Lord Satyanarayana Swamy

ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ

“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”

Lord Satyanarayana 

Satyanarayana Puja is one of the most popular pujas in India. This is only one of few poojas that can be performed throughout the year without any restrictions to a specific period or time of the year. Here are some popular queries about the Satyanarayana Swamy Pooja among people that we have covered here along with the best practices and vidhi for Satyanarayana Puja.

Who is Satyanarayana Swamy?

Satyanarayana Swamy is an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Satya in Sanskrit means truth and Narayana is the twin brother form of Lord Vishnu on the planet earth. And Narayana also means the highest being. Together Satyanarayana means the highest being who is an embodiment of Truth. People worship Lord Satyanarayan to seek blessings and success in their career growth and business. This puja is usually performed along with Griha Pravesh, Marriage and Naamkaran Ceremonies.

When is Satyanarayana Pooja done?

Satyanarayana Pooja can be performed on any full moon day i.e. the Pournami day. Whereas the Ekadasi days are also considered auspicious to perform the vratam. Usually an Ekadasi day falls on the 11th day after Amavasya or Pournami.

Satyanarayana Puja can also be performed to mark the success while purchase of a house, entering a new house, buying some property, starting of a new venture, getting a job, marriage in the house, or the birth of a child. It is usually performed to neutralize adversity and overcome any difficulties with divine intervention.

Why Satyanarayana Puja is done?

It is believed that performing Satyanarayan puja at home can bring in lot of success. People who perform this pooja can easily achieve their goals and fulfill all of their aspirations. Taking part in this puja is also considered to improve both the physical and mental health of individuals.

Some people believe this puja increases the overall family prosperity, that is one of the main reasons why newly married couple perform this puja. This pooja is also considered to remove all sins from the previous life.

How to do Satyanarayana Puja at home?

The puja usually starts with a prayer to Lord Ganesha. This is considered vital as worshiping Ganesha would remove all the obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing this puja.

The next step in this puja is the invoking of navagrahas along with their companions and the eight dikpalakas. Then the main puja starts with the worship to Lord Satyanarayana by chanting the different names of Sri Satyanarayana Swamy.

Another important section is the reading of the Satyanarayana Katha. This Katha gives an emphasis on the origin of the pooja along with the benefits, any misfortunes that occur when people forget to perform this puja along with the importance of the rituals and prasad. Finally the puja ends with Aarti and Prasada with flowers.

Sri Satyanarayana Swami Vratam (Sri Satyanarayana Puja) is a popular, and traditional ritual of Hinduism, which is performed in many Hindu households on important occasions. The ritual seemed to have gained popularity in modern times because it is considered to have a beneficial effect upon those who perform it with reverence and sincerity. According to the legends associated with the ritual, several kings and merchants used to perform it in the past to overcome adversity and earn the grace of Satyanarayana Swami, a benevolent form of Lord Vishnu.

People in various parts of India perform the ritual to overcome adversity and resolve problems and difficulties in their lives. It is especially popular in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal and adjoining areas. The famous and ancient temple of Sri Satyanarayana Swami, located at Annavaram in the East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, is a famous pilgrim center. The stories (Satyanarayana Katha) associated with the ritual are found in the Skanda Purana. Some believe that the stories may have been later day inclusions and do not form part of the original Purana.

Sri Satyanarayana Swami Puja is an elaborate domestic form of ceremony (puja) performed both in the households and temples on auspicious days such as the full moon day, 11th day after full moon day (ekadasi), or the day of solar eclipse. It is also performed to celebrate certain events in a devotee’s life, such as the purchase of a house, entering a new house, buying some property, starting of a new venture, getting a job, marriage in the house, or the birth of a child. It is usually performed to neutralize adversity and overcome difficulties with divine intervention.

During the ritual devotees offer prayers to Lord Ganesha and the nine planetary deities (Navagrahas) before they worship Sri Satyanarayana in a traditional manner by chanting his numerous names, making offerings of flowers, fruits, clothes, water, coconut, incense, flame, and prayers. The puja is performed with or without an officiating priest. The whole procedure is available in print and one can read it and chant the mantras to worship the god, even with little knowledge of Sanskrit.

Offerings are made to a photograph of the deity with a Kalasa placed in front of him. Before the worship begins, both are placed on a clean ground in the house or in the prayer room and decked with flowers, turmeric, beetle leaves, rice, kumkuma (red powder), etc. The ritual is concluded invariably by narrating a few stories, which highlight the significance of the ritual and beneficent nature of the chief deity. Once the stories are narrated, the remains of the ritual are distributed in the form prasadam (wheat flour mixed with ghee and sugar) among the devotees, which concludes the ritual. Guests are then served with food.

Symbolism of Sri Satyanarayana Puja

Satyanarayana Puja has a hidden symbolism, which many people do not know. Even I got this message intuitively when I was contemplating upon the god, Satyanarayana, and the significance of his worship. Every ritual in Hinduism has two aspects: an outer, visible, ritual aspect and an inner, hidden, spiritual aspect. The ritual performed with gross organs of the body externally is less significant than the ritual performed with the sublte mind and intelligence. The ritual performed with the heart is even more significant than the ritual performed with the body and the mind. This is affirmed in the Vedas itself. Internal rituals performed with devotion purify us and prepare us for liberation, while external rituals may serve us to remember our duties and obligations in the world and earn good karma. They do not liberate, but secure us a place temporarily in the ancestral heaven.

Satyanarayana means Lord of Truth, or Narayana in truth form. Sat means both truth and existence, in contrast to asat (untruth and non-existence). Lord Narayana (literally meaning lord of nara, the pranic energy or the life sustaining astral water) is Brahman, the highest Supreme Self. As Brahman, He is both existence (sat) and non-existence (asat), also called Being and Non-Being. His purest and the highest manifestation in creation is Isvara, the Primal Being, or the Lord of the Universe, who is His reflection in the purest form of sattva (suddha sattva).

Lord Satyanarayana is the personification of Brahman as the Truth Being. He represents truth and personifies truth in action (dharma). The true worship of Sri Satyanarayana involves the truthful performance of obligatory duties, practice of truth in daily conduct, and commitment to truth in all aspects of life. The ritual is a promise (or vow) to God that one lives truthfully and honestly in the service of God (Narayana) and works for one’s salvation. Truthfulness is one of the highest virtues in Hinduism. Without it one cannot achieve liberation. Truth has to be worshipped not only ritually but also spiritually. The mental and spiritual worship of the Lord of Truth is more important than the physical and superficial worship. The Satyanarayana Puja serves as a reminder that one should practice truth and embody it in oneself through righteous and truthful conduct.

If you analyze the stories associated with the Satyanarayana Puja, the symbolism becomes self-evident. In them you will notice that people suffer when they fail to honor truth, but overcome their difficulties when they observe it. Truth and falsehood lead to different consequences (karma) in life. Truth leads to light, wisdom and liberation. Falsehood leads to adversity, darkness and suffering. People suffer from adversity and misfortune when they indulge in falsehood and deception, fail to keep their promises or live dishonestly. Such negative consequences can be overcome only when they renounce their sinful ways and worship truth in thought and deed. You may worship Lord Satyanarayana occasionally through rituals, but practicing truth and honesty in your daily life is true worship.

You can find this symbolism in the stories associated with the ritual. For example in the first story, sage Narada observes that the people upon earth are suffering from numerous difficulties. He goes to Vishnu and requests him for a solution. Vishnu suggests that they should worship the Lord of Truth (Satyanarayana Swami) to overcome their suffering. The idea presented here is observance of truth will help the people on earth to overcome their negative karma, fulfill their desires, and achieve freedom from the cycle of births and deaths.

In the second story, a poor Brahmana is suffering from hunger thirst, as he is unable to practice his livelihood and obtain the support of patrons. God appears to him as an old Brahmana and advises him to worship the Lord of Truth. The Brahmana then begins to worship Truth and becomes rich in the process. He uses all his money in the worship of truth. After sometime, when a poor a woodcutter comes to him for help, he gives him similar advice and helps him to overcome adversity.

In the third story, a wealthy merchant, who is childless, worships the Lord of Truth for progeny. When a daughter is born to him, he forgets his promise to God and fails to worship Him, whereby he faces numerous difficulties. His problems disappear when he repents for his wrong ways and agrees to worship the Lord of Truth. In the second part of the same story you will notice that the merchant suffers from another calamity when he lies again. While returning home in a boat laden with wealth, he lies to the Lord of Truth, who comes to him as an old man, that he has nothing to offer since his boat contains only hay and leaves. As a result, all the things in the boat turn into hay and leaves and the boat becomes lighter. When the merchant notices this, his son-in-law tells him that it happened because he lied to the old man who came to him for help. When the merchant realizes his mistake and repents for it, The Lord of Truth fills his boat again with plenty of wealth.

Thus, Satyanarayana Swami Puja is not about an empty ritual we need to perform to overcome adversity. The real Satyanarayana Puja involves the practice of truthfulness, which is considered a chief virtue, upon which rests the entire Dharma. Peace and happiness flow from truthfulness, and adversity and misfortune arise when people indulge in falsehood and deception and incur negative karma. Truth is a purifier. By speaking truth, and worshipping truth one can neutralize the consequences of past actions and overcome adversity. The ritual by itself does not solve our problems, unless we develop respect for truth. Since it is very difficult to remain truthful in the present age, the internal worship of Lord Satyanarayana becomes relevant and important in our daily lives.

Narada Muni: Story of Satya Narayana

Once upon a time while travelling the three worlds, Yogiraj Narad Muni reached Mrityulok(Planet Earth), he saw the human beings suffering immensely. He visited the abode of Lord Vishnu, who alone can relieve the mankind from the sufferings.

There he met the Almighty Lord Vishnu with four arms having Shankha, Chakra, Gadha & Padma, wearing Tulsi Mala (garland) in his neck. He started to pray & requested “Oh Lord!!! You are the supreme power, nothing can touch you, not even wind or mind can get you, your power is limitless, you know everything, you help your devotees to overcome their sufferings & sorrows.” Hearing all the pleadings of Sadhu Narad Muni, the Almighty Supreme Lord Vishnu, knowing everything asked Narad Muni “Oh Narad! Why have you come to me & what do you want from me, tell me, I want to hear the same from you.”

Yogiraj Narad Muni replied, Oh Lord! I just went to Mrityulok, where I saw all kinds of human beings suffering in sorrow due to their previous karma. Oh Lord! the Almighty, is there no way that their suffering becomes less or is it possible that they get complete moksha (relief) from their sufferings. If so, please let us know. The Lord, at once replied “Oh Narad! you have asked a very good question for the benefit of all human kind.”

To free man-kind from all sufferings, & to ultimately reach Heaven , there is one virt (fast), & today I will tell you all about it. Anyone who does Shri Satyanarayan’s Virt & Puja (prayer) in the right way; will get all the pleasures on earth & will reach his goal.

Yogiraj NaradMuni then asked, “Oh Lord!, has anyone kept this fast before? This virt is done on which day & how exactly is it done? Please do let us know all the details.”

Whosoever does Bhagwan Shri Satyanarayanji’s Katha with Brahmin & with his family with full rites will be relieved of his sufferings & sorrows, will be bestowed with increase in wealth & wisdom; will be blessed with children; get overall victory & increased devotion.

For this prayer, one requires riped bananas, ghee, milk & choori (made with wheat flour, ghee & sugar). After the prayers, all present must have the prasad & then take their meals together, & then sing, praise, & chant mantras of Lord Satyanarayan. By doing this, their wishes will be fulfilled. This virt in kalyug gives the boon (reward) very quickly.

This chapter of Shri Satyanarayan Swami is over. All chant (say) Shri Satyanarayanji Ki Jai.

