Deepavali Puja

Part 1:
It is customary and auspicious to pray to Lord Kubera & Goddess Mahalakshmi for prosperity through out the year. This “Lakshmi Kubera Puja” is best done in the evening on Deepavali day.
If one can light 16 small lamps using ghee during the puja, it is auspicious. For Mahalakshmi, archanai can be done with vilvam leaves which is very auspicious. One can buy silver vilvam leaves, available in shops. Alternatively, silver coins, copper coins, flowers or kumkum can also be used.
The picture of Kuberan with Mahalakshmi is available, which can be used. If not, a picture of Lakshmi is enough.
For Kuberan archanai, coins are best used.

For naivedyam, Sarkarai Pongal or Milk with honey and a drop of ghee can be used.
I am giving a very simplified format here. I am aware one cannot spare a longer time on Deepavali day !

In tamil a person is blessed thus “ Pathinaarum petru peru vazvu vaazka”. To achieve that, it is necessary to worship Shodas(h)a Mahalakshmi and Kuberan.

The 16 Lakshmis are:

Soundaryalakshmi - Beauty

Soubhagyalakshmi - all blessings in life

Keerthilakshmi - fame & name

Veeralakshmi - Courage

Vijayalakshmi - success

Santhanalakshmi - progeny

Medhalakshmi - brilliance

Vidyalakshmi - education

Thushtilakshmi - contentment

Pushtilakshmi - good health and courage

Jnaanalakshmi - self-knowledge

S(h)akthilakshmi - power

Shanthilakshmi - peace of mind

Samrajyalakshmi - success in profession and career

Arogyalakshmi - good health

Adi Mahalakshmi - Main core of all the other Lakshmis


Kuberan is worshipped for financial prosperity.


Shodas(h)a Mahalakshmi Dhyanam:

Yaa s(h)ree svayam aavirbhaboova jagathhidaaya prasannavadanaam

Shodas(h) phalapradaam bhagavatheem vandae aravindasthithaam

Ya s(h)rih shadhastha viraajamaanaa saa varam dadaathi sampoojakaanaam

Thasyai s(h)reeyai namo(a)sthhu sathatham namaami thaam aadilakshmeem

s(h)ubhaam

S(h)ri dhanaakarshana s(h)ri Kubaera sahitha s(h)ri Mahalakshmeem dhyaayaami


Archanai:

Om s(h)reem S(h)reeyai namah

Om s(h)reem Soundaryalakshmee sampannaayai namah

Om s(h)reem Soubhagyalakshmee parivruthaayai namah

Om s(h)reem Keerthilakshmee saevithaayai namah

Om s(h)reem Veeralakshmee aas(h)rithaayai namah

Om s(h)reem Vijayalakshmee vandithaayai nanah

Om s(h)reemSanthanalakshmee sthuthaayai namah

Om s(h)reem Maedaalakshmee maedithaayai namah

Om s(h)reem Vidyalakshmyaa viraajamaanaayai namah

Om s(h)reem Thushtilakshmee santhushtaayai namah


Om s(h)reem Pushtilakshmyaa prasannaayai namah

Om s(h)reem Jnaanalakshmee yukthaayai namah

Om s(h)reem S(h)akthilakshmee samaethaayai namah

Om s(h)reem S(h)anthilakshmyaa prasanna vadanaayai namah

Om s(h)reem Saamrajyalakshmyaa alankruthaayai namah

Om s(h)reem Aarogyalakshmyaa namaskruthaayai namah

Om s(h)reem Aadilakshmee ithi virrajamaanaayai namah


Neeranjanam:

Neeranjanam sumaangalyam karpooraena samanvitham


Chandraarka vahni sadhrs(h)am grhaana harivallabhae


sarva dukkhopa s(h)aanthyartham sarva mangala avaapyartham


aavaahithaabhyo sarvathaabhyo devathaabhyo

karpoora neeranjanam sandars(h)ayaami



Prarthana:

Yaa hi vais(h)ravanae laksmeeh yaa chendrae harivaahanae

Saa raavanagr(u)hae sarvaa nithyamaevaanapaayinee

Yaa cha raajah kubaerasya yamasya varunasya cha

Thaaddhr(u)s(h)ee tadvisishtaa vaa rh(u)ddhee rakshogr(u)hoshviha

Svargoyam daevaloko(a)yam indrasyaeyam puree bhavaeth

Siddhirvaeyam paraahi syaandithyamanyatha maaruthih




Continued in the next post.

