My fav Mantras of Sri Mahalakshmi Devi

Here I wish to share some of the mantras to worship Shree Mahalakshmi Devi.. 
These I chant on every Friday - be it Sravanam or Not..
The glow of haldi and kumkuma glorifies the beauty
Sri Mahalakshmi Devi's favourite Aravali Kumkuma.. Use it in her worship.
Red colored flowers are her favorites and Green is her favorite color.

||Lakshmim Ksheera Samudra Raja Thanayam Shree Ranga Dhameshwareem
Daasee Bhuta Samasta Deva Vanitam Lokaika Deepaankuram..||
||Shreemanmanda kaTAksha labdha vibhawad brahmEndra gangAdharAm
tvAm trailOkya kuTumbinIm sarasijAm vandE mukunda priyAm||

లక్ష్మీం క్షీర సముద్ర రాజ తనయాం శ్రీరంగ ధామేశ్వరీం
దాసీభూత సమస్త దేవ వనితాం లోకైక దీపాంకురాం
శ్రీమన్మంద కటాక్ష లబ్ధ విభవద్బ్రహ్మేంద్ర గంగాధరాం 
త్వాం త్రైలోక్య కుటుంబినీం సరసిజాం వందే ముకుంద ప్రియాం

As tradition says Goddess Lakshmi loves cleanliness..
She cannot reside where Alakshmi stays..
So of all riches it is the cleanliness of exterior and interior necessary to welcome the Goddess of Plentitude..

||Shuddha LakshmirMoksha Lakshmi Jayalakshmi Saraswati
ShreerlakshmeerVaraakshmeescha Prasanna mama Sarvadaa||

శుద్ధ్హ లక్ష్మీర్మోక్షలక్ష్మీర్జయలక్ష్మీ సరస్వతి
శ్రీర్లక్ష్మీర్వరలక్ష్మీశ్చ ప్రసన్నా మమ సర్వదా


(పేర్ల వారీ గా విడదీస్తే... శుద్ధ లక్ష్మి మోక్ష లక్ష్మీ జయలక్ష్మీ సరస్వతి శ్రీలక్ష్మీ వరలక్ష్మీ 
మొదలైన నామాలు ఈ శ్లోకం లో పేర్కొన్నారు)

||Sarasija Nayane Saroja hastey 
DhavaLataraamSuka GandhamAlya SObhE
bhagavati Hari vallabhE manojne 
tribhuvana bhUti kari prasIdamahyam||


|| ||సరసిజ నిలయే సరోజ హస్తే 
ధవళ తరాంశుక గంధమాల్య శోభే 
భగవతి హరి వల్లభే మనొజ్ఞే
త్రిభువన భూతికరి ప్రసీదమహ్యం|| ||


Lastly my favourite Mantra of Shree Mahalakshmee devi.. mentioned in Shree VishnuSahasra Naama Stotram


|| ||Shreevatsa Vakshaa Shreevasa Shreepatihi Shreemataam varaha
Shreedaha ShreeShaha Shreenivaasaha Shreenidhihi Shreevibhaavanaha
Shreedharaha Shreekarashreyaha Shreemaan LokatrayaaShrayaha..|| ||

|| ||శ్రీవత్స వక్షా శ్రీవాస శ్రీపతి: శ్రీమతాం వర:
శ్రీద: శ్రీశ:శ్రీనివాస: శ్రీనిధి: శ్రీవిభావన:
శ్రీధర: శ్రీకరశ్శ్రేయ: శ్రీమాన్ లోకత్రయాశ్రయ:|| ||


Finally a good link to get Shree Lakshmi AshTottara Satanaama Stotram online 
http://paddustiphouse.blogspot.in/2010/10/sri-maha-lakshmi-devi-day-6.html

Sravana Masam

Sravanam is the best month for Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Gowri's worship. This year it started from July 20 and ends on August 17 on Sravana Amavasya. This month has a number of Pujas lined up along with  Varalakshmi Vratam. They include Nagula Panchami, Mangala Gowri Vratam, Rakhi Pournima, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Polala Amavasya.. (donno what it is.. need to do some search abt its info) etc

The first fortnight of a month towards the full moon day or Pournami is called Shukla Paksha.
Sravana Shukla Paksha is from July 20 to August 2, 2012

The second fortnight of a month towards the no moon day or Amavasya is called Krishna Paksha.
Sravana Krishna Paksha is from Aug 3 to Aug 17, 2012

In Sravana Masam.. every day has an auspicious significance related to it . This is the fifth month in the Hindu Calendar and ushers in the festive mood to continue with Bhadrapadam - Ganesh Chaturthi. Goddess Lakshmi is the softest goddess and a treasure of  Positiveness.


