Sri Satyanarayana Vratha Katha

After performing the Satyanarayana Puja, one should read Lord Satyanarayana's Vratha Katha without fail.

Click Here for details on Sri Satyanarayana Puja method.

INTRODUCTION

Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita (Ch4.9) " Janma Karma cha may divyam yevam yo veththi tha-thwathah...." " One who knows My divine birth and activities will not be born again". Sri Sathyanarayana katha is one such activity of the Lord, by studying which we have every chance of being liberated. Sri Sathyanarayana katha forms a vital and integral part of this pooja. Not listening to the katha will be a major loss. Repeatedly hearing this story and meditating on its different aspects will make us more and more interested in the Lord and His activities. As the Lord Himself says further in Gita (Ch9.14) "Sathatham keerthayantho maam yathanthascha dradhavrathaah: "The mahaatmaas among devotees, always speak and sing My glories, and try with determination, to realize Me"

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

CHAPTER 1

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

Shri Sathyanaranayana katha is from Skandha purana, Reva kaanda. Sutha Puraanikji was the narrator of these stories, in Neimishaaranya to the rishis lead by Shounakji who were performing a 1000 year yajna for the benefit of mankind.

Shounakaji and others now ask Suta Puranikji an important question. "When a man has a desire, how can he fulfill that ethically sound desire? By worshipping whom, by what vrita, or tapas? Please let us know.

Sutaji was pleased to know that this question they asked, was for the benefit of the mankind and not for their personal benefit, for, they had abandoned their homes and all desires. Sutaji said " this question was also asked by Devarshi Naradaji once to Lord Narayana Himself; Let me tell you that story.

Once Naradaji was traveling all over the worlds and finally came to Bhuloka, where he found almost everyone was suffering one or the other misery on account of their past Karmas and were not knowing how to extricate themselves from their untold miseries which were multiplying everyday on account of their ignorance. Being a Satjana his heart felt their agonies and immediately he reached Vaikunta, to Lord Narayana to find the right answer for getting the people out of their miseries. But when he sees the Lord, being a great devotee of the Lord, he forgets his purpose and starts praising the Lord. The Lord Narayana smiles at him and asks the purpose of his visit, knowing that normally Naradaji does not visit Him without a purpose. Naradaji tells Him what he saw and requests Him a panacea for all such miseries. The Lord is now happy at this question of Naradaji because of Naradaji’s intention of benefiting the world by seeking the right answer. The Lord said:

Yes, there is a vrita called Sri Satyanarayana vrita which is not known to the inhabitants of the Bhuloka. This is a secret and yet since your interest is the benefit of the mankind, I shall narrate to you this vrita. This can be performed by anyone (anyone means it does not need an expert or a priest to worship the Lord - ANYONE of any caste, community, creed can worship the Lord directly) and very easily. One who does this, will get all the benefits and the pleasures of this world and will eventually get Moksha too. Now Narada wants to know more details of this vrita. The Lord says, this can be done any day, in the evening. Gather friends and relatives and perform this vrita with faith and devotion. The prasad for this vrita is known as Sapaad which is prepared thus: Take an equal measure of rava, Milk, Ghee, Banana, Sugar ( the measure should be 1 1/4 or multiples thereof ) cook it till all mix into a paste. The night should be spent in Bhajans and praise of the Lord. All those attending Pooja should be given food and respect. Thus the performer will get all his wishes fulfilled.

End of Chapter 1

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

CHAPTER 2

Sri Lord Narayana tells Narada the further story:

There was an old and poor Brahmin in the city of Kashi. He was a man of virtue and yet extremely poor and was always begging for the next meal. Since the Lord is Viprapriya- (Brahmana priya means Lover of Brahmana- Brahmana means anyone on the devotional path ) - He came in the guise of an old Brahmin and accosted him " Tell me my friend, what ails you?". The brahmin replied "I am an old and very poor man and I shall be grateful if you can tell me how to get rid of this poverty of mine which does not seem to leave me". The Lord replied "Why don’t you perform Sri Satyanarayana Vrita", and He told him how to perform the Vrita.

The poor man now desires to do this vrita and thinking over these thoughts of the Lord he goes to bed. He could not sleep on account of these thoughts. Again in the morning he had same thoughts and he says to himself, "whatever I earn today by begging I shall use it to perform the vrita". Since the Lord likes such feelings, (Bhavena Devam - Lord does not want our material possessions, he is won by the genuineness of our feelings) that day, he got plenty of money while begging and thus pleased, he took the necessary articles and performed the vrita.

Very soon he became rich and had all the things of the world and thereafter he started performing the vrita every month and thus he enjoyed all the pleasures of the world and finally reached the Moksha too.

Now Shaunakji and other rishis want to know how this vrita spread in the world. Also those who have heard the story, what benefits they got. Sutaji replies:

Once when this brahmin was performing the Sri Satyanarayana Pooja there came to his house a woodcutter. He saw the pooja and wanted to know what it is and what are its fruits. The brahmin said, "This is Sri Satyanarayana Pooja. Whatever desires you have in your mind will be fulfilled by performing this vrita. My own poverty and troubles all ended by my very decision to perform this vrita". On hearing this, the woodcutter prostrates to the Lord, takes prasad, and decides to perform this pooja next day. He thought in his mind, "Whatever amount I get from the sale of the wood tomorrow, I will use it for the performance of the vrita." That day he sold the wood for twice the price. Happily thinking of the Lord Satyanarayana he proceeds to do this pooja, inviting his friends and relatives. Thus performing regularly he became rich and happy and finally reached Satyaloka.

End of Chapter II

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

CHAPTER III

Suta Puranikji continues the story:

Once there was a good king called Ulkamukha. He was wedded to truth and sense- control. Everyday he used to go to the temple, worship the Lord, distribute alms to the needy. Once he was performing Sri Satyanarayana Vrita on the banks of a river. At that time there came a merchant in a ship loaded with precious goods. He approached the king and wanted to know the details of the pooja and also its fruits. The king said, "My friend, what we are doing is a vrita called Sri Satyanarayana Pooja. This is done with a desire to have progeny, wealth, property, etc. By this, we are worshipping Lord Narayana or Mahavishnu".

The merchant said, "Please tell me the details as to how to perform this vrita, because I would like to have children whom I have not been fortunate to have till now." The king tells him the details of the vrita and the merchant returns home. He tells the details to his wife and they decide to perform this vrita if they get a child. Sometime later his wife Lilavathi became pregnant and delivered a girl who was named Kalavathi. Lilavathi reminded her husband about the vrita and he kept postponing it, till his daughter grew of age and was ready to be married. The father finds a suitable groom and marries her off and again forgot to perform the vrita although he had decided to do so at the time of marriage of his daughtier. The Lord now wanted to remind him.

The merchant and his son-in-law were in a city called Ratnasara where king Chandrakethu was ruling. There was a theft at the palace and the burglars were chased by the police. The running burglar saw these two merchants resting near a tree and they left the booty with them and ran off. The police caught the two merchants with the stolen goods and they were straight away sent to the prison. The king himself overlooked to investigate. It is this time the merchant suddenly realized that this was all on account of his forgetting the promise to the Lord. At about this time, back home both Lilavathi and her daughter Kalavathi lost all their belongings due to thefts at home and were rendered beggars. During one such wandering trying to find some food Kalavathi sees Sri Satyanarayana Pooja being performed at one house. She goes in, hears the story and details and returns to tell her mother what had taken place. Lilavathi now knows that it is their forgetting to do the Pooja that had created all these problems. Next day she calls her relatives and friends and performs the Pooja, begs for forgiveness. Accordingly, the king had a dream that the merchants were innocent and he releases them on inquiry and gives them lot wealth.