The Lord said “Oh Narad! Now I will tell you about the first person who did this fast. In a place named Sunder Kashipur, there used to live a very innocent brahmin. In hunger & thirst; he used to roam for his daily bread. When the loving Lord saw the Brahmin in sorrow & begging daily; he took disguise of an old Brahmin & asked him, “Oh Dear!, why are you so sad. Please tell me all about your difficulties. Is there any way I could help you out?”

The Brahmin told the Lord, “I am a poor Brahmin & I roam daily for bread. Do you know if there is any way to come out of all this sorrow?”

The Old Brahmin (ie. the Lord ) said “Lord Satyanarayanji grants all the wishes of all the people. Dear Brahmin, that is why if you pray to him & keep his fast you will overcome all your sorrow & get moksha.”

After telling him all the details of the prayer & the fast; the old Brahmin ie. the Lord disappeared.

The brahmin could not sleep that night. He kept thinking of the fast & the prayer which the Lord had asked him to do. In the morning, he woke up with the thought that anyhow he must do the prayer & went out for his biksha. On that day the Brahmin got a lot of money from which he bought all the necessary things for the prayer; called his family & did Lord Satyanarayanji’s prayer. By doing so, the Brahmin overcame all his sorrows & became rich. From that time onwards, he used to do the prayers every month without fail.

In this way, whoever does Lord Satyanarayanji’s prayer will get moksha. Anyone on earth who does this prayer will be relieved from all sorrows.

When Narad Muni noticed that the people on earth were eager to know about the other people who kept this fast; he narrated another story.

The same Brahmin now a rich person used to do the prayer every month without fail with his family. Once he was doing his prayer, a wood-cutter passed from there. After keeping the bundle of wood outside the brahmin’s house, he went in for some water. The thirsty wood-cutter saw the brahmin doing his prayers. He bowed down to the Brahmin & asked him, “Oh Brahmin, what are you doing, please tell me all about it.” The Brahmin replied, “To grant all the wishes of human-beings, this fast & prayer is useful. I have acquired all the wealth & fame by doing this prayer of Lord Satyanarayanji.” After hearing about the prayer & drinking the water, the wood-cutter felt happy, he ate the prasad & left for his house.

Thinking of Lord Satyanarayanji in his mind, he said “Whatever today, I get from selling the wood, I will also do this prayer.” So thinking, he kept the bundle of wood on his head & left home-wards. On the way home he went roaming in Sunder Nagar for selling the wood. On that day, he got four times more money than usual, for the wood. Feeling happy, he went & bought all the things necessary for the prayers (ie. ripe bananas, sugar, ghee, wheat flour, etc) & proceeded home-wards. On reaching his house & after cleaning it, he called his family & did the prayer with due respect.

The reward of the fast was that, he became rich & had all the pleasures of life on this earth & in the end of his life he went to heaven.

This chapter of Lord Satyanarayan Swami is over. All chant(say) Shri Satyanarayanji ki Jai.

Sadhuraj Narad said, “Oh Dear People!, Now let me tell you another story. There was a king named Ulkamuk. He was very wise. He would go daily to the temple & give donations to the Brahmins. His wife was a pious & beautiful lady. At the banks of Madhushala river, one day, when they were doing Lord Shri Satyanarayanji’s prayer, a wealthy business-man was passing from there. He anchored his boat, & went up to the king & asked him, “Oh King, what are you doing with so much bhakti? I wish to know- please tell me all about it.”

The king replied, “Oh merchant! , I am praying to the great Almigthy, the boon-giver Lord Satyanarayanji for a son. The merchant on hearing this, requested the king to tell him all about the fast & prayer as he was childless too. The king told him the full details of the prayer & fast. After hearing all the details, he decided in his mind to keep this fast. The merchant then left home-wards. On reaching home, he told his wife Leelawati all about the fast & prayer & said, “We will do this fast when we get a child.”

One day, with the grace of Lord Satyanarayanji his wife became pregnant. In ten months time, she gave birth to a beautiful daughter. They named her Kalawati. Days passed by; one day, Leelawati slowly & sweetly reminded her husband about the prayer & fast & requested him to fulfil his promise. The merchant told his wife that during the time of Kalawati’s wedding it would be easy to observe the same; for at the moment he was busy in his business; so saying he left for his business trip to various villages.

Kalawati grew up to be a beautiful girl. When the merchant saw that his daughter was of marriageable age; he called the match-maker & requested him to search an equal match for his daughter. Hearing the merchant’s request, the match-maker reached Kanchan Nagar. From there, he brought the proposal of a young handsome boy.

The merchant liked the proposal, for the boy had all good qualities too. He then spoke to the boy’s parents & fixed his daughter’s marriage. The marriage was done with all the religious ceremonies & rituals. Unfortunately, the merchant forgot all about his promise to do Lord Satyanarayanji’s prayer & fast. The Lord got angry at the false promise made by the merchant.

The merchant, after a few days, left for his business trip with his son-in-law. They anchored their boat in a beautiful village, named Ratanpur. In those days, King Chandraketu used to rule the village. The Lord was angry with the merchant for the false promise made by him, & so he wanted to teach him a lesson.

One day, the thieves robbed the wealth of the king & they went & stayed where the merchant was staying. Seeing the guards following them, they left all the loot over there (where the merchant was staying), & hid themselves. When the guards reached the merchant’s place, they saw all the king’s wealth. Thinking them to be robbers, they hand-cuffed the merchant & his son-in-law & took them to the king & told him that they wer responsible for the theft. The king, without questioning or listening to them ordered to put them in a dark cell. Due to Lord Satyanarayanji’s maya, nobody heard them. Even their wealth was confiscated by the king.

At the merchant’s house, the thieves robbed all their wealth & his wife & daughter had to beg for their daily bread. One day, begging for food, Kalawati reached a Brahmin’s house where at that time Lord Satyanarayanji’s puja was going on. After listening to the prayer & taking the prasad, she left for home. By that time, it had become dark.

Leelawati was worried. She asked her daughter Kalawati, why are you so late? To which Kalawati told her mother, “Oh Mother, today in a Brahmin’s house, I heard a prayer. By doing this prayer & fast, all your wishes get fulfilled.” On hearing this, Leelawati started doing all the preparations for the prayer of Lord Satyanarayanji. She did the fast & prayer & asked the Lord for forgiveness & prayed that her husband & her son-in-law should return home safely.

Lord Satyanarayanji was pleased with the prayer & the fast. One day, he told King Chandraketu in his dream, “Oh King, Yoy must release the merchant & his son-in-law from the dark cell, tomorrow morning. Give them their wealth & set them free. If you do not do so, your kingdom will be destroyed.” In the morning, the king called the court people & told them about the dream.

The court people after hearing about the dream, came to the conclusion to free the merchant & his son-in-law.They asked the guards to bring the prisoners from the dark cell. King Chandraketu gave them good clothes, all their wealth & plus some more & set them free. The king told them that due to their wrong-doings, they had to undergo this suffering, but now there was nothing to fear & they could go back home. They bowed down to the king & left home-wards.

This chapter of Lord Satyanarayanji is over. All chant (say) Shri Satyanarayanji ki Jai.

Sutji said, “The merchant prayed first & then gave some wealth to the Brahmin before starting his journey home-wards. When they went little further, Lord Satyanarayanji wanted to test them. He took the disguise of an old man & went upto the merchant & asked him, “What is in your boat, give me little from there.” In his ego & pride, the merchant replied, “Oh Old man, we have nothing in our boat except hay & leaves.” On hearing such harsh words of the merchant, the Lord said, “Your words will be true”. So saying, he went from there & sat on the bank of the river.

When the Lord went away, the boat started to rise higher in the water. The merchant was surprised at this. When he went to check in the boat, he saw that his boat was filled with leaves & hay only. Seeing this he fainted. When he came to his senses, he was very much worried. He said “How could this happen?” At this, his son-in-law told him, “Do not cry over this. All has happened because you spoke harshly to the old man & lied to him. Still, nothing is lost. You could go back to him & ask for forgiveness & he will set everything right.

The merchant, after hearing the words of his son-in-law went in search of the old man. He bowed down before him & with respect said, “Oh Lord, please forgive me for the false harsh words that I have spoken to you.” So saying, he bowed down with tears of sorrow in his eyes. When the Lord, saw the merchant in his state of sorrowness & crying for forgiveness, he said, “Do not cry. Listen to me. Oh foolish person, due to your false promise, you have seen all this sorrow & suffering.” On hearing the Lord say this, the merchant said, “Oh Lord, Nobody can recognize your maya. Not even the Gods or Brahmins know your ways & forms. I promise that I will pray to you”, so saying he asked for forgiveness. He said, “Please forgive me, & let my boat be filled with wealth once again, like before.”

On hearing the merchant’s words filled with bhakti, the Lord was happy & he fulfilled his wish. When the merchant mounted his boat & saw it full with wealth again, he thanked the Lord & said, “With Lord Satyanarayanji’s grace, my wish is fulfilled. When I reach home, I will do his prayer & fast”, so saying he left home-wards.

When the merchant saw that his home-town Ratanpur is nearing, he sent a messenger in advance, to his house to inform his wife & daughter of his home-coming. The messenger, on reaching the merchant’s house, bowed down to the merchant’s wife & gave them the most awaited news that the merchant & his son-in-law have reached Ratanpur.

Leelawati had just finished doing her Satyanarayan Puja. She told her daughter to finish doing the prayer & then come & receive her husband & her father. Kalawati finished doing her quickly & without taking the prasad left to meet her husband. The Lord got angry at her behaviour, so he drowned her husband with the boat. When Kalawati did not see her husband; she was shocked & she fainted on the floor.

On seeing his daughter in this state of affairs & the sudden disappearance of the boat, the merchant was shocked. He prayed to Lord Satyanarayanji, asked him for forgiveness & prayed to the Lord to take them out of this difficulty. The Lord then made an annoucement, “Oh merchant, your daughter, in a hurry to meet her husband has left my prasad; hence you cannot see her husband. Now, when she goes back & takes the prasad with due respect & then returns; only then she will see her husband.” On hearing the voice, Kalawati ran home, ate the prasad & came back & met her husband. When the merchant saw this, he was very happy.

The merchant then did Lord Satyanarayanji’s prayers & fast with his family every month. Finally, he had all the pleasures of life & after death, he went to heaven.

This chapter of Lord Satyanarayanji is over. All chant (say) Lord Satyanarayanji ki Jai.
Sutji said, “Oh people, listen further to another story.”

A king named Tungdhwaj was famous for his generosity to his subjects. But he had to suffer a lot, due to the disrespect he had shown to the prayer of Lord Satyanarayanji & his prasad, which he did not accept when it was offered to him.

One day, when hunting in a forest, he sat down under a tree. There he saw a few villagers doing the prayer of Lord Satyanarayanji. The King saw all this but due to his false ego, niether did he join them nor bowed down to the idol of the Lord. When the villagers gave him the prasad, he did not accept it & went away from there.

When the King reached his Kingdom, he saw that everything was destroyed & all his 100 sons were lying dead on the floor. The King realised that this had happened all due to his false ego. So thinking, he started walking towards the place where the villagers were doing their prayers. There, with them, he did the prayers of Lord Satyanarayanji & had the prasad & the charna-amrit (ie. milk, sugar, curds, tulsi leaves & honey mixed together) & put it in all his son’s mouths. By doing this, all his sons became alright. He got back all his wealth & comforts of life & finally in the end, after he died, he went to heaven.

Anybody who keeps this fast with full faith & recite the prayers of Lord Satyanarayanji; all his wishes will be fulfilled. With the grace of the Lord, he will get eternity; the wealthless will receive wealth; & will go to heaven & finally will come out of the circle of birth & death.

