Deepawali (Diwali) Puja

DEITY (आराध्य): Lakshmi Ji / Ganesh Ji

DEEPAWALI (DIWALI) PUJA PURPOSE : 

• For Wealth ( धन )
• Fame ( कीर्ति )
•  Gain ( लाभ )
•  Defeat Enemy ( शत्रु पराजय )

AUSPICIOUS TIME FOR DEEPAWALI (DIWALI) PUJA:  

Auspicious Muhurta Deepawali till the time of Muhurta.

PUJA PLACE :

Below are more auspicious places for performing Deepawali (Diwali) Puja in Kashi & Your Puja - Japa will be performed in Vedic way at either of these places.

Lakshmi Temple-Laksa Kashi / Kashi Kedarkhand

For live streaming or recording purpose the Puja maybe performed in a different temple in Kashi Kshetram.

The prasad can be offered at the specific temple mentioned/desired.

Diwali Puja (Deepawali Puja)

What is Diwali or Deepawali?

Deep + Aawali, Deep means lighted lamps and Aawali means a row or series, hence Deepawali literally means a 'row of lights.

Deepawali is also referred to as Diwali by most of us. This Sanatana Dharma Hindu festival, Deepawali which is celebrated worldwide, commonly for almost a five  or say precisely for 5-days is undoubtedly filled with celebrations, happiness, family bonding, prosperity, and many more.  Deepawali is usually celebrated twenty days after the festival of Vijaya Dashami (Dusshera) which falls immediately after the Shardiya Navaratri Durga-Puja occasion. (9-day festival during the winter season)

Deepawali marks its entry with Dhanteras, Dhanvantari puja, then Naraka Chaturdashi, and then Lakshmi Puja day, followed by Dhanavantari Puja, Govardhan Puja & Balipratipada, and then comes Bhai Dooj and lastly the Vishwakarma Puja.

How are Epics connected to Diwali/ Deepawali?

(Diwali is connected to the Ramayana & the Mahabharata)

The Hindu households connect the festivity with the two great epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata respectively. Basically, the Indian populace of East, West, North, and South celebrate as per their age-old tradition and ritualistic ancestral following. However, the people in North and South India connect the festival celebrations accordingly; In North India, people celebrate the festival of Deepawali with great pomp and show along with ritualistic traditional fervor and link it to the return of Lord Rama, Mata Sita, and Lakshmana from 14-years of exile to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana of Lanka. While people in the southern parts of India, celebrate Deepawali in connection to Pancha Pandavas ending their 13-years of exile on this day. Hence in southern parts of India, the festival starts with the day when Lord Krishna along with his wife Satyabhama killed the Asura (demon) Narakasura, thus the celebration of Naraka Chaturdashi just a day before Deepawali happens here.

References of the Diwali Festivity:

• The ancient scriptures of India have references in Padma Purana, Vishnu Purana, Kalika Purana, and also in the Bhavishya Purana & Brahmavaivarta Purana, as well in the play Nagananda written by Sri Harsha of the Vardana dynasty which refers to Deepotsava and Yaksha Ratri.
• The Naraka Chaturdashi has its references mentioned in the Vishnu Purana as well the Harivamsha.
• The Padma Purana refers to and marks the first day of Deepawali, ‘Dhanteras Day’ as the birth of Goddess Lakshmi from the Ksheer Sagar (milky ocean), when the churning of the primordial ocean (Samudra Manthan) happened, and when the Gods & demons churned the milky ocean to extract the Amrit Kalasha (the pot of Nectar).

• The scriptures have references that, Goddess Lakshmi married Lord Vishnu on the third day that is supposed to be Deepawali day.

• The scriptures have references, the fourth day of Deepawali referred to as Bali Pratipada, connecting it with Lord Mahavishnu’s Vamana Avatar and King Bali. In the state of Kerala, this day is celebrated as Balirajya, and for them, King Bali ascended the kingdom’s throne.