Love & regards,
Chithra.

Kubera Dhyanam:

Manuja vaahya vimaana varasthitham

Garudarathna nibham nidhidaayakam

S(h)ivasakham mukudaadi vibhooshitham

Varagadam dhanadam bhaja dundilam

S(h)ankha padmaadi nidhayae kubaeraayaa namo namah

Dhanadhaanya samriddhasthu thvath praasaadaath mayi sthirah

Navanidhi samobhaedam dhanadam yaana pushpakam

Pingaaksham bhaavayae nithyam haemavarNa manoharam

S(h)ree dhanaakarshaNa s(h)ree mahaalakshmee sahitham s(h)ree kubaera raajam dhyaayaami

Archanai:


S(h)ree Kubaeraaya namah

S(h)ree Dhanadaaya namah

S(h)ree Yakshaes(h)aaya namah

S(h)ree Nidhees(h)aaya namah

S(h)ree Mahalakshmee nivaasabhuvae namah

S(h)ree Mahathae namah

S(h)ree Varanidhiyadhipaaya namah

S(h)ree Lakshmee saamrajyadaayakaaya namah

S(h)ree Vais(h)ravaNaayai namah

S(h)ree RaavaNaagrajaaya namah

S(h)ree Ashtalakshmyaas(h)rithaalayaaya namah

S(h)ree Sukhaas(h)rayaaya namah

S(h)ree SarvaaNeekaruNaapaathraaya namah

S(h)ree Chithralaekhaamanapriyaaya namah

S(h)ree S(h)ivaapoojaaradaaya namah

S(h)ree Rajarajaaya namah


Niranjanam:

Raajaadi raajaaya prasahya saahinae

Namo vayamvais(h)ravaNaaya kurmahae

Sa mae kaama kaamaaya mahyam

Kamaes(h)varo vais(h)ravaNo dadaathu

Kubaeraaya vais(h)ravaNaaya mahaaraajaaya namah


Prarthana:

Viththaes(h)aaya kubaeraaya rajarajaaya yakshasae


Dhanaadhyakshaaya s(h)reedaaya aekapinkaayathae namah

Om yakshaaya kubaeraaya vais(h)ravaNaaya dhanadhaanyaadhi pathayae namah

Dhanadhaanya samruddhimmae daehithaa paya svaahaa


Kshamaa Prarthana:

Manthraheenam Kriyaaheenam bhakthiheenam mahes(h)vara
Yathpoojitham mayaa daeva paripoornam thadasthu thae

Samarpanam:

Take a tsp of water in the right hand and pour the water in front of the deity chanting

Kaayaena vaachaa manasaendriyairvaa buddhyaathmanaa vaa prakruthaessvabhaavaath
Karomi yadyathsakalam parasmai naraayanaayaethi samarpayaami

Complete the puja with namaskaram.

The photo is posted below.

Love & regards,
Chithra.

sweet mam ,
i am a silent visitor of this forum . but today i just can't stop to stay that U R REALY GREAT: . there r countless things which i hv learnt frm this site espically i admire u . what a descripition u hv given on how to do a prefect diwali pooja . i realy don't hv words to praise u . u r a perfect lady with unlimited knowledge in all aspects and still a down to earth person .i respect u alot but after seeing ur sooo much
dedication to IL i realy want to worship u . ohhh mam I REALY LOVE U . i know i am not a good writer i realy don't hv so many nice words to describe my feelings towards u but i just know whtever i am saying its all coming frm the core of my heart .

WITH TONS OF LOVE

hi Mrs CV,

i am currently in my inlaws place, and as a principle, i have decided not to sit at the comp for a long time(though my inlaws are totally cool about it). Somehow, when thursdays come, i cannot resist myself from opening the comp! I loved ur writeup. Since i will be here for Diwali, i thought i can prepare for all this with my MILs help.