The names of the persons who kept this fast & took re-birth are as follows :–The Brahmin took birth as Sudama & in his entire life he served the Lord Krishna & attained moksha. King Ulkamuk took birth as King Dashrath, & in that life he became the father of Lard Rama & attained eternity. The merchant took birth as King Morad, who cut his son in half & offered to the Lord & got moksha. King Tunghdwaj took birth as Kewat, who took Lord Rama across the river, served him & got moksha.

In this way, whoever does Lord Satyanarayan’s prayer will be free from all sorrows & will ultimately reach heaven & get moksha.

This chapter of Lord Satyanarayanji is over. All chant (say) Lord Satyanarayanji ki Jai.

Lord Satyanarayana 

1. Introduction

1.The Satyanarayana Vrata is a Hindu religious observance. It is a ritual performed by devotees on any major occasion like marriage, house warming ceremony etc. It can also be performed on any day for any reason. It finds first mention in Skanda Purana. The Satyanarayana Puja is usually done on the Full Moon (Purnima) day of every month or any day you wish to do it. It is also done on special occasions and during times of achievements as an offering of gratitude to the Lord Vishnu. In addition, it is said that a devotional performance of this puja will bear children to couples trying to start a family.

2. History

2. Sri Satyanarayana puja is a very popular ritual in many parts of India including Gujarat, Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, Satyanarayan Puja is not done on Ekadashi or Chaturthi. This puja has a special significance for the Chitpavan community of Maharashtra. In West Bengal, people perform this puja before house warming ceremony. Almost all Hindus, throughout Andhra Pradesh, have strong faith, belief, and devotion towards Srimannarayana, an incarnation of Vishnu. There is a very ancient famous temple for Sri Satyanarayana Swamy at Annavaram, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. (near Visakhapatnam ), India. This vratam is performed daily in Annavaram. Large numbers of devotees, many with families, visit the temple, offer prayers, perform this Vrata there, right in the temple.

3. Sri Satyanarayana puja is a very popular ritual in many parts of India including Gujarat, Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, Satyanarayan Puja is not done on Ekadashi or Chaturthi. This puja has a special significance for the Chitpavan community of Maharashtra. In West Bengal, people perform this puja before house warming ceremony. Almost all Hindus, throughout Andhra Pradesh, have strong faith, belief, and devotion towards Srimannarayana, an incarnation of Vishnu. There is a very ancient famous temple for Sri Satyanarayana Swamy at Annavaram, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. (near Visakhapatnam ), India. This vratam is performed daily in Annavaram. Large numbers of devotees, many with families, visit the temple, offer prayers, perform this Vrata there, right in the temple.

4. Procedure

4. The puja starts by a prayer to Lord Ganesha, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by chanting all the names of Lord Ganesha and offering prasad (a food offering, usually consisting of one of Lord Ganesha’s favorite foods – modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or laddu) and the showering of flower petals. Another part of the prayer involves a prayer to the Navagraha’s – the nine important celestial beings in the universe. They consist of Surya (the Sun), Chandra (the moon), Angaaraka/Chevaai (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru aka Bruhaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu (the head of the Demon snake), and Ketu (the tail of the Demon snake).

5. The rest of the puja consists of worship to Satyanarayana, an extremely benevolent form of Lord Vishnu. First “panchamritam” is used to clean the place where the deity is placed. After placing the deity in the correct position, Satyanaraya swami is worshipped. Names of Satyanarayana are chanted along with offering of a variety of prasad (including a mixture of milk, honey, ghee/butter, yogurt, sugar) and flower petals. Another requirement of the puja is that the story of the puja be heard among all those observing and partaking in the puja. The story involves the origin of the puja, the benefits of it, and the potential mishaps that may occur with the forgetting performance of the puja. The prayer concludes with an Aarti, which consists of revolving a small fire-lit-lamp in the vicinity of an image of the Lord. After the puja is over, participants and observers of the puja are required to ingest in the prasad that was offered and blessed by the Lord.

6. Puja (Prayer) Vidhi (performing method)

6. The Satyanarayan Puja is performed in reverence to the Narayana form of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth. Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However one can do it in the morning as well. On the day of the puja, the devotee has to fast. After bathing the person can begin the puja.

7. Materials needed for the Satyanaranaran Rituals

7. ‘Sirni’: A special type of food offering, which is prepared by mixing unboiled milk, flour, sugar, smashed bananas, and other flavours like cinnamon etc., or optional garnishing like groundnuts, cashews, cherries, crushed coconuts/fruits etc. Kumkum powder, turmeric powder, rangoli Incense sticks, camphor. Thirty betel leaves, thirty betel nuts, two coconuts. Five almonds, Flowers to offer One thousand tulasi leaves; banana tree as a canopy One square shaped wooden platform Two copper jars, two plates. One shawl A mixture of milk, curd, honey, sugar, ghee to make the panchamrita, Sandal paste. Akshat (rice grains) with turmeric powder. Attar, Indian perfume. Two flower garlands, conch shell, bell, a cloth, a ghee lamp and an oil lamp. 1 kg of raw rice 1 kg of sajjige as prasadam 6 numbers of coconuts after completing each katha.

8. Satyanaranaran Rituals

8. The Satyanarayana Puja is a Hindu religious observance. It is a ritual performed by Hindus before/on any major occasion like marriage, house warming ceremony etc. It can also be performed on any day for any reason. The Satyanarayana Puja is unique in that it does not require a Brahmin to perform. The Satyanarayana Puja is usually done on the Pournami day of every month (full moon day), ekadasi (11th day after full moon or new moon), kartheeka paurnami, vaisakha paurnami, solar eclipse day or on Sankranti except during Ashada masam. It is also done on special occasions and during times of achievements as an offering of gratitude to the Lord. These occasions include marriage, graduation, new job, and the purchase of a new home to name a few. In addition, it is said that a devotional performance of this puja will bear children to couples trying to start a family. Summary of the puja process: The puja starts by a prayer to Lord Ganesha, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by chanting all the names of Lord Ganesha and offering prasad (a food offering, usually consisting of one of Lord Ganesha’s favorite foods – modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or lhadu) and the showering of flower petals. Another part of the prayer involves a prayer to the Navagraha’s – the nine important celestial beings in the universe. They consist of Surya (the Sun), Chandra (the moon), Angaaraka/Chevaai (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru aka Bruhaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu (the head of the Demon snake), and Ketu (the tail of the Demon snake).9. The rest of the puja consists of worship to Satyanarayana, an extremely benevolent form of Lord Vishnu. First “panchamritam” is used to clean the place where the deity is placed. After placing the deity in the correct position, Satyanaraya swami is worshipped. Names of Satyanarayana are chanted along with offering of a variety of prasad (including a mixture of milk, honey, ghee/butter, yogurt, sugar) and flower petals. Another requirement of the puja is that the story of the puja be heard among all those observing and partaking in the pooja. The story involves the origin of the puja, the benefits of it, and the potential mishaps that may occur with the careless performance of the puja. The prayer concludes with an Aarti, which consists of revolving a small fire-lit-lamp in the vicinity of an image of the Lord. After the puja is over, participants and observers of the pooja are required to ingest in the prasad that was offered and blessed by the Lord. It is told that Satyanarayan Katha is in REVA volume of Skanda Purana. But this volume is devoted to pilgrimages on the valley of river REVA. In Satyanarayana there is no Reva river. In original Skanda Purana there is nothing like Satyanarayana. Recent Skanda Puranas added it with clear note of its new addition in Skanda.

10. Puja vidhanam:

10. The Satyanarayan Puja is performed in reverence to the Narayan form of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth. This puja is conducted to ensure abundance in ones life. Many people carry out this puja immediately after or along with an auspicious occasion like a marriage or moving into a new house or any other success in life. It is believed the ceremony originated in Bengal as Satya Pir and was later adapted into Satyanarayan puja. The Satyanarayan puja can be performed on any day. It is not a puja confined to any festivities. But Poornima (full moon day) or Sankranti are considered to be most auspicious day for this puja. Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However one can do it in the morning as well. On the day of the puja, the devotee has to fast. After bathing the person can begin the puja.

11. To prepare Prasadam

11. You need to prepare halwa with sugar and suji by using at least 5 measures of rava. Fruits Panchamrutam (made by mixing 1cup raw milk, 1tbsp curd, 1tsp ghee, 1 sliced banana, 2tsp honey, sugar.

12. Other suggestions for items needed for puja

12. Coconuts Flowers Betel leaves Prasadam (wheat flour) New blouse piece Brass/silver vessel (chembu) for kalasam Panakam Vadapappu Fruits Agarbatti Deepams Satyanarayan Idol/Photo or Normal Idol/Photo of Vishnu

13. Sri Satyanarana Swami Katha

13. Shri Satyanarayana katha (narrative) comes from the Skandha purana, Reva kaanda. Suta Maharshi narrated these stories, in Neimishaaranya to the Rishis who were performing a 1,000 year yagna for the benefit of mankind lead by Shounakji. In the stories characters who ignored their promise to perform the puja after their wish had been fulfilled suffered as a result. Therefore one is to deduce that one must stick to the promise given to the Lord in exchange of the desire fulfilled by his grace. One is not to ignore or forget the Lord’s Grace. Prasad is symbolic of God’s Grace which Kalavati ignored as she learned of her husband’s safe return. One can understand her eagerness in wanting to be re-united with her beloved, but one must understand that if one forgets to be thankful for gifts received from the Lord, one would have to go through another test until one remembers to remember. When the rich merchant is asked what the boat contains, he untruthfully replies ‘Only dry leaves’ and the Mendicant says ‘So be it’. The above incident tells us that the spoken word has power. What you speak, manifests. Hence one must not speak an untruth. Especially an inauspicious untruth. In the last story one learns that no one is higher or lower in status in the eyes of the Lord. Hence one must accord respect to whoever it may be, who is taking the name of God. Katha details:14. Suta Maharshi narrated the stories. Once upon a time while travelling the three worlds, Narada Maharshi reached Bhoolokam (Earth) and saw the human beings immense suffering. He then went to the abode of Lord Sri Satyanarayana Swami (the benevolent form of Lord Vishnu), who alone can relieve the mankind from the sufferings. There he met the Lord Vishnu with four arms each with Shankha, Chakra, Gadha & Padma, wearing Tulsi Mala (garland) in his neck. Narada Maharshi then asked the lord for a panacea for the miseries of the world. Lord Sri Satyanarayana told Narada Maharshi that there is a fast and puja which can be performed by anyone to overcome these obstacles. The Lord said, “Anyone who performs Shri Satyanarayan Swami’s Vratham & Puja in the right way they will get all the pleasures on earth & will reach their goal”. The fast would result in the fulfillment of his desires and also liberation from the cycle of birth and death into attaining moksha (salvation). Whosoever performs Shri Satyanarayana Swami’s Katha with a Brahmin and with his family with full rites/rituals, they will be relieved off their sufferings and sorrows. They will be bestowed with wealth & wisdom, they will be blessed with children and they will get overall victory & increased devotion. For this prayer, one requires ripe bananas, ghee, milk & choori (made with wheat flour, ghee & sugar). After the prayers, all present must have the prasadam & then take their meals together, & then sing, praise, & chant mantras of Shri Satyanarayana Swami. By doing this, their wishes will be fulfilled. This vratham in kaliyugam gives boon (reward) very quickly. This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana Swami is over. All chant together (say) Shri Satyanarayana ki jai.15. Lord Satyanarayana then narrated to Narada Maharshi how and who performed the puja first. In a place named Sunder Kashipur, there used to live a very innocent Brahmin. In hunger & thirst he used to roam begging for his daily bread. When the Lord saw the Brahmin in sorrow and begging daily, he disguised himself as an old Brahmin & asked him, “On Brahmana, why are you so sad. Please tell me all about your difficulties. Is there any way I could help you?”. The Brahmin replied, “I am a poor Brahmin & I roam daily for bread. Do you know if there is any way to come out of all this sorrow?”. Then the Lord in the guise of a Brahmin said “Lord Satyanarayana grants all the wishes of all the people if his puja and fast is performed diligently. If you pray to him & keep his fast you will overcome all your sorrow and get moksha”. After telling him all the details of the prayer and the fast, Lord disappeared. The poor Brahmin could not sleep that night. He kept thinking of the fast and the prayer which the Lord had asked him to do. In the morning, he woke up with the thought that somehow he must perform the puja and so thinking went out for his biksha (alms). On that day the Brahmin got a lot of money. He used to buy all the necessary things for the prayer. He called his family and performed Lord Satyanarayana’s prayer. By doing so, the Brahmin overcame all his sorrows & became rich. From then onwards, he performed the prayers every month without fail. Thus whoever performs Lord Satyanarayana Swami’s puja, they will be relieved from all sorrows.16. The Lord then narrated another story. The same Brahmin now a rich person performed the prayer every month without fail with his family. Once a Brahmin was in between his prayer when a wood-cutter passed by. After keeping the bundle of wood outside the Brahmin’s house, he went in to quench his thirst. The thirsty wood-cutter saw the Brahmin performing the Satyanarayana Vratham. He bowed down to the Brahmin & asked him, “Oh Brahmana, what are you doing, please tell me.” The Brahmin replied, “I am performing the vratham of Lord Satyanarayana Swami. One who accomplishes this will overcome all obstacles and their wishes will be granted. They will attain wealth and wisdom. I have acquired my wealth also in the same way.” After hearing about the prayer and drinking the water, the wood-cutter felt happy. He ate the prasadam from the puja and left for his house. Thinking of Lord Satyanarayana in his mind, he said “Whatever money I make from selling wood today, I will use it to perform the Satyanaraya Swami vratham.” So thinking, he loaded the bundle of wood onto his head and left for his home. Along the way home he went roaming in Sunder Nagar selling the wood. On that day, he got four times more money than what he made usually out of the wood sale. Feeling happy, he went and bought all the necessary things for the prayers (i.e. ripe bananas, sugar, ghee, wheat flour, etc.). On reaching his house and after cleaning himself, he called his family and did the prayer with due respect. He became rich and acquired all the pleasures of life. At the end of his life he went to heaven. This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana Swami is over. All chant together (say) Shri Satyanarayana ki jai.

