Laxmi Poojan Rituals

Laxmi by Baburao Painter. Photograph courtsey: wiki.phalkefactory.com

लक्ष्मी (Laxmi) has several meanings. Amongst them are  good fortune and success. This same meaning finds a striking resemblance in the word ‘luck’.   As money makes the world go round, Laxmi the Goddess of good fortune, wealth and prosperity is a much worshipped deity in people of Indic culture and therefore, Laxmi Poojan becomes the focal point of Deepavali festive season. Pooja, merrymaking and ritual gambling mark this day.

Mythology :

Laxmi was born out of the ocean of milk while it was jointly churned by the Devas and Asuras for obtaining  Amrit. Amongst all the Devas, Rishis and Asuras who vied for her attention, she chose to be the consort of Narayana.  This befits her because Narayana is engaged in the protection of the creation and creation cannot survive without the aid of abundance. Laxmi is the incarnation of this abundance which permits life to thrive and beautify. All that is beautiful, bountiful and enriching finds place in the name “Shree” by whch Laxmi is known in the Vedas.
She also has a sister Alaxmi who precedes her. Alaxmi denotes disorder, poverty, enmity, deprivation etc.
Alaxmi and Laxmi are two sides of the same coin.  “Shree” when expressed as Abhaava( absence) is Alaxmi and “Shree” when expressed as Bhaava (presence) is Laxmi. As necessity is the mother of invention, Alaxmi is instrumental in creating a desire for Laxmi. Every creature is driven by this desire to attain, to seek, to achieve fullness, satisfaction and perfection in life.

Muhurta : On the day of New Moon in the month Ashwina, after sunset when the Vrishabh Lagna (Taurus ascendant) rises on the eastern horizon, Laxmi is invoked and worshipped. The most auspicious time is the Vrishabh Navamsa in Vrishabh Lagna. People can calculate this time of fifteen minutes as per their local panchanga.  It is not possible for everyone to worship at the same time. So people should conduct the pooja during the whole day as per everybody’s convenience and during the most auspicious period they can again offer sandal paste, flowers, incense, lamp and sweets to Goddess Lakshmi and pray for her blessings. 

Astrological significance : Vrishabha Ascendant  is ruled by Shukra (Venus) which is a benefic planet and associated with female benefic deities like Laxmi, Saraswati, Annapoorna etc. Taurus is also a stable sign which signifies that the punya(merit) and blessings created should remain stable with the worshipper and not trickle away. 
There is also an opinion that Simha Lagna (Leo) which is at midnight and also a stable sign should be utilized for pooja. But I think that since the Lord of the ascendant (Sun) is debilitated and the lord of the 12^th house i.e moon is conjunct with the Ascendant lord, this is not a very auspicious muhurta. Yet tradition is stronger than Shastra and one can be his own best judge. 

Ritual : 
This pooja is fairly elaborate and one should either learn it from a knowledgeable person or invite a priest to perform it. There are online versions of the pooja on the net. Yet I am giving a procedure for a simple pooja which can be performed by a lay person.

The panchanga says that Laxmi should be worshipped with Kubera the treasurer of the Gods. But in Northern India there is a tradition of worshipping Laxmi Ganesh. All three can also be worshipped simultaneously. 

Kubera sculpture photograph courtsey : FindMessages.com

You will require :
1. A picture or coin or idol of Laxmi , Kubera and or Ganesha ( if nothing is available two betel nuts will  act as Laxmi and Kubera). 2. An Altar, 3. Water in metal containers, 4.metal bowls metal spoons, plastic or paper plates, metal plates, 5. clean cloth and napkin 6. Sandal paste, haldi kumkum, grains of uncooked rice, 7. Flowers,8. Incense sticks and match box. 9. A stationary oil lamp and a small ghee lamp for arti 11. Camphor. 12. Food/ sweets offering as per tradition

Procedure:

1. Light the oil lamp and incense stick.
2. Aachamana : This type of Aachamana is called shrotraachamana.  Take a little water on your right hand fingertips and chanting the following mantras, wet your eyes left one first and right one thereafter. Touch the right ear with your right thumb and wash your hand.

