A Comprehensive Guide to Worshiping Santoshi Mata in Hinduism
Santoshi Mata is considered the goddess of contentment, satisfaction, and well-being in Hinduism. Devotees worship her to seek peace, happiness, prosperity, and to overcome financial difficulties. The Santoshi Mata Vrat (fast) is especially popular among women, and it is performed over 16 consecutive Fridays to fulfill wishes. This guide covers the full worship procedure, ensuring that eco-friendly and traditional puja practices are followed.
1. Cleanliness and Purity
- Preparation: Before beginning the worship, both the home and the individual performing the puja must be clean.
- Bathing: Take a bath early in the morning, wear clean clothes, and keep your mind calm and focused.
- Puja Space: Clean the area where the puja will be conducted. Create a small altar for Santoshi Mata using a picture or an idol of the goddess.
- Avoid Using Plastic: Use only eco-friendly materials like clay lamps, cotton wicks, and biodegradable puja items.
2. Time for Worship
- Friday: Santoshi Mata is typically worshipped on Fridays, especially during the 16-week Vrat, which is considered highly auspicious.
- Morning Hours: The puja can be done in the morning, preferably between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM, after bathing and cleaning.
3. Clothing for Worship
- Color of Clothing: Wear clean and modest attire. White, yellow, or light pink are the most auspicious colors to wear during the Santoshi Mata puja. These colors represent purity, peace, and devotion.
- Avoid Black: Do not wear black clothes, as the color is considered inauspicious for this puja.
4. Puja Items Required
To keep the ritual eco-friendly, avoid non-biodegradable materials. Use natural, traditional items wherever possible.
Basic Puja Items:
- Picture or Idol of Santoshi Mata.
- Earthen/Clay Lamp (Diya) with cotton wicks.
- Ghee or oil for the lamp.
- Incense sticks (Agarbatti).
- Fresh flowers (Lotus, Marigold, Jasmine – use locally available flowers).
- Turmeric and Kumkum (Red Vermillion).
- Raw rice grains.
- A small pot of clean water for offering.
- Eco-friendly, biodegradable plates for placing items.
- Bananas and other fresh fruits.
- Jaggery (Gud) and gram flour (Besan) for prasad.
- Earthen or metal Kalash (water vessel).
- Grass mats or cotton cloth for seating.
5. Steps for Santoshi Mata Puja
a. Preparation:
- Begin by cleaning the puja area and setting up the altar with the idol or picture of Santoshi Mata.
- Arrange the puja items in a clean and organized manner.
b. Lighting the Lamp:
- Light a clay diya filled with ghee or oil, with a cotton wick, and place it on the altar.
- Light incense sticks to purify the environment.
c. Offering Water:
- Pour a little water in front of the deity with your right hand as a symbol of purification and welcome.
d. Applying Tilak:
- Apply turmeric and kumkum (vermilion) to the idol or picture of Santoshi Mata and then to your forehead.
e. Offering Flowers:
- Offer fresh flowers at the feet of Santoshi Mata while chanting mantras (given below).
f. Offering Prasad:
- Prepare Prasad: Santoshi Mata's preferred prasad is a simple mixture of jaggery (gud) and gram flour (besan). You can make small balls or offer it simply in a plate.
- Milk and fruits like bananas can also be offered along with this prasad.
g. Chanting Mantras & Prayers:
Recite Santoshi Mata's mantra to invoke her blessings:
Mantra:
"Santoshi Mata, Mata Santoshi Maa,
Kripa Karo Mata, Kripa Karo Santoshi Maa."Another popular mantra: "Om Shri Santoshi Mata Namah."
Prayer: A Simple Prayer: "O Santoshi Mata, please bless me and my family with contentment, peace, and prosperity. Remove all obstacles from our path and help us lead a life of righteousness and satisfaction."
h. Aarti:
Perform a simple Aarti by waving the diya in front of Santoshi Mata’s image while chanting:
"Jai Santoshi Mata, Jai Santoshi Mata,
Maiya Jai Santoshi Mata."Sing or recite the Santoshi Mata Aarti with devotion.
i. Circumambulation (Pradakshina):
- After the Aarti, perform three circumambulations (pradakshina) around the deity while chanting Santoshi Mata’s name.
6. Concluding the Puja
- Final Prayer: Ask for Santoshi Mata’s blessings for yourself and your family. Thank her for her presence and seek contentment in all aspects of life.
- Distribute Prasad: After the puja, share the jaggery and gram flour prasad with all family members. Make sure to give it to everyone, especially to children, as it is considered auspicious.
7. What to do with Leftover Puja Items
- Eco-friendly Disposal: Ensure that all leftover items like flowers, water, and prasad are disposed of in an eco-friendly manner.
- Flowers: These can be buried in your garden or used as compost to feed plants.
- Water from Kalash: Sprinkle the water in your home, especially near plants or trees.
- Puja Materials: Use natural, biodegradable materials wherever possible. Clay lamps can be recycled, and organic items like cotton wicks can be composted.
8. Importance of Santoshi Mata Worship
Worshiping Santoshi Mata is considered to bring peace, contentment, and prosperity. Her worship helps devotees to:
- Achieve mental and emotional peace.
- Overcome financial difficulties.
- Fulfill their desires and seek prosperity.
- Foster contentment and satisfaction in life.
- Remove obstacles and challenges, especially concerning family welfare.
9. Benefits of Worshiping Santoshi Mata
- Fulfillment of Desires: Regular worship of Santoshi Mata helps in fulfilling one's wishes and desires.
- Family Harmony: Her blessings help to maintain peace and harmony within the family.
- Wealth and Prosperity: Devotees often experience growth in wealth and overall prosperity.
- Spiritual Growth: Following the rituals encourages self-discipline and devotion, leading to spiritual growth.
- Contentment: As the goddess of contentment, she bestows mental satisfaction, removing feelings of dissatisfaction or restlessness.
10. Final Notes
- Santoshi Mata Vrat: For those performing the 16-week Vrat, it is important to avoid sour foods like curd and tamarind on Fridays. Consume simple, satvic food.
- Eco-consciousness: Always try to use natural products and avoid synthetic materials during the puja to maintain harmony with nature.
By following this guide and maintaining an attitude of devotion, simplicity, and sustainability, devotees can truly connect with Santoshi Mata and receive her blessings for a contented and fulfilling life.