17. This story consists of a childless merchant and his adventures. There was a wise king named Ulkamuk. He had a pious and beautiful wife. He would go to the temple daily and would give charity to the Brahmins. One day near the banks of river Madhushala, where they were performing Lord Shri Satyanarayana’s vratham, a wealthy merchant was passing by. He anchored his boat, went to the king and asked him, “Oh King, please let me know the details about the vratham you are performing with such devotion”. The king replied that he was performing the Lord Satyanarayana Swami’s vratham. He said that one who performs this vratham will gain worldy pleasures and attain salvation. The merchant with much eager asked him the details stating that, “Oh King, I would like to know the details as I am childless and would like to perform this vratham”. The king gladly gave the entire details about the vratham and its vidhanam. After acquiring the entire details of the vratham, the merchant and his wife decided to perform the fast if they get a child. Sometime later his wife Lilavati became pregnant and she delivered a girl who they called Kalavati. The merchant’s wife Lilavati reminded him about his promise to keep the fast and perform the vratham. The merchant postponed it saying that he would do so when the daughter is ready to be married. The merchant told his wife that during the time of Kalawati’s wedding it would be easy to the fast for at the moment he was busy in his business. So saying he left for his business trip to various villages.

18. Kalawati grew up to be a beautiful girl. When the merchant saw his daughter was of marriageable age; he called the match-maker and requested him to search an ideal match for his daughter. Hearing the merchant’s request, the match-maker reached Kanchan Nagar. From there, he brought the proposal of a young handsome boy. Agreeing to the proposal and after speaking to the boy’s parents, Kalavati’s marriage was performed with much fanfare and religious ceremonies & rituals. All this while the merchant forgot about the promise to perform the Satyanarayana vratham and so the Lord decided to remind the merchant about his promise. The merchant, after a few days, left for his business trip with his son-in-law by boat. They anchored their boat in a beautiful village, named Ratanpur ruled by King Chandraketu. One day, the thieves robbed the wealth of the king. After robbing they went and stayed at the same place where the merchant was staying. Seeing the guards following them, they left the entire loot near the merchant and then hid themselves. When the guards reached the merchant’s place, they saw all the king’s wealth beside the merchant and his son-in-law. Thinking them to be robbers, they arrested them and brought them before the king stating that they were responsible for the theft. The king, without giving any chance of explaining their case ordered both be confined to behind bars. Even their wealth was confiscated by the king. While at the merchant’s house, the thieves robbed their entire wealth. This left his wife and daughter to beg for their daily bread. One day while begging for food, Kalawati reached a Brahmin’s house. At that time the Brahmin and his family were performing Lord Satyanarayana’s puja. After listening to the prayer and& taking the prasadam, she left for home. By the time she reached home it was already dark.

19. Leelawati was worried. She asked her daughter Kalawati, why it took her so much time to come home. Kalawati replied, “Oh Mother, today I was at a Brahmin’s house where they were performing Lord Satyanarayana’s vratham.” On hearing this, Leelawati recollected the long pending promise by her husband and narrated it to her daughter. She soon began the preparations for the Lord Satyanarayana vratham. She did the fast & prayer and asked the Lord for forgiveness. She prayed that her husband and her son-in-law return home safely. Lord Satyanarayana was pleased with the prayer and the fast. One day, he told King Chandraketu in his dream, “Oh King, You must release the merchant and his son-in-law as they are not the robbers. Return their wealth and set them free. If you do not do so, your kingdom will be destroyed.” In the morning, the king called the people in his court and told them about the dream. The people they agreed that the merchant and his son-in-law should be released by the king. The king asked the guards to bring the prisoners returned all their belongings and set them free. The king told them that due to their wrongdoings, they had to undergo this suffering, but now there was nothing to fear & they could go back home. They bowed down to the king & left for home. This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana is over. All chant together (say) Shri Satyanarayana ki jai.

20. The merchant prayed first and then gave some wealth to the Brahmin before starting his journey for home. When they went little further, Lord Satyanarayana wanted to test them. He disguised as an old man and went up to the merchant. The Lord asked, “What is in your boat, give me little from there.” The merchant in arrogance and pride, replied, “Oh Old man, we have nothing in our boat except hay and leaves.” On hearing such harsh words from the merchant, the Lord said, “Your words shall be true”. So saying, he went from there and sat on the bank of the river. When the Lord went away, the boat started to rise higher in the water. The merchant was surprised at this. He went to check inside the boat. To his shock he saw that his boat which was filled with his wealth now contains only leaves and hay. Seeing this he fainted. When he came to his senses, he said “How could this happen?” His son-in-law meanwhile told him, “Do not cry over this. All has happened because you spoke harshly to the old man and lied to him. Still, nothing is lost. You could go back to him and ask him for his forgiveness. He may set everything right.”

21. The merchant, after hearing the words of his son-in-law went in search of the old man. He bowed down before him and with respect said, “Oh Lord, please forgive me for the words I have spoken.” So saying, he bowed down with tears of sorrow in his eyes. When the Lord, saw the merchant in his state of sorrow and crying for forgiveness, he said, “Oh foolish person, due to your deeds, you have seen all this sorrow & suffering.” On hearing the merchant’s words filled with bhakti, the Lord was happy & he turned the boat full of wealth. When the merchant mounted his boat and saw it full with wealth again, he thanked the Lord & said, “With Lord Satyanarayana’s grace, my wish is fulfilled. When I reach home, I will do his prayer & fast”, so saying he left for his home.

22. When the merchant saw that his home-town Ratanpur is nearing, he sent a messenger in advance, to his house to inform his wife & daughter of his arrival. The messenger, on reaching the merchant’s house, bowed down to the merchant’s wife & gave them the most awaited news that the merchant & his son-in-law have reached Ratanpur. Leelawati had just finished doing her Satyanarayana Puja meanwhile. She told her daughter to finish doing the prayer and then come & receive her husband & her father. Kalawati finished doing her quickly & without taking the prasadam left to meet her husband. The Lord got angry at her for this, and so he drowned her husband with the boat. When Kalawati did not see her husband; she was shocked and she fainted on the floor.

23. On seeing his daughter and the sudden disappearance of the boat, the merchant was shocked. He prayed to Lord Satyanarayana, asked him for his forgiveness and prayed to the Lord to take them out of this difficulty. The Lord said to the merchant, “Oh merchant, your daughter, in a hurry to meet her husband has left my prasadam. When she goes back and takes the prasadam with due respect only then she will see her husband.” On hearing this, Kalawati ran home, ate the prasadam offered respects to Lord Satyanarayana and came back to meet her husband. When the merchant saw this, he was very happy. The merchant then performed Lord Satyanarayana’s vratham with his family every month from then onwards. They all gained the pleasures of life and after their death they got the ultimate gift of ‘Moksha’ (Salvation – Liberation from the cycle of life and death). This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana is over. All chant together (say) Lord Satyanarayana ki jai.

24. Suta Maharshi continuing his narrative, tells the Rishis, the story of a king called Angadwaja. Once, as King Angadwaja was returning from a hunting expedition, he stopped to rest under a tree for a while. Nearby a small group of cowherd boys were playing the game of doing puja. They offered their humble parsadam to the king, who out of pride left it untouched. Subsequently the king suffered great losses and realised that that was due to the contempt he had shown for those children’s puja. The king realising his mistake returned to the spot where he had met the cowherds, and with great faith performed the puja with them. The king regained all that he had lost.

25. Suta Maharshi now told the Rishis that the Lord Sri Satyanarayana Swami fast was very effective during Kaliyuga and that whoever read or heard this story would be rid of all sorrows and difficulties. The names of the persons who kept Satyanarayana vratham took rebirth are as follows: The Brahmin took birth as Sudama & in his entire life he served the Lord Krishna & attained moksha. King Ulkamuk took birth as King Dashrath, and in that life he became the father of Lard Rama & attained eternity. The merchant took birth as King Morad, who cut his son in half & offered to the Lord & got moksha. King Angadwaja took birth as Kewat, who took Lord Rama across the river, served him & got moksha. This chapter of Lord Satyanarayana is over. All chant together (say) Shri Satyanarayana bhagwan ki jai.

