred seat of Sri.

Surapūjite – worshipped by the Devas.

Śaṅkha – conch.

Chakra – discus.

Gadā – mace.

Haste – in the hands.

Mahālakṣmi – O Great Lakshmi.

Namaḥ – salutations.

Astu Te – to You.

Meaning: Salutations to Mahalakshmi, the divine Mother, worshipped by the Devas and bearing the conch, discus and mace.

The complete eight-verse hymn may be recited if available in your prayer book.

B. Lakshmi Gayatri

Om Mahālakṣmyai Cha Vidmahe

Viṣṇupatnyai Cha Dhīmahi

Tanno Lakṣmīḥ Prachodayāt.

Word meanings

Mahālakṣmyai – upon Mahalakshmi.

Cha – and.

Vidmahe – may we know.

Viṣṇupatnyai – upon the consort of Vishnu.

Dhīmahi – may we meditate.

Tat – that.

Naḥ – our.

Lakṣmīḥ – Goddess Lakshmi.

Prachodayāt – may She inspire or illumine.

Meaning: May we know Mahalakshmi and meditate upon Her, the divine consort of Vishnu. May Lakshmi inspire and illumine our intellect.

C. Sri Suktam

Sri Suktam is a Vedic hymn glorifying Sri Mahalakshmi.

Its opening verse is:

Hiraṇyavarṇām Hariṇīm

Suvarṇarajatasrajām

Chandrām Hiraṇmayīm Lakṣmīm

Jātavedo Ma Āvaha.

Word meanings

Hiraṇya – gold.

Varṇām – coloured or radiant.

Hariṇīm – the radiant Goddess.

Suvarṇa – gold.

Rajata – silver.

Srajām – garlands.

Chandrām – luminous like the moon.

Hiraṇmayīm – golden.

Lakṣmīm – Goddess Lakshmi.

Jātavedaḥ – Agni, the divine fire.

Ma – for me.

Āvaha – bring or invoke.

Meaning: O Jātavedas, invoke for me the radiant golden Goddess Lakshmi, adorned with golden and silver garlands and luminous like the moon.

Sri Suktam is traditionally recited in its complete form. The fifteen-verse recitation has variations between textual traditions. For formal Vedic chanting, follow the recension and svara taught by your Vedic teacher.

D. Sri Stuti of Swami Vedanta Desika

This is especially appropriate for a Sri Vaishnava household.

Opening verse:

Mānātīta prathita vibhavām

Maṅgalaṁ maṅgalānām

Vakṣaḥ pīṭhīm Madhuvijayino

Bhūṣayantīm svakāntyā.

Pratyakṣānuśravika mahimā

Prārthinīnām prajānām

Śreyo mūrtiṁ Śriyam

Aśaraṇaḥ tvāṁ śaraṇyāṁ prapadye.

Word meanings

Mānātīta – beyond measure.

Prathita – celebrated.

Vibhavām – glory.

Maṅgalam – auspiciousness.

Maṅgalānām – among all auspicious things.

Vakṣaḥ – chest.

Pīṭhīm – throne or seat.

Madhuvijayinaḥ – of the Lord who conquered Madhu.

Bhūṣayantīm – adorning.

Svakāntyā – by Her own radiance.

Pratyakṣa – directly perceived.

Anuśravika – declared by scripture.

Mahimā – greatness.

Prārthinīnām – of those who seek.

Prajānām – people.

Śreyaḥ – supreme good.

Mūrtim – embodiment.

Śriyam – Sri, Mahalakshmi.

Aśaraṇaḥ – one without another refuge.

Śaraṇyām – the One who gives refuge.

Prapadye – I surrender.

Meaning: I seek refuge in Sri Mahalakshmi, whose glory is beyond measure, who is the embodiment of all auspiciousness and who adorns the chest of Sriman Narayana with Her divine radiance. She is the embodiment of the highest good and the refuge of those who seek Her grace.

Swami Vedanta Desika composed Sri Stuti in twenty-five verses. Reciting the complete stotra is a beautiful way to conclude the Lakshmi prayers.

11. Naivedyam – Offering food

Place the prepared fruits and sweets before the Goddess.

Offer the food with:

Om Śrī Mahālakṣmyai Namaḥ.

Naivedyam Nivedayāmi.

Then recite the traditional offering mantra:

Om Prāṇāya Svāhā.

Om Apānāya Svāhā.

Om Vyānāya Svāhā.

Om Udānāya Svāhā.

