Sri Sathyanarayana Puja

Sri Sathyanarayana Vrata Puja

Sri Sathyanarayana Puja is performed to seek blessing of Lord Vishnu.

Sathya means “truth” and Narayana means, “The highest being” so Sathyanarayanã means “The highest being who is an embodiment of Truth”.

Vrata or Puja means a religious vow, religious observance, or obligation. Hindus throughout perform Sri Satyanarayana Vrata for the divine blessings of health, wealth, prosperity, opulence, education; relief from troubles and sickness.

It can also be performed because of success in business or career growth; during social functions like marriages, house-warming ceremonies, the naming of the children, and so on.

Although there is no fixed day to perform Sathyanarayan Puja but doing it during Purnima or Pournami is considered highly auspicious. Devotees should observe the fast on Puja day. The Puja can be done in the morning as well as in the evening. However performing Sathyanarayan Puja in the evening is considered more appropriate.

Legend :

Originally, the instructions were given by Rishi Narada Muni. While touring the Earth, Narada Muni noted that there was a lot of suffering mainly due to malnutrition around the surface of the Earth.

So, he went to Lord Vishnu and described the entire condition on Earth. Lord Vishnu told Lord Narada the specific ways in which Satyanarayan Vrat could save people from dying of malnutrition.

The key instruction from Lord Vishnu was to invite a lot of people- friends, relatives and neighbours for the observance of Satyanarayan Vrat Katha. Fruit was to be fed to all of them and this alone could eliminate the deficiencies amongst people.

The Vrat of Lord Satyanarayan is to be heard by all who participate in the Satyanarayan Vrat Katha.

The story has five parts and this involves ,

a) The origin of the Satyanarayan Pooja Vrat

b) The benefits of performing the Satyanarayan Puja Vrat

c) Mishaps that might occur if the Satyanarayan Katha is not performed properly.

d) Lord’s benevolence and the importance of the Prasad

e) Consequences of mocking the ritual.

Sathyanarayana Vrat Katha has five chapters :

First Chapter: It narrates the story of the Satyanarayan Vrat Katha. The Rishis were performing a Yagna that was supposed to last for a thousand years. The Yagna was to benefit the human civilization.

Second Chapter: The benefits of the Satyanarayan Pooja Katha are described in this Chapter. A poor Brahmin approached the Lord and the Lord advised him to do the Pooja himself. After performing the Sathyanarayan Pooja Katha, the Brahmin could overcome all the obstacles and was able to enjoy his life and blessings immensely. A woodcutter who stood watching the Brahmin perform the Pooja also was blessed and understanding the source of the blessings when the woodcutter performed the Pooja, he too benefited immensely from it.

Third Chapter: When a merchant vows to perform the Sathyanarayana Pooja according to the Sathyanarayana Pooja story, after his child’s birth postpones it until his child’s marriage and forgets it after the child is married is punished by the Lord. The merchant is accused falsely and is put through trial, and was saved only when the Merchant’s wife was reminded of the vow he had taken years back. Only after the wife successfully completed the vow was the husband relieved of his accusations and released from the prison.

Fourth Chapter: The Prasad’s significance and the loving nature of the Lord are reminded in the fourth chapter. It is usually a continuation of the same story in the previous chapter. While the daughter and the wife were praying to the lord on one such occasion, upon hearing the arrival of the father in the dockyard, who had also eventually understood the usefulness of the prayers, ran to the dockyard without accepting the Prasad. Annoyed by this act the Lord curses the ship that sinks and only comes up when the wife and the daughter eat the Prasad.

Final Chapter: The last chapter speaks about the significance of the Satyanarayan Pooja Katha. A few backwoodsman were performing the Pooja and the offerings were thrown away by the King thus invoked the anger of the God. The King eventually loses the kingdom, his wealth and also ends up losing his family. Only when the King accepts the offerings does slowly the belongings begin to return back to him

Preparation of Satyanarayan Pooja :

According to customs and traditions, on the day of Satyanarayan Swami Katha, one must abstain from worldly pleasures for 48 hours. Call all your friends and family on the previous day and on the Pooja day, ensure that you have taken a head bath and all the family members must participate in it. Married couples, unmarried friends and relatives can participate and also ensure that you wear some clean garments and dresses.