End of Chapter III

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

CHAPTER IV

Suta Puranik continues the story:

Thus released from the custody the merchants were returning home. They reached the outskirts of their town in their ship. The Lord in order to test them again comes in the form of an old Sanyasi and inquires as to what the load in the ship is. The merchant bluffs and says that it contains dried leaves. The sanyasi says "Tathasthu". When the merchant returns to the ship he finds that it does contain now dried leaves only. He swoons and when he regains his consciousness he realizes that these are doings of the Sanyasi whom he had cursorily dismissed earlier. He seeks him out and begs for forgiveness. The ever-merciful Lord again forgives him. Now that the merchant was near the town, he sends a messenger in advance to Lilavathi to let her know that they are on their way home. Lilavathi. tells her daughter to complete the Satyanarayana poola they were performing and goes ahead to meet her husband. Kalavathi does the pooja, but in a hurry to meet her husband, she neglects to take the prasad; and when she nears the anchorage, she does not find the ship nor her husband! It looked to her that they both sank/drowned. She swoons and now she decides to die.

The merchant thinks that this must be on account of some fault on their part in ignoring the Lord and then and there he decides to do the pooja as a part of expiation from his side for mistakes of omission or commission. The Lord now pleased makes him realize that it is the daughter’s oversight in not accepting the prasad that has created this problem and now if she goes and takes the prasad, everything would be all right.

Kalavathi returned to the altar and took prasad with all faith and reverence. And her husband returned and from then onwards, they all performed Sri Sathyanarayana Pooja regularly till the end of their life and finally after death, they reached Satyaloka.

End of Chapter IV

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

CHAPTER V

{ 5th chapter is important to us as we too tend to behave like the King in this story, in respect of other peoples’ pooja/worship/religion }

In the woods of Nemisharanya Suta Puranikji continued the story narrating the greatness of this Vrita to Shounaka and other Rishies:

In ancient times, there was a King called Angadwaja. He was good and righteous king {like all of us, good and righteous}; and yet once he ignored the prasad of Sri Satyanarayana Pooja and had to suffer very dearly to that.

Once this king was returning from hunting the wild animals in the forests. He rested under a tree for a while. A few yards away a small group of cowherd boys had gathered to perform Sri Satyanarayana Pooja. They did not have anything except their daily bread they were carrying and a talkative among them became their priest and they played the game of doing a pooja. At the end of the pooja, they offered the prasad to the king who, out of contempt and pride, left it untouched.

Pretty soon all his wealth was lost; his hundred children died and he now knew, being a good king that this was all on account of his contempt for those children’s pooja. Without any delay the king goes to that very spot where the cowherd boys had done the pooja earlier, gathers them all around him performs the Satyanarayana Pooja with all shraddha and bhakthi.

Thus the king again got all his wealth and kingdom and kins.

Suta now tells the Rishis that this Vrita is specially effective in Kaliyuga. This Lord of Lord is called Ishwara, Satyadeva, Sri Satyanarayana and by many other names. He alone has taken names and forms.

One who reads this story and one who hears it will be rid of all woes and difficulties.

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SHRI SATHYANARAYANAYA NAMAH

OM SRI KRISHNARPANAMASTHU

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Pujas for a purpose.

This Ganesha Puja is observed when there is delay in work, studies etc.
All of know slokas for Ganesha and it is well known we pray to him to remove obstacles.
It also said that he answers our prayers fast, if one prays with devotion.
For any Ganesh Puja, the materials required will be a idol , picture of Ganesha, in case this is not available, make it with haldhi powder. [mix the haldhi powder with water into a dough and make cone . Place this on a plate and apply kumkum, this will be the ganesha.] Flowers, haldhi, kumkum.Sindhur if available,geja vastra,mantra akshitha, sandal paste and for naividya[prasad], Gur, banana or any friut, or milk and sugar. and of course water.
1] Select a good day and perform the puja as usual for 108 days.
2] On aevery tuesday perform the puja, but this has to done early in the morning in Mouna , is that the person doing the puja can only say prayers but SHOULD not speak to any one till puja is over. no answering telephone or mobiles.
3]One can do the puja for 21 days.
Whichever one you choose, at the end of the puja you have ask whatever you want from Ganesha. God knows what you want, but a human,, has to humble one self and make the request, even to god.
Prayers keeps our mind calm and whatever is our wish we get relief from the fact that we , for the time being have passed our worry to god ,who will take care and do the needful .
May Ganesha bless every one. After the work in mind has been successfull you have to give a idol of Ganesha as Dhana to a Bramhachari.
1] The other popular god is Hanuman. The Hanuman Chalisa by Tulasi das can recited daily.
2] Evey thursday a picture of Hanuman is worshipped in the usual way and curds rice[dahi bath] with green chillies, curry leaves and podni but without salt is offered as naividya.
Salt will added only after our whatever it is achieved. The dahi bhath offered should be such that it can be moulded like a laddu. This is because monkeys will not be able to eat it if the curds rice is liquidy.
3] For the Hanuman picture a mala is tied with Betal leaves is put arroud it. two betal leaves and a nut packet is tied together like a maala.
For all the pujas perform puja the usual way and offer some naividya






.

Shree Sathya Narayana Puja.

Sree Satya Narayana Puja is usually performed on a pournima day. It can also be performed on any day convenient.

Before starting any Puja, one should keep themselves clean, take a bath again if necessary, just before the puja.In todays fast world its very hard to keep the kalas every month.One can keep the picture of Sree Sathya Narayana and worship it in a shortened way.

Before I give the puja Vidhana, I wish to to tell a real instance. In Pune I have heard of a Sindhi lady , who was not keeping very well, and the doctors diagnosed her ailment as bone T.B.

When she was feeling down and out, that some one suggested to her, regarding the Sree Sathya Narayana Puja. She immediately started to perform the puja in great faith. She has been doing it for the last 20 years, She was cured of the Bone T., and is now living a normal life.

For the Sathya Narayana Puja, the materials needed will be a picture of Lord Sathya Narayana, clean water, plates, flowers, haladhi kumkum, sandal paste mantra akshitha, geja vastra ans ofcourse the Prasad which is called SAPAADHA, meaning--equal amounts.Coconut, betal leaves and friuts banana, orange etc.Divas in ghee, and arathi.

To make the Prasadha, the incredents , wheat rava, sugar , ghee, banana,milk. all the incredents used has to be equal, one cup milk, one cup rava, one cup sugar one cup banana [cutpeices,] one cup ghee.Clean the gas stove you are using well to make the prasad. In a thick bottomed kadai add the ghee and let it heat. when ghee is hot out in the kaju and the rava. When the rave is well fried and a pleasant aroma Emmits add the banana peices and keep stiring till the banana is well cooked, then add the sugar and milk and cardamom powder. mix well and keep stirring till it is done. Pour into a clean vessel and keep aside.
Start the puja after a bath wear clean clothes better if it is new. Keep the picture in proper place and collects all the puja items and perform the puja as usual reciting any slokas on Vishnu or the Vishnu Saharasa Nama. Break the coconut and offer the Prasad along with the coconut and friuts, betal leaves/ supari.
After the puja the story should be read. This puja if done with devotion, grants our wishes.

Click Here for the Story of Sri Satyanarayana Vratha Katha

Margashira Lakshmi Puja.

