Special observance

Satyanarayan Puja Vidhi

An overview of the Satyanarayan Vrat Puja and the reading of the katha.

5 min

Deity: Vishnu
Tradition: Puranic
Occasion: Special observance
Source: Satyanarayan Vrat Katha & Puja Vidhi (Gita Press); Skanda Purana, Reva Khanda.

सामग्री

Required materials

Satyanarayan / Vishnu image
Chowki with yellow cloth, banana stems and leaves for a mandap
Kalash with water, mango leaves and coconut
Tulsi leaves (essential for Vishnu)
Panchamrit and Gangajal
Chandan, roli, haldi, akshata
Yellow flowers and a garland
Sapatha (churma) prasad — wheat semolina/flour, sugar, ghee, banana, milk
Panjiri and fruit
Dhoop, ghee lamp and camphor
The Satyanarayan Katha book (five chapters)
Betel, dakshina

संकल्प

Sankalpa

ॐ विष्णुर्विष्णुर्विष्णुः। अद्य (देश-काल-तिथि-वार-नक्षत्रोच्चारणपूर्वकम्) (नाम)-नामाहं (गोत्र)-गोत्रः मम आत्मनः श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणोक्तफलप्राप्त्यर्थं श्रीVishnuप्रीत्यर्थं यथाशक्ति पूजनम् अहं करिष्ये॥

Recite the sankalpa holding water, flowers and rice in the right palm; then release the water.

पूजा विधि

Step-by-step procedure

1
Mandap & Sankalpa (मण्डप-संकल्प)
Set the mandap with banana stems; purify and make the sankalpa (often for a vow fulfilled or thanksgiving).
2
Ganesha & Navagraha (गणेश-नवग्रह)
Worship Ganesha, then the nine planets and the kalash devatas.
3
Vishnu Aavahan (आवाहन)
Invoke Lord Satyanarayan with 'ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय'.
4
Shodashopachara (षोडशोपचार)
Offer the sixteen upacharas — asana to snana (panchamrit + water), vastra, chandan.
5
Tulsi & Pushpa (तुलसी-पुष्प)
Offer tulsi leaves and yellow flowers with each Vishnu name.
6
Dhoop, Deep, Naivedya (धूप-दीप-नैवेद्य)
Offer incense, lamp, and the churma/sapatha bhog with tulsi placed on it.
7
Katha-shravan (कथा-श्रवण)
Read/listen to the five adhyayas of the Satyanarayan Katha with the family.
8
Aarti & Pushpanjali (आरती)
Perform aarti (Jai Lakshmi Ramana) and offer flowers.
9
Prasad-vitaran (प्रसाद-वितरण)
Seek forgiveness and distribute the churma prasad and panjiri to all present.

मंत्र

Mantras

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय

oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

The Dwadasakshara — the twelve-syllable mantra of Vishnu; central to this puja.

ॐ श्रीसत्यनारायणाय नमः

oṃ śrī-satyanārāyaṇāya namaḥ

Salutations to Lord Satyanarayan — used for invocation and offerings.

शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशम्।

śāntākāraṃ bhujaga-śayanaṃ padmanābhaṃ sureśam

Dhyana verse — the serene one reclining on the serpent, the lotus-naveled lord of the devas.

उपचार

Offerings (Upachara)

ॐ गन्धं समर्पयामि।

oṃ gandhaṃ samarpayāmi

I offer sandal paste (gandha).

ॐ पुष्पं समर्पयामि।

oṃ puṣpaṃ samarpayāmi

I offer flowers (pushpa).

ॐ धूपमाघ्रापयामि।

oṃ dhūpam āghrāpayāmi

I offer incense (dhupa).

ॐ दीपं दर्शयामि।

oṃ dīpaṃ darśayāmi

I show the lamp (deepa).

ॐ नैवेद्यं निवेदयामि।

oṃ naivedyaṃ nivedayāmi

I offer the food (naivedya).

Standard panchopachara — offer each item while reciting the corresponding mantra.

Sources & References

Source / TraditionSatyanarayan Vrat Katha & Puja Vidhi (Gita Press); Skanda Purana, Reva Khanda.

Editorial NoteThe Satyanarayan puja is a sankalpa-based vrat commonly done on Purnima or auspicious days. The five-chapter katha is integral. Regional bhog and details vary.

Dharmartha presents traditional knowledge with respect for its sources. Practices vary by lineage and region; this material does not assert exclusive or universal authority.

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