Vaibhav Lakshmi Vrat Vidhiवैभव लक्ष्मी व्रत विधि

The Vaibhav Lakshmi Vrat vidhi is the simple method of keeping the Friday fast and doing the evening puja of Maa Vaibhav Lakshmi at home. It needs no priest and no elaborate ritual: a clean place, a picture of the goddess, a kalash, a lamp, the katha and a sincere heart. The steps below follow the popular booklet tradition. Customs vary between families and regions, so follow your own elders where they differ.

Before your first Friday, read when to start the vrat and gather the items listed on the puja samagri page.

The fast during the day

On the vrat Friday the devotee keeps a fast from morning until the evening puja. Many take only water, while some take fruit and milk during the day. After the evening puja the fast is broken with prasad and one simple sattvic meal. Pregnant women, the sick, the elderly and people on medication should take a doctor's advice and may keep a lighter vow, such as a fruit fast or simply doing the puja with devotion. This is not medical advice; if you feel unwell, consult a doctor.

Preparing the place of worship

1. Bathe and dress: In the morning, bathe and wear clean clothes. Red or white clothes are commonly preferred. Keep the mind calm and avoid quarrels and harsh words through the day.
2. Clean the puja place: In the evening, around dusk, bathe again or at least wash the hands and feet. Clean the place of worship.
3. Set up the chowki: Place a low wooden stool (chowki) so that you sit facing east, and cover it with a red cloth.
4. Install the picture: Place a picture of Maa Vaibhav Lakshmi on the chowki, ideally one that also shows the Shri Yantra and the eight forms of Lakshmi, as printed in the vrat booklet.
5. Make the rice heap and kalash: Make a small heap of rice (akshat) in front of the picture. Fill a copper or brass kalash with clean water and place it on the rice.
6. Place the ornament: Put a small bowl on the mouth of the kalash and keep a gold or silver ornament in it. If you have no ornament, a coin or a currency note may be used instead.

The evening puja, step by step

1. Light the lamp: Light a ghee diya and incense sticks. Sit quietly for a moment and remember Maa Lakshmi.
2. Take the sankalp: On the first Friday, hold a little water, rice and a flower in the right hand, say your name, and state your resolve to keep the vrat for a fixed number of Fridays (usually 11 or 21) and the wish for which you keep it. Then let the water, rice and flower fall on a plate. On later Fridays simply remember the sankalp. See vrat niyam for how the count works.
3. Bow to the Shri Yantra: Bow to the Shri Yantra shown in the picture or booklet, then bow in turn to the eight forms of Lakshmi pictured there: Shri Dhanalakshmi (Vaibhav Lakshmi), Shri Gajalakshmi, Shri Adhilakshmi, Shri Vijayalakshmi, Shri Aishwaryalakshmi, Shri Veeralakshmi, Shri Dhanyalakshmi and Shri Santanalakshmi.
4. Worship the ornament and kalash: Apply kumkum (roli), haldi and sandal paste to the ornament in the bowl and to the kalash. Offer akshat and red flowers.
5. Offer prasad: Offer kheer, or any white or sweet offering such as sugar, mishri, batasha or sweets, to the goddess.
6. Read the katha: Read or listen to the Vaibhav Lakshmi Vrat Katha with full attention. Family members may sit and listen.
7. Recite the mantra: Recite the vrat mantra given below with folded hands. You may also chant "ॐ श्रीं श्रियै नमः" or "ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै नमः" 11 or 108 times.
8. Do the aarti: Perform the aarti "Om Jai Lakshmi Mata" with the ghee lamp. Then pray to the goddess, in your own words, for the wellbeing of the family and the fulfilment of your wish.

The vrat mantra

This mantra is recited in the booklet tradition after the katha:

In simple words: may the lovely goddess Lakshmi, Padmavati, protect me; she who dwells on the red lotus, who is radiant like the sun, who wears red, the companion of Hari, who delights the heart, who arose from the churning of the ocean and is the beloved consort of Vishnu.

After the puja

1. The ornament: Take the ornament from the bowl and apply it to the forehead like a tilak, or touch it with reverence, and then keep it safely. Many keep it in their cupboard or safe as a blessing of the goddess.
2. The kalash water: Pour the water of the kalash on a tulsi plant. The rice of the heap may be given to birds or added to the household rice.
3. Distribute prasad: Share the kheer or sweet prasad with the family.
4. Break the fast: Take the prasad first, then eat one simple sattvic meal, without onion, garlic, meat or alcohol.

The last Friday

When the number of Fridays in your sankalp is complete, the vrat is closed with the udyapan on the last Friday. The puja is the same, with kheer and a coconut offered, and copies of the vrat katha book are gifted to women. The full method is on the udyapan vidhi page.

Frequently asked questions