Observe fast. After bathing and wearing new clothes, arrange everything around the altar. It takes almost 3 hours to complete the Pooja. Keep mango leaves on the front door. Some people clean the altar area with cow dung or you can also clean the floor plainly.

Satyanarayan Pooja Items are to be kept near the altar and the idol is placed on the altar in the East-West direction and devotees pray facing the eastern side. Some people make floral designs using wither rice flour or with other powders that are coloured. Now, a new white cloth is placed over the altar and is layered with raw rice.

A Kalasha (small pot) is kept above the altar. It could either be made of silver, copper or brass and it could be even of earthen origin and can be used for Satyanarayan Katha Samagri. In that small pot you need to keep a betel nut, a one rupee coin, some wheat or jowar. Now, you have to fill the pot with Gangajal or simple clean water. Wrap a coconut in a cloth and place it on top of the pot. You can keep a branch containing 5 mango leaves or 5 Ashoke leaves between the coconut and the water in the pot. Ensure you wrap a red thread thrice around the neck of the pot. Use a combination of vermilion and oil to form a Swastika and decorate it with Sandalwood paste. Now, this process marks the end of Kalash sthapna.

Keep a picture of Lord Satyanarayan, on the altar. Flowers and garlands can be placed on this frame.

Sri Sathyanarayan Puja Vidhi :

Dhyanam:

Puja should begin with the meditation of Lord Satyanarayana. Dhyana should be done in front of Sathyanarayan image or idol in front of you. Following Mantra should be chanted while meditating on Lord Satyanarayana.

Dhyayet Satyam Gunatitam Gunatrayasamanvitam !

Lokanatham Trilokesham Kaustubhabharanam Harim !!

Nilavarna Pitavastram Srivatsapadabhushitam !

Govindam Gokulanandam Brahmadyairapi Pujitam !!

Avahanam:

After Dhyana of Lord Satyanarayan, one should chant following Mantra in front of the Murti, by showing Avahan Mudra (Avahan Mudra is formed by joining both palms and folding both thumbs inwards).

Damodara Samagachchha Lakshmya Saha Jagatpate !

Imam Maya Kritam Pujam Grihana Surasattama !!

Sri Lakshmi Sahita Srri Satyanarayanaya Avahayami !

Asana:

After Lord Sathyanarayan has been invoked, take five flowers in Anjali (by joining palm of both hands) and leave them in front of the Murti to offer seat to Lord Sathyanarayan while chanting following Mantra.

Nanaratna Samakirna Kartasvaravibhushitam !

Asanam Devadevesha! Prityartham Pratigrihyatam !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Asanam Samarpayami !

Padyam:

After Asana offering, offer water to Sri Sathyanarayan to wash the feet while chanting following Mantra.

Narayanah Namasteastu Narakarnavataraka !

Padyam Grihana Devesha! Mama Saukhyam Vivardhaya !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Padayoh Padyam Samarpayami !

Arghyam:

After Padya offering, offer water to Sri Sathyanarayan for head Abhishekam while chanting following Mantra.

Vyaktavyaktasvarupaya Hrishikapataye Namah !

Maya Nivedito Bhaktya Arghyoayam Pratigrihyatam !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Arghyam Samarpayami !

Achamaniyam:

After Arghya offering, offer water to Sri Sathyanarayan for Achamana while chanting following Mantra.

Mandakinyastu Yadvari Sarvapaapa Haram Shubham !

Tadidam Kalpitam Deva Samyagachamyatam Vibho !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Achamaniyam Samarpayami !

Panchamrita Snanam:

After Achamaniya offering, give a bath with Panchamrita (the mixture of milk, curd, honey, Ghee and sugar) to Sri Sathyanarayan while chanting following Mantra.

Snanam Panchamritairdeva Grihana Surasattama !

Anathanatha Sarvajna Girvana Pranatapriya !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Panchamrita Snanam Samarpayami !

Shuddhodaka Snanam:

After Panchamrita Snana, offer bath to Sri Sathyanarayan with pure water while chanting following Mantra.

Nanatirthasamanitam Sarvapaapa Haram Shubham !

