The air in the village was thick with anticipation as preparations for the grand puja began. This was no ordinary ritual—today, the village would honor the three goddesses of fortune: Lakshmi, Vaibhavi, and Alakshmi. Under Sumati's guidance, the villagers had come together to offer their deepest prayers and gratitude for the blessings they had received. The crops were flourishing, the wisdom of the elders had deepened, and even the hardships they had faced were now seen as blessings in disguise, thanks to the balance maintained by Alakshmi.
The Trilakshaya Mandir stood resplendent at the heart of the village, its golden, silver, and dark blue decorations shimmering in the soft light of the diya lamps lit for the occasion. Fresh flowers adorned the altars of the three goddesses, and the air was filled with the scent of sandalwood incense and the sound of bells ringing softly in the background.
The Preparation
Sumati stood at the entrance of the temple, overseeing the final preparations. Devotees had gathered, bringing offerings of flowers, grains, fruits, and sweets, all meticulously arranged in baskets. The sacred powders representing the goddesses—red for Lakshmi, yellow for Vaibhavi, and dark blue for Alakshmi—had been placed in small, intricately carved bowls, ready for the puja. The villagers, dressed in their finest clothes, were filled with reverence and excitement.
Sumati had been chosen to lead the puja not only because of her unwavering faith but also because of the miracles she had witnessed firsthand. The goddesses had blessed her home, her fields, and her family, and she was filled with gratitude and devotion.
Invocation of the Goddesses
As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the village, the sound of the conch filled the air, signaling the beginning of the puja. Sumati, standing at the center of the temple, raised her hands, holding a lit diya in front of the three shrines dedicated to Lakshmi, Vaibhavi, and Alakshmi.
"Om Shree Trilakshaya Deviya Namah," Sumati chanted, her voice clear and filled with reverence.
The devotees echoed her words, their voices rising in unison, invoking the presence of the three goddesses.
"Om Lakshmi Deviya Namah, Om Vaibhavi Deviya Namah, Om Alakshmi Deviya Namah."
With each chant, the energy in the temple grew, as if the goddesses themselves were drawing nearer. The diya lamps flickered, casting long, soft shadows on the walls, and a sense of peace and divine presence filled the space.
Offering of Flowers (Pushpam)
Sumati approached the altar with three baskets of flowers. Each basket held a specific color, representing the distinct blessings of the goddesses.
She began with Lakshmi, offering red lotuses to the goddess of prosperity and material wealth. As she placed the flowers on Lakshmi's altar, she chanted:
"Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah, We offer these flowers to you, O Lakshmi, Goddess of abundance and wealth. Bless us with prosperity and the wisdom to use it wisely."
Next, she moved to Vaibhavi's altar, offering yellow marigolds to the goddess of spiritual wealth and wisdom. As the flowers touched the altar, Sumati recited:
"Om Hreem Mahavaibhavidevyai Namah, We offer these flowers to you, O Vaibhavi, Goddess of wisdom and opulence. Guide us on the path of enlightenment and inner peace."
Finally, she approached Alakshmi's altar, offering dark blue flowers, a symbol of balance through hardship. Her voice remained steady as she prayed:
"Om Kleem Mahalakshmyai Namah, We offer these flowers to you, O Alakshmi, Goddess of balance and misfortune. Grant us the strength to endure hardships And the wisdom to grow through them."
Water Offering (Arghya)
With the floral offerings completed, Sumati picked up the kalash (sacred vessel) filled with water. She poured a small amount of water before each altar, offering it to the goddesses.
"Om Trilakshaya Deviya Namah," she chanted, as the water flowed from the kalash.
"For Lakshmi, the bringer of prosperity, we offer water for abundance."
"For Vaibhavi, the bringer of wisdom, we offer water for clarity and peace."
"For Alakshmi, the bringer of balance, we offer water for strength in hardship."
Offering of Sweets and Fruits (Naivedyam)
Next came the offering of naivedyam—sweets, fruits, and grains—symbolizing the nourishment of both the body and soul.
For Lakshmi, Sumati offered grains and sweets, chanting:
"Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah, We offer these grains and sweets to you, O Lakshmi, May you bless us with nourishment and abundance."
For Vaibhavi, she offered fruits and honey, symbols of spiritual nourishment, chanting:
"Om Hreem Mahavaibhavidevyai Namah, We offer these fruits to you, O Vaibhavi, May your wisdom sweeten our lives and lead us to enlightenment."
For Alakshmi, she offered neem leaves and black sesame seeds, symbols of the lessons learned through hardship, chanting:
"Om Kleem Mahalakshmyai Namah, We offer these simple offerings to you, O Alakshmi, May we grow stronger through adversity and learn the truth of balance."
Lighting of the Diya (Deepam)
With the offerings complete, Sumati lit the diya (oil lamp) and placed it at the center of the temple, between the three altars. As the light flickered and danced, it symbolized the illumination of life brought by the three goddesses—prosperity, wisdom, and balance.
"Om Trilakshaya Deviya Deepam Samarpayami," she chanted, offering the light to the goddesses.
"May your light guide us through all aspects of life—through abundance, knowledge, and adversity."
Mantra Chanting (Japa)
With the diya lit, the villagers sat in quiet meditation, each chanting the mantras of the three goddesses. Sumati led the japa, her voice strong and steady:
"Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah" (108 times for Lakshmi)
"Om Hreem Mahavaibhavidevyai Namah" (108 times for Vaibhavi)
"Om Kleem Mahalakshmyai Namah" (108 times for Alakshmi)
The sound of the mantras filled the temple, creating an aura of peace and divine connection. Each chant brought the devotees closer to the divine energy of the goddesses, and the air seemed to hum with their presence.
Final Aarti
As the chants concluded, Sumati picked up the diya once more, this time to perform the aarti. She waved the lamp in front of the altars, her movements slow and graceful, as the other devotees joined in the final hymn.
"Om Jai Lakshmi Mata," they sang in praise of Lakshmi.
"Om Hreem Vaibhavi Devi Aarti," they sang in praise of Vaibhavi.
"Om Kleem Alakshmi Devi Aarti," they sang in praise of Alakshmi.
The light from the diya flickered brightly, casting a warm glow over the altars as the songs of praise echoed through the temple.
Closing Prayer and Blessing Request
The puja concluded with a closing prayer, led by Sumati.
"Om Lakshmi, Vaibhavi, Alakshmi, May your blessings be upon us. Grant us wealth, wisdom, and strength to endure hardship. Guide us in prosperity, guide us in wisdom, And balance our lives with your divine grace. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti."
The villagers bowed their heads in reverence, their hearts full of gratitude and devotion.
Distribution of Prasad
Finally, the offerings made during the puja were distributed as prasad, blessed food, among the villagers. As they shared the prasad, they felt the presence of the goddesses in their hearts, knowing that their prayers had been heard and their lives would continue to be blessed with wealth, wisdom, and balance.
This chapter describes the grand puja led by Sumati in honor of Lakshmi, Vaibhavi, and Alakshmi, and the deep devotion shared by the villagers as they seek the goddesses' blessings.