• The Deepawali festivity celebration is extensively associated with Goddess Lakshmi, who bestows upon wealth and prosperity, while many other regional parts of India connect the festival days to Lord Rama and Mata Sita, Lord Vishnu, Shri Krishna, Lord of Death -Yamadharmaraja, and his sister the Yamuna, Maa Durga, Maa Kali, Obstacle remover Lord Ganesha, Kubera, Dhanvantari, Vishwakarma.

Deepawali and other Religious faiths:

• As per the followers of Jainism, they observe their traditional way of Deepawali  associated with the final liberation or Nirvana of Lord Mahavira
• In Sikhism, the Sikhs celebrate it as Bandi Chhor Diwas, which commemorates the release of Shri Guru Hargobind ji Maharaj from the prisons of the Mughal Empire.
• The Newar Buddhists, unlike other Buddhists do celebrate Deepawali by worshipping Goddess Lakshmi
• The Hindus celebrate and offer prayers to Lord Ganesha, Mata Lakshmi, Lord Kuber, Mata Kali on Deepawali day.

Deepawali Variations Region wise: Their Practices and Rituals

The Deepawali celebrations go on for 5 to 7 days, and the best part is that each day and God-Goddess, myths, rituals, and puja celebrations are associated accordingly in our Hindu culture. On any festival occasion, we all prefer giving a clean and neat look to our worship place, overall on the Deepawali festive occasion, most of the populace whitewash, buy new furniture, utensils, gold, silver, new clothes, etc. Almost every Hindu household glitters with oil lamps; electric bulb series and rangoli (motifs/ designs) made at entrances of home as well workplaces.

First Day, Dhanteras: Dhanteras is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Dhana’ which means wealth, while Trayodashi refers to the 13th day before the Amavasya or the New Moon day as per Hindu calendar. People, on this auspicious day, buy gold, silver, or utensils as per their choice, convenience, and budget. On this day people also worship Lord Dhanvantari (God of Ayurveda). Worship and conducting of puja through Vedic Brahmins at their homes, factories, and offices invoking the God & Goddesses for prosperity, well-being.

Second Day, Naraka Chaturdashi: This day is supposed to be the 14th day (one day before the New Moon Day), the Hindu families celebrate the victory over the demon Narakasur’s demise. People in other parts of India, especially South India, celebrate Deepawali on this day, get up early in the morning adorn new clothes, buy sweets, do puja & fireworks, etc. In North India it is called (little/ small) Chhoti Deepawali, people visit their family, friends exchange gifts on this day.

Third Day, Deepawali: This day is considered the main day of Deepawali, earthen lamps are lit, electric twinkling lights are hung, display of fireworks goes on, sweets, gifts are distributed, and many more. Hindu households across India do Ganesh, Lakshmi Kuber puja at home, office, factories, etc. themselves as well invite Vedic Pundits to conduct puja, abhisheka, havan, etc. 

Fourth Day, Annakoot/ Padwa/ Govardhan puja/ Bali Pratipada/ Vishwakarma Puja/ Bhai Dooj:

• Annakoot/ Padwa happens, wherein as per belief, the bond between the couples gets stronger, also prosperity and well-being flourish. The families offer a ‘mountain of food’ (Annakoot), basically a huge amount of food items as offerings to the Gods.
• Govardhan Puja is celebrated with reference to the mythological legend of Lord Krishna coming out to help an entire lot of people from the wrath of Indra dev and the incessant rains, Krishna saves the people, cows, cowherd, etc. by lifting the Govardhana Mountain for them on his little finger, wherein all take shelter from the rains under it.
• Bali Pratipada is celebrated as Lord Vishnu puts his feet on the head of King Bali (who is worshipped in Kerala on this day), King Bali ascends the throne this day, and the day is referred to the Vamana Avatar connecting the Dasha-Avatars of Lord Mahavishnu.
• Vishwakarma Puja is celebrated this day by the worker community, especially the offices, factories, vehicles, etc. are given a new look, prayers offered to Lord Vishwakarma who is the Hindu god of engineering and architecture. The trader community considers it as the first day of the year for new work.