26. Om Jai Lakshmi Ramana, Swami Jai Lashmi Ramana, Satyanarayan Swami, Jan Patak Harana, Om Jai Lakshmi Ramana Ratan Jadith Singhasan, Adhbut Chaveee Rajey, Narada Karat Niranjan, Ghanta dhwani bajey, Om Jai Lakshmi Ramana…………. Praghat Bhaye Kali Karan, Dwaj Ko Daras Diya, Budho Brahman Ban-key, Kanchan Mahal Kiya Om Jai Lakshmi Ramana…………. Durbal Bhil katharo, Jin Par Kripa Kari, Chandra Chud Ik Raja, Jinaki Vipat Hari, Om Jai Lakshmi Ramana…………. Vaishya Manorath Payo, Shradha Taj Dini, So Phal Bhogyo Prabhujii, Phir stuti Kini, Om Jai Lakshmi Ramana…………. Bhav bhakti Ke Karan, Chhin Chhin Roop Dharyo, Shradha Dharan Kini, Tin Ka Kaj Saryo, Om Jai Lakshmi Ramana…………. Gwal Bal Sangh Raja, Van Mein Bhakti Kari, Man Vanchit Phal Dino, Deen Dayal Hari, Om Jai Lakshmi Ramana…………. Charhat Prasad Sawayo, Kadali Fal Mewa, Dhoop Deep Tulsi Se, Raji SatyaDeva, Om Jai Lakshmi Ramana…………. Satya Narayan Ji Ki Aarti jo koi nar gaavey, Kahat Shianand Swami Man Van Chit Fal Paavey, Om Jai Lakshmi Ramana…………

27. Om jai jagdish harey, Swami jai jagdish harey, Bhakt jano ke sankat, Kshan mein door karey Om jai jagdish harey Jo Dhiyavay phal pavay dukh binase man ka, Swami dukh binase man ka, Sukh Sampati ghar aavey, kasht mitay tan ka, Om jai jagdish harey, Mata Pita tum mere, sharan pau kisaki, Swami sharan pau kisaki, Tum bin aur na duja, aas karoo jisaki, Om jai jagdish harey Tum pooran parmatma, tum antaryami, Swami tum antaryami, Par Brahm parmeshwar, tum sabke swami, Om jai jagdish harey Tum karuna ke sagar, tum palan karta, Swami tum palan karta,Mein murakh kul kami, kripa karo bharta, Om jai jagdish harey Tum ho ek agochar, sabh ke pranpati, Swami sabh ke pranpati, Kisa bida milu gusai tumko mein kumati, Om jai jagdish harey Din Bandu dukh harta, thakur tum mere Swami, thakur tum mere swami, Apne hath uthao, apnay charan lagao, Dwar khada tere, Om jai jagdish harey, Vishay vikar mitao, pap haro deva, Swami pap haro deva, Sharda Bhakti Badao, Santan ki sewa, Om jai jagdish harey Om jai jagdish harey, Swami jai jagdish harey, bhakt jano ke sankat, kshan mein door karey, Om jai jagdish harey

28. If you read this on every Poornima ie full moon day, you will be getting blessings of god since the name of god is like fire. Even if you touch fire unknowingly, your finger will burn. Similarly if you read this even unknowingly, you will be getting blessings of god. You may also forward its link to your friends by google, email, facebook and twitter for creating spirituality on this beautiful planet earth.

Satyanarayan Vrat Katha is the process of worshipping the “highest truthful being.” Indirectly Lord Vishnu is worshipped on this day and Satyanarayan Vrat is a vow or in short an obligation, humans often fulfill. Satyanarayan Vrat Katha ensures humans are blessed by health, wealth and prosperity. Even on social functions some people prefer keeping a Satyanarayan Vrat Katha or Satyanarayan Katha.

Satyanarayan Vrat

Satyanarayan Vrat is mentioned for the first time in the Purana. Skanda Purana mentions Reva Kanda by Suta Puranik and it was delivered to the Rishis in Naimisharanya. The details of the Satyanarayan Vrat Katha are mandatorily recited every time someone keeps the Pooja. Satyanarayan Vrat is quite popular in almost all parts of India and regions of Gujarat, Assam, Bengal, Maharashtra, Telangana, Bihar, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Manipur.

When do people observe Satyanarayan Vrat?

Satyanarayan Bhagwan Katha is recited and observed primarily on the occasions of Poornima, Ekadashi, Kartik Poornima, Vaisakh Poornima, solar eclipses, or during Sankranti. Usually Asadha Chandra Masa is an exception to the recitation of the Satyanarayan Vrat Katha. So, mainly the Satyanarayan Pooja dates would very much be these personal occasions and other festivals.

Even special days like marriage days, birthdays, during our small successes in life, during Griha Pravesh (house warming ceremony), and many more such smaller occasions are reasons for reciting the Satyanarayan Puja Katha.

You can do a Satyanarayan Bhagwan Katha any day, and is not a Puja that you can do only on simpler occasions but also on any occasion that holds even little significance in your life. It is especially auspicious on a Poornima and it is more apt to perform the Pooja in the evening. But, you can also opt for this Pooja to be performed in the evening.

Details of observing Satyanarayan Vrat

The Satyanarayan Vrat Katha is an extremely simple Pooja. It can be done by anyone. Even you can do it, and a priest is usually not necessary for performing the Satyanarayan Pooja at home. 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.

Preparation of Satyanarayan Katha

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 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. You get to buy it in all shops where they sell Hindu religious items. Now, place some flowers, incense, offerings of fruits, sweet and money in a clean, unused plate preferably, in front of the Lord Satyanarayan.

Satyanarayan Prasad

You can offer rice, dal and vegetables to God. Ensure you do not offer a non-vegetarian diet to the God and avoid garlic and onion also in your meals and preparations during the Satyanarayan Katha.

The main Prasad is called Sheera and semolina is cooked in ghee and sugar and is garnished with cardamom, cashew nuts, raisins and ripe bananas are also added to the food.

In Bihar, they fry the wheat flour in ghee and sugar and mix fruits into it. This is dry Prasad, whereas in Bengal, they mix the wheat flour with equal amounts of water, ghee and sugar and then add Chironjee, and other dry fruits to it. In Maharashtra it is called Marathi Sheera, in Gujarat it is called Gujarati Sheera, in Bengal it is called Bengali Sinni and in Punjabi it is called Panjiri.

There is also something called Panchamrutham that consists of equal amounts of uncooked or raw milk, yoghurt, ghee, honey and sugar.

Items required for Satyanarayan Pooja

Satyanarayan Katha samagri that are required on the occasion of Satyanarayan Vrat include,

Turmeric powder, red vermilion, a mixture of nine herbs, incense sticks, camphor, sandalwood paste, Lord Satyanarayan photo, a small idol if possible, wheat or jowar, 100 betel leaves, 50 betel nuts, 40 coins, 50 almonds or dry dates as you like, 8 coconuts. You must also have flowers, and a garland made of Tulasi leaves.

You would also need two jars, one to create the Kalash and another for various rituals, two flat plates, a bell, a large altar, a yellow or red cloth, a ghee lamp, cotton wicks, and Panchamrit that consists of milk, yoghurt, honey, sugar, ghee.

Blow a conch shell; try to have some Tulsi manjari and one thousand Tulasi leaves, have a banana tree or leaves. Two tablespoons, a white sesame seed is favourite of Lord Satyanarayan and rose is the favorite flower of Lord Satyanarayan and would be a good addition to the Satyanarayan Katha samagri.

Process of performing the Satyanarayan Pooja

You can yourself perform the Satyanarayan Pooja at home or you can also call the priest who can perform the Pooja for you. Begin by purifying yourself. Now, after purifying in any which ways, you must begin by praying to Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha is the God who ensures removal of obstacles that might arise during the Pooja and also ensures that if there are some errors while performing the Pooja, those are taken into consideration by the gods in question.

Offer Prasad to Lord Ganesha. Offer banana, modak (a round sweet made out of gram flour and sugar), grated coconut, and shower upon him flowers while offering the prayers.

Now, you must pray to the Kalash (symbolizing Lord Varuna).

A very important part of the Satyanarayan Vrat Katha is that all the nine planets and their consorts are prayed along with eight dikpalakas. So, together (9+ (9×2) +8+5) entities are worshipped, in total 40 entities are prayed during this Pooja.

Every Vedic God is represented by a unique metal, since the coins nowadays are created from several metals hence each of the guest Gods is represented by a certain coin. Each of the coins are placed on the betel leaves and the betel nut, akshit (rice and a little of everything) and dry dates are given on each betel leaf as an offering.

Now, you must bathe the Lord’s idol using the Panchamrutam and then pouring Gangajal over it. After the idol is placed in the correct order, you need to recite the 108 names of Sri Satyanarayan. If it is a portrait, then you can clean it using Gangajal and apply vermilion and sandalwood paste over it. Now you must offer Prasad and flowers over the idol.

Satyanarayan Vrat Katha

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

1. The origin of the Satyanarayan Pooja Vrat
2. The benefits of performing the Satyanarayan Puja Vrat
3. Mishaps that might occur if the Satyanarayan Katha is not performed properly.
4. Lord’s benevolence and the importance of the Prasad
5. Consequences of mocking the ritual.

After the Satyanarayan Vrat Katha, you must try to perform a Satyanarayan Arti. You must light camphor, incenses and also burn coconut fibers with the use of lac into it. Light it in the vicinity of the idol and after the Pooja gets over, mix all the Prasad and serve it to everyone feeding all in the process.

The number of guest Gods may vary and the number of thus, the number of betel nuts and betel leaves may also vary from state to state.

Satyanarayan Vrat Katha has five chapters–

Let’s find out what each chapter holds in it.

1. 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.
   
2. 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 Satyanarayan 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.
   
3. Third Chapter: When a merchant vows to perform the Satyanarayan Pooja according to the Satyanarayan 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.
   
4. 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.
   
5. 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.

Satyanarayan Vrat Katha is a common practice in some homes. There are some homes where Satyanarayan Pooja Katha is performed on every Poornima. It initially began as a practice where the slightly richer people were expected to perform the Satyanarayan Pooja Vrat and they were supposed to call all the poor and needy neighbours for a wholesome dinner.

Satyanarayan Pooja Katha was a medium by which nutritious food was served to the poor thus helping them retain strength. Usually, the Satyanarayan Pooja Prasad according to the Satyanarayan Pooja story comprises wheat flour mixed with equal amounts of milk and ghee. Dry fruits and fresh fruits including the rich seeds of Buchanania lansan (Chironjee) is together mixed into it with adequate sugar content and served to the hungry people. This food has very high food value and people suffering from dietary deficiency diseases can often find respite and also have a healthy survival even if they can consume this food 2-3 times a month.

Thus, now with the rise of modern India, it is difficult to find a person who would be interested in feeding the poor on a monthly basis. However, some homes do Satyanarayan Vrat Katha to ensure well being within the family even till date and do rigorously go through all the five chapters. Some people also request the priest to tie the thread of protection on their hands after the completion of the Pooja.

Though the value of the Satyanarayan Vrat Katha is declining rapidly, yet some people are still trying to ensure that they keep up the old customs and traditions. Thus, you may find a few homes where the fervor of the Satyanarayan Vrat Katha is also preserved in some homes even now.

Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Katha, Story, History, Pooja Materials
Satya Narayan is the Narayan form of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth. Satyanarayana is worshipped commonly by Hindus in their homes with family and friends, usually on a full moon (purnima) day of the month. In this puja called Satyanarayana Pooja, people worship by reciting the gracious story of Lord Satyanarayana. This story was originally told by Lord Vishnu himself to the sage Narada for the benefit of humankind. This puja is conducted to ensure abundance in ones life. Many people carry out this puja immediately after or along with an auspicious occasion like a marriage or moving into a new house or any other success in life. The satyanarayan puja can be performed on any day. It is not a puja confined to any festivities. But Poornima (full moon day) or Sankranti are considered to be most auspicious day for this puja. Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. On the day of the puja, the devotee has to fast. The vrata is explained in five chapters. The first or the introductory chapter deals with the timing of the vrata and the procedure to go about it. The remaining four chapters contain three stories to reassert the greatness and benevolence of the Almighty. The stories weave out such anecdotes, which reveal the significance of the vrata quite effectively. The vrata is also revealed in nine chapters in some books.