This Lakshmi Puja is performed on every thursday during the month of Margashira.[nov/dec]
This puja is done on all the 4/5 thursdays of the month.puja is performed by the Sumangali[savashanis]. the Puja starts from the first thursday of the month. The lady who performs the puja fasts the the full day and performs the puja in evening ang partakes food in the night.In some houses the husband also fasts.For the puja a place is selected and cleaned and a rangoli drawn and haldhi kunkuma put on it, A plank is place on this put rice , draw a eight petaled Padma on the rice. For the Kalas clean a thambya silver, pithal or copper and with lime, [chuna,or sunna] apply two line on arrount the thamya, apply haldhi kunkumaon all the four sides.Pour clean water inside the Thambya and in it put gharike grass a little, one supari and a coin, haldhi kumkum and mantra akshitha. Arround the mouth of the thambya put a bunch of five mango leaves or five vidacha paan[betal leaves.]Over this put a coconut with haldhi powder applied. Apply kumkum on the tuft of the coconut. Put the kalas on the rice.Keep a Lakshmi Picture behind the kalas. In front of the kalas keep savva ruppiaya ie One Rupee and twenty five paise. Before starting the puja, fold your hands in namaskar and pray that she fulfills all your wishes. Pray to Ganesha and start the puja, and tulasi puja.
Start the puja as usual as for Varalaksmi puja, with haladhe kumkum and geja vastra and sweet smelling flowers.On the right side of the Kalas keep the naividya friut coconut any sweet possible and dakshina.
Before the puja one has to do the achamanam ie that in a panchtra you keep water with a udharani, pour a little water in your right palm and drink it , do this three times reciting, Keshavaya swaha, Narayanaya swaha, Madhavaya swaha, Govindhaya namaha, Vishnuve namaha, Madhusudhanaya namaha, Thrivikramaya namaha, Vamanaya namaha, Sridharaya namaha, hrishikeshaya namaha, Padmanabhaya namaha, Dhamodharaya namaha,Sankarshanaya namaha, Vasudevaya namaha, Pradyumnaya namaha, Anirudhaya namaha, Purushothamaya namaha, Adhokshjaaya namaha,Narasimhaya namaha,Achuthaya namaha,Janardhanaya namaha, Upendraya namaha, Hareye namaha, Srikrishnaya namaha.
After this perform the puja as usual. Recite stotras and Mahalakshmi Ashtaka.
If one has the time kumkuma archana reciting Lakshmi Astothara can be performed Like for all other puja lamps have to lit and dhoopa deepa naividya.Do pradhikshana and namaskar.
The story in short. In dwapara yuga , in Sourashtra there lived a king named Shrava.He was well informed and had read the vedas and knew the shashtras and the puranas. He was a good king and the people of his land were happy .The Queen of the land was called Suratha Chandrika.She was a very devoted wife, and the king and queen had eight children, one daughter and seven sons. Mahalakshmi wanted to bless the land and the king and decided to go to Sourashtra. She transformed herself like a old lady and came to the palace, where a maid of the Queen met and enquired whe she was and what she wanted. when told the she wanted to see the Queen.
The old lady[godess in disguise] told the maid that the queen in her last birth was the wife of a Vaisya and was very poor. Due to poverty the couple used to fight often and times the husband would beat the wife. One day dejected the lady left the house and went to the forest where she was roaming aimlessly hungry and cold.Mahalakshmi took pity on her and the godess came as an ordinary lady and told the wife of the Margashira lakshmi puja. Once the wife started to perform the puja she was blessed with all prosperity.
The maid went and conveyed this to the Queen, who was not convinced and she did not pay any attension to the maid, this made mahalakshmi annoyed and she decided she leave the city.
The Kings daughter heard of this and she ran to the old lady and asked her that she pardan her mother, and she would perform the puja, which she did with great faith. In due time she was married to a prince and she continued to do the puja every year with devotion.
After some time the Kingdom of King Shrava became a troubled land due to lack of rain etc.The people had to go without water and food. One day the Queen told the King that he ask his son in law for help and the king went to his daughters place. the daughter and her husband welcomed him. The King stayed there for a couple of days and told his daughter that he wished to return to his land. The daughter gave him a closed vessel full of gold coins, and sent the king to his land. When the King reached his land and opened the vessel he found only the vessel full of coal. When the king saw this he was so sad, that he started to weep. The Queen was very angry that their daughter
had insulted the King and decided to to go her self to the daughter to ask for a explanation, When the Queen did reach her daughter s place the daughter was performing the Margashira Lakshmi Puja. The Queen stayed at the daughters place for all the four weeks thursday puja. The daughter wished that her mother too should join and do the puja but the Queen was not willing. On the last thursday of the month, the daughter forced the Queen to do the puja. After the puja on the last thursday of Margashira the Queen left for her land. when she reached there she found the lost glory of her land had returned all were happy as before.The Queen realised this was the mahima of Mahalakshmi. From then onwards abserved te margashira lakshmi puja evey year.
It is said that Sri Krishna had asked his aunt Kunthi to observe this puja, so her sons could win the war. Kunthi had for naividya made a sweet made with groundnuts and jaggery on the first thursday, second week she made kheer with milk and rice, third week she made apupa kheer[ now we call it appi payasa] and on the fourth week she had made fryed kadubu with the puran filling.
Pray with devotion and all your wishes will be fulfilled.

Tulasi Vivah or Uthana Dwadasi.

This festival comes on Shukla Paksha Dwadasi, in the month of Karthik. This happens to be the last day of chatur maasa . On Uthana Dwadasi day Lord Vishnu is supposed to get up from sleep. It is said that a year in a humans life is one day to the gods. On Uthana Dwadasi day Lord Vishnu is stirring from his sleep. There are some stories connected to this too.

On this day, Saligrama puja is important and Tulasi puja.
In most houses Saligrama puja is performed and brahmin couples are given festival food and Tulasi Vivah is performed in the evening. After food, this couple are given thamboola and a minimum of blouse piece if not sari and shelya is presented along with Kheer Dhana ( along with the cup made of pithal or whatever is available)

For the evening naividya, 4/5 different kind of laddus and sweets are made, and also a flavored milk boiled well with sugar saffron and cardomom added. Koshambari is also made.

An arathi is prepared as follows. On a plain silver or pithal plate draw a rangoli design with honey using a matchstick or a new toothpick. Over this sprinkle some GUSGUSA all over and then gently tap out the extra gusgusa. You will now have a beautiful decoration on the plate.
Over this arrange 5 amlas and wicks soaked in ghee over the amlas.

In the Tulasi vrindavan a small branch of amla is kept, a few amlas have also to be in the branches.
Decorate the front of the house with mango leaves and rangoli.
Decorate the tulasi vrindavan , draw rangoli in front of the vrindavan. If there no place in the back yard for this , one may keep the pot or a small vrindvan with a tulasi plant near the god, for the puja.
Keep a small idol of Krishna in the Vrindavan, next to the plant and perform puja.
Light as many lamps as possible.
You will need to get ready the naividya, the arathi, sweet smelling flowers, a pair small garlands.

Decorate the tulasi and put a few abharana( jewels, like we would decorate a bride]. Sing songs and stotras to tulasi and krishna and lakshmi. and perform the puja. (If a purohith comes he will conduct the puja like he would a real wedding.)

After the puja and before the various arathis , offer to the Lord and Tulsi, a sari and blouse and pair of dhotis , offer haldhi kumkum and on to plate do the vonti bharna for Tulasi, then the naividya and the arathis. Puja is to performed with haldhi kumkum etc as , we perform Lakshmi puja.

The second half of Ashwija maasa and Kartic maasa are the darkest months of the year. Before the times of kerosene lamps and electric lights, it would have been very difficult to sight a village. When lamps are lit and kept in front of the houses in the evenings and early mornings the travellers could easily sight the village.

Amlas are given importance, as the coming months are cold with fog, which will cause cold etc. Eating amlas gives a person vitamin C,(nowadays it is given in tablet form) a preventive for these winter ailments. Amlas contain lot of vitamin C and iron.

In places where a Amla tree is there people go there and worship the tree. It is said that every house must have an Amla tree, a parijatha flower tree and a tulasi plant. Some even say that a house without a tulasi plant, is equal to cemetery.

Growing a tulasi plant is not at all difficult only it needs to be watered every day.The plant has also be planted in a fairly big pot or brindhvan, so the plant will space for the roots to spread.
Any plant for that matter is like child. take care of it and it will grow well. The plant also needs to kept in sunny place. In summer when it is very hot, it can be watered twice or shifted to a shade.
Do grow a tulasi plant where ever you are.

FOR THE AMLAS IN THE ARATHI PLATE TO BALANCE THE AMLAS ,MAKE A DOUGH WITH HALDHI POWDER AND WATER, MAKE EQUAL SIZE BALLS AND PLACE THIS ON THE ARATHI PLATE, ON THIS PLACE THE AMLA AND ON THA PUT A WICK SOAKED IN OIL.

Deepavali.

Deepa means light and Vali means rows, so Deepavali means rows of lights. On this day people all over India be they Hindus, Sikhs or Jains, whatever creed or sect light rows and rows of lights in front of their houses, windows, doorsteps etc.

In the southern part of India, Deepavali is celebrated as Naraka Chaturdasi or the day on which Narakasura [the evil demon] was killed by Krishnas wife, Sathyabhama. At the time of his death, it is said, that Narakasura requested Sathyabhama, his death be celebrated by the people as a festival because of his realization of how cruel he had been.

Another story is that King Bali visits the earth to see his subjects during this time. Some people celebrate Balipadyami, on day after Amavasya.