Tadidam Kalpitam Deva Snanartham Pratigrihyatam !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Shuddhodaka Snanam Samarpayami !

Vastram:

After Shuddhodaka Snana, now offer new clothes to Sri Sathyanarayan while chanting following Mantra.

Shitavatoshna Samtranam Lajjayah Rakshanam Param !

Dehalankaranam Vastra Prityartham Pratigrihyatam !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Vastra Yugmam Samarpayami !

Yajnopavitam:

After Vastra offering, offer holy thread to Sri Sathyanarayan while chanting following Mantra.

Brahmavishnumaheshena Nirmitam Sutramuttamam !

Grihana Bhagawan Vishnu Sarveshta Phalado Bhava !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Yajnopavitam Samarpayami !

Chandan:

After Yajnopavita offering, offer sandalwood paste or powder to Sri Sathyanarayan while chanting following Mantra.

Srikhanda Chandanam Divyam Gandhadhyam Sumanoharam !

Vilepanam Surashreshtha Chandanam Pratigrihyatam !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Chandanam Samarpayami !

Pushpa:

After Chandan offering, offer flowers to Sri Sathyanarayan while chanting following Mantra.

Malyadini Sugandhini Malatyadini Vai Prabho !

Maya Hritani Pushpani Pujartham Pratigrihyatam !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Pushpam Samarpayami !

Dhupam:

After Pushpa offering, offer Dhupa to Sri Sathyanarayan while chanting following Mantra.

Vanaspatirasodbhuto Gandhadhyo Gandha Uttamah !

Aghreyah Sarvadevanam Dhupoayam Pratigrihyatam !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Dhupam Aghrapayami !

Deepam:

After Dhupam offering, offer enlightened earthen lamp of pure Ghee to Lord Sathyanarayan while chanting following Mantra.

Sajyam Cha Varti Samyuktam Vahnina Deepitam Maya !

Deepam Grihana Devesha Mama Saukhyaprado Bhava !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Deepam Darshayami !

Naivedhyam:

After Deepam offering, wash your hands and offer Naivedya. It should include different type of fruits and sweets and offer this to Lord Sathyanarayan while chanting following Mantra.

Ghritapakvam Havishyannam Payasam Cha Sasharkaram !

Nanavidham Cha Naivedyam Grihininva Surasattama !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Naivedyam Nivedayami !

Tambula:

After offering Naivedyam, offer betel leaf (Tambula) to Lord Sathyanarayan while chanting following Mantra.

Lavangakarpurasamyutam Tambulam Sura Pujitam !

Eladichurna Samyuktam Prityartham Pratigrihyatam !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Tambulam Samarpayami !

Phala:

After offering Tambulam, offer fruits to Lord Sathyanarayan while chanting following Mantra.

Idam Phalam Maya Deva! Sthapitam Puratastav !

Tena Me Saphalavaptirbhavejjanmani Janmani !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Phalam Samarpayami !

Aarti:

After offering fruits, offer Aarti with lit camphor in Puja Thali to Lord Sathyanarayan while chanting following Mantra. After chanting following Mantra sing Sri Sathyanarayan Aarti in praise of Lord Satyanarayan.

Chaturvarti Samayuktam Goghritena Cha Puritam !

Arartikyamaham Kurve Pashya Me Varado Bhava !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Mangala Aartim Samarpayami !

Pradakshinam:

After Aarti, now offer symbolic Pradakshina (circumambulate from left to right of Sri Satyanarayan) with flowers in hand while chanting following Mantra.

Yani Kani Cha Papani Janmantara Kritani Cha !

Tani Tani Vinashyantu Pradakshina Pade Pade !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Pradakshinam Samarpayami !

Mantra Pushpanjali:

After Pradakshina, offer incantations and flowers to Lord Sathyanarayan while chanting following Mantra.

Yanmaya Bhakti Yuktena Patram Pushpam Phalam Jalam !

Niveditam Cha Naivedyam Tad Grihananukampaya !!

Mantrahinam Kriyahinam Bhaktihinam Janardana !

Yatpujitam Mayadeva Paripurna Tadastu Me !!

Anaya Pujaya Srivishnuh Prasidatu !!

Om Sri Satyanarayanaya Namah Pushpanjalim Samarpayami !