The story
The sound of the welcome
The moment a Diwali puja lifts is when the family sets down the thali, takes up the lamp and begins to sing. Sound is the heart of worship, and the right words, offered with devotion, are believed to call Lakshmi nearer than any offering.
The aarti: Om Jai Lakshmi Mata
The best-loved aarti to the goddess is Om Jai Lakshmi Mata, sung while circling the lit lamp before her at the puja’s close; its verses praise her as the remover of sorrow and the giver of wealth and wisdom. Ganesha’s Jai Ganesh Deva is sung first.
Mantras for the night
Chanted in a round of 11, 21 or 108 on a mala, three mantras are loved on Diwali:
- Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah — the simplest, carrying Shreem, the seed-sound of Lakshmi.
- Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Kamale Kamalalaye Praseed Praseed Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah — a fuller invocation for prosperity.
- Shri Suktam — the ancient Vedic hymn to Lakshmi, for deeper worship.
How to chant
Sit facing east or north with a steady lamp, keep the pronunciation clear and the pace unhurried, and let a tulsi or rudraksha mala carry the count. Intention matters more than speed. Find more in our aarti and mantra libraries.
Where it belongs in the puja
The mantras come after the offerings; the aarti closes the worship, the whole family joining as the lamp circles the goddess. For the full order, see how to do Lakshmi Puja at home.
Meaning and lessons
A mantra is not a request so much as a tuning. Said slowly, with a clear heart, the old words settle the mind into the stillness in which the goddess is said to be welcome.
Frequently asked questions
Which mantra is best for Diwali Lakshmi Puja?
What is the main Lakshmi aarti?
How many times should I chant a Lakshmi mantra?
Which is sung first, the Lakshmi or Ganesha aarti?
Sources
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and Shri Suktam
- Popular Diwali aarti tradition
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