Description
Note: All ceremonies are free to attend.
Contributions are optional, and help cover Temple expenses.
Panditji reads contributors’ names as part of the ceremony.
Learn more about contributions.
Diwali Festival
Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year. Diwali or Deepavali, popularly known as festival of lights, involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. These lamps are kept on during the night and one’s house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome.
Firecrackers are used because it is believed that they drive away negative energies. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends.
Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama, along with Sita and Lakshmana, from his fourteen year exile and vanquishment of the demon king, Ravana. To welcome his return, ghee lamps were lit in his honor.
Another story behind this festival is that Lord Krishna and Satyabhama (incarnation of Lakshmi) killed Narakaasura. When they were returning, the people of Madhura greeted and celebrated them with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and fireworks on amavasya (no moon day). The people greeted and celebrated those who brought light into their lives with forms of light (oil lamps and fireworks).
According to the Puranas, the people who invoke Goddess Lakshmi while lighting the lamps and worshipping her, especially on this particular day, will receive good wealth and prosperity.
Maha Lakshmi Puja
Sunday, November 12, 2023, 5:00 PM
“Lakshya” means aim or objective, and Lakshmi is the one who has the object and aim of uplifting mankind. Lakshmi is the Goddess of light, beauty, good fortune, power, luxury, fertility, auspiciousness, and wealth. She holds the promise of spiritual and material fulfillment and contentment. Being the consort of Vishnu, Lakshmi also signifies love and grace. While Lakshmi is generally worshipped to achieve success, she does not reside long with anyone who is lazy or desires her only for wealth.
Maha Lakshmi is seen in two forms as Bhudevi and Sreedevi. Bhudevi is the representation of the material world, and Sreedevi the representation of the spiritual world.
Ashta Lakshmi is a group of secondary manifestations of Sri Lakshmi. These eight forms are commonly worshipped by the devotees:
- Bhagya Lakshmi – Goddess of luck
- Dhanya Lakshmi – Goddess of food
- Dhairya Lakshmi – Goddess of strength
- Gaja Lakshmi – Goddess of power
- Santana Lakshmi – Goddess of children
- Vijaya Lakshmi – Goddess of success
- Vidya Lakshmi – Goddess of wisdom and education
- Dhana Lakshmi – Goddess of wealth
Maha Lakshmi Puja can be performed for desires, goals, issues, or problems as long as it is for the highest good. By performing Maha Lakshmi Puja, one attains progress, evolution, growth, and creation of good present and future karma. Hence, this puja is for more happiness, a better life, more peace of mind, and more support of nature. With the help of this puja, one can attain spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, and material fulfillment. Also, love, marriage, relationship, children, health, wealth, and prosperity.
