 |
| Foreigner praying Goddess Laxmi on Diwali night |
Worshiping Goddess Laxmi and celebrating Diwali has nothing to do only with a particular religion. No religion says not to pray for happiness and prosperity. The surprising findings had been that foreigners, especially those from western world who may relatively have a life more with anxiety, stress and financial problems, were benefited too by praying to the Goddess of wealth and happiness-“Goddess Laxmi” and celebrating Diwali
The following procedure for praying Goddess Laxmi on Diwali Night may not be elaborate as per the scriptures but if done with sincerity and true faith, Goddess will definitely listen and will shower blessings. Also the steps shown below may be more convenient for people residing abroad as they may not understand and arrange details
- The worship (prayer date and time) as per Indian Standard Time is On Sunday 3rd November 2013, and will begin at 17:33 and remain for 2 hours 24 minutes. These 2 hours 24 minutes will be auspicious to perform Diwali pujan. Check appropriate date and time in your country calculating from IST
- Take a bath (All members who want to join prayer) and wear clean clothes
- Keep a small table facing east
- Spread a red cloth on a table
- Keep idols or an images of lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi on the cloth ( get images from internet if you can't get it in the market)
- or just keep your laptop with images of Laxmi and Ganesh
- Keep Candles, Fresh flowers, some sweets and ripe Bananas on right side of images/idols
- Start prayer:
- Offer flowers, sweets and Bananas, first to Lord Ganesha and then to Goddess Laxmi
- Your wife or beloved/respected person should be on your right
- Look at Lord Ganesh and pray
- “Om mahāgaṇapataye namaḥ “
- Then look at the image of Goddess Laxmi and pray
- “Om namo mahālakṣmyai namaḥ” (Minimum 11 times)
- Then everybody should say with utmost concentration and sincerity:
- “O Godess Laxmi, give me and my family Peace, Health, Wealth and Prosperity”
- Distribute sweets put in front of Idol/image to everybody
- If possible, keep the main door of your house open for the night (To invite Goddess to enter your house and bring prosperity)
- Before or after dinner get ready to gamble with playing cards or dice
Why Gamble?
It is said that on playing cards, the goddess of wealth smile upon the player and ensures her goodwill. The memories of Diwali night can be joyful to the winners and the losers cannot wait for the next Diwali to come around.
The tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva and she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year. This tradition of playing cards- flush and rummy with stakes on this particular day continues even to-day.
This day, with its emphasis on money, is also considered lucky for gambling by playing cards. Giving social sanction to a vice, a popular saying states that one who does not gamble on this day will reborn as a donkey in his next birth. Casinos and local gambling houses do brisk business during the Diwali week.
In most homes, people invite their friends and relatives over to play cards. Friends get together to indulge in games of cards. The 'addicts' seek legitimacy for their unusual pastime by referring to the celestial game of dice played by the great lord Shiva with his companion Parvati - a scene superbly sculpted at Kailash temple, Ellora. Others rationalise that this is just to remind oneself of the fickleness of lady luck and to inculcate a sense of balance in the pursuit of material success.
- See more at: http://aceguide.blogspot.in/2012/05/incredible-nasa-picture-of-diwali-night.html