On the day of the vrata, it is required to fast and perform the pooja towards the evening. In a sacred pooja room, a new cloth has to be spread on an elevated platform. Rice about a Kg is to be spread on the cloth and in the centre and a kalash capped with a new cloth piece should be placed and on that the token or a small idol of the Lord has to be positioned. A Panchamruta (a mixture of ghee, milk, sugar, honey and curds) abhishekam has to be performed.

Vrata begins with the lighting of the lamp, a symbolic gesture of lighting the lamp of devotion in one’s heart. Then we pray to Lord Ganesha, the dispeller of obstacles, Lakshmi, the giver of prosperity, Vishnu, the sustainer, Lord Shiva and Parvathi, the primordial couple who dance their way to cosmic rhythm, Sun God, the giver of good health, the nine planets and Ashtadikpaalakas including Lord Indra.

Lord Ganesha and Panchaloka Paalakaas should be positioned to the north of the Kalasha and can be worshipped through areca nuts or almonds or turmeric pods or dry dates. Later, the nine planets should be worshipped by placing areca nuts on betel leaves followed by Lord Indra and other Dikpaalakaas. Later the Lord Satyanarayana’s idol or image on betel leaf should be worshipped through panchamruta abhisheka. The pooja runs in ashtottara or satanaama attributes and culminates with haarathi and taamboolam. At the end of the vrata there is udvaasana, a formal way of concluding the pooja. The vrata can be performed by every devout individual by inviting brahmins, friends and relatives. The underlying spirit is to bring in as many people as possible into the divine cult.

Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Pooja Materials:
A book on the vrata (It is preferable to seek help of a purohit), a square platform, mango leaves, two new cloth pieces, kalasha, lord’s idol or a photograph, turmeric, kumkum, panchamruta, six coconuts, prasada, four oil lamps, sandal paste, incense sticks, betel leaves, two garlands, areca nuts, turmeric pods, dry dates or almonds, camphor, offerings in form of cash or coins, tulsi leaves and flowers.

Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Katha CHAPTER 1:
Shri Sathyanaranayana katha is from Skandha purana, Reva kaanda. Sutha Puraanikji was the narrator of these stories, in Naimisharanya 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 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.

Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Katha 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.

Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Katha CHAPTER 3:
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 of wealth.

Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Katha CHAPTER 4:
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.

Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Katha CHAPTER 5:
This chapter is important to us as we too tend to behave like the King in this story, in respect of pooja/worship/religion of other people.

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.

Pauranikas consider Narayana or Vishnu as of four types based on the celestial world — 1. The Lord of Paradise (Vaikunta Nadha) 2. The Lord-lying on the ocean of celestial waters (Anantha sayana) 3. The inhabitant of the white Island (Sweta Dvipa), and 4. The Lord of Goloka (Golokanadha).

1. Jyotistoma is the region of light from the earth to 21st plane. It is full of fire. It is Vaikuntanatha–the first sacrifice. “This fiery and divine sacrifice (Swaha yajna) consists of 34 utterances and the 21st plane is its establishment (Pratista). Thirty three fire-deities related to Vishnu are its limbs. The whole of these deities is Vaikuntanadha Vishnu”. He will be awake for eight months and sleeps for four months. During these four months, there will be dominating influence of water and the fire becomes recessive. So the sacrifices will be destroyed. This is what we call ‘sleep of Vishnu’.
2. Dwadasa yajna extends from 22nd plane to 33rd plane which is full of spiritual water (Apa) and essence (Soma). This is the Lord Vishnu lying on the Ocean. He is said to be having 34 utterances including Prajapati (Pridvi). He is the second Vishnu. Vishnu of the celestial ocean, always sleeps and often awakes. The Splendour of ignition (Agni) is the waking state. The ignition will be weak in the sea and hence the sacrifice will be slackened. The word ‘sleep’ denotes this condition.
3. Navaha yajna starts from 17th plane to 25th plane. The sacrificial Vishnu of this region will have white island as His habitation but is established at 21st level. He is the third Vishnu called Lord Satyanarayana. As Satyanarayana will always be in self-mortification, He is always awake. He never sleeps since Navaha yajna at 21st plane uniformly continues throughout the year.
4. Pancha Dasaha yajna extends from 22nd plane to 36th plane. It is uttered by Sama Veda. Here Gau spirits are born and hence is called Gosava or Goloka. It is established at 29th plane. This region is pervaded by the ocean, a form of spiritual water, air and essence. The spiritual waters are the form of cows (Gua Spirits). They are of spreading nature. This is the supreme world (Paramesti). Lord Vishnu of this world is called Govinda.

These four divisions belong to Pridvi that extends up to 33rd level. Thus they are the four dwellings places of the four types of Vishnu. The Lord of Goloka has two arms but the others are four-armed.

Lord Satyanarayana owing to utter blackness is white in complexion. The other three are blue in color. As Satyanarayana is an embodiment of Tapas, (self- mortification). He has no wife.

The others forms have wives. Govinda Vishnu’s wife is Radha. She is the splendour of Vak (Vagjyoti) and carrier of wisdom (Janana Vahini). Lakshmi is the consort of Samudra Seyana Vishnu. She should be considered as Padma (Pridvi) born of the sea having the quality of terrestrial atoms (mrit paramanu lakshana). Vaikuntanatha has five wives – Pridvi, Tulasi, Ganga, Saraswati and Lakshmi.

The origin of the Satyanarayana Puja can be traced back to ancient scriptures like the Skanda Purana. It is believed that the puja was first performed by the sage Narada, who imparted its significance to a king named Uparichara Vasu. The king subsequently performed the puja and experienced divine blessings, leading to the spread of this ritual among the masses.

The Story of Lord Satyanarayana:

The Satyanarayana Katha, a sacred narrative associated with the worship, revolves around the devotion and faith of a virtuous merchant named Shyam. The story highlights the importance of truthfulness, faith, and gratitude. According to the legend, Shyam’s life transforms after he begins performing the Satyanarayana Puja regularly, experiencing spiritual and material prosperity.

Importance of Worship:

Blessings and Prosperity: Worshipping Lord Satyanarayana is believed to bring blessings, peace, and prosperity to the devotees. The puja is often performed on auspicious occasions such as weddings, housewarming ceremonies, and the birth of a child, as it is thought to bestow divine grace and good fortune.

Removal of Obstacles: Devotees seek the blessings of Lord Satyanarayana to overcome obstacles and challenges in their lives. The puja is considered a powerful means to remove negative energies and bring about positive transformations, enabling individuals to progress on their spiritual paths.

Family Harmony: The worship of Lord Satyanarayana emphasizes the importance of familial bonds and unity. It is believed to foster love, understanding, and harmony among family members. By performing the puja together, families strengthen their relationships and invoke the blessings of Lord Satyanarayana for a harmonious and peaceful household.

Spiritual Upliftment: The Satyanarayana Puja serves as a means to deepen one’s spiritual connection and devotion to the divine. The ritual involves chanting of mantras, offering prayers, and reading the sacred Satyanarayana Katha. Through these practices, devotees enhance their spiritual awareness and cultivate a sense of reverence towards the divine.

Purification and Karma Cleansing: The puja acts as a purifying ritual, cleansing devotees of their past sins and negative karma. It is believed that by performing the Satyanarayana Puja with utmost sincerity and devotion, individuals can seek forgiveness and atone for their mistakes, leading to spiritual growth and liberation.

Expressing Gratitude: The worship of Lord Satyanarayana is a way of expressing gratitude for the blessings and abundance in one’s life. By acknowledging the divine grace and offering prayers, devotees cultivate a sense of gratitude, humility, and contentment. This practice fosters a positive mindset and encourages individuals to lead a virtuous life.

The worship of Lord Satyanarayana holds immense significance in Hindu culture, offering a pathway to spiritual growth, prosperity, and familial harmony. Through the Satyanarayana Puja, devotees seek the blessings of Lord Satyanarayana, expressing their gratitude and devotion. The ritual serves as a means to remove obstacles, cleanse past karma, and cultivate a deep sense of spirituality. With millions of followers worldwide, the worship of Lord Satyanarayana continues to be a cherished tradition, enriching the lives of devotees and instilling a sense of divine grace and purpose.

Story of Satyanarayan : Shri Satyanarayan Vrat Katha

Significance of Satyanarayan Puja

The Satyanarayan Puja, worship of the lord Satyanarayan and the embodiment of eternal truth, is the most commonly performed ritualistic prayers in Hindu homes. Enthusiastic devotees have been performing this ritual for several reasons. It is observed that after performing this puja with devotion and faith, devotees generally benefit a lot – their problems are resolved and they can get over the difficulties in life.

Popularity of Satyanarayan Puja

There are several reasons for the mass popularity of Satyanarayan puja. First of all, it is one of the simplest and easiest rituals performed by the Hindus. Secondly, anyone can perform this puja regardless of age or sex. Even widows can perform the Satyanarayan Vrata. Therefore, it proves that when God is concerned, barriers no longer exist. Only faith, sincerity and devotion counts while performing this ritual. Once again, this puja can be performed any time and on any day, though some days are considered to be more auspicious, such as Purnima and Ekadashi.

Spiritual Significance of Satyarayan Puja

Satya means Truth. Narayan means the one that abides in everything and everybody. Therefore, this puja, or the worship of Satyanarayan, a form of the Lord Vishnu, suggests that to overcome problems and difficulties in life caused either due to deeds of previous birth or similar factors can be overcome by worshipping the lord of Truth. Devoting time to the Truth and worshipping is a way of being truthful to oneself and being truthful to others. The more honest and trutful we come, the better we can worshop the Lord Narayan in ourselves as well as others.

Bringing Friends and Families Together

The purpose of Satynarayan Puja is also to bring friends and family together and encourage unity and harmony. It is a common belief amongst Hindus that we should focus on universal happiness and unity. Thus, a celebration like this can make the world one fine place to gather together and offer prayers and rituals.

BENEFITS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF SATYANARAYAN POOJA

Benefits of Satyanarayan Pooja can be understood from the fact that Lord Satyanarayan is a God who is supposed to be a home name. A hero he must have been once, a saviour who saved all people from hunger and the diseases that come from hunger. The significance of Satyanarayan Puja arises from the fact that the recitation of the Satyanarayan Katha saved the hungry people from facing death due to hunger, thus the Lord is known to be an emanation of Lord Vishnu, the protector of the world.

Hindus all over the world know Lord Vishnu as the Saviour of humanity, thus Satyanarayan Pooja at home, ensures the blessings of the mightiest one, someone who saved the entire world and people several times from facing extinction. According to the tales of Skanda Puran, Lord Narada had communicated the plight of the hungry people of Earth to Lord Vishnu who then had communicated this procedure of worship and feeding the needy back to Lord Narada. The observation of Shri Satyanarayan Arti in return, when translated to the people of Earth. After observing the Satyanarayan Vrat, the humans benefitted from it immensely and thus over the years this practice is widespread worldwide on specific Satyanarayan Pooja dates as found in the Lunar calendars and Luni-Solar calendars.

Benefits of Satyanarayan Pooja
Now, with the passage of time, humans found out that this Pooja not only helps you with every aspect of life, this Pooja also helps you with every aspect of living. Thus, the Pooja gained a lot of popularity and at one point of time in our country this Pooja was practiced like anything.

Let us have a look at the Satyanarayan Pooja benefits.

Benefits of observing the Satyanarayan Vrat
We can have some holistic benefits and some spiritual benefits by performing the Satyanarayan Puja. Holistic benefits of Satyanarayan Puja include,

Once a man begins observing the Satyanarayan Vrat, one’s insides becomes clearer and deletes the sins of the past and present life.
It strengthens your mental health as you become more connected and focused with your path and it also improves the overall health as you get to eat a balanced diet regularly, your focus, your power to concentrate makes a huge difference in your life.
It is believed that this Vrat can conquer all the troubles of your life.
Your wishes, needs and desires will come true if you can ensure that you have fed many hearts to satiation.
Materialism is a part that increases our comfort and who would not want comfort in life?
Satyanarayan Pooja benefits by ensuring you would have a comfortable life, an accomplished life more importantly.