The various Lakshmis have been beautifully explained and your picture, as always is a treat to our eyes! Pooja steps seem simple and easy to follow! Thank you very much Mrs CV, as ever your posts are of great value and carries a lot of weightage in gearing ourselves towards a positive lifestyle! :)

Thank you so very much!
Purni

Dear Chitra,

Your explanation and the puja vidhanam for Deepawali will certainly make my this year's Deepawali puja all the more special. Your post gives the added lustre to the coming festival. I have heard about Lakshmi puja for Deepawali, never thought Kubera was also worshipped on that day and that there are pictures of both the dieties together. I seem to learn so much from your posts.
Heena's response to you touched me!! Hence I can imagine what such adoration may mean to you. Her words were not one too many. Well done Heena:)

L, Kamla

The abundant love I am getting from everyone of you in such large measure, makes this deepavali the best, so far, in my life, believe me.
Unless you ar a sweet soul yourself, you cannot write so adoringly to a person whom you have never met in your life. That is the special bond created by I L - we cannot thank Induslady enough.
Every mail of yours to me touches the core of my heart, deeply.
I cannot thank God enough for all these gestures from I L ites.
A small request, be a "verbal visitor" herafter, instead of being a silent visitor.
Love, more love, more & more love,
Chithra.

The puja is quite simple to do. I did'nt purposely write an elaborate format, knowing everybody's priorities, that day.
I will be very happy if you can do it.
I like lighting the 16 lamps every friday, without fail. It gives such a divine, auspicious look to the puja room.
Love & regards,
Chithra.

Heena's post made me literally weep. What punyam have I done, to deserve so much of love from the I L ites ? I become too sentimental to express in words. I only pray, God should be with me in every thing I do, write & talk. His Grace only directs me in everything ! I cannot thank God enough.
Kubera worship is a recent development which you might not have heard. This picture is kept by many in their wallets. Please do come to Chennai & stay with me. I will update you with all the latest trends here - you will be overawed !
Cultural developments are far too many !
Thankyou for the sweet F B .
Love & regards,
Chithra.

Dear Chitra,

I am still looking for the right word to express how I feel now after seeing the Diwali pujai post by you...! You have made my day ...Seriously, Any kind of religious post instigated by you are not missed by me and I make sure to follow it verbatim at home and let me tell you, it gives me so much peace and happiness after I do all that at home. In fact, I receited all the slokas that you had posted for navraathiri at home , believe me, I couldn't have had more peace than what I had after chanting all your slokas...My husband when he spoke to his sister after navraathiri, with all pride was praising me for being so religious and following every poojai very meticulously, But Chitra all that credit should rightfully go to you, it was you, my religious mentor, who taught me all this slokas ! (Accept my sincere apologise for not sharing this incident with you earlier.)

Now you have given me another opportunity to learn more slokams and know one more new poojai ! If you are in front of me now, I will definitely do namaskaram to you, for your pure heart and your noble deeds. I only pray my aanji that he gives you more and more good health and looooooooooonnnnnnnnggggggggg life...

Dear Chitra, Looking at your unconditional service to IL, I feel you're the perfect icon of nobleness...but, by doing such duties to unseen, unknown people like us, you have gone beyond the heights of nobleness...!! Million thanks to you for all that you do, I feel its a blessing that I have got to know you !

Thanks for the posting, I will without any doubt, perform this pujai on the day of diwali.

However, I have few doubts to ask (as usual insignificant questions), please bear with me and enlighten me !

1. It is not possible to get 16 small lamps here for the pujai, what would be its substitution ??
2. Additional to your lakshmi archanai, Can the Lakshmi Sathanamaavali (with kumkum archanai) be chanted ?
3. What does Neeranjanam / Kshamaa Prarthana mean ?
4. I have heard of Kuberan Kolam. Can we also put kubera kolam in front of kubera picture while doing the kubera pooja ? If so, Can you give me right format of kuberan kolam ? (In www.ikolam.com, there is a kubera kolam shown, Can that be used?)

This question may not be relevant to your post, however wish to clarify a long-time doubt..I have seen the number 16 frequently used in prayers/poojai's (in your post as 16 lamps). In hanuman chalisa book too, it is said that receiting the slokam for 16 times is considered auspicious, What is the spiritual signifance of number 16 ? I just want to know !

Thanks & Regards,
Preethi

First Heena's and now your post made me really cry today.
Please do not praise me - I always think Praise be to the Lord. I am just His instrument, as they say in tamil " aattuvithaal aadaathor yaro?".
There is noway, you can help, if you cannot get 16 lamps. Use even earthenware kinnams if you get. Please do not use steel.
Definitely sathanamavali can be performed.
Neeranjanam means arathi.
Kshama prarthana means asking for forgiveness for any error in the puja, either chanting or performing.
I do not know kubera kolam. If you can draw it, well & good.
As far as I know, 16 stands for the qualities, I have given after each Lakshmi's name.
I thank you again for a very touching post, my dear Preethi!
Love & regards,
Chithra.