Up North, Deepavali signifies the home coming of Sri Rama from his 14 years in exile, after his victory over Raavana. To welcome Sri Rama and Sita, people of Ayodhya had lit up the city with rows and rows of lamps.
In South India no one calls the festival Diwali as diwali means broke or lost everything.

For Jains, Deepavali marks the attainment of Nirvana by Saint Mahaveera, on 15 th October, 527-BC.

For Sikhs, Deepavali is significant as it marked the illumination of Amrithsar, commemorating the return of Guru Har Gobindh, the Sikh guru who was imprisoned at fort Gwalior by Emporer Jehangir.

Deepavali also marks the celebration of Mahalakshmi rising from the Ocean at the time of Samudra manthan.[churning of the ocean.]

On the 13th day of the second half of the month Ashwija is celebrated as Dhana Trayodasi, to mark the rising of Lord Dhanavantri from the Ocean during the churning of the ocean. On this day it is considered auspicious to buy gold silver and utensils.

What ever the reason, people of India celebrate Deepavali, in grand manner. Plenty of sweets, new clothes and visiting relatives and friends and gifts aplenty.

The evening before Deepavali is called Jalapurna Trayodashi. On this day, the vessel used for hot water for the next mornings bath is cleaned and a yellowed thread with a haldi stick is tied arround the vessel, haldhi kunkum is applied and water filled in it. Rangoli is drawn in front of the vessel and decorated with flowers. This water is used the next day early morning by the entire family for 'abhyanga snana' after an oil massage. Traditionally, besan uptan or chickpea flour and haldi and bath powder is used for a scented bath. Followed correctly, I guess, it is a great day to indulge oneself and the entire family to a oil massage followed by a hot bath with scented oils! A total detox therapy in today's terms!

Trayodashi is also supposed to be the evening when the sons in law, arrive to take part in the festival, especially on the first year of marriage. The dinner is a grand affair. After which the new clothes are kept in front of the god, till the next morning.

On the day of Naraka Chaturdashi or Deepavali in the South , there is a arathi for all the members in the family. All members of the family get an oil massage or at least a little oil is applied on each ones head and the new clothes are given along with pan and supari. All the members are to finish their oil bath before sun rise , so as to attain the punya of having had a Ganga Snan. After the bath, new clothes are worn and the blessings of all the elders sought by performing namaskara to them.
The Arathi is prepared thus.... ina plate with a broad rim pour a little water, put in some haldhi powder and lime ie sunna, this will make the water red in colour in the middle put two oil lights and on either side of the light keep two haldhi sticks. Before the Arathi, On a mat/ jhamkhana members of the family all sit except two women.Apply kumkum to all of them, give in each persons hand pan/supari, give the new clothes to which a little kumkum has allready been applied.Then apply a little oil with a flower on the middle of the head. then the arathi is performed the plate is turned in front of the members first clock wise three times then anti clock wise three times. THE HAVE TO BE LIT. then with the haldhi is taken on in each hand and just as it was done for the arathi it turned arround three times clock wise and three tines anti clock wise. Th same prosedure is done for the left out in the first round. When the arathi is being performed money is given to the Arathi performers.This ARathi shown to God first before performing the family. HOT WATER AND SEEGEKAI POWDER is to be kept for god too.
Amavash or Deepavali day in the north is Lakshmi puja in the evening. The Goddess of Wealth is worshiped.
In the North, Goddess Mahalakshmi is worshipped along with Ganesha to bring prosperity.A special sweet preperation is made. Coins and jewelry are kept alongside and all members of the family participate. For certain people it is also the new year and for some businesses, this day heralds the new year for accounts.

The next after Amavasya is celebrated as BaliPadyami. It is the first day of the month of Kartik, the darkest month of the year. this is a day of festival in honour of the king Bali Chakravarthy and is celeberated with kheer and festive food.

The following day is BHAU BHEEJ; the sisters invite the brothers to their home , perform arathi, cook food, which is the brother's favorite and gift him with clothes or some gift.

On the trithiya day it is the brother who invite the sisters to his house and give her food sweets and gift of clothes etc.

Deepavali is the day when friends, neighbors and relatives exchange the sweets and eats made in their houses, and also visit each other and wish each other.
In todays world where no one has time to meet relatives this festival is an occasion when the relation ships can be renewed. The children will also know who is who in the family. This tradition has to be kept up by the parents; if not, relatives, even the close ones, will become strangers; the chidren will grow up, into adults not knowing uncles aunts or cousins.

navarathri cont

During all the nine days food is offered to the the god after Saligrama puja. For one reason or other the Salgrama puja cannot be performed, do so at least for the last 3/4 days.Even if food cannot be offered to god, do make a Kheer for lunch. If one wishes a sweet could also be made.
  For saraswathy  special Naividya (Prasadh), in some houses Sweet Dosa is made, some make Panch Kajaya and some Rava laddu.
On any one of the 9/10 days do invite ladies and give haladhi kunku, pan supari coconut or a fruit with dakshina and flower.On other days do give, Haldhi kumkum and Vidach  pan supari to any Savashni who comes to the house.
On Maha Navami day the great saint Madhava was born, so this day is celebrated as Madhava Jayanthi by the Madhava comunity.
On the day of Dashara after puja etc all the young in the family have to seek the blessings of the elders in the family. Some visit the temple.
 Ayudha Puja ----  Puja to all the Ayudha, meaning  Arms for war etc. The Kshatriyas this is important. It is said the the Pandavas,  removed their Arms  on this day and prayed to them before the  Mahabaratha War, This tradition is continued even today with  most of us performing to all the Gatgets we own. It is important we  wipe, dust and clean the the things we want to  do Puja to. After all the Gatgets, Vehicles, grinders all, have to serve us, for  whole ear and not give any trouble.
   For bramins Sarawathy Puja is very important . Saraswathy  is the  godess for knowledge, Music etc.   apart from books, all Musical instruments are kept for Puja . Saraswathy is worshiped for three days, on Vijaya dasami day the student  visits  the guru to seek his/her blessing and also gives  a gift. This is the tradition.

Navarathri or Dhashara.

Navarathri as the name defines is a festival of nine nights and ten days. This festival is celebrated on all ten days. Some believe that Lord Rama defeated the Rakshasha king Ravana after a war , during these ten days, so celebrate it as good overcoming evil.
In Bengal and some places Godess Durga is worshiped as she is supposed to have killed the evil demon Mahishasura. On Vijaya dasami day the Pandavas , it is believed remove their weopons[Astras], hidden in the tree called BANNI. Clean it and get them ready for the war with the Kouvravas.In south India many houses ,they display dolls on three or five or seven steps. Dolls made of clay, wood depicting the Ramayana/ Srinivasa kalyana or a village are displayed.
In some houses every day saligrama puja is conducted and a oil lamp lit and made to burn 24 hours for all ten days. From moola star day another ghee lamp is lit and made to burn 24 hours till Vijaya dasami day. For lighting the lamp -- Salect aproper place , as the Lamps cannot be moved for 10 days. Place a plank --Mane/ Phat draw a rangoli a Padma and Sri on it.  The lamp must washed well, Silver or brass, Apply kumkum on it, Tie a flower arround it.-- the lamp. and place it in the proper place on the plank.On the first day of Navarathri early in the morning . check out the Rahu Kala Nad Yama Ganda,  Do Puja to the lamp and then light it.  The same method is followed for the Ghee lamp.Thse lamps SHOULD be allowed to burn 24hours a day non stop. Oil or ghee can be poured, without touching it. In the evenings one can wear clean clothes or wear a madi clothes and adjust the wick.
Srinivasa Kalyana is read ond Sundara kanda may also be read.Godess of learning Saraswathi is worshiped, by keeping books and covered with white silk, from Sapthami day.Durga is also worshiped from Durga ashtami day.On the nith day Ayudha puja is performed to the car, tv and all the gadget each family own.
Apart from the all the stories connected with this festival, this was prabably an nice way for the women to socialise and to show their hand work in arts and rangoli etc, and to meet other ladies.

Anantha Chaturdasi or Anantha Vratha.

This festival comes on Bhadrapada maasa shukla paksha chaturthi.

