Five Simple Lakshmi Mantras with Meaning: How and When to Chant Them on Diwali 2026 (8 November)

2026-09-19

Diwali 2026 Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday 8 November, in pradosh kaal (17:30–19:54 in Delhi). Five simple mantras, from Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah to Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, with meaning, pronunciation and their exact place in the puja.

Diwali Lakshmi Puja falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Five short mantras cover the whole puja: Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah, Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhyo Namah, the Lakshmi Gayatri, the Kamale Kamalalaye mantra, and the "Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu" verse from the Devi Suktam. They are chanted after the deity is installed and before the aarti. Below, each one is given in Devanagari and Roman script, with a word-by-word meaning, a pronunciation tip, and the exact moment in the puja where it belongs.

When is Lakshmi Puja on Diwali 2026?

According to our panchang engine, Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday, 8 November 2026, during pradosh kaal. Pradosh kaal is the roughly two-and-a-half-hour stretch that begins at sunset. In Delhi the sun sets at 17:30, so the pradosh window runs from about 17:30 to 19:54. Sunset differs a little from city to city, so expect the window to shift by a few minutes where you live.

At sunrise that day the tithi is Chaturdashi, which lasts until 11:28; Amavasya, the new-moon tithi, begins after that. This is why Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) in the morning and Lakshmi Puja in the evening land on the same date. If you have seen calendars disagree, our separate piece explains it: Diwali 2026: is Lakshmi Puja on 8 or 9 November, and why. For sthir lagna (the fixed ascendant periods) and choghadiya within the evening, see Lakshmi Puja muhurat 2026.

The five Lakshmi Puja mantras, with meaning

Two terms first. A beej mantra is a one-syllable "seed" sound; "Shreem" is the seed traditionally associated with Lakshmi. Namah simply means "salutation" or "I bow".

1. Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah

ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः

Meaning: Om — the primordial sound. Shreem — Lakshmi's seed syllable. Mahalakshmyai — to Mahalakshmi. Namah — salutation. Together: "Salutations to Mahalakshmi."

Pronunciation: ma-haa-LAKSH-myai na-mah. The ending "myai" is one quick syllable, not "mi-yai". "Namah" ends with a soft breath of "h", not a drawn-out "namaha".

When: This is the simplest mantra and the one you will use most. Say it once with each offering — water, rice grains (akshat), flowers, incense, lamp, and food (naivedya).

2. Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhyo Namah

ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं लक्ष्मीभ्यो नमः

Meaning: Hreem — the seed syllable of Shakti, divine energy. Shreem — Lakshmi's seed. Lakshmibhyo — to all the forms of Lakshmi. Namah — salutation. Together: "Salutations to Lakshmi in all her forms."

Pronunciation: "Hreem" is one sound, with the "h" and "r" fused — not "ha-reem". "Bhyo" is likewise a single syllable: lak-shmee-BHYO.

When: At aavahan, the moment you invite the goddess into the puja. It also works as a japa (repetition) mantra if you prefer a shorter one for the mala.

3. The Lakshmi Gayatri

ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे विष्णुपत्न्यै च धीमहि तन्नो लक्ष्मीः प्रचोदयात्

Om Mahalakshmyai cha vidmahe, Vishnupatnyai cha dheemahi, tanno Lakshmih prachodayat.

Meaning: Mahalakshmyai cha vidmahe — may we know Mahalakshmi. Vishnupatnyai cha dheemahi — we meditate on the consort of Vishnu. Tanno Lakshmih prachodayat — may that Lakshmi inspire our mind. Together: "May we know Mahalakshmi; we meditate on Vishnu's consort; may she guide our understanding."

Pronunciation: "Vidmahe" is vid-ma-HAY, not "vidmahi". "Dheemahi" has a long "dhee". "Prachodayat" ends on a clipped "t" — pra-cho-da-YAAT, with the final consonant stopped, not "yaata".

When: During dhyan, the moment of silent focus after installation and before the offerings begin. Because it follows the Gayatri metre, it is chanted slowly and evenly.

4. The Kamale Kamalalaye mantra

ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं कमले कमलालये प्रसीद प्रसीद श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै नमः

Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Kamale Kamalalaye praseeda praseeda Shreem Hreem Shreem Om Mahalakshmyai Namah.

Meaning: Kamale — O Kamala, she who sits on the lotus. Kamalalaye — O you whose dwelling is the lotus (kamal, lotus, plus aalay, home). Praseeda praseeda — be pleased, be gracious; saying it twice is the language of earnest request. The "Shreem Hreem Shreem" clusters are seed syllables. Together: "O lotus-dwelling Lakshmi, be gracious, be gracious; salutations to Mahalakshmi."

Pronunciation: "Kamale" has three clear beats, ka-ma-LAY, not "kam-lay". "Praseeda" carries a long "see".

When: This is the main japa mantra. Once the offerings are done and before the