केशवाय नमः | keshavaaya namah
नारायणाय नमः | naaraayaNaaya namah
माधवाय नमः | maadhavaaya namah
गोविन्दाय नमः | govindaaya namah (wash you hand)
Again repeat the procedure once.
Then chant विष्णवे नमो विष्णवे नमो विष्णवे नमः|
vishNave namo vishNave namo vishNave namah

3. Sankalpa : Dedication of the pooja
Chant Following Mantras

श्रीगणेशाय नमः | श्रीगुरुभ्यो नमः | श्रीकुलदेवतायै नमः | श्रीलक्ष्मीकुबेराभ्याम् नमः| or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशाभ्याम् नमः or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशकुबेरदेवताभ्यो नमः |shree gaNeshaaya namah. shree gurubhyo namah. shree kuladevataayai namah.
shree laxmikuberaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshakubera-devataabhyo namah (as per the number of deities worshipped).

Take a few grains of uncooked rice in your right and with a spoonful of water. Then say
“लक्ष्मी-कुबेर-प्रसाद-सिद्ध्यर्थं यथाशक्ति पूजनं करिष्ये”| (laxmi kubera prasaada siddhyartham yathaashakti poojanam karishye). Or लक्ष्मी-गणेश-प्रसाद-सिद्ध्यर्थं यथाशक्ति पूजनं करिष्ये| 
(laxmi gaNesha prasaada siddhyartham yathaashakti poojanam karishye)
or लक्ष्मी-गणेश-कुबेर-प्रसाद-सिद्ध्यर्थं यथाशक्ति पूजनं करिष्ये|
laxmi gaNesha kubera prasaada siddhyartham yathaashakti poojanam karishye)
Meaning: I bow to Ganesha, the lineage of Gurus, my family deity and Laxmi with Kubera (or Ganesha)
I will now  worship Laxmi and Kubera for obtaining their blessings.
Drop this in a separate metal plate or small metal bowl. Replace Kuberas name with Ganesha if that’s your tradition otherwise chant names of all three.

4. Ganesh poojan/ smarana : You can at this point offer sandal paste, flowers and sweet to the Ganesha idol. Or just chant  the following. Pray to Ganesha for an obstacle free pooja.
 श्रीमहागणपतये नमः| निर्विघ्नं कुरु|  shree mahagaNapataye namah nirvighnam kuru.

5. Purification of material :
While covering the the main water container with your right hand, imagine that water from sacred rivers is collected in it. Worship it with sandal paste and flowers. Chant the following
गंगादिसर्वतीर्थेभ्यो नमः आवाहयामि, पूजयामि | gangaadi-sarva-teerthebhyo-namah aavaahayaami, poojayaami. I call upon all the sacred waters starting from the Ganges and worship them with salutation.
Offer sandalwood paste and flowers to the pooja bell and oil lamp.
Take a spoonful of water from the container and sprinkle over the pooja materials, the space created for pooja and finally on one’s own body chanting  नमो नारायणाय | “Namo Naaraayanaaya”.

6. Invocation :
Chant following mantras while meditating on Laxmi

सरसिजनिलये सरोजहस्ते धवलतामंशुकगंधमाल्यशोभे |
sarasijanilaye sarojahaste dhavalatamaamshuka-gandha-maalya-shobhe
भगवति हरिवल्लभे मनोज्ञे त्रिभुवनभूतीकरी प्रसीद मह्यं ||
bhagavati harivallabhe manodnye tribhuvana-bhootikari praseeda mahyam
महालक्ष्म्यै नमः ध्यायामि |
Mahaalakshmyai Namah Dhyaayaami.

 Meaning : O Goddess ! You, who are dear to Hari, knower of my mind, the grace of three worlds, residing in the lotus, bearing lotuses in your hands, resplendent in white robes, sandal paste and garlands bless me.

Meditate on Kubera with following Mantra

मनुजवाह्यविमानवरस्थितं गरुडरत्ननिभं निधिनायकम् |
manujavaahya-vimaana –varasthitam garuda-ratnanibham nidhi-naayakam
शिवसखं मुकुटादिविभूषितं वरगदे दधतं भज तुन्दिलम् ||
shivasakham mukutaadi-vibhooshitam varagade dadhatam bhaja tundilam
कुबेराय नमः| ध्यायामि |
Meaning : Worship the plump bodied friend of Shiva, who is the Lord of treasury,  who is decorated with a  crown and other ornaments, who holds a mace and makes a boon giving gesture, who has an emerald green hue, and who is seated on a celestial plane pulled by humans.

