Lalita Tripura Sundari, also known as Shodashi or Sri Vidya, is a central figure in Shakti worship. She is considered the most beautiful form of the Divine Mother, representing beauty, love, and wisdom. Worshipping her with devotion is said to bestow grace, inner peace, material prosperity, and spiritual enlightenment.
Here’s a comprehensive eco-friendly guide to performing a simple, yet fulfilling Lalita Tripura Sundari Puja:
1. Cleanliness and Preparation
Before beginning the puja, maintaining cleanliness is essential.
Physical Cleanliness: Take a bath to cleanse your body and mind. Wear fresh, clean clothes.
Space Cleanliness: Clean the place where you will perform the puja. This should be a dedicated and peaceful space, preferably facing east. Place a small mat or cloth for seating.
2. Best Time to Perform the Puja
Ideal Day: The best day to worship Lalita Tripura Sundari is on Friday, especially during the waxing moon phase (Shukla Paksha).
Ideal Time: Perform the puja during the Brahma Muhurta (pre-dawn, around 4-6 am) or during the evening hours (sunset).
3. Attire: Which Color Clothes to Wear
Preferred Colors: Wear red, pink, or yellow clothing, as these colors are associated with the Goddess's beauty and energy.
Eco-friendly Materials: Ensure your attire is made from natural, eco-friendly materials like cotton or silk.
4. Puja Items Required (Eco-friendly)
Idol or Image of Lalita Tripura Sundari: Choose an image or idol made from natural materials like clay or wood.
Eco-friendly Puja Items:
- Kumkum (vermilion): Made from natural herbs.
- Turmeric powder: For purity and auspiciousness.
- Natural flowers: Red roses, lotus, hibiscus (use pesticide-free or homegrown flowers).
- Sandalwood paste: Made from natural ingredients.
- Betel leaves and areca nuts.
- Akshata (rice mixed with turmeric).
- Coconut: Preferably organic.
- Ghee lamps: Use earthen diyas and cotton wicks with organic ghee.
- Incense sticks: Made from natural, non-toxic ingredients.
- Fresh fruits: Offer locally grown and organic fruits like bananas, mangoes, and pomegranates.
5. Steps of the Puja
Step 1: Dhyana (Meditation)
Sit in a quiet place and meditate on the form of Lalita Tripura Sundari. Visualize her adorned in red and gold, sitting on a lotus, symbolizing beauty, love, and supreme knowledge.
Step 2: Sankalpa (Intention)
Close your eyes and take a Sankalpa (resolve) that you are performing this puja for spiritual and material well-being.
Step 3: Avahana (Invoking the Goddess)
Chant the following mantra to invite the presence of Goddess Lalita Tripura Sundari:
“Om Aim Hreem Shreem Shree Matre Namah”
Offer a few grains of rice (Akshata) while chanting.
Step 4: Offering Flowers (Pushpa)
Offer red or pink flowers to the idol or image, chanting:
“Om Lalita Tripura Sundariyai Namah”
Step 5: Kumkum and Turmeric Offering
Offer kumkum and turmeric to the Goddess, symbolizing respect and honor.
Step 6: Lighting the Lamp
Light an earthen lamp with organic ghee, praying for enlightenment and the removal of darkness (ignorance) from your life.
Step 7: Offering Fruits and Sweets (Naivedya)
Place the organic fruits and homemade sweets (prasad) in front of the Goddess.
Step 8: Chanting the Sri Lalita Sahasranama or Simple Mantras
Recite the Sri Lalita Sahasranama (1000 names of the Goddess) if possible, or chant simple mantras like:
“Om Shreem Hreem Kleem Aim Sauh Shree Matre Namah”
You can also chant 108 names of Lalita Devi, or repeat “Om Lalita Tripura Sundariyai Namah” as much as possible.
6. Prasad (Food Offering)
Prepare organic, homemade sweets like coconut ladoos, rice pudding (kheer), or saffron-infused sweets.
Offer fresh fruits like bananas, mangoes, or apples.
7. Concluding the Puja
After completing the offerings, perform an Aarti with an earthen lamp and chant:
“Om Shreem Hreem Lalita Devi Namah”.
Offer prayers for the welfare of all beings. Express gratitude and seek the Goddess’s blessings.
8. Mantras and Prayers to Chant
- Lalita Sahasranama: A detailed scripture of the 1000 names of the Goddess.
- Lalita Trishati: The 300 names of Lalita Devi.
- Shodashi Mantra:
“Om Aim Hreem Shreem Shodashi Lalitambikayai Namah”.
Repeat any of these mantras, ideally in multiples of 108, for enhanced benefits.
9. Eco-friendly Disposal of Leftover Puja Items
Flowers and Leaves: Compost them or immerse in a natural water body. Avoid using plastic or harmful materials.
Coconut: After offering the coconut, break it and distribute it as prasad.
Incense Ashes: Collect the ashes and sprinkle them in your garden or on plants as they contain carbon and organic materials.
Earthen Lamps: After use, the clay diyas can be washed and reused or allowed to biodegrade naturally.
10. Importance of Worshipping Lalita Tripura Sundari
Spiritual Upliftment: Worship of Lalita Devi brings peace of mind, dissolves karmic baggage, and leads to spiritual awakening.
Material Benefits: It is believed that worshipping her ensures prosperity, health, and success.
Healing Relationships: She is the embodiment of divine love, and worshipping her helps to resolve conflicts and fosters loving relationships.
11. Benefits of Worshipping Lalita Tripura Sundari
Wisdom and Enlightenment: As the embodiment of knowledge, she bestows clarity and sharp intellect.
Wealth and Prosperity: She is the Goddess of fortune, bringing abundance into the lives of her devotees.
Inner Peace and Harmony: Devotion to Lalita Tripura Sundari creates an atmosphere of peace and balance, leading to emotional and mental stability.
By following these simple steps and using eco-friendly materials, you can worship Lalita Tripura Sundari in a sustainable and spiritually enriching way.