Om Samānāya Svāhā.

Om Brahmaṇe Svāhā.

Meaning

These offerings are made to the five vital airs and ultimately to Brahman, acknowledging that nourishment and life itself are divine gifts.

Allow a few moments for the offering.

12. Kubera prayer – Optional

Kubera is traditionally regarded as the guardian of wealth.

You may offer flowers and recite:

Om Yakṣāya Kuberāya Vaiśravaṇāya

Dhanadhānyādhipataye

Dhanadhānyasamṛddhiṁ Me Dehi Dāpaya Svāhā.

Meaning: O Kubera, Lord of wealth and abundance, may you bless us with the resources and prosperity needed for a good life.

This is optional and need not be included in every household's Lakshmi Pooja.

13. Deepa and Camphor Aarti

Take the lamp or camphor plate and move it gently clockwise before the Goddess.

The family may sing its customary Lakshmi Aarti.

After the aarti, offer flowers and bow before the Divine Mother.

14. Final prayer

Recite this beautiful prayer to the Divine Mother:

Sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye

Śive Sarvārthasādhike

Śaraṇye Tryambake Gauri

Nārāyaṇi Namostu Te.

Word meanings

Sarva – all.

Maṅgala – auspiciousness.

Maṅgalye – O embodiment of auspiciousness.

Śive – O auspicious one.

Sarvārtha – all worthy purposes.

Sādhike – fulfiller.

Śaraṇye – giver of refuge.

Tryambake – three-eyed Mother.

Gauri – radiant Mother.

Nārāyaṇi – Divine Mother.

Namostu Te – salutations to You.

Meaning: O Divine Mother, the most auspicious among all that is auspicious, the fulfiller of all worthy purposes and the refuge of all beings, salutations to You.

This is a prayer from the Devi Mahatmyam.

15. Sarvam Sri Krishnarpanam

Conclude by offering everything to Sriman Narayana.

Kāyena Vācā Manasendriyairvā

Buddhyātmanā Vā Prakṛtisvabhāvāt

Karomi Yadyat Sakalaṁ Parasmai

Nārāyaṇāyeti Samarpayāmi.

Word meanings

Kāyena – through the body.

Vācā – through speech.

Manasā – through the mind.

Indriyaiḥ – through the senses.

Vā – or.

Buddhyā – through the intellect.

Ātmanā – through the self.

Prakṛti – natural disposition.

Svabhāvāt – according to one's nature.

Karomi – I do.

Yadyat – whatever.

Sakalam – everything.

Parasmai – to the Supreme.

Nārāyaṇāya – to Narayana.

Iti – thus.

Samarpayāmi – I offer.

Meaning: Whatever I do through my body, speech, mind, senses, intellect or natural disposition, I offer everything to the Supreme Lord Narayana.

Offer namaskaram.

Distribute prasadam to everyone.

16. A convenient order to follow every Deepavali

Sequence

Worship

1

Clean altar and light lamp

2

Remember Acharya

3

Ganesha Dhyana

4

Sankalpa

5

Kalasha Pooja

6

Lakshmi Dhyana

7

Avahanam

8

Sixteen offerings

9

Lakshmi Archana

10

Sri Suktam

11

Mahalakshmi Ashtakam

12

Sri Stuti

13

Naivedyam

14

Optional Kubera prayer

15

Aarti

16

Final prayer and namaskaram

17. A family prayer for Deepavali

O Sri Mahalakshmi, Divine Mother, eternally united with Sriman Narayana,

May Your grace enter our homes.

May there be food for the hungry, shelter for the needy, knowledge for those who seek it, and kindness in every heart.

Bless our children and grandchildren with good education, wisdom and humility.

Give us the strength to distinguish between what we desire and what we truly need.

May wealth never make us arrogant, knowledge never make us proud, and devotion never make us indifferent to the suffering of others.

May we use whatever we possess for the welfare of our family, society and all living beings.

May our homes be filled with peace, our hearts with gratitude, and our lives with opportunities for Bhagavad Kainkaryam.

Śrī Mahālakṣmyai Namaḥ.

Śrīmannārāyaṇa Parabrahmaṇe Namaḥ.

Sarvam Śrī Kṛṣṇārpaṇam Astu.

End of family Deepavali Lakshmi Pooja guide.

Note: This is a devotional home-worship guide, not a formal Agama paddhati or a replacement for the procedure taught by one's Acharya. Families should retain their established Acharya and household traditions where these differ.