Materials and Puja Articles needed:-A thambya[Thumbige] made of silver or copper or pithal.Bunch of mango leaves, Ananthan Dora{this is made of red silk threads with 14 knots available in puja shops] This is bought in pairs. one pair for each couple.and one pair for the bramin couple invited for food. A coconut to be placed on the thambya for kalas. Select size suitable for the thambya used. [ too big a one may topple the thambya. the coconut must be of the size so that that 1/4 of the bottom half of the coconut fits into the thambya. In some house holds in the Kalas Five dry friuts are put namely badam, kaju, drakshe., dates and kal sakkare/ kade sakar. Some put water a little of both haladhi and kumkum and mantra akshitha.[ find out out from your elders the family custom. A snake made out of dharba grass if this is available. Flowers and Friuts and coconut. Raw milk a little and pancha amrutha.

This puja is performed by dhampathis ie husband and wife.

Select a proper place, clean and wipe the place. Place a plank, on this spread a cup of rice. On the thambya apply Lime [sunna/ chunam] fully or two lines around the thambya one line below the rim and the other about one or two inces above the bottom of the thambya. and in the centre Draw a eight pettaled padma with a mixture of lime and haldhi which will give a red colour. Inside the thambya put [dry friuts or water as per the family custom]. Over this keep the mango leaves[ make the leaves are wiped clean with a wet cloth]the the coconut with haldhi powder applied on it. [ wet the coconut a little and apply the haldhi powder]. The dharbha Snake if available is placed on top of the coconut. After puja this dharbha snake is to bo be kept in your safe or cash box.

Apply kumkum. This is kalas. Place this on the rice spread on the plank.and perform puja with haldhi kumkum gandha, geja vastra. There is a puja book available as also cds. If one has not got this, do archana reciting the Vishnu Ashtotara followed by lakshmi ashtotara either with flowers or kumkum to lakshmi. Perform the puja also reciting the Vishunu sahaara nama vali, if you have no book.
Perform puja to the dora too, after the puja is over, the dora is given to bramhana and savashni, if they have been invited, if not , the head of the family and his spouse and then the others,the dora is given by the person who performed the puja.The men wear it arround their neck [like a chain] the women are to tie arround their right hand. This dora can be removed after some time . KEEP THE DORA IN A SAFE PLACE. DONT DISREGARD IT AND KEEP IT IN BATHROOMS AND PLACES WHERE IT IS LIKELY TO STAMPED UPON OR THROWN AWAY CARELESSLY.
Narayana in this Vratha called Anatha is supposed to be a old man, so only soft foods are made.Dosa, spinach bhaji, Hayagriva mandi and Kheer made with rosted wheat flour and cocanut milk is made.
Story on Anantha Padma nabha.
There once a bramin . He had a daughter and after the passing away of his, he remarried and the step mother was troubling the daughter to a great extent.The bramin got his daughter married.On the way to her husbands house she saw some people performing the Anantha Padmanabha puja. While she watched the puja ssome one gave her the Dora and told her to wear it arround her arm and proceeded her husbands house.When the husband saw her wearing the Dora he grabbed it and threw it into the fire, but the wife retrieved it and put out the fire and soaked the Dora in milk asking forgiveness .
After some time for one reason or other the prosperity of the family srated to decline and she was sure it was because her husband had thrown the Dora into the fire. When the time for puja aproached she convinced her husband and performed the Puja, after which their prosoerity recovered. The husband was repentent to his action. From then on they performed the Anantha Padmanabha Puja regularly.
IT is a custom to invite a couple for food [bramana and savashini]. This is not always possible with more and more women working. Do the puja and pay for hastoka in any matha for two.As for Onti and Vaagina dhana , Do the Onti to the godess and keep it by and also the Vaagina dhana, This can be given when some couple visit you.

Ganesha Chaturthi

Ganesha or Vinayaka is worshipped all over India. He is known to remove obstacles, bestow knowledge, and grant us our wishes. This festival for Ganesha comes in the month of Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha Chaturthi. Generally an Idol of Ganesha is bought, or made of clay or in recent times made ganesha idols made of plaster of paris is also available. It is best to make your own Ganesha or buy the clay ones, as they are environment friendly. On the day Ganesha is brought home, an arathi is performed before entering the front door to the the Ganesha and then placed in a clean place on a plank, till the mantap is got ready.

For the puja materials wanted will be:- Flowers, Haldhi, KumKum, sandal paste[gandha], red sandal pase if available, akshitha, Geja vastra, coconuts, banana, other fruits, corn, sugar cane, jaggery, Patri{leaves] of gauva, mango and whatever is possible. Most important is grass called Arugam Pillu in tamil, Durva grass in Kannada. Pancha amrutha or madhuparka[a mixture of curds honey and ghee]. For Ganesha red colour is a favarite so try and get red flowers roses for example.
Perform Ganesha Puja with devotion. After setting up the Ganesha in a proper place, start the puja as I have described in the previous pujas.
It is said one should not see the moon on this day. If one does see it there is a superstition that the person will be accused of something the person has not done. Anyway seeing the moon is unavoidable. So after the morning prayers recite this prayer.

SIMHA PRASENA-MAVADHEETH SIMHO JAAMBA VATHH HATHAHA
SUKUMAARAKA MAA RODHISTHA HYASHA SYAMANTHAKAHA .

most people keep the Ganesha for three days. some five days and so on.
For all the days you keep ganesha in the house, do panchupachara puja and neividhya everyday.

Swarna Gowri Vratha

This Festival comes usually a day before Ganesh Chaturthi. This is widly celebrated in karnataka. For this festival the daughters of the house are invited along with their spouses and gifts are given.
For the festival an idol of Gowri is bought along with the idol of Ganesha.
Materials needed for this are:-

• haldhi kumkum,
• flowers,
• Pathri,
• geja vastra,
• gandha
• friuts etc for naividya.
• Keep a thread yellowed with turmeric and with nine knots also ready. One for all the savashnis called Dhora
  

A mantap is readied and decorated.
Clean the place where Gowri is to be kept; [select a proper place as the Gowri my have to be kept for a couple of days].
Draw a rangoli and place a plank or a mantap and put a handfull rice, on it. Over this keep the Gowri.
To the right of the Gowri keep pan /spari and a friut.
To the left or front keep kadole, karimani toe rings haldhi kumkum, kajal and a small comb.
Do all this on the morning of the puja after a oil bath and when there is no rahu kala or yamaganda. When you start the puja, keep ready all the items mentioned , plus water, panchamrutha or raw milk, or Madhuparka ie a mix of honey curds and ghee. A little of this will do.
Start the puja first with a flower sprinkle a little water then milk and water again. This symbalises of giving bath. Sprinkle haldhi powder or apply to the two sides of gowri face near the ear. geja vastra.[Symbalises clothing the Gowri] now again sprinle haldhi powder then gandha and kum kum to be applied
to the the forehead, next come the flowers. Put a garland and put the flowers reciting the Ashtothara stothra. Next will be doopa, deepa and naividya. Perform puja to the Dhora(thread) coloured yellow with nine Knots as many as the number of women and children in the house. Keep this in front of gowri and do pua to this too. After this perform arathi.
Next give haladhi kumkum and flowers and thambula with dhakshina and a coconut or friut to all the Sumangalis and also tie the dora, while tieing dora on the right hand give a friut to keep in the hand while tieing the dora. Give a maradha bhagana with a choli or saree /blouse.In the evenig too a few sumangalis may be invited and pan supari, with a coconut can be given. In evening light lamps and perform arathi.
Swarna gowri is kept along with Ganesha for 3,5,7 9 and 11 days as per the convenience of the family. Some people to send them away on the same day.
It is said Gowri is on a visit to her parents house and Ganesha comes to take her back home. therefore the custom of inviting the daughters of the family to paticipate in the puja.
For lunch along with the festival food of 2 kosambris 2 bhajis and kadi/pitla POLI and kheer is made. A banana leaf is spread and all items served and offerd to Gowri and on the same leaf the Savshni is asked to partake her food.

