SANKALP
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Sankalp Sanskar · 13 steps

Satyanarayan Puja Vidhi — the five adhyays in order

Satyanarayan puja is the one most families perform at least once a year — on a purnima, after a wedding, on moving into a house, or simply when a vow is fulfilled. It is long but not complicated, and the part that decides how it goes is the katha: five adhyays, read aloud, in order.

This is the sequence printed on the card inside our Satyanarayan Puja Kit.

The sequence

In this order

  • 1शुद्धि व संकल्पBathe, sit facing east, and state the sankalp with water and akshat in hand.
  • 2गणेश पूजनRoli, akshat, durva and modak to Ganesh before anything else.
  • 3कलश स्थापनाKalash with water, coin, supari, mango leaves and coconut.
  • 4नवग्रह व वास्तुInvoke the navgraha and the vastu devta at the puja sthal.
  • 5पंचामृत अभिषेकBathe the image of Satyanarayan in panchamrit — milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar — then with clean water.
  • 6षोडशोपचार पूजनThe sixteen offerings — chandan, flowers, dhoop, deep, naivedya and the rest.
  • 7कथा — प्रथम अध्यायFirst adhyay: the origin of the vrat, told by Narada.
  • 8कथा — द्वितीय अध्यायSecond adhyay: the poor brahmin and the woodcutter.
  • 9कथा — तृतीय अध्यायThird adhyay: the merchant who forgot his vow.
  • 10कथा — चतुर्थ अध्यायFourth adhyay: the merchant's return and the consequence of neglect.
  • 11कथा — पंचम अध्यायFifth adhyay: the cowherds and the fulfilment of the vrat.
  • 12आरतीSatyanarayan aarti with camphor, circulated to everyone present.
  • 13पंजीरी प्रसादDistribute the panjiri — atta, gud, ghee, banana and dry fruit — to all present.
    • Dhyan rakhein
    • The katha is read aloud with at least one listener; it is not read silently.
    • Nobody leaves between the first and fifth adhyay.
    • Panjiri prasad is distributed to everyone present without exception.
    • The puja is generally performed in the evening on a purnima, but any auspicious day is accepted.
    Before you follow this

    This sequence is verified by a practising purohit and checked by a second from a different tradition. Practice still varies by region, sampradaya and family — where yours differs, follow your own tradition. Muhurat and tithi should be confirmed against a panchang calculated for your city. Nothing here promises an outcome.

    Questions

    About this vidhi

    Most commonly on a purnima, and often on Kartik, Vaishakha, Shravana or Chaitra purnima. It is also performed after a wedding, on moving house, or on the fulfilment of a vow. Any day is accepted where the purnima does not suit.

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