Spiritual benefits of Satyanarayan Puja incorporate,
a) A desire to live truthfully in life
b) An intellect that understand the difference between good and bad.
c) A spirituality that can lead you to a safer path.
d) A judgment that helps you knows the difference between good, right and wrong things.
e) An oath that you take for yourself that you would try to live as truthfully as possible. You would be truthful and tempered in your ways of life and living.
Let us find out the importance of observing this Pooja.
Significance of Satyanarayan Pooja is celebrated whenever you want to eat the good Prasad and whenever you want to remember the Gods. There is no fixed clan, community or gender or reservation of rights for performing this Pooja. Hence this Pooja became so popular in early times.

Satyanarayan Pooja benefits and celebrates the winning of the battles of truth over falsehood. The name of this good is a combination of two powerful words of Hindu scriptures- “Satya” and “Narayan” are two words which when added together form the word Satyanarayan. Satya means truth and Narayan is the Vishnu form that is said to have been the saviour once.

In short in one word the Satyanarayan Puja benefits just by knowing and worshipping the truth. Truth above everything else in this world is revered and worthy of worship. Truth alone is the protector from Evil. Truth alone is the benefactor when you are surrounded by Evil. If you are true, Evil cannot harm you since you would be protected by the Protector himself or herself.

Chant “Om Namo Bhagawate Vasudevaya Namoh:” during the prayers.

This is the hidden importance of Lord Satyanarayan Pooja. This Puja vidhi was promulgated by Lord Narada for the people on Earth and has been deemed fit to be practiced in every Yuga, even in the darkest period of Kali Yuga.

Basically, this is the Lord’s promise, which if you are true; none other than Narayan or the power of Vishnu will save you from all perils and dangers.

So the word is beautiful for you to behold. Since the first part of the word mentions the condition you need to follow to win and in the next half of the word, you understand who would save you if you are truthful.

You can see condition (clause) leading to the result (fruit) in just one word.

It is indeed hard to manage the condition (clause) since being truthful is difficult, almost impossible in today’s world.

But, if you can manage to follow the truth you will be saved by the mightiest hidden power of the Universe- Lord Sri Vishnu himself.

To conclude on the benefits of performing Satyanarayan Puja and the importance of Satyanarayan Pooja, we can say that if you are not into the social external customs since you fail to understand them, then you can try to find out the deeper meanings of every ritual, prayer and worship since each and every single ceremony or ritual is designed in such a way that it satisfies the selfish ego as well as the eternal truth.

The external truth satisfying humans is- this ceremony was started at a time when people were dying of hunger, most importantly from lack of nutrition. Eating good fruits and especially dry fruits saved human life immensely. You might have heard poor people say that after eating the Prasad they slept peacefully. It is due to the fact that this supplied them invaluable nutrition that led to a good sleep.

The internal significance of Lord Satyanarayan Pooja is the worship of truth in every single day would bring protection on your way. Protection from everything, protection from the real harsh world and that protection is given to you by the Lord Vishnu himself.

Satyanarayan pooja: Significance

It is believed that Devarshi Narad showed his concern in front of Lord Vishnu regarding the people on earth living in Kal Yuga (The last period of the time cycle in Hinduism, after which the world is destined to end). Narad Ji asked for a method by which the people on earth can connect with God and seek his blessings.

As a reply, Lord Vishnu told him the significance of Satyanarayan pooja as the simplest way to connect with the divine, as its result is equivalent to a thousand years of Havan. It is believed that performing this pooja with devotion and sincerity can bring peace, prosperity and happiness to one’s life.

Satyanarayan pooja: Rituals

• Panjiri Prasad, consisting of banana, cow milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar and wheat/rice flour mixed with sugar – all blended together with jaggery or sugar, should be prepared for Bhog and then distributed as prasad.
• Charanamrit, sesame, paan, roli, fruits and flowers (mainly marigolds, lotuses and roses) are also offered.
• The pooja is conducted by the Brahmins, mantras are chanted and their books are also worshipped.
• The host then serves food to the Brahmins first and then the people according to his/her capability. The Brahmins are also honoured with a small gift, and their blessings are taken by each member of the family.
• The host then opens his/her fast. Kirtan and Jagran is held at the host’s place in the night, where all the attendees stay awake and remember Lord Vishnu through songs, mantras and stories.

Satyanarayan pooja: Benefits

The benefits of Satyanarayan pooja on one’s physical, mental and spiritual health are immense. Prayers are performed, food is offered and rituals are carried out throughout the pooja, all of which can help soothe the body and mind. It can aid in lowering stress and anxiety levels, encouraging tranquillity and inner peace and enhancing general health.

In addition to improving one’s health, Satyanarayan pooja can have a favourable impact on both one’s personal and professional life. It is believed to bring luck, success and wealth as well as the ability to overcome difficulties.

Importance and benefits of Satyanarayana Pooja

Satyanarayana Pooja is a Hindu religious ritual that is observed to commemorate the Lord Vishnu. The ritual is performed by worshipping the idol of Lord Vishnu. The main offerings during the Pooja are sweets, fruits and flowers. The ritual is performed for invoking the blessings of the Lord Vishnu. It is also referred to as Vishu Pooja since it is performed during the month of Shravana in the Hindu calendar. The ritual is performed at home, temple or other such place with the participation of all family members. It can be performed on any day of Shravana.
The ritual is performed to seek blessings for prosperity, wealth, and happiness. The pooja is also believed to bring peace and harmony to the family. Satyanarayan Pooja is a Hindu religious ritual that is widely celebrated in India. The ritual is dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that worshipping Lord Vishnu through this ritual brings prosperity and good luck to the devotees. The history of Satyanarayan Pooja dates back to the Vedic period, the significance of this ritual has been elaborated in various scriptures such as Bhagavata Purana.

The importance of Satyanarayana Pooja
Satyanarayana Pooja
The ritual is usually performed by a Brahmin priest on an auspicious day. The purpose of the ritual is to cleanse and purify the individual as well as the environment. It is also believed that Lord Vishnu bestows his blessings on those who perform the Satyanarayana Pooja. The ritual is mostly done on a monthly basis but it can be performed more often.
The Satyanarayana Pooja is commonly performed to celebrate milestones, achievements and other important occasions. The pooja involves the worship of the god Vishnu and his avatar, Lord Krishna.
If we try to understand more about Lord Krishna, we get to know that Krishna played each role in his life very well. Like he was a good child, bright student, kind friend, best driver, brilliant strategist and so on. That is the reason behind this worship to learn such things from Lord Krishna.

There are many steps involved in performing the Satyanarayana Pooja and it can be a lengthy process, but the end result is a sense of peace and connection with the divine.

Benefits of performing Satyanarayana Pooja :

Satyanarayana Pooja is a Hindu religious ritual that is traditionally performed to thank the Gods for blessings and to seek their protection. The ritual typically involves the offering of prayers, singing hymns, and the recitation of scriptures. The benefits of performing Satyanarayana Pooja include inner peace, happiness, and spiritual growth. Additionally, the ritual can help to cleanse negative karma and protect against evil influences .

Which day one should prefer to perform the Satyanarayana Pooja:

Monday : Professionals working in health sector
Tuesday : Manufacturers and suppliers
Wednesday : People working in education sector
Thursday : Those who are working in Finance industry
Friday : People working in Service industry
Saturday : Law Professionals
Sunday : Anyone for health benefits

Why it is important to perform this Pooja in Shravan month

During the Hindu month of Shravan, it is considered especially important to perform the Pooja ritual. This ritual is believed to help cleanse away all of the negative karma from the previous year and pave the way for a fresh start in the new year. Additionally, this Pooja ritual is thought to bring good luck, blessings, and prosperity to those who participate in it.

Satyanarayana Puja – Significance & Benefits of the Ritual

There are numerous ways of stating devotion to Lord Narayana. One of the most commonly observed pujas by Hindus is the Satyanarayan Puja. It is a popular and traditional ritual dedicated to Lord Vishnu, performed in many Hindu households and temples on an auspicious day.

Like any other puja, Satyanarayana Puja also begins with a prayer to Lord Ganesh, the remover of all hindrances and obstacles that come our way in the due course of life.

Satyanarayan puja can be conducted on any ordinary day, at any time, and by anyone irrespective of their caste, creed, Martials status, etc. One need not wait for a ritual to organize it. However, the Ekadashi and Purnima are considered auspicious for offering puja to Lord Satyanarayan.

Chitra Pournami (Chaitra Purnima) is considered to be significantly favorable for performing the Satyanarayana Pooja. It is understood that the Pooja can be organized at any time on a full moon day. However, the Pooja must not be done by the devotee on a New Moon. It can be performed in the daytime or morning and evening. Performing puja in the evening time is considered more suitable and brings a good result to devotees.

During the Puja day, devotees do not eat food until the pooja is concluded. The aspiration of dispossessing oneself from food ensures that no evil thoughts come to mind during, before, and after the puja. After the puja is completed, one can get the blessings of Lord Satyanarayan and fulfill their fast by consuming Prasad.

It is easy and simple to perform, and one can do it even without a priest at home. It is also believed that following the puja at home or at temples will bring a more effective result in their life. Satyanarayan Pooja is also performed to celebrate certain events in a devotee’s life, such as purchasing a new house, entering into a new house, buying some property, getting a job, marriage in the house, and so on. It is performed either before or after the fulfillment of the wish.

Detailed information on performing Satyanarayan puja is mentioned in Reva Khanda of Skanda Purana and other Hindu sacred texts. It is stated that once when Narada Muni asked Lord Vishnu to describe how a man can gain relief from his depression, then Lord Vishnu stated that Satyanarayan puja and Katha is the way.

Significance of performing the Satyanarayan Puja

The Satyanarayan Puja is the worship of the Lord Vishnu in the form of Satyanarayan. It is generally performed on the full moon day to invoke the blessing of Lord Vishnu. Devotees have been carrying out this ritual for spiritual and holy reasons. It is said that after performing this puja with devotion and faith, devotees generally benefit a lot. Their problems and difficulties are resolved, and they can get over the problems in life.

Satyanarayana Puja is very popular because it is one of the simplest and easiest rituals performed by the Hindus. Everyone can perform this puja irrespective of age or gender. Many devotees and families perform Satyanarayan puja every year for the family’s wellbeing, health, and wealth. It can also be performed at any time of the day.

Purnima and Ekadashi are considered more auspicious for performing Satyanarayan puja. However, an experienced Vedic Astrologer can also help figure out the auspicious day for performing the pooja. Satyanarayan Puja is also performed when there is an achievement in business or career growth and during social functions like marriages, house-warming ceremonies, the naming of the children, etc.

As stated above, any person can perform the Satyanarayan puja on any day without waiting for an auspicious day. However, the purpose of the Satyanarayan puja is to invite as many people as possible, recite the Katha associated with it, and distribute the Prasad. This specific puja is meant to eliminate all the hurdles in society and team up as one unit to chant the name of God, who represents eternal truth.

Benefits of performing Satya Narayana Puja

1. Performing Satyanarayan puja at home brings success and prosperity.
2. People who do this puja can accomplish their goals and fulfill their aspirations.
3. It improves the physical and mental health of individuals drastically.
4. It helps devotees to enjoy their material life and increase overall family prosperity too.
5. It removes all sins from the past life.
6. It is done for inner peace and happiness.
7. This worship is also beneficial for fixed marriage as early as possible and also for pleasant marriage.
8. It clears the negativity surrounding oneself and grants optimism.