Meditation on Ganesha( Optional)

एकदंतं शूर्पकर्णं गजवक्त्रं चतुर्भुजं|
पाशांकुशधरं देवं ध्यायेत् सिद्धिविनायकम् |
Ekadantam shoorpakarnam gajavaktram chaturbhujam
paashaankushadharam devam dhyaayet siddhivinaayakam
गणेशाय नमः ध्यायामि|   Ganeshaaya Namah Dhyaayaami.

Meaning : I meditate on Lord Siddhivinaayaka who has one tusk, winnowing basket shaped ears, head of an elephant, and four hands. He carries the noose and elephant goad.

Take some rice grains in your right hand and offer them on the icon of the Gods asking them to attend the pooja.

श्रीलक्ष्मीकुबेराभ्याम् नमः| or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशाभ्याम् नमः or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशकुबेरदेवताभ्यो नमः |
आवाहयामि| स्थापयामि |
Shree laxmikuberaabhyaam namah or shree laxmiganeshaabhyaam namah or shree laxmiganeshkubera-devataabhyo namah (as per the number of deities worshipped).
Avaahayaami.  Sthaapayaami.

7. Sandalwood paste offering :
श्रीलक्ष्मीकुबेराभ्याम् नमः| or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशाभ्याम् नमः or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशकुबेरदेवताभ्यो नमः |
गन्धं समर्पयामि |shree laxmikuberaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshkubera-devataabhyo namah.  gandham samarpayaami.

Offer sandalwood paste and also Haldi kumkum to Lakshmi.

8. Offering flowers :
श्रीलक्ष्मीकुबेराभ्याम् नमः| or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशाभ्याम् नमः or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशकुबेरदेवताभ्यो नमः |
पुष्पाणि समर्पयामि |shree laxmikuberaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshkubera-devataabhyo namah. pushpaaNi samarpayaami.

Offer seasonal flowers and leaves.

9. Offering incense:
श्रीलक्ष्मीकुबेराभ्याम् नमः| or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशाभ्याम् नमः or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशकुबेरदेवताभ्यो नमः |
धूपं समर्पयामि |shree laxmikuberaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshkubera-devataabhyo namah. dhoopam samarpayaami.
Wave the incense sticks before the icons from a safe distance.

10. Offering lamp:
श्रीलक्ष्मीकुबेराभ्याम् नमः| or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशाभ्याम् नमः or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशकुबेरदेवताभ्यो नमः |
दीपं समर्पयामि |shree laxmikuberaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshkubera-devataabhyo namah. deepam samarpayaami.

Put sandalwood paste and a flower on the base of a small lighted ghee lamp and wave it clockwise before the icons.

11. Offering  food :

Every community generally has some special traditional sweets specially made for this occasion. If not, then any vegetarian sweet, dry fruits, pieces of fresh fruit etc may be offered. 
Make a square shape with water in front of the icons. Place the bowl or platter of the offering on this square. Sprinkle water with a Tulasi leaf or flower on this offering and put the leaf on the offering chanting नमो नारायणाय | “ namo naaraayaNaaya”.

Then chant following mantras touching the bowl or plate.
श्रीलक्ष्मीकुबेराभ्याम् नमः| or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशाभ्याम् नमः or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशकुबेरदेवताभ्यो नमः |
नैवेद्यं समर्पयामि |shree laxmikuberaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshkubera-devataabhyo namah. Naivedyam samarpayaami.
प्राणाय नमः| अपानाय नमः| व्यानाय नमः| उदानाय नमः| समानाय नमः| ब्रह्मणे नमः|   praNaaya namah. apaanaaya namah. vyaanaay namah. udaanaaya namah. samaanaaya namah. brahmaNe namah.

Offer a spoonful of water by pouring it in an empty plate. Chant मध्ये पानीयं समर्पयामि | “ madhye paaneeyam samarpayaami.”

Again repeat praNaaya namah …till brahmaNe namah.

Offer four spoons of water in the earlier plate.

उत्तरापोषणम्, हस्त-मुखप्रक्षालनं, आचमनीयं समर्पयामि |
Uttar-aaposhanam, hasta-mukha-prakshaalanam, aachamaneeyam samarpayaami

This is offering of water after food for cleansing hand and mouth and for drinking by deities.

Offer a flower dipped in sandalwood paste.  करोद्वर्तनं समर्पयामि | kara-udwartanam samarpayami

Offer Namaskar.  ताम्बूलार्थे नमस्कारं समर्पयामि | taamboolaarthe Namaskaram Samarpayaami.