Janma Ashtami

Janma Ashtami or Gokula ashtami, this day Sri Krishna took birth on earth to rid the earth the of ADHARMA. This festival is celebrated all over India, each state has its own unique way of celebrating the feastival. What i am i writing pertains to the Madhva/ Desastha comunities.
This festival comes in month of sravan in the second half, [krishna paksha]. Lord Krishna is worshiped late in the evening, having fasted the whole day.
Models of Krishna and Balarama are made in clay, small babys in twin cradles is made along with models of a Panchngi bramin, a lady selling jamoons[ of which Krishna is said to be fond of]
a cow with calf and a donkey[dont know why].If one cannot make it clay, A sdilver or Pancha loha crawling Krishna can be worshiped in cradle made of silver/white metal/pithal or wood can be decorated and used.
For prasad, as Krishna is a child, lots of savouries and sweets, laddus, doodh peda, butter, milk and curds,Pohe (is also a must) are offered , in addition to friuts of all kinds . as far as possible jamoons are offered.
As the day is spent fasting except for a liquids like milk or butter milk, Saligrama puja is performed in the evening. If this not possible, the Krishna idol will suffice. For some reoson or other the saligrama puja is done in morning, keep the milk used for abhisheka. Get ready the usual puja items haldhi, kumkum, gandha, geja vastra, janivara, flowers, pathri, pan supari, and dakshina. For argya cup supari, coins and the jambhu friut.
Perform the puja the usual way,if the man of the house is doing puja after fasting he can do abhisheka to krishna, if not sprinkle water over the idol, reciting a krishna stothra then raw fresh milk then water again[ same prosegure for abhisheka too].Next adore the idol with the janivara [three threads as for a bramhachari] the any jewel. do puja with haldhi kumkum gandha flowers and pathri. If one has the time do Krishna astothara offering flowers and pathri one by one , oneflower/pathri/mantra akshitha for each name.or at least reciting the keshava nama.
Then mangala arathi tree wicks, naividya, dhoopa arathi, maha mangala arathi with five wicks soaked in ghee.BEFORE THE ASHTOTHARA LIGHT LAMPS.
After the puja Argya is offered to Krishna and the moon.the following mantra said for the puja Yagnaaya Yagnapathaye, Yagneshwaraaya Yagnasambavaaya, Sri Govidhaaya Namaha.
Krishna Argya Mantra.
Jaathaha Kamsa Vadharthaaya, Bhoo-Baaro tha Rathaayacha
Kauravaanaam Vinaashaaya, Dhaithyanaam nidhaanaaya chaI
Pandavaa naam Hitharthaaya Dharma Samsthaapanaya cha
Graharnaaya argyam Devakya Sahitha HareII
Devaki Sahithaaya Sri KrishnaNamaha: Idham argyam Idham Argyam IdhamArgyam Samarpayaami.
CHANDRA ARGYA MANTRA>
Kshiro dharnava Sambootham Athri netra Samudhabna
Grahana Argyam Maaya dhaatham RohiniyaamSahthaaha ShashinI
Rohini Sahithaaya Chandramaase Idham Argyam, Idham Argyam Samarpaayami
These are two Argya Mantraas. All members of the family have to offer argya. Keep a supari, jamboo fruit and coin in the right hand over a Pyala or fairly big bowl .Keep the three things in ur hand till the first argya mantra , first water, milk from the abhisheka and water again, then drop all three coin friutr and supari in the pyala. pick it up again for the Chanra manthra , after the Chandra Mantra the Argya is over, all members to follow the same prosidure onle take a new coin.
Om Sri Vasudevaya Namaha can be repeated 108 times during the day. ONLY MEN SAY OM> Women say Sri Vasudevaaya Namaha.
  Phe is offered, as Sri Krishna;s boyhood friend Sudhama had   taken a little Pohe, when he visited Sri Krishna.
 The Story of   Krishna and Sudhama. When both were in the Guru kula. they go out to gather fire- wood for their Guru , but sudden rain makes them both take shelter atop a tree In the rain Krishna hears Sudhama  eating crunchy Pohe, and asks Sudhama , what is it that he is eating , Sudhama does not disclose what he ate.
  After studies are over all the boys part ways and go back home, so also Krishna and Sudhama. Years pass by , both get married, Krishna  is  King in Dwaraka, but Sudhama , a priest  has a few children and is poor, finding it hard to  feed his wife and children.
  One day Sudhama's wife , pleads with her husband to visit Sri Krishna,  who she feels will redeem them from their poverty, but Sudhama is reluctant. After repeated pleading , Sudhama agrees and asks his wife what will you give to take for my friend? She  gives him a little pohe, with which, Sudhama starts his journey to Dwaraka. He reaches there, and guards want to know who is , when he tell them he is Krishna's friend they laugh and mock him , you  poor man in tatters, our King's friend ?  After a lot of resistance they go tell their king Krishna, A person named  Sudhama, says he is your Friend want to meet you. Sri Krishna, at once runs down to meet Sudhama , brings him in  makes him sit beside him,  sees to it he given food etc, they talk of old times and time is spent, but Sudhama  is not sure how to ask Sri Krihna for favors. After a few days he takes  leave to go back. Krishna does not offer and Sudhama does not want to ask.
  On the way he keeps wondering what to tell his wife, who was so hopeful of getting some relief from poverty. When he does reach his home, every thing is changed he has a  new house and his family  are well dressed wearing jewels etc looking very prosperous, he thinks he had made a mistake and come  to some one else s house. When his wife greets him, he realizes, Sri Krishna, the all knowing had understood his want and given him everything.
  Sri Krishna is known as KARUNAKARA.
   Another name of Sudhama is Kuchela.

Gokulashtami

This festival comes in Shravana Krishna paksha . Lord Krishna was born to rid the world of the asuras who had become powerful and were troubling the sages and the devout.

On this day Lord Krishna is worshiped in the late evening. Fasting is observed for the full day. Some people make clay models of the Lord and Balarama lying in cradles .Many others keep a crawling idol of the Lord in a cradle. The cradle maybe of any metal. Silver, brass, any.

As Lord Krishna is worshiped as a child, a lot of savouries and sweets are offered as neividya. Fruits, milk, butter with a piece of sugar on it and poha, along with sweets and savouries is offered.The jamoon or jambul fruit should be a special addition on this day.

The puja is done as usual with haldi, kumkum,, gandha, flowers and tulasi. Those who hav a saligrama can do a full saligrama puja . After the puja is done argya is offered to Lord Krishna by all members of the family After Lord Krishna is worshiped, Balarama is to be worshiped. .The following mantra is said for the puja

Yagnaaya Yagnapathaye

Yagneshwaraaya Yagnasambavaaya

Sri Govindaaya Namonamaha

Krishnasthami day is spent in fasting. Some take palahara after the puja. The very devout eat only on the day after the puja.

In most houses a number of sweet and savoury items like chakli, thengul, seedai, barfi etc. are prepared and eaten by everyone especially children.
Gokulashtami is a festival when little children in the house are dressed as Lord Krishna.
Tiny little feet of a toddler Krishna are drawn from the entrance of the house leading to the puja room.
The front of the house is decorated with rangoli and mango leaves thoran.
Bhajans and songs of Krishna are sung while awaiting the puja hour, which is by far late at night.
Besides fruits, a dish made of poha, kheer, butter and some snacks are a must for neividya. Even if not possible to make snacks, poha, butter and kheer is made. Some neividya items made this day are besan laadu, rava laadu, coconut burfi, and doodh peda or sweet khoa is definitely made. Thengul, chakli, sakkarpara , sweet and khara seedai are also prepared.
Recipes for some of these preperations follows.

Vara Mahalakshmi Vrata

Vara Mahalakshmi Vrata

Vara Mahalakshmi Vratha occurs in the month of Shravan on the Friday before Purnima. Have all the following ready a day before or the day of the puja...

• One tambya for kalash
• One Lakshmi face suitable or tambya.
  
• One small crawling Krishna idol,
• One each of gold, silver and money coin,
• A pearl and a coral,ring or whatever
  
• Rice or wheat are to be put in the kalash.
• Five dry fruits, badam, dry grapes, dry dates and palm sugar are also to be put in the kalash.
  
• One coconut that fits on to the tambya.
  
• Five mango leaves to hold the coconut.
  
• For navidhya, flowers, fruits, raw milk, curds, powder jaggery or sugar, honey, ghee, food cooked in madi.
  
