Prayers and guides

Slokas we chant at the temple, simple guides for pooja at home, and answers to the questions the office gets asked most.

Our prayer

Asato mā sadgamaya

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय। तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय। ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Oṃ asato mā sadgamaya, tamaso mā jyotirgamaya, mṛtyormā amṛtaṃ gamaya. Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.

Lead me from the unreal to the real. Lead me from darkness to light. Lead me from death to immortality. Om, peace, peace, peace.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28. The middle line gives the Trust its motto.

Slokas

For chanting at home. Tap Copy to keep one on your phone.

Vakratunda Mahakaya

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा॥

Vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakoṭi samaprabha, nirvighnaṃ kuru me deva sarvakāryeṣu sarvadā.

O Lord with the curved trunk and mighty form, as bright as a million suns, clear the obstacles from everything I do, always.

Said before any pooja, to Lord Ganesha.

Sarva Mangala Mangalye

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते॥

Sarva maṅgala māṅgalye śive sarvārtha sādhike, śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo'stu te.

Salutations to you, Narayani: the good in all that is good, the kind one who fulfils every wish, refuge of all, three-eyed Gauri.

From the Devi Mahatmyam.

Gayatri Mantra

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः।
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥

Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ, tat savitur vareṇyaṃ, bhargo devasya dhīmahi, dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt.

We meditate on the glorious light of the divine Sun. May it light up our minds.

Rig Veda 3.62.10.

Agnim Ile

अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य देवमृत्विजम्।
होतारं रत्नधातमम्॥

Agnim īḷe purohitaṃ yajñasya devam ṛtvijam, hotāraṃ ratnadhātamam.

I praise Agni, the priest who goes before us, the god of the sacrifice, who calls the gods and gives the greatest treasure.

The first verse of the Rig Veda, 1.1.1.

Deepa Jyoti

शुभं करोति कल्याणम् आरोग्यं धनसम्पदा।
शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तु ते॥

Śubhaṃ karoti kalyāṇam ārogyaṃ dhanasampadā, śatrubuddhi vināśāya dīpajyotir namo'stu te.

I bow to the light of the lamp, which brings goodness, health and plenty, and drives away ill will.

Said while lighting the evening lamp.

Saha Navavatu

ॐ सह नाववतु। सह नौ भुनक्तु। सह वीर्यं करवावहै।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Oṃ saha nāvavatu, saha nau bhunaktu, saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai, tejasvi nāvadhītam astu, mā vidviṣāvahai. Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.

May we be protected together and nourished together. May we work with strength, may our study be bright, and may we never quarrel. Om, peace, peace, peace.

Taittiriya Upanishad. Often said before a class or a talk.

Pooja guides

Short and practical. Where your family tradition does things differently, follow your family.

A simple pooja at home

About fifteen minutes, morning or evening.

Get ready. Bathe, put on clean clothes and wipe down the pooja shelf. Keep flowers, water, the lamp and a small offering at hand.
Light the lamp with ghee or gingelly oil, and say the Deepa Jyoti sloka.
Pray to Ganesha with Vakratunda Mahakaya.
Sankalpam. Say your name, the day, and why you are doing the pooja.
Offer flowers one by one while saying names of the Goddess.
Naivedyam. Offer fruit, milk or something sweet, and sprinkle a little water around it.
Aarti. Wave the lamp or camphor, bow, and share the prasadam.

Coming for a homam

What to expect if you book one or just come to watch.

Book ahead online or at the office, and add your sankalpam details.
Arrive fifteen minutes early so the priest can take your details.
Bring something if you like. Fruit, flowers and ghee are welcome. Ask the office about anything specific.
Sit facing the fire and join in when the priest asks you to.
Stay until the poornahuti, the final offering, then take prasadam and raksha.

Lighting the lamp

The simplest pooja there is, and the one we do most.

Use a clean brass, silver or clay lamp and a cotton wick.
Ghee or gingelly oil is the traditional choice.
Light it at dawn and at dusk, facing east or north.
Don't blow it out. Let it burn down, or gently push the wick into the oil with a flower.

When you visit

A few things that help everyone pray in peace.

Please dress modestly. Traditional clothes are best.
Leave footwear at the entrance and wash your hands and feet.
Keep your phone on silent. Ask before taking photos.
Follow the queue and the priests' guidance.

Festivals

What each one means and how we celebrate it here. This year's dates are on the events page .

Navaratri

Nine nights for the Divine Mother. In many homes the first three nights are for Durga, the next three for Lakshmi and the last three for Saraswati. Here, the Goddess gets a new alankaram every evening, and the tenth day, Vijayadashami, is when children begin their schooling.

September or October

Pournami

The full moon is a special day for the Divine Mother. We do abhishekam and Lalitha Sahasranama archana in the evening, then go out to the courtyard for chandra darshan.

Every full moon

Karthigai Deepam

The Tamil festival of lamps, on the day the Karthigai star meets the full moon of Karthigai month. Homes and temples light rows of agal vilakku at dusk.

November or December

Deepavali

In Tamil Nadu, Deepavali starts before dawn with an oil bath, new clothes and lamps, and a visit to the temple.

October or November

Questions

If yours isn't here, call or email the office.

How do I book a seva online?

Go to Online seva , choose the seva and amount, enter your details and pay by UPI, card, net banking or wallet. It takes about two minutes.

Do I get a receipt?

Yes. It appears on screen as soon as the payment goes through, and you can download it as a PDF. A payment confirmation also goes to your email.

Can I book a seva for someone else?

Yes. Open Add sankalpam details on the seva page and enter their name, gotram and nakshatram. The sankalpam is done in their name.

I don't know my gotram or nakshatram.

That's fine. Leave it blank or choose Not sure . The sankalpam can be done with just your name.

Can I be there for the pooja I booked?

Please do come. Pick a date when you book and arrive about fifteen minutes early. If you can't make it, the pooja is still done in your name.

How can I volunteer?

We need help with the annadhanam, festivals and keeping the temple clean. Call +91 98765 43210 or write to info@srilalithagni.org .

Help keep the lamps lit

Your donation pays for daily worship, the monthly annadhanam and festival costs.

Donate