Sravana Somavaram is good for Lord Shiva's worship


Sravana Managalavaram - good for Goddess Gowri's worship


Sravana Sukravaram - well known for Goddess Lakshmi's Puja


Shivatvam.. Shaktitvam.. Mahatwam.. the treasure of these three tatvas is enough to make the devotee enjoy the life with undisturbed peace. The unity with godliness is the secret behind performing the pujas. So let us understand the TATVAM and follow the traditions. 

Every Day Puja Process

WORSHIPPING OR PERFORMING PUJA/POOJA IS A PROCESS TO INVOKE DIVINE BLESSINGS FOR US AND OUR DEAR ONES.
Everything in the puja is performed in an order to show the Shraddha of the devotee.

* Firstly the Vigrahas (Vi + Grahas means something that is devoid of the ill effects of the planets or Grahas in Sanskrit)are to be placed on the altar
Either a special puja ro a corner for the deities in the North-East corner is sufficient to spend a few moments of the day in the presence of their favourite deity.   

*  Prepare one or two lamps with cotton wicks soaking in oil. Place the lamp/s about 6" in front of the picture if it is one lamp. About 10" apart if two lamps are to be lighted.
Do not light until you are ready to begin the Puja.
The lamp we light represents the Light in us -- our soul.


* A Worship Plate : Take any of the three types of plates made of either stainless steel or silver or gold. Place small cup-like  vessels to keep Kumkum, Pasupu (haldi), Karpuram (camphor), Gandham (sandal paste), Agarbattis and a Match box. The incense we burn collectively stands for the desires we have for various things in life. Kumkuma stands for our emotions.
* In another plate or vessel keep the flowers and betel leaves to use during the Puja  
* A separate plate to light Aarati 
* A small cup of Akshatalu (raw unbroken rice applied with sandal paste or haldi) 
* Prasaadam: Covered dishes of prepared prasaadam or sweets to be placed in front of the altar 
* A metallic vessel called Panchapatra with Uddharana a special metallic spoon for the puja purpose. 
And a piece of cloth to wipe your hands during puja.

Now you are ready to begin the Puja

Light the lamps and a couple of incense sticks. Place the agarbatti stand so that  the agarbatti smoke moves towards the altar. And does not cause discomfort to you while chanting the mantras.

Complete the Puja with dedicating the Naivedyam/Prasadam to the deities and lighting  the Aarati 

Special Kolams are drawn in front of the altar during the special occasions of puja. Otherwise drawing normal Ashtadalapadmam is sufficient.

Vibhuti (Sacred Ash)

First time I used it for the puja when we performed at home three months ago and its fragrance arrested my senses for a minute
Applied it on the forehead.. and it felt very cool and all stress was removed.
The fragrance and the silence in thoughts made me use it more often.
IT has a magic of its own much faster than Puja Kumkuma or Gandham..
Hence googled for the details related to Vibhuti.. here they are...

The Vibhuti Prasadam is the fragrant ash like powder used for various purposes during Puja.
It is made from burnt cow dung. It represents the entire universe will be ashes one day... when Lord Siva has his MahaPralaya.. *Great moment of Universal Destruction* And then begin the creation again. In worship connected with Lord Shiva it is a symbol of Purity. Vibhuti mixed in water and poured as abhishekam for Shiva and after the puja it is applied on Shivlingam as well. And further decorated with Gandham Kumkuma and Flowers.

Vibhuti has great healing powers.

You can eat it.. put it in mouth directly and swallow
or mix it up with water and take it in..
Apply it on forehead - either in three strait horizontal lines across your forehead or a small horizontal one.. just above the eye brows.
Or just apply everywhere on the body where you find the swellings or insect bites or burns etc.

Just ensure that you dont waste any of it by allowing it to fall to the ground.

Vibhuti from the HOMAS contains all the vibrations of the puja performed. If applied on the forehead it clears the brain from unwanted thoughts and keeps you focussed. It is said to be blessed by the Gods and Contains the vibrations of the mantras of the homa or fire ceremony.

Vibbhti is supposed to bring HEALTH WEALTH TO ITS BELIEVERS..
Bliss is where Faith is..

-- by Jayashree Naidu 15-07-2012