How to Perform Shodashopachara Puja of Goddess Mahalakshmi
October 13, 2025 Monday
How to Perform Shodashopachara Puja of Goddess Mahalakshmi on Diwali Day
Diwali in 2025 will be celebrated on 20 October. As per tradition, Mahalakshmi Puja is performed during the Pradosh Kaal on Kartik Amavasya. Many people wish to perform Lakshmi Puja at home but are unaware of the complete procedure. Here is the step-by-step Shodashopachara Puja Vidhi (16-step ritual worship) of Goddess Mahalakshmi:
1. Avahanam (Invocation of Goddess Lakshmi)
Invoke the presence of Goddess Lakshmi with this mantra:
Sanskrit Shloka:
ॐ हिरण्यवर्णां हरिणीं सुवर्णरजतस्रजाम् ।
चन्द्रां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मीं जातवेदो म आ वह ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Om hiranyavarnām hariṇīm suvarṇarajatasrajām |
chandrām hiraṇmayīm lakṣmīm jātavedo ma ā vaha ||
Meaning:
O Jatavedah (Fire God), please invite Mahalakshmi, who shines like gold, is deer-like in grace, adorned with garlands made of gold and silver, radiant like the moon, and delighting the world like Chanchala (a form of Lakshmi), to enter my home.
2. Asanam (Offering of Seat)
Offer a seat to the Goddess using this mantra:
Sanskrit Shloka:
ॐ तां म आ व ह जातवेदो लक्ष्मीमनपगामिनीम् ।
यस्यां हिरण्यं विन्देयं गामश्वं पुरुषानहम् ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Om tām ma ā vaha jātavedo lakṣmīmanapagāminīm |
yasyām hiraṇyaṁ vindeyaṁ gāmaśvaṁ puruṣānaham ||
Meaning:
O Fire God, bring to my home that renowned Goddess Lakshmi, whose presence blesses us with gold, cows, horses, and sons and grandsons.
3. Padyam (Washing of Feet)
Wash the divine feet of the Goddess with this mantra:
Sanskrit Shloka:
ॐ अश्वपूर्वां रथमध्यां हस्तिनाद्प्रमोदिनीम् ।
श्रियम् देवीमुप ह्वये श्रीर्मा देवी जुषताम् ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Om aśvapūrvāṁ rathamadhyāṁ hastinādpramodinīm |
śriyam devīmupa hvaye śrīrmā devī juṣatām ||
Meaning:
I invite that Goddess Shri (Lakshmi), who sits in a chariot yoked with horses and elephants trumpeting in joy, shining brilliantly, and protecting all beings, to reside in my home forever.
4. Arghyam (Offering Water)
Offer sacred water to the Goddess with this mantra:
Sanskrit Shloka:
ॐ कां सोस्मितां हिरण्यप्राकारामार्द्रां ज्वलन्तीं तृप्तां तर्पयन्तीम् ।
पद्मेस्थितां पदमवर्णां तामिहोप ह्वये श्रियम् ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Om kāṁ sosmitāṁ hiraṇyaprākārāmārdraṁ jvalantīṁ tṛptāṁ tarpayantīm |
padmēsthitāṁ padamavarṇāṁ tāmihopa hvaye śriyam ||
Meaning:
I invite the indescribable, gentle-smiling, golden-hued, radiant, and ever-satisfied Lakshmi, who fulfills the desires of her devotees and resides upon the lotus.
5. Achaman (Sipping Water Ritual)
Offer achaman to the Goddess with this mantra:
Sanskrit Shloka:
ॐ चन्द्रां प्रभासां यशसा ज्वलन्ती श्रियं लोके देवजुष्टामुदाराम् ।
तां पद्मिनीमीं शरणं प्रपद्ये अलक्ष्मीर्मे नश्यतां त्वां वृणे ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Om candrāṁ prabhāsāṁ yaśasā jvalantī śriyaṁ loke devajuṣṭāmudārām |
tāṁ padminīmīṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadye alakṣmīrme naśyatāṁ tvāṁ vṛṇe ||
Meaning:
I surrender to the radiant and glorious Lakshmi, honored by the gods and dwelling in the lotus. May misfortune leave me and may I receive you, O Lakshmi.
6. Snanam (Holy Bath)
Offer a symbolic bath to the Goddess using this mantra:
Sanskrit Shloka:
ॐ आदित्यवर्णे तपसोऽधि जातो वनस्पतिस्तव वृक्षोऽथ बिल्वः ।
तस्य फलानि तपसा नुदन्तु या अन्तरा याश्च बाह्या अलक्ष्मीः ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Om ādityavarṇe tapaso’dhi jāto vanaspatistava vṛkṣo’tha bilvaḥ |
tasya phalāni tapasā nudantu yā antarā yāśca bāhya alakṣmīḥ ||
Meaning:
O Goddess of sun-like radiance, may the fruits of the sacred Bilva tree, born from your austerity, remove both internal and external poverty.
7. Vastra (Offering of Clothes)
Offer clothes to the Goddess with this mantra:
Sanskrit Shloka:
उपैतु मां देवसखः कीर्तिश्च मणिना सह ।
प्रदुभुर्तॉऽस्मि रास्ट्रेऽस्मिन् कीर्तिंमृद्धिम ददातु मे ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Upaitu māṁ devasakhaḥ kīrtiśca maṇinā saha |
pradubhṛto’smi rāṣṭre’smin kīrtiṁ ṛddhim dadātu me ||
Meaning:
May Indra, friend of the gods, along with wealth, fame, and gems, bless me. As I am born in this land, let me be endowed with glory and prosperity.
