✦ Shri Mahalakshmi Puja Vidhi ✦
✦ Shodashopachara puja of the wealth-goddess — 16 steps ✦
✦ About Shri Mahalakshmi Puja Vidhi ✦
Shri Mahalakshmi Puja is the most auspicious ritual in Hindu household life. Lakshmi puja is prescribed on Diwali night (Amavasya), Friday, Akshay Tritiya, Dhanteras — all auspicious dates. Merchants and entrepreneurs especially have firm faith in this puja.
The Shodashopachara puja completes through 16 ritual acts. Recitation of Sri Suktam, Lakshmi Ashtakam, Mahalakshmi Kavacham forms part of this puja. At the end, no visarjan is performed — the murti/yantra remains installed in the wealth-vault.
Special — on Diwali, "Lakshmi-Ganesha-Kubera" are worshipped together. Safe-vault, account-books, jewelry, gold — all are worshipped. New merchants open their fresh accounts ("Hal-Khata") on this day.
✦ Best Times & Tithis ✦
Diwali night (Kartik Amavasya) — supreme. Friday evening pradosh kaal. Akshay Tritiya (Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya). Dhanteras. Sharad Purnima. Mahalakshmi Vrata (16 days from Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami). Morning or evening pradosh kaal.
✦ Puja Samagri (Materials) ✦
Lakshmi-Ganesha murti / yantra
1
Red / pink silk cloth
1
Lotus flowers — essential
21
Rose flowers
assorted
Sandalwood (white & saffron)
paste
Akshat
1 bowl
Roli / kumkum
small qty
Kheer — primary naivedya
1 bowl
Batasha and makhana
mixed
Fragrant agarbatti / loban
set
Ghee deepaks — 11 or 108
11+
Ganga jal / pure water
1 lota
Shankha — emerged with Lakshmi
1
Water-filled kalash + mango leaves + coconut
1
Gold/silver coins / jewelry
set
Panchamrit
1 bowl
✦ 16-Step Procedure ✦
Sankalpa (Resolution)
(Sankalpa)Hold water, akshat, flowers in right hand. Speak your name, gotra, tithi, place — declare the purpose of Mahalakshmi puja.
ॐ श्री महालक्ष्मी प्रीत्यर्थम् पूजनं करिष्ये।
Om Shri Mahalakshmi Prityartham Pujanam Karishye
Kalash-sthapana
(Kalash-sthapana)First, after invoking Ganesha, install a copper/brass kalash — fill with water, akshat, supari, coin. Cover with mango leaves and a coconut. This kalash represents all deities.
ॐ कलशस्य मुखे विष्णुः कण्ठे रुद्रः समाश्रितः।
Om Kalashasya Mukhe Vishnuh Kanthe Rudrah Samashritah
Avahana (Invocation)
(Avahana)Invoke Mahalakshmi — mentally invite her to enter the murti.
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः । आगच्छ देवी कमले महाश्री।
Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah · Aagachchha Devi Kamale Mahashri
Padya-Arghya
(Padya-Arghya)Offer water at the goddess's feet (padya) and for hand-cleansing (arghya).
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै पादयोः पाद्यं समर्पयामि।
Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Padayoh Padyam Samarpayami
Pancamrit Snan
(Snan)Bathe with pancamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar) successively. Then pure-water snan.
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै स्नानं समर्पयामि।
Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Snanam Samarpayami
Vastra & Aabhushan
(Vastra-Aabhushan)Offer red/pink silk cloth. Gold-silver coins and jewelry are dedicated to the goddess.
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै वस्त्र-आभूषणानि समर्पयामि।
Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Vastra-Aabhushanani Samarpayami
Gandha (Saffron sandalwood)
(Gandha)Apply white sandalwood on forehead, saffron-sandalwood on body. Tilak on the brow.
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै गन्धं समर्पयामि।
Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Gandham Samarpayami
Pushpa (Lotus)
(Pushpa)Offer 21 lotus flowers and roses. The lotus is Lakshmi's supreme favorite. White and pink lotus are particularly auspicious.
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै पुष्पं समर्पयामि।
Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Pushpam Samarpayami
Dhupa (Incense)
(Dhupa)Light fragrant agarbatti / loban and circulate before the goddess.
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै धूपं समर्पयामि।
Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Dhupam Samarpayami
Deepa (Light Lamps)
(Deepa)Light 11 or 108 ghee deepaks. On Diwali night, light lamps throughout the home — Lakshmi's welcome-light.
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै दीपं समर्पयामि।
Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Deepam Samarpayami
Naivedya (Kheer)
(Naivedya)Offer kheer (milk-rice-sugar). Along with batasha, makhana, dry fruits. One tulsi leaf (as consort of Vishnu), banana.
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नैवेद्यं समर्पयामि।
Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Naivedyam Samarpayami
Tambula
(Tambula)Offer paan, supari, clove, cardamom.
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै ताम्बूलं समर्पयामि।
Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Tambulam Samarpayami
Mantra-japa & Sri Suktam
(Mantra-japa)Chant mool mantra "Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah" 108 times. Then recite the Sri Suktam (16 verses). On Diwali, also recite Mahalakshmi Ashtakam.
ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं महालक्ष्म्यै कमलवासिन्यै स्वाहा।
Om Hreem Shreem Kleem Mahalakshmyai Kamalavasinyai Svaha
Dhana-puja (Wealth-vault worship)
(Dhana-puja)Worship the safe-vault, account-books, gold-silver, conch. Write "Shri Labh" on the new account-books.
ॐ कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय धन-धान्याधिपतये नमः।
Om Kuberaya Vaishravanaya Dhana-Dhanyadhipataye Namah
Aarti
(Aarti)Sing "Om Jai Lakshmi Mata" aarti. Rotate the deep-thaali 5 times anti-clockwise.
Kshama-yachana
(Kshama-yachana)Ask forgiveness for any errors — chanting "kshamasva". Finally, light deepaks throughout the home. On Diwali, the murti/yantra remains in the wealth-place — no visarjan.
✦ Naivedya — Favored Offerings ✦
Mahalakshmi's most beloved offering is kheer — sweet milk-rice. Batasha, makhana (lotus seed), dry fruits, besan ladoo, gulab jamun, shriphal (coconut), banana, apple. On Diwali, anarsa and sweet yellow rice too. One tulsi leaf is permitted (as consort of Vishnu, not forbidden). Meat and alcohol prohibited.
✦ Aarti — Closing ✦
"Om Jai Lakshmi Mata, Maiya Jai Lakshmi Mata"… universal across North India. Essential on Diwali and Friday. South India favors "Mahalakshmi Ashtakam". After aarti, draw rangoli at the main door — symbolic of the goddess's footprints entering.