Prasanna Lakshmi, one of the eight forms of Goddess Lakshmi (Ashta Lakshmi), represents the goddess in a blissful and serene state. Worshiping Prasanna Lakshmi is believed to bring peace, prosperity, and contentment in life. This guide outlines how to perform a simple yet effective puja using eco-friendly traditional methods.
Benefits of Worshiping Prasanna Lakshmi
- Abundance: Worshiping Prasanna Lakshmi invites wealth and material prosperity into your home.
- Peace and Happiness: She bestows mental peace and removes obstacles in personal and professional life.
- Success and Fame: Blesses devotees with success in all ventures, business growth, and overall well-being.
- Emotional Stability: Her grace provides calmness and contentment, helping in overcoming anxieties and stress.
Cleanliness and Preparation
- Personal Cleanliness: Take a bath before the puja to ensure personal purity. Wearing clean clothes is crucial.
- Home Cleanliness: Clean the space where the puja will be conducted. Clean the altar thoroughly and keep the surroundings free from clutter.
- Eco-Friendly Decorations: Use natural flowers, banana leaves, and clay lamps (diyas) instead of plastic or synthetic materials.
Best Time to Worship Prasanna Lakshmi
The best time to worship Prasanna Lakshmi is Friday evening during Pradosh Kaal (1.5 hours before and after sunset), though any auspicious time, especially during full moon (Purnima) or Lakshmi puja days, is considered favorable.
Clothes to Wear
- For Men: Simple, clean, white or light-colored dhoti or traditional attire.
- For Women: Yellow or red saree, as these colors are associated with Lakshmi and denote prosperity.
- General Rule: Ensure the clothes are freshly washed and modest, symbolizing purity and reverence.
Eco-Friendly Puja Items Required
- Idol/Image of Prasanna Lakshmi: Use a clay or metal idol, avoiding synthetic materials.
- Flowers: Lotus, jasmine, marigold, and red roses (all natural and pesticide-free).
- Fruits: Coconut, banana, pomegranate, and seasonal fruits.
- Puja Lamps (Diyas): Use clay lamps filled with cow ghee or sesame oil.
- Incense Sticks: Opt for organic, non-chemical incense sticks.
- Turmeric, Kumkum, and Sandalwood Paste: These are essential for the puja.
- Akshata (Raw rice): Traditionally used in offerings, colored with natural turmeric.
- Panchamrit: A mixture of milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar for the ritual bath (abhishekam).
- Betel leaves and Betel nuts: For offering during the aarti.
- Camphor: For the final aarti, made from natural ingredients.
Simple Steps for Performing Prasanna Lakshmi Puja
Purification: Sprinkle holy water (from Ganga or any sacred river) around the puja area.
Installation of the Deity: Place the idol or image of Prasanna Lakshmi on a clean cloth or banana leaf. Decorate the area with flowers, and place lamps on either side of the idol.
Invocation (Dhyana): Sit in a meditative posture, light the lamp, and invoke the goddess by chanting the following mantra:
Mantra:
Offerings (Upachara):
- Water Offering: Offer water in a brass or copper vessel (kalash) to Prasanna Lakshmi.
- Panchamrit Abhishekam: Bathe the idol with the panchamrit and then rinse with clean water.
- Clothing and Jewelry: Offer a small piece of cloth or silk (can be symbolic) and flowers as ornaments.
- Sandalwood and Kumkum: Apply sandalwood paste and kumkum on the idol or image.
- Flowers and Akshata: Offer fresh flowers and rice grains mixed with turmeric.
- Naivedya: Offer the prepared prasad (sweet dish) to the goddess.
Aarti: Light the camphor and perform the aarti with the help of a diya or a lamp made from clay, circling the idol in a clockwise direction, and sing the Lakshmi Aarti or recite the following mantra:
Aarti Mantra:
Prayers: Conclude by reciting the Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamavali (108 names of Lakshmi) or the Lakshmi Gayatri Mantra.
Lakshmi Gayatri Mantra:
Concluding the Puja: After the aarti, pray for peace, prosperity, and success in all endeavors. Sit in silence for a moment, thanking the goddess.
Prasad Preparation
The prasad should be simple, pure, and prepared with devotion. Some traditional offerings for Prasanna Lakshmi include:
- Kheer (Rice Pudding): Made with rice, milk, and jaggery.
- Laddus: Especially made from besan or coconut.
- Coconut and Fruits: As these are considered auspicious.
Ensure the prasad is prepared without onion, garlic, or any tamasic (impure) ingredients.
Importance of Prasanna Lakshmi Worship
Worshiping Prasanna Lakshmi is a way to cultivate gratitude and invite prosperity into all areas of life. It encourages a harmonious life, both spiritually and materially. She is the goddess who bestows the fruits of patience, humility, and hard work, bringing an enduring sense of peace and contentment.
What to Do with Leftover Puja Items
- Flowers: Return the used flowers to the earth by composting them or placing them under a tree.
- Coconut and Fruits: Distribute the remaining fruits among family, friends, or feed them to animals.
- Water from Abhishekam: Sprinkle it around the house or pour it into garden plants.
- Used Incense Sticks and Camphor Ash: Dispose of them in an eco-friendly manner, or bury them in the soil.
- Offerings: Consume any food offerings or share them with others, ensuring nothing is wasted.
Avoid using non-biodegradable materials like plastic or synthetic items in the puja, as traditional, eco-friendly practices help maintain purity and respect for nature.
By following these steps and using eco-friendly, traditional materials, you not only perform a sacred act but also honor the earth and nature in alignment with the spiritual values that Prasanna Lakshmi embodies.