• Festival food with sweet and kheer should be cooked.
  
• Other Items required: Tulasi plant in a vrindavan or pot.
• One small cup filled with rice and a piece of jaggery on it.
  
• Haldi, kumkum, gandha, manthrakshata, agarbathi.
  
• The flowers required are jasmine, rose, shamanthi, sampige, kevra, dhavana and moragu. Some flowers should be in the form of garlands and some should be free (udhari) for puja.
  
• Several pieces of seven or eight inch thread with nine knots on each.

Clean the place where the kalash is to be kept. Draw the aishwarya rangoli. On a plank place the mandasana, decorate with mango toran and small plantain tree on either side.

Draw a padma, a swastika and Shree on the tambya using a mixture of haldi and lime.

Draw the bhagya rangoli on the plank on which the mandasana is to be placed. In the tambya put all the items mentioned above for the kalasha.

On the morning of the puja after the front yard has been cleaned and the rangoli drawn, place the tulsi plant on a plank in front of the main door. On the threshold put a small silver cup with rice and a piece of jaggery on it.

Place the decorated kalash in front of the tulasi vrindavana. Perform tulsi puja as usual and also to the kalash. Perform mangalarthi.

The lady who is to perform the puja is to take the kalash in her hands with the kalash facing towards the house. She should then tumble the cup of rice placed on the threshold with her right foot, go inside and then place the kalash in the mandasana. Sing Bhagyadha Lakshmi baramma while taking the kalash inside. Next the Kalashpan/supari and a friut is kept on the right, as also a set of haldhi/ kumkum kadole/karumani and bangles is also kept.

Another small kalash is also to be prepared with water, haldi, kumkum, akshata inside with a small fruit (mosambi, pomagranate) kept between two betel leaves. This is known as Yamuna kalash.

Pray to Lord Ganesha, offer a fruit or jaggery as navidhya. Worship Yamuna kalash (small) with haldi, kumkum flowers and gejavastra . Offer tambula and fruit as navidhya. Perform arthi and dhoop arthi.

Now perform the Varalakshmi puja. Put a few flowers and mantrakshata near the kalash while reciting the following.

Padmasane Padmakare Sarvalokaika pujithe

Narayayana priye devi suprita varadha bhave

With a flower sprinkle a little scented water (gandha water) on the kalash. Dip a flower in panchamrita (prepared while performing saligram puja) and sprinkle on the kalash.

Mix curds, a little ghee and honey and make madhuparaka if panchamrita is not made.

Again sprinkle water on the kalasha with the flower. Worship with haldi powder and gejavastra. Again with haldi, gandha, kumkum and sindoor. This means that you have given a bath, clothed and applied mangaladhrivyas.

Offer flowers, garlands and perform Lakshmi ashtothara puja. Along with this also worship the threads with nine knots. Put one flower for every name in the ashtothara. After reciting a few more Lakshmi stotras, perform eka arthi (three vatis soaked in ghee).

This is followed by naividhya ,Fruits,milk boiled with dry fruits kesar and cardamom coconut tambula and cooked food is offered.

Then dhooparathi ,mangala arathi and deepa arathi is done.

All the members of the family do puja by offering flowers akshitha and do pradakshina namaskar. Then the ladies of the house and savashni tie the thread around their wrists. The savashni is given all the mangaladrivayas and Udithumbothu –Ontibharna is done.

In the evening lamps are lit, deepa and dhoopa arathis done. Laxmis songs& slokas are recited.Sumangalis are invited and given thambula with fruit and dakshina.

On the next day punar puja is performed as the previous day.After mangala arathi, move the kalash a little.Later keep it in a place where money and jewels of the family are kept.

There are some must do’s before the puja .Saligram puja with panchamrutha is a must.[this can be used for yamuna and laxmi kalash puja later].If due some reason saligram is not available perform puja to Krishna.

All naividhya is offered to the Lord first. It is believed that Devi does accept the naividhya offered only to her.

As varmalaxmi puja always is on a Friday make sure to start puja before rahukala or it should be started only after rahukala.

For udithombodu or ontibharna Rice 2 cups,atleast 200gms,2 haldi sticks, 2 cup supari, and coconut. The savashni should accept in her saree pallu. The lady of the house should put rice coconut and supari five times and the savashni will put a little rice back three times.

Some times Varama lakshmi puja will be on ekadasi day. On such accasions, only puja is performed, both Saligrama and Lakshmi puja, the next one has to offer Naividya, bramana/ savashni upachar ie giving of thambula, blouse/saree, food etc. On laksmi Puja day naividya to ONLY saligrama or Krishna is sugar or kade sakar. This is kept by and offered to lakshmi the next day.

Mangala Gowri Vratha.

Mangala Gowri vratha is observed for five years of marriage on all Tuesdays in the month of sravan, praying for the long life of the husband. At the time of marriage the grooms mother presents the bride with the silver Mangala Gowri image.
Articles needed for the puja are silver Mangala Gowri, haldhi, kumkum, gejavastra flowers, three blouse peices, Two are to be folded into triangles.[ fold the the blouse peice length wise to make a long strip, now fold one end like a tiangle and keep on folding it thus till you come to the end and tuck in the last bit into the fold. Fold the another on like wise.]A plank, Full chana soaked overnight [250grams will do] one copra[dry coconut]cut into two, haldi powder, maida or wheat flour, a knife for kajal.
For naividys 18 fried PHALA. For this make pooran as for poli, make the covering with maida dough rolled into small puris, put alittle puran fold seal and deep fry. USE only new oil to fry.
with same maida dough make 5 nos small cups and fry for the arathi.
The girl who is to perform the puja should take a oil bath. Clean the place where the mangala Gowri is to kept , Keep the plank, draw rangoli and spread one blouse peice on it.
To a teaspoon of haldhi add 3/4 teaspoon of maida , make stiff dough and make two cups , for lamps. In two table spoons of haldhi powder add a tespoon of maida and make a stiff dough and make five gopurams in a group [this is Gowri which has to be kept for all the five weeks]Drain the water from the soaked chana.
PLacement on the plank. Top two ends keep the two triangles, below it keep the halfed copra with a little chana. Middle keep the silver mangala gowri, below it keep the haldhi gowri.Bottom two sides keep the lamps made of dough with wick and oil.
To start the puja worship tulasi. Light the lamps made of dough. Worship the water kept for puja { with a prayer }Take a udharni of water with a flower sprikle water over both the Gowris.THEn alitlle milk with a flower, and water again in the same way. worship with haldhi powder then geja vastra, again haldhi powder gandha , kum kum flowers. [ use only good sweet smelling flowers]. light all the lamps and offer the naividya along with coconut , banana, soaked chana pan supari.
Lasly light the lamps in fried cups , offer the arathi to gowri then hold the knife over it till it forms black soot on it, this is the kajal.take this with a flower and apply to the Gowri.then the girl who has performed the pujas applys for herself. Give thambula to savashnis with pan supari chane banana or coconut, and offer the kajal.Lastly seek their blessings by doing namaskaro each savashni after giving the thambula. The naividya of 18 phalas are to eaten by the husband and wife only.Dakshina has also be given with the thambula.
The story of Mangala Gowri is to be read in the morning or evening.
 There is also a custom  that the Husbands mother gives  VAAN to the girls  on any one  Manala Gowri puja in the five Years. The Vaan is in a Thambya -- (pithal Thambya)  wheat is put along with a   metal snake --ie that Silver  or Pancha loha  is put into it and tied with a choli. The girls mother is invited, festival food served and this Vaan is presented to her  along with Haldhi kumkum and flowers etc.

Shravan Shanivaar

This puja has to be done on all Saturdays in the month of Shravan.

• Perform puja to the picture of Lakshmi Narasimha deveru in much the same way as Shravan Shukravaar. Puran arathi has to be done. Onti need not be done. Ambali/ambat kane/huli nuchu and nuchu payasa and palak bhaji are the special neividya on this day. Festive lunch has to be made.