The Satyanarayan Puja unites the family friend’s together, encouraging harmony on earth. It emphasizes worldwide happiness and unity. This puja protects one from evil and keeps one on the path of goodness and truth. It is usually performed using Kalash, banana leaves, fruits, betel leaf, kumkum, milk, tulsi leaves, Ganga water, dry fruits, etc.

Significance of Satyanarayan Pooja

Hindus believe that worshipping Vishnu as Satyanarayan can help one overcome all problems and difficulties. Those who worship Vishnu (the God of truth) with great devotion and faith will be true to themselves and others. To overcome the problems caused by actions in this life or the previous life, one should worship truth. The Pooja is very popular due to its simple rituals, which people can perform at any time of the day and by anyone, irrespective of age, gender, and marital status. Purnima and Ekadashi are the most auspicious days to perform the Pooja.

People perform the Pooja to gain the blessings of health, wealth, prosperity, and relief from sickness and troubles. It is also performed for success in career or business and also during special occasions like marriages, Griha Pravesham, naming of children, etc.

Satyanarayan Puja has great significance in Hindu traditions due to its spiritual and material benefits. Kings, Merchants, Traders, and Businessmen have performed the Pooja to appease Vishnu and to boost their finances. The Pooja is especially popular in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamilnadu, and Karnataka.

Pooja Samagri 

· Pooja Thali: A decorative plate for holding the Pooja items, like flowers, incense sticks, aarti lamps, and Prasad.

· Flowers: Offering fresh flowers to God represents purity, devotion, and reverence.

· Incense Sticks and Dhoop: Lighting incense and dhoop creates a fragrant and spiritual atmosphere and purifies the surroundings.

· Sweets and Fruits: These comprise the Prasad offered to God. It is distributed among devotees after the Pooja.

· Pooja Coins: These are used for tikka (sacred mark) and are auspicious.

Satyanarayana Pooja Procedure

· The rituals are quite easy. The Pooja may last two to three hours. Usually, it takes place in the evening. Devotees also observe the Satyanarayana Vrata on the day of the Pooja.

· The Pooja starts with Acamanah (self-purification), Pranayama (to enhance spirituality inside the body), and Sankalp (vow to complete the ritual).

· Devotees perform the Ganapati Pooja or Homam first to appease Ganapati so that the Pooja takes place without any obstacles.

· Then come Deepa Sthapana (lighting lamps), Bhumi Prarthana (paying homage to Mother Earth), Kalasa Sthapana, Kalasa Pooja, Varuna Pooja, and the Aatmashuddhi.

· The other Poojas that people perform as part of the ritual are Navagraha Pooja, Tulsi Pooja, Panchamritha Pooja, Dvarapalaka Pooja, Digpalika Pooja, and Panchamritha Abhishekam. Many Suktas and Slokas are recited, and Lakshmi Pooja is performed.

· The Satyanarayan Katha (story) is recited. Five chapters that depict the miracles performed by Satyanarayan are read out. This holy scripture narrates the story of Satyanarayan and is the core of the Pooja.

· The Ashtottara Pooja (recital of 108 names of Vishnu), Naivedyam, Tambulam, Dakshina, Aarti, Pradakshina, Namaskara, Aatma Samarpana and lastly, Samarpanam mark the end of the rituals.

Who Should Perform Satyanarayana Pooja?

· Someone who is beginning a new venture or a new business can perform this Pooja. It is also performed during marriages, birthday celebrations, Griha Pravesh, and when beginning higher studies.

· Parents perform the Pooja at their infant’s naming ceremony.

· You can also perform the Pooja if someone in the family is sick.

Satyanarayana Pooja Benefits

· One can gain peace and prosperity in life. There will be overall happiness and family bliss.

· It clears the negativity around us and bestows a positive approach towards life.

· The Pooja also grants good health.

When to Perform Satyanarayana Pooja?

Chitra Pournami day (in April) is very auspicious for performing the Satyanarayana Pooja. The Pooja can be performed at any time on Purnima or full moon day. But it should not be performed on a New Moon day.

Benefits of Satyanarayan Pooja

– It helps to calm the mind and reduce worries. It induces positivity. – All obstacles and problems may vanish from one’s life, and one can achieve success in one’s endeavors. – It creates a protective shield around us and protects us from the evil intentions of others. – It absolves our past life and present life sins and helps us to become righteous and enlightened beings. – The Pooja’s ultimate benefit is that it helps one to attain Moksha or salvation.

Lord SatyaNarayan

Satyanarayan Puja Ritual:

1. Take a holy bath. Observe a fast.

2. Prepare a Mandapa with a canopy of Banana leaves and place the idols of Lord Ganesh and Satyanarayan.

3. Fill a copper pitcher with water, cover it using five leaves and place a coconut over it. Decorated the pitcher with a Swastika using

red vermilion.

4. Offer Semolina Halwa or Wheat flour Choorma as Prasad to Lord Satyanarayana.

5. Perform Ganesh puja followed by Satyanarayan puja ritual along with mantra and aarti.

6. Recite all 271 verses of the Satyanarayan Katha.

7. Havan or fire ritual.

Satnarayan puja begins with Ganesh puja and mantra enchanting followed by offering him his favourite Wheat flour ‘ Laddu’. Next is Nav-Graha puja [puja of Nine Planets] and Vishnu puja. Place the idol on the raised platform, on a red colour cloth. Offer rose petals and fruits. Listen to the story of ‘Satyanarayan Bhagwan’.

Havan Ritual

After listening to the story of Lord SatyaNarayan, the havan ceremony begins. Place the Havan Kund and four pieces of Kusha grass on the four corners of Havan Kund along with some sand so that the ghee when added won’t spill out of the Kund. Lit the camphor pieces to ignite the fire and place it in the Havan Kund along with some wood and chant the mantra. Apologize for any mistakes committed during the puja ceremony. For Purna-Ahuti, place the remaining of the ingredients on a betel leaf, a betel nut, a few drops of ghee into the fire and chant

Om Poornaa-darvi paraapata supoornaa punaraapata.

Vasna neva vikree-naa-vahaa isha-moorja gvam shata-krato swaahaa.

After Purna Ahuti, perform Satyanarayan Aarti. Once this is completed, ask forgiveness from Lord Narayana and all the Goddess and God for any mistakes which might be committed during the puja and havan. Request Lord Vishnu to return to his abode. Chant the Maha Mantra once to end.

Shlok and Mantra

“Om shree satyanarayana bhagavan aavaahayaamee sthapayamee”

“Om swagatam su swagatam – Om shree satyanarayana bhagavan namah”

Benefits and Significance of Satyanarayan Katha and Havan

Satyanarayana puja is an ideal path to offer requests to Lord Vishnu. Satyanarayan Katha’ preaches about self-purification, self –surrender and truth. ‘Satya’ meaning Truth and Narayan is another name of Lord Vishnu. Anyone who listens to the Katha will get inspire of speaking truth. Satyanarayan puja helps in attaining the thriving.

1. It helps to achieve success and goals

2. It helps to improve mental and physical health drastically

3. It offers material life and increases prosperity.

4. All sins are removed by the worshipping Lord Satyanarayan.

Shri Satyanarayana Vrat Benefits

Shri Satyanarayana Vrat Puja is a puja dedicate to Lord Vishnu, who is consider one of the greatest Hindu trinity. The word “Satyanarayan” is an amalgamation of two words, “Satya” means truth, and “Narayan” means the highest and ultimate form of being. Therefore, Lord Vishnu is referred to as the personification of truth and the protector of the universe.

Meaning of Satyanarayana Vrat Puja

Shri Satyanarayana Vrat Puja can generally be performed on any regular day; however, the full moon day is consider extremely auspicious for performing Puja. Puja is perform to express gratitude to the Lord in times of success or on any other auspicious occasion. Observance of Satya Narayan vrat (fast) is consider auspicious as it signifies devotion to the Lord. Establishing this pious religious connection with the Lord and performing puja regularly means a remarkable shift in one’s happiness. The benign energy from the ritual creates a protective shield around the surroundings and bestows people with good health, wealth, prosperity and otherworldly attributes.

Shri Satyanarayana Vrat

Puja Offerings

• Haldi (turmeric powder)
• Kumkum (Vermilion or Sindoor)
• Nava Dhanya (nine types of grains, each representing one of the Navagraha (nine planets)
• Naivedhya (the food we offer to God)
• Incense.
• Camphor.
• Sandal paste.
• Photo framed picture or idol of Lord Satyanarayana.
• wheat or jowar (not rice)
• Grass
• Betel leaves (100)
• Betel Nuts (50)
• Coins (40)
• Dried dates/almonds (50)
• coconuts 
• Tulasi flowers, leaves
• Oil lamp

What benefits of performing Satyanarayan Vrat Puja

• Puja helps boost mental health and in turn, helps one stay focused.
• It also improves health and the ability to concentrate.
• Performing puja removes the effect of all the sins one has committed in one’s past.
• It guides a person to overcome all his fears and helps him overcome obstacles in life.
• It increases the intellect or ability to understand the difference between good and evil and thus helps him lead a truthful life.
• Praying to Lord Satya Narayan with full devotion helps in fulfilling one’s needs and desires.
• It helps a person control his anger and aggression.
• It brings an abundance of prosperity, harmony and happiness into life.
• It removes the effects of grahas that can cause sudden death.
• Couples wishing to start a family also perform Satya Narayan Puja to seek the blessings of Lord Narayan.
• It removes chances of financial loss and ensures good wealth

Shri Satyanarayana Vrat Return Puja Vidhi

Anyone can fast on a full moon day. You can do it either in the morning or in the evening. The observer has to fast until the puja is completed smoothly.

• The puja begins with a prayer to Lord Ganesha. Then the worship of Lord Vishnu begins. A special bhog made of yogurt, sugar and honey called ‘Panchamrit’ is prepare and poured over the image of Lord Vishnu.
• Then the devotees chant “Satyanarayan” 1008 times after which a special Yagya is perform. In this ritual, fruits and flowers are put into the fire as offerings. The priest then reads the Satyanarayana Katha and everyone pays full attention.
• This is follow by aarti which can be attend by all family members or friends. Lighting an oil lamp is a key part of the aarti as it is believe to spread positive energy in the house. Finally, after performing all the necessary rituals, the auspicious Prasad is distribut among the devotees.

Shri Satyanarayana Vrat Katha – Its Significance

The greatest significance of Satyanarayan Puja is indeed very great. This Vidhi was initiate by Lord Narayana for the people on earth to end all their sufferings. This puja is not limited to one particular Yug. It will benefit people in all Yugas.

• It is a promise made by Lord Narayana to all human beings that if you are truthful, he will save you from all dangers and perils of life. Katha is also known as Narayan Katha.
• There is one truth to this. This ceremony was started at a time when people were dying of hunger. This death of people was due to a lack of nutrition. These dying people were saved by good fruits and dry fruits. When this prasad is given to poor people, we hear from them that by eating Prasad they sleep soundly.
• It is a pooja that is done to express gratitude to Lord Satyanarayan. On the day the pooja is to be perform, devotees keep fast and this keeps negative thoughts away from their minds.
• To overcome problems and difficulties in life this pooja is perform.
• According to Hindu scriptures, the actions of our previous birth and our sins affect our life, but their bad effects can be overcome by performing Satyanarayan Pooja.
• At Satyanarayana Katha, we devote our time to the truth and become true to ourselves and others.
• Satyanarayana Katha helps us in achieving the goals and aspirations of our life and improves our physical and mental health.
• It prevents us from doing bad things and teaches us to follow the path of truth.