How to do vilakku pooja at home

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Vilakku Pooja is a traditional Hindu practice to invoke the blessings of divine feminine energy, symbolized by the lamp (vilakku) and Goddess Lakshmi. Here's a detailed guide to performing the pooja at home with mantras.

1 - Preparation for the Pooja

Items Required:

Brass or silver lamp (vilakku)
Oil (sesame or coconut oil) or ghee
Cotton wicks
Kumkum (vermilion) and turmeric
Flowers (lotus or any available flowers)
Betel leaves and nuts
Incense sticks and camphor
Offerings (fruits, sweets, or prasad)

2 - Clean and Purify the Space

Clean the place where you will perform the pooja.
Place a clean cloth or mat to sit on.
Set up the lamp on a plate or stand, and keep all the items ready.

3 - Lighting the Lamp (Vilakku)

Pour oil or ghee into the lamp and place a cotton wick inside.
Light the lamp, visualizing the presence of divine energy.
Recite the following mantra while lighting the lamp:

Mantra for Lighting the Lamp (Vilakku):
शुभं करोतु कल्याणम् आरोग्यम् धनसम्पदाम्।
शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तुते॥
shubhan karotum kalyaanam aarogyam dhanasampadaam.
Shatru buddhi vinaashay deepajyotirnamostute.
Translation: I bow to the light of the lamp that brings auspiciousness, good health, and prosperity. May it destroy negative energies and bring wisdom.

4 - Offering Prayers to the Lamp

Once the lamp is lit, offer flowers, turmeric, and kumkum to the lamp while chanting the following mantra:

Lamp Invocation Mantra:

दीपज्योतिर्महादेवः सर्वमंगलकारकः।
असतो मा सद्गमय तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय॥
Deepa jyotir Mahaadevah sarva mangala kaarakah.
Asato ma sadgamay tamaso ma jyotirgamay.
Translation: "The divine light of the lamp removes ignorance and brings peace and prosperity. Lead us from untruth to truth, from darkness to light."

5 - Offering Naivedyam (Food Offerings)

Place the offerings (fruits, sweets, or any prasad) in front of the lamp and chant the following mantra:

Naivedyam Mantra:

ॐ न वै देवा नाकापृथिवी वा नाशनाय खादन्ति।
तेनायंतिरिचं पर्जन्यस्यावृशुन्नमश्वं ममानेषु मा कृधि॥
Om na vai Deva naakaa prthivee va naashanaay khaadanti.
Tena yantireechan parjanyasyaa vrshunna mashvan maamaneshu ma krdhi.

Translation: "I offer this food to the divine light. May the offerings nourish and please the divine, and may I receive blessings in return."

6 - Chanting Lakshmi Mantra

Reciting mantras dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi during the pooja invites prosperity and well-being.

Lakshmi Mantra:

ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे विष्णुपत्न्यै च धीमहि।
तन्नो लक्ष्मीः प्रचोदयात्॥
Om mahaalakshmyai ch vidmahe vishnu patnyai ch dheemahi.
Tanno lakshmeeh prachodayaat.

Translation: "We meditate upon Mahalakshmi, consort of Lord Vishnu. May she bless and guide us."

7 - Performing Aarti

Once the prayers are complete, perform the aarti by moving a small camphor flame in a circular motion in front of the lamp while reciting the following aarti.

लक्ष्मी माता आरती

ओम जय लक्ष्मी माता, मैया जय लक्ष्मी माता।
तुमको निशिदिन सेवत, हरि विष्णु विधाता॥
ओम जय लक्ष्मी माता॥

उमा, रमा, ब्रह्माणी, तुम ही जग-माता।
सूर्य-चंद्रमा ध्यावत, नारद ऋषि गाता॥
ओम जय लक्ष्मी माता॥

दुर्गा रुप निरंजनी, सुख सम्पत्ति दाता।
जो कोई तुमको ध्यावत, ऋद्धि-सिद्धि धन पाता॥
ओम जय लक्ष्मी माता॥

तुम पाताल-निवासिनि, तुम ही शुभदाता।
कर्म-प्रभाव-प्रकाशिनी, भवनिधि की त्राता॥
ओम जय लक्ष्मी माता॥

जिस घर में तुम रहतीं, सब सद्गुण आता।
सब सम्भव हो जाता, मन नहीं घबराता॥
ओम जय लक्ष्मी माता॥

तुम बिन यज्ञ न होते, वस्त्र न कोई पाता।
खान-पान का वैभव, सब तुमसे आता॥
ओम जय लक्ष्मी माता॥

शुभ-गुण मंदिर सुंदर, क्षीरोदधि-जाता।
रत्न चतुर्दश तुम बिन, कोई नहीं पाता॥
ओम जय लक्ष्मी माता॥

महालक्ष्मीजी की आरती, जो कोई जन गाता।
उर आनन्द समाता, पाप उतर जाता॥
ओम जय लक्ष्मी माता॥

सब बोलो लक्ष्मी माता की जय, लक्ष्मी नारायण की जय।