• All the decorations on this phata(picture) including the vastras are left as it is at the end of Shravan maasa and are removed only on the ashtami following Ganesh Chaturthi in Bhadrapada month. When these decorations, the flowers, the vastras, a wool string and a silk string and a new dhaara are strung together and worn by all in the family after the Elleashtami or Jyeshashtami puja

• Those who have the custom have to send their boys for bhiksha to at least 2 houses, where the boys wearing madi and carrying a bhiksha patra, have to ask "Venkatramana Govinda Govinda" and rice is given for bhiksha. In some houses, the father asks of the daughter and the daughter gives bhiksha to the father.

• In some houses, the picture of Lord Venkatramana and Padmavathi are worshipped and puran arthi and thambittu arathi are performed.

Both Shravan Shanivaar and Shravan Shukravaar pujas are done in many different ways in each family. This is what is done in ours. Readers, do let me know how it is done in yours if it is different from this one.

Shravan Shukravaar

This festival is celebrated on every Friday in the month of Shravan. On the first Friday, decorate the picture of Lakshmi Narayana or Jivti .(You can keep this beside the picture of Lakshmi Narasimha, who is worshipped the next day on Shravan Shanivaara.) Keep the Lakshmi Narayana or Jivti picture to the right of Lakshmi Narayana picture.) Decorate the wall around the picture.
In front of the pictures, on each side keep two dry coconut halves(copra) each filled with 5 badam, 5 khajur, 5 turmeric sticks(halkund) and 5 suparis. Decorate the pictures with a haara made of betel leaves and one of flowers.
Have ready, haldi, kumkum, flowers, akshata, five strings of vastras woven together and colored with kum kum, gandha, for the puja.
For the arathi, puran arathi is important. Those who are working and are hard pressed for time can make puran by mixing fresh or frozen grated coconut with grated jaggery, a little milk and ghee. Shape these into cups to hold the ghee dipped vaathi. Have 5 strings dipped in ghee for deep arathi ready, dhoop for dhoop arathi and camphor for karpoor arathi and finally mangal arathi .
Also have ready a blouse piece, Onti samaan, haldi kumkum packets, shringar samaan.
Neividya can be anything, kosumbari, thambittu, payasa, anything
Please note, for the onti have ready rice, two dry copras, 5 haldi, 5 khajur, 5 badam and 5 supari.
Cook a festive meal.
Start the puja by lighting the lamps, and perform puja to the God pictures.
Onti has to be done now for Gowri Lakshmi. In a plate, place the blouse piece, on it haldi kumkum, shingaar samaan. Now do onti onto the blouse piece.
Do all the arathis, dhoop, deep, and when doing puran arathi, keep two turmeric rhizome (halkund) on either sides. and do the arathi, after which do dhrishti with the turmeric. Next do the karpoor arathi, neividya and finally magal arathi. At least on one Friday, if not every friday, call a savashni for haldi kumkum.

Naga Chaturthi

Naga chaturthi comes on the fourth day of the month of Shravan. This festival is generally observed by women , praying for the well being and long life of their children.The women have a oil bath. and the entrance to the house cleaned and decorated with rangoli . On two sides of the entrance draw a picture depicting a snake with a baby snake beside it. For the worship, a silver or pithal or panchaloha snake is kept in a plate. Also have ready geja vastra coloured only with haldhi, Akshata yellowed with haldi only, raw soaked chana, rice powder, salt, pepper , thambit and chiguli, raw milk with a drop of ghee added.

Thambit is made by soaking rice for an hour or so. Draining all the water and powdering this. After the rice is powdered, add jaggery and blend together or grate the jaggery and mix this well with the rice flour. [if the rice flour is wet or hot, adding jaggery will make it watery, so better grate it and mix].
Chiguli is til seeda fried till it puffs up a little and when cool grind it with jaggery.
Keep three geja vastras one for the snake and two for the snake pictures on two sides of the front door.
Wear a clean saree, if possible a new one to perform the puja.
Begin by first performing the puja to the silver/brass or alloy snake (naag) as usual with haldi kumkum and geja vasthra, and akshtha and flowers .
Then pour a spoon of water, the milk ghee mix and water again and all the other ingredients that you have ready. A little of each.
Now take all the puja things and move to the front of the house. First do puja to the thresh hold Then draw on both sides of the door say at a middle point one big snake and small one. [mother and child.]to these also do puja .
The women dont partake Rice etc on this day but take pala ahara. Uppit, sojji, pohe, friuts and milk or butter milk. One cannot eat chappathis as this does not come under the pala ahara.

Thanvi Amavasyaor Bhimana amavasya

This festival falls on ASHADA AMAVASYA. This festival is also known as Pathi Sanjivani vratha or JothiBhimeshwara Vratha.

The story behind this festival is as follows. A very poor brahmin with many children gave his daughter in marriage to a very sick prince who was about to die. He then abandoned her to her fate at the banks of a river and left. the young girl alone and afraid of the dark, made a Shiva Linga out of the sand available and performed puja with great faith. Lord Shiva and Parvathi were very pleased with the girl and appeared before her and restored her husband to life.

There fore on this day, women make two rectangular peices in clay, and decorate it with lime and red color. After the clay pieces are a little dry, tie them together with a piece of turmeric around them.

This symbolises Lord Shiva and Parvathi. These are placed on a plank with a little rice arround it

On the day of the puja the ladies and girls in the house have to take oil bath .Perform the puja as usual with haldi kumkum , geja vastra gandha and flowers. For naividya soaked chana is offered. Near the idol threads , coloured yellow with haldhi and nine knots is kept and this also is worshipped. The threads placed in front of god should be for one for each lady and girls in the house. After the puja is over, all the women should wear tie thread on their right hand. This gowri is worshiped by women for the longevity of the husband and unmarried girls for a good husband.If clay is not available, the mangala gowri given at the time of marriage can be worshiped or a pair of silver or pithal lamps kept over a little rice with ghee for wicks can be worshiped.

RAM NAVAMI

RAMA NAVAMI

Ram Navami comes a week after Ugadhi on Chaitra Shuddha Navami. Lord Rama is worshipped on this day. Saligrama Puja too is to be done. From Ugadhi to Ram Navami is called Navaratri by some. In some households Sundara Kandha is read starting from Ugadhi till Ramanavami and a Brahmin couple are fed everyday. For the puja a Rama Pattabhisheka photo will do ; however, if you do have Ram Parivar vigrahas in your house, do keep these for the puja. And those who have a saligrama at home, do saligrama puja. Naividya : Since this festival is at start of summer cooling food is offered.
Spiced Buttermilk, Lime juice and Kosambari are special. Of course, kheer has to be made.
Uttering of RAMA NAMA is a must.
On this day saligrama puja and festival food is prepared.
  Naividya.
  Wheat Laddu. Take equal quantity os Wheat flour, Jaggert, and Ghee. Add ghee only half first then add ghee as is wanted. Fry the the Wheat flour with a few Kajus,till a good.aroma emits add the grated jaggery and a little Cardomom Powder and make Laddus while the mixture is still  warm. Even though it is said equal amounts of all three ingredients are  to be used, ghee becomes too much and it becomes difficult to  make laddus. May be weight wise it may come out well.

SPICED BUTTERMILK
Blend some water with dahi/yoghurt to make buttermilk.
Add some pinched curry leaves, chopped coriander, finely chopped green chillies, grated ginger, salt and a pinch of sugar to this.
Heat 1 teaspoon oil, add mustard seeds, jeera, 1 red chilli and hing to it.
when mustard seeds stop spluttering, take off fire and pour over the buttermilk.

PANAKA OR LIME JUICE

Heat some water till hot. Add to it a few saffron grains, pounded cardamom and sugar. Take off fire, add cold water and squeeze required amount of lime juice to it. Heating water is optional, Saffron soaked for a few minutes will enough.

KOSAMBARI OR KOSHIMBIR

Soak mung dal for an hour . Drain and take off all water and place in a bowl. To this add finely chopped green chillies, coriander, fresh grated coconut,salt and finely chopped cucumber or grated carrots or grated beetroot (your choice, of course also depends on conformity to madi rules if followed). Tkae a teaspoon of ghee in a karahi, add mustard seeds, urad dal and red chilli. Season the koshimbir with it. Finally squeeze lime juice.
   The above Naividya, is the minimum, The regular festival food has to be prepared and Bramhana and Savshni given food and Thambula.