Fifth Day, Bhai Dooj: This day represents the true bond between brothers and sisters. The legend of Lord Yama, (the God of death) and his sister the Yamuna, (river Yamuna) is associated with this day Bhai dooj.  On this day, the brothers go to visit their sister/s, who welcomes him/ them with a tilak (a mark by Sandal paste and vermillion as a mark of protection and greeting), aarti is done and food and gifts exchange marks the festival.

Significance of Lakshmi Puja on the day of Deepawali:

Goddess Lakshmi is a gesture of prosperity, power, and the giver of wealth and wisdom. She bestows upon Abhaya and Gyaan in her right hands- (basically Abhaya Gyana Pradayini). The golden pot of wealth is seen on her left hand, which indicates (Dhana Dayini), one who will grace her blessings through prosperity in the form of gold coins. Goddess ‘LAKSHMI’ is the one who blesses with the significance of dharma, artha, kaama, and moksha. On this day people worship, offer puja, conduct havan, etc. to the 8-divine forms of Goddess Lakshmi.

Mata Lakshmi’s divine 8-forms Ashtalakshmi’s are 1. Adi Lakshmi, (Adi - First) 2. Dhana Lakshmi, (wealth)  3. Dhanya Lakshmi, (foodgrains) 4. Gaja Lakshmi, (elephant) 5. Santana Lakshmi, (children) 6. Veera or Dhairya Lakshmi, (bravery & valour), 7. Jaya/ Vijaya Lakshmi, (victory), and 8. Vidya Lakshmi, (knowledge). Maa Lakshmi is mostly witnessed, adorned on a pink/ red lotus flower amid an elephant on both sides, blessing with Abhaya mudra.

What all Abhisheka, Puja, Havan, Jaap are conducted in the festive period of 5-7 days:

On each specific day during the Deepawali puja Mahotsav many Hindu households invite Vedic Pundits to conduct the varied abhisheka, puja, havan, pathatmak puja, mantra jaap, etc. for their well-being, prosperity, and many more. The following things are done as per one’s demand, choice, and ritualistic Vedic practice of their ancestors.

•  Abhisheka of Gods/ Goddesses and Yantra’s (bathing ritual)
• Puja and Hawan of Ganapati, Mahalakshmi, Ashtalakshmi, Kubera, Shri Yantra/ Kubera Yantra,
• Pathaatmak puja, recitation of Shri Suktam, Shri Kanakadhara Stotram, ashtalakshmi Stotram, Lakshmi Ashtotrashatnaamawali (108 names of Goddess Lakshmi)
• Mantra jaap 21000, 16000 and could be 5100 or 11000 too as per choice and vow.

Benefits of worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on Diwali day:

Lakshmi Puja done on any day is equally considered good, but special prayers rendered on the Diwali are auspicious, bestows upon the doer and his family with material and religious riches. The Goddess removes all hurdles in one’s life and provides contentment. Thus we, by performing the Lakshmi Puja on Deepawali day,  get the blessings of the Goddess in her divine 8-forms, while we overcome hunger &  poverty, failures & debts, loss of wealth, and financial crunches as well hurdles of any sort for that matter. Offering special puja through Vedic Brahmins on this day brings specific advantages in the family of one and all. Thus many offer religiously Vedic scriptures prescribed puja to the Ashta Lakshmi’s (eight forms of Goddess Lakshmi) to be graced & blessed by the Supreme Goddess. The eight forms are defined as under:

• Puja offered to Dhana Lakshmi – the one who bestows upon wealth and all kinds of riches.
• Puja offered to Gaja Lakshmi – the one who bestows upon mobility-based properties i.e. vehicles.
• Puja offered to Adya Lakshmi – the one who bestows upon limitless prosperity.
• Puja offered to Vijay Lakshmi – the one who bestows upon success, valour, and bravery.
• Puja offered Dhairya Lakshmi – the one who bestows upon patience and objectiveness with a goal.
• Puja offered Dhaanya Lakshmi – the one, who bestows upon food, nourishes us with good health.
• Puja offered Vidya Lakshmi – the one who bestows upon knowledge and intelligence.
• Puja offered Santan Lakshmi – the one who bestows upon progeny or children and good family.

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