Maa Lakshmi माँ लक्ष्मी
Devi of wealth, prosperity and grace — worshipped with Shri Ganesha on Diwali.
Main mantra
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः
Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah
Samagri you will need
Along with the common puja essentials (diya, ghee, dhoop, akshat, roli, kalash, flowers, fruits), these items are special for Maa Lakshmi:
- Lotus flower कमल का पुष्प
- Kamalgatta (lotus seeds) कमलगट्टा
- Red / pink flowers लाल / गुलाबी पुष्प
- Kheel-batasha खील-बताशे
- Silver coin / Lakshmi-Ganesh coin चांदी का सिक्का
- Cowrie shells (kaudi) कौड़ी
- Shri Yantra श्री यंत्र
- Itra (perfume) इत्र
Step-by-step puja vidhi
Shuddhi — purify yourself and the place
Bathe and wear clean (preferably fresh) clothes. Clean the puja place, lay the chowki with a clean cloth, and sprinkle Gangajal around the area. Sit facing east or north on an asana.
Sankalpa — state your intention
Take water, akshat and a flower in the right palm. Speak your name, gotra (if known), the date and place, and the purpose of the puja, then release the water before the deity.
Deep prajwalan & Ganesha smarana
Light the ghee diya and incense. First remember Shri Ganesha ("Om Gam Ganapataye Namah") so the puja is free of obstacles, then turn the mind to Maa Lakshmi.
Avahana — invoke Maa Lakshmi
Invoke the deity into the murti, photo or kalash with folded hands, chanting "Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah". Offer a seat (asana) of flowers or akshat.
Padya, Arghya & Achamana
Offer water for washing the feet (padya), the hands (arghya), and for sipping (achamana) — a spoonful of water each, poured into a plate before the deity.
Snana / Abhishek
Bathe the murti with panchamrit and then clean water. On Diwali, seat Lakshmi-Ganesh together on a red cloth over the chowki.
Vastra & adornment
Offer red or pink vastra, sringar items and itra (perfume). Place a Shri Yantra, kamalgatta, kaudi and a silver coin near the murti.
Pushpa & patra — flowers and leaves
Offer lotus flowers — Maa Lakshmi's most beloved — along with red or pink flowers.
Dhoop & deep
Show the incense (dhoop) and then the lamp (deep) to the deity with a gentle clockwise motion, ringing the bell with the left hand.
Naivedya — offer the bhog
Offer the bhog: Kheer, kheel-batasha, white or kesar sweets. Place it before the deity with a few drops of water around the plate.
Mantra japa
Chant "Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah" 108 times (one mala), or at least 11 times, with a steady, unhurried mind.
Aarti
Perform the aarti — "Om Jai Lakshmi Mata" — with a ghee lamp or camphor, rotating it clockwise before the deity while singing, then pass the flame to all present.
Pradakshina & pushpanjali
Circumambulate the deity (or turn in place) an odd number of times, offer a final handful of flowers (pushpanjali), and bow fully.
Kshama prarthana & prasad
Ask forgiveness for any mistakes in the worship ("kshama prarthana"), thank the deity, and distribute the prasad to everyone present.
Special rules for Maa Lakshmi
- Keep the home and puja place spotlessly clean — Lakshmi resides where there is shuddhata (purity).
- Lakshmi puja is best done in the evening, especially on Friday or Diwali night.
- Never blow out the deepak — let it complete on its own, or extinguish it with a flower.
This is a simple, complete home-puja vidhi in the Shodashopachara spirit. Regional and family traditions (parampara) vary — where your family does something differently, follow your parampara. Devotion (bhava) matters more than perfection of procedure.
Choose another Dev / Devi
What is a Puja Vidhi?
A puja vidhi is the step-by-step procedure for worshipping a Dev or Devi — from purifying yourself and the place (shuddhi), taking the sankalpa, invoking the deity (avahana), bathing and adorning the murti, offering flowers, dhoop-deep and naivedya (bhog), through mantra japa, aarti and prasad. This tool follows the simple Shodashopachara (sixteen-offering) pattern adapted for home worship.
Each deity has personal preferences — the favoured day, flowers, leaves and bhog, plus special rules (tulsi is never offered to Shri Ganesha or on the Shivling, while Vishnu and Krishna naivedya is incomplete without it). Pick a deity to see its complete vidhi, mantra and aarti, and use the linked Puja Samagri checklist to gather everything before you begin. Family traditions vary — where your parampara differs, follow your parampara.