A Festival to Invite Prosperity and Blessings

Dhanteras – Mental peace, or inner calm, is absolutely essential. When you have mental peace, you feel good within yourself. You feel secure and you are well prepared to welcome whatever challenge life tosses your way.
Apart from mental peace, everyone wants to attain financial peace, which is also necessary in order to live a happy and contented life. And that’s why in Indian culture, there is a tradition to celebrate the festival of wealth, Dhanteras.

Also known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanwantari Trayodashi, the day is also celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Dhanvantari, the Guru and the father of Ayurveda. He appeared during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), holding a pot full of nectar in one hand and the sacred text about Ayurveda in the other hand.
Needless to say, the auspicious festival marks the significance of health and wealth that are well needed for leading a happy a contented life. Here is a story, popular in south India, related to this unique festival.

The Sudden Disappearance of Goddess Lakshmi

Once Goddess Lakshmi got annoyed from Her devotees and retreated to the Vaikunth Dham / Heaven, leaving all the inhabitants of the earth in a state of deep penury. As a result, all the happiness and peace vanished from people’s lives. There were famines, droughts and misery all around.
All the Gods tried to appease Goddess Lakshmi to return to the earth, but she refused. So, they consulted Dev Guru Brihaspati and said, ‘we are disappointed and anxious as all heavens and earth have become dull and poor (Sriheen) because Goddess Lakshmi is angry.’ Guru Brihaspati created the Shri Yantra and then all Gods worshipped it. After this Goddess Lakshmi returned to the earth. The day on which the Shree Yantra was manifested was Trayodashi or Dhanteras.

At the world renowned Tirupati Balaji temple, Lord Balaji (Sri Venkateswara Swamy) is seated on such a Shri Yantra. Unsurprisingly, the temple is one of the richest temples in the entire world. So, invite affluence and prosperity to your life by worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and The Sri Yantra on the pious occasion of Dhanteras.

How to worship Goddess Lakshmi

In your home temple, place a silver idol of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi on the altar, light a ghee diya and sit facing the North or East comfortably on a red or yellow aasan (blanket or any comfortable seat). Place a golden Sri yantra on the altra so that it reflects the golden light of the diya. Take a string of 108 dried lotus beads (Kamal Gatte ki Mala) and chant the following Sri Lakshmi Mantra. This is the mool mantra for Goddess Lakshmi as mentioned in the Durga Saptshati.

ॐ श्रीं ल्कीं महालक्ष्मी महालक्ष्मी एह्येहि सर्व सौभाग्यं देहि मे स्वाहा।।

Also worship the Sri Yantra and everyone must have a yantra in their home.

Prosper Your Life with Devotion

Also, on Dhanteras fill your entire house with devotion for enlightening your life and soul. The eternal bliss achieved by such chanting, worship and devotion is incomparable. The day before, clean and decorate it with rangoli, lights etc. as per your preference. Purifying the home and decorating it ushers in fresh positive vibes right before Diwali. Remember, that a cluttered and dirty home will never attract positive vibrations.

Apart from your surroundings, purify and decorate your thoughts to make place for a renewed devotion towards God and Guru. Replace the old and useless thoughts with fresh thoughts of blessings, affluence and prosperity.
So, get ready to welcome prosperity in your life through Lakshmi Pujan and the lighting of earthen lamps on the day of Dhanteras and get ready to enjoy Diwali with your loved ones.
Wishes for a happy and blessed Festive Season!