In the Hindu religion, prayer before a job interview can help invoke blessings, clarity of mind, and confidence. Various deities are associated with different aspects such as wisdom, knowledge, fearlessness, beauty, and success. Here are some steps, prayers, mantras, and insights on how to pray before a job interview to receive divine support.
Ideal Deities to Worship for a Successful Job Interview
- Lord Ganesha – The remover of obstacles and the god of new beginnings.
- Goddess Saraswati – The goddess of wisdom, intellect, and learning.
- Goddess Mookambika – A form of Saraswati, known for granting clarity and sharp intellect.
- Lord Krishna – Known for guiding Arjuna with wisdom and focus during difficult times (from the Bhagavad Gita).
- Goddess Durga – For courage and strength to face challenges.
- Goddess Lakshmi – For grace, beauty, and prosperity.
- Lord Hanuman – For confidence, focus, and fearlessness.
- Lord Narasimha – For courage and to eliminate fears.
- Goddess Bhuvaneshwari – For sharp memory and clarity.
Simple Steps for a Pre-Interview Puja (Prayer Ritual)
Preparation:
- Clean your space and gather items for puja such as flowers, incense, ghee lamps, fruits, and a small idol or picture of the deity.
- Take a bath to purify yourself before beginning.
Invoke Lord Ganesha:
- Start by lighting a ghee lamp and incense to seek blessings from Lord Ganesha, who removes all obstacles.
- Mantra for Ganesha:
Meaning: "Salutations to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles."ॐ गण गणपतये नमः | Om Gan Ganapataye Namah |
Prayers for Wisdom (Goddess Saraswati and Mookambika):
- Offer white flowers to Goddess Saraswati to seek clarity of mind and knowledge.
- Saraswati Mantra:
Meaning: "May Goddess Saraswati, who is adorned with white garments, holds the veena, and is revered by all, remove all ignorance and bless me with intellect."या कुन्देन्दु तुषार हार धवला या शुभ्र वस्त्रावृता | या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना || या ब्रह्माच्युत शङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता | सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ||
Prayers for Strength and Fearlessness (Hanuman and Narasimha):
Light a lamp or offer red flowers to Lord Hanuman for fearlessness and strength.
Hanuman Mantra:
ॐ हनुमते नमः | Om Hanumate Namah |
Meaning: "Salutations to Hanuman, the one who grants courage and focus."
Narasimha Mantra:
ॐ उग्रं वीरं महाविष्णुं ज्वलन्तं सर्वतोमुखम्। नृसिंहं भीषणं भद्रं मृत्युमृत्युं नमाम्यहम्॥
Meaning: "I bow down to Narasimha, the fierce form of Vishnu, who destroys death and fear."
Prayers for Grace and Beauty (Lakshmi):
- Offer fresh flowers, sweets, and fruits to Goddess Lakshmi to ensure grace, confidence, and presentability.
- Lakshmi Mantra:
Meaning: "Salutations to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of beauty and prosperity."ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः | Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah |
Prayers for Confidence and Success (Lord Krishna):
- Seek guidance from Lord Krishna for focus and determination.
- Krishna Mantra:
Meaning: "Lord Krishna, I seek your refuge for guidance and success."श्रीकृष्ण शरणं मम | Shri Krishna Sharanam Mama |
Memory and Sharpness (Goddess Bhuvaneshwari):
- Offer yellow flowers and recite this mantra to Goddess Bhuvaneshwari for memory enhancement and intellectual power.
- Bhuvaneshwari Mantra:
Meaning: "Salutations to Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, the queen of the universe who grants wisdom and sharpness of memory."ॐ ऐं ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं भुवनेश्वर्यै नमः | Om Aim Hreem Shreem Kleem Bhuvaneshwaryai Namah |
Completion of Puja:
- After offering prayers to the deities, meditate for a few moments. Visualize yourself performing well in the interview.
- Offer fruits and sweets as prasadam (holy offerings).
- If you have time, chant the following general Gayatri Mantra for overall clarity and divine guidance:
Meaning: "We meditate on the divine light of the sun, may it illuminate our intellect and guide us."ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः | तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं | भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि | धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ||
Rare and Relevant Facts for Confidence
- Hanuman Chalisa Recitation: Reciting the Hanuman Chalisa can boost confidence, remove fears, and create focus.
- Narasimha Prayers: Prayers to Lord Narasimha are especially powerful for overcoming fear and instilling boldness.
- Saraswati’s Vedic Connection: Goddess Saraswati is associated with the Rigveda, and her blessings are vital for clear speech and communication, key during interviews.
- Sattvic Diet Before Prayers: Consuming a sattvic diet (pure, vegetarian food) before the interview day and avoiding unnecessary distractions help maintain mental clarity and calm.
Final Tips
- Stay calm and composed during the interview, remembering that the divine is with you.
- Offer a small donation or perform an act of kindness after the interview as a way of expressing gratitude.
- Keep an image of your chosen deity with you for a quick mental prayer or mantra chanting before entering the interview room.
By combining spiritual devotion with practical preparation, you can increase your confidence and sense of well-being before the interview, drawing divine support for your success.