12. Aarati (optional):

Light the camphor in a plate and sing any arti of your choice. Or simply chant following .
श्रीलक्ष्मीकुबेराभ्याम् नमः| or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशाभ्याम् नमः or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशकुबेरदेवताभ्यो नमः |
कर्पूरनीराजनं समर्पयामि |shree laxmikuberaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshkubera-devataabhyo namah. karpoora neerajanam samarpayaami.

Show your hands to the flame in the plate when aarati is over and swipe them over your head. This is symbolic of the divine light protecting you.

13. Wash your hands and offer flowers.

श्रीलक्ष्मीकुबेराभ्याम् नमः| or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशाभ्याम् नमः or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशकुबेरदेवताभ्यो नमः |
पुष्पांजलिं समर्पयामि |shree laxmikuberaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshkubera-devataabhyo namah. pushpaanjalim samarpayaami.

14. Prostration.
श्रीलक्ष्मीकुबेराभ्याम् नमः| or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशाभ्याम् नमः or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशकुबेरदेवताभ्यो नमः |
नमस्कारं समर्पयामि |
Sshree laxmikuberaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshkubera-devataabhyo namah.  namaskaaram samarpayaami.

15. Prayer.
सर्वेपि सुखिनः सन्तु सन्तु सर्वे निरामयाः
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चित दुःखभाग्भवेत्
Sarvepi sukhinah santu santu sarve niraamayaah
Sarve bhadrani pashyantu maa kashchit dukkhabhaag-bhavet

विद्यावन्तं यशस्वन्तं लक्ष्मीवन्तं जनं कुरु |
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ||
vidyaavantam yashaswantam laxmeevantam janam kuru
roopam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dwisho jahi

यक्षाय कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय धनधान्यपतये धनधान्य समृद्धिं मे देहि दापय स्वाहा |
yakshaaya kuberaaya vaishravaNaaya dhana-dhaanyaadhipataye
dhana dhaanya samriddhim me dehi daapaya swaaha.

Meaning:

1. Let everyone be happy, let everyone be healthy, may everyone see goodness, may no one have sorrow in his destiny.
2. Pray make me full  off knowledge, success and wealth . Give me beauty, victory, fame and overcome those who hate me.
 3. I make this offering to Kubera who is Yaksha, son of Vishravas, lord of wealth and food grains. Give me abundance of money and food grains.

16. Submission of worship:
अनेन पूजनेन श्रीलक्ष्मीकुबेरौ प्रीयेताम् | or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशौ प्रीयेताम् or लक्ष्मीगणेशकुबेरदेवता: प्रीयन्ताम् |
Anena poojanena Shree laxmikuberau priyetaam or shree laxmigaNeshau priyetaam or shree laxmigaNeshkubera-devataah priyantaam.  

17. Achaman once more :   Take a little water on your right hand fingertips and chanting the following mantras, wet your eyes left one first and right one thereafter. Touch the right ear with your right thumb and wash your hand.

केशवाय नमः | keshavaaya namah
नारायणाय नमः | naaraayaNaaya namah
माधवाय नमः | maadhavaaya namah
गोविन्दाय नमः | govindaaya namah (wash you hand)
Again repeat the procedure once.
Then chant विष्णवे नमो विष्णवे नमो विष्णवे नमः|
vishNave namo vishNave namo vishNave namah

On the next day replace the icons to their respective places.
Take uncooked rice grains in your hand and say the following and offer them on the betel nuts.
 श्रीलक्ष्मीकुबेराभ्याम् नमः| or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशाभ्याम् नमः or श्रीलक्ष्मीगणेशकुबेरदेवताभ्यो नमः |
विसर्जयामी |shree laxmikuberaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshaabhyaam namah or shree laxmigaNeshkubera-devataabhyo namah visarjayaami. Suppose the deities have been invoked on betel nuts then immersion should be body in a natural water body .
Customs :
Driving away Alaxmi : At around midnight the house is swept and dirt is discarded. This is symbolic of driving away Alaxmi.
Gambling : Gambling just for sport is permitted on Laxmi poojan night . People believe that Laxmi blesses people who gamble with stakes of money at that time.
Deepalaxmi pooja : a plate full of diyas is worshipped as Deepalakshmi near the Laxmi poojan altar.

More about Laxmi Kubera  Ganesha