Margashirsha Laxmi Puja – Worship of Goddess Lakshmi
Margashirsha Laxmi Puja is a sacred observance dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, fortune, and prosperity. Celebrated on Thursdays during the Margashirsha month (November–December), this special puja holds great spiritual and material significance, especially among women in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
The month of Margashirsha is said to be very dear to Lord Krishna, and Thursdays are considered auspicious for Goddess Lakshmi. This creates a powerful spiritual combination for attracting blessings of wealth and happiness.
When is Margashirsha Laxmi Puja Celebrated?
- Observed on all Thursdays of the Margashirsha lunar month (as per the Hindu calendar).
- In 2025, the Margashirsha month starts around late November and continues through mid-December.
- Devotees perform the puja on each Thursday of this month, often for four consecutive weeks.
Margashirsha Laxmi Puja Rituals – Step-by-Step
1. Purification and Setup
- The day begins with a ritual bath, followed by cleaning the house.
- A puja altar or platform is decorated with rangoli, flowers, and oil lamps.
2. Kalash Sthapana
- A Kalash (sacred pot) filled with water and mango leaves is placed and worshipped.
- A coin or image of Lakshmi is placed atop the Kalash to represent the goddess.
3. Lakshmi Puja
- The devotee offers kumkum, turmeric, betel leaves, flowers, rice, sweets, and fruits to the goddess.
- The Laxmi Ashtottara Shatanamavali (108 names of Lakshmi) is chanted with devotion.
- Special yellow or red cloth is offered as a symbolic saree to the goddess.
4. Vrat Katha (Story)
- A story or katha related to the importance of the Margashirsha Laxmi Puja is recited.
- Listening to or reading the katha is believed to invite the goddess’s presence into the home.
5. Aarti and Prasad
- The puja concludes with aarti using camphor or ghee lamps.
- Naivedya (offering) is distributed as prasad among family and neighbors.
Spiritual and Practical Significance
- The puja is believed to please Goddess Lakshmi, ensuring financial stability, health, peace, and family harmony.
- It is especially popular among married women, who pray for the well-being of their families.
- Many also believe that observing this vrat with devotion can remove poverty and misfortune.
Key Beliefs & Traditions
- Women dress in traditional attire, often wearing yellow, red, or green sarees.
- Gold, silver, or symbolic Lakshmi coins may be cleaned and worshipped during the puja.
- Some households perform the Mahalakshmi Puja with a group of women, creating a collective devotional atmosphere.
Bhagavad Gita Connection
In the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 10, Verse 35), Lord Krishna says:
“Maasanam Margashirshoham” – Among the months, I am Margashirsha.
This highlights the spiritual potency of this month and emphasizes why worship done during this time holds extra value.
Final Thought
Margashirsha Laxmi Puja is not only about seeking wealth—it’s about inviting grace, purity, and contentment into one’s home and life. By dedicating Thursdays to Goddess Lakshmi during this sacred month, devotees align themselves with divine abundance and inner peace.