8. Upavastra (Offering Inner Garment)
Offer inner clothing (choli) to the Goddess with this mantra:
Sanskrit Shloka:
क्षुत्पिपासामलां ज्येष्ठमलक्ष्मीं नाशयाम्यहम् ।
अभूतिमसमृद्धिं च सर्वां निर्गद मे गृहात् ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Kṣutpipāsāmalāṁ jyeṣṭhamalakṣmīṁ nāśayāmyaham |
abhūtimasamṛddhiṁ ca sarvāṁ nirgada me gṛhāt ||
Meaning:
I destroy hunger, thirst, and poverty, which are the elder sisters of Lakshmi. May all misfortune and failure leave my home forever.
9. shodashopachara Puja – Gandha (Offering Fragrance)
Offer sandalwood paste with this mantra:
Sanskrit Shloka:
गन्धद्वारां दुराधर्षां नित्यपुष्टां करीषिणीम् ।
ईश्वरीं सर्वभूतानां तामिहोप हवये श्रियम् ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Gandhadvārāṁ durādharṣāṁ nityapuṣṭāṁ karīṣiṇīm |
īśvarīṁ sarvabhūtānāṁ tāmihopa hvaye śriyam ||
Meaning:
I invoke Goddess Lakshmi, the fragrant one, unconquerable, ever-nourishing, provider of wealth and ruler of all beings, to bless my home.
10. Saubhagya Dravya (Auspicious Items like Sindoor)
Offer sindoor and other auspicious items:
Sanskrit Shloka:
मनसः काममाकूतिं वाचः सत्यमशीमहि ।
पशुनां रूपमन्नस्य मयि श्रीः श्रयतां यशः ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Manasaḥ kāmamākūtiṁ vācaḥ satyamaśīmahi |
paśunāṁ rūpamannasya mayi śrīḥ śrayatāṁ yaśaḥ ||
Meaning:
May my mind attain good desires, my speech become truthful, may I be blessed with wealth in cattle and food, and may prosperity and fame dwell in me.
11. Pushpa (Offering Flowers)
Offer flowers with this mantra:
Sanskrit Shloka:
कर्दमेन प्रजा भूता मयि संभाव कर्दम ।
श्रियम् वासय मे कुले मातरं पद्ममालिनीम् ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Kardamena prajā bhūtā mayi saṁbhava kardama |
śriyam vāsaya me kule mātaraṁ padmamālinīm ||
Meaning:
O Kardama, who gave birth to Lakshmi, please reside in my home along with your mother, the lotus-garlanded Goddess, and bring prosperity to me and my family.
12. shodashopachara Puja – Dhoop (Offering Incense)
Light incense sticks with this mantra:
Sanskrit Shloka:
आपः सृजन्तु स्निग्धानि चिक्लीत वस् मे गृहे ।
नि च देवीं मातरं श्रियं वासय मे कुले ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Āpaḥ sṛjantu snigdhāni ciklīta vas me gṛhe |
ni ca devīṁ mātaraṁ śriyaṁ vāsaya me kule ||
Meaning:
May the divine son Ciklita of Lakshmi bring gentle prosperity to my home, and may he also bring his divine mother, the supreme Lakshmi, to reside with us.
13. Deep (Lighting Lamp)
Offer a lamp with this mantra:
Sanskrit Shloka:
आर्द्रां पुष्करिणीं पुष्टिं पिंडगलां पदमालिनीम् ।
चन्द्रां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मी जातवेदो म आ वह ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Ārdraṁ puṣkariṇīṁ puṣṭiṁ piṇḍagalāṁ padamālinīm |
candram hiraṇmayīṁ lakṣmī jātavedo ma ā vaha ||
Meaning:
O Fire God, bring Lakshmi to my home, who is moist with elephant trunks’ waters, full of nourishment, red and yellow in hue, lotus-garlanded, and golden like the moon.
14. Naivedya (Offering Food)
Offer food to the Goddess with this mantra:
Sanskrit Shloka:
आर्द्रां यः करिणीं यष्टिं सुवर्णां हेममालिनीम् ।
सूर्यां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मी जातवेदो म आ वह ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Ārdraṁ yaḥ kariṇīṁ yaṣṭiṁ suvarṇāṁ hemamālinīm |
sūryāṁ hiraṇmayīṁ lakṣmī jātavedo ma ā vaha ||
Meaning:
O Fire God, bring radiant Lakshmi, adorned with golden ornaments, shining like the sun, compassionate, and punisher of the wicked, into my home.
15. shodashopachara Puja – Dakshina (Offering Donation, Aarti, Pushpanjali)
Offer charity and perform Aarti:
Sanskrit Shloka:
तां म आवह जातवेदो लक्ष्मी मन पगामिनीम् ।
यस्यां हिरण्यं प्रभूतं गावो दास्योऽश्वान् विन्देयं पुरुषानहम् ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Tāṁ ma āvaha jātavedo lakṣmī mana pagāminīm |
yasyāṁ hiraṇyaṁ prabhūtaṁ gāvo dāsyo’śvān vindeyaṁ puruṣānaham ||
Meaning:
O Fire God, bring that unwavering Lakshmi into my home, through whom I gain gold, wealth, cows, horses, servants, and progeny.
16. Namaskara (Salutation)
Conclude the puja with salutation:
Sanskrit Shloka:
यः शुचिः प्रयतो भूत्वा जुहुयादाज्यमन्वहम् ।
सूक्तं पञ्चदशर्चं च श्रीकामः सततं जपेत् ।।
Roman Transliteration:
Yaḥ śuciḥ prayato bhūtvā juhuyādājyamanvaham |
sūktaṁ pañcadaśarcaṁ ca śrīkāmaḥ satataṁ japet ||
Meaning:
One who desires the grace of Lakshmi should remain pure and devoted, offer ghee daily into the fire, and continuously recite the 15 verses of Shri Suktam. The Goddess blesses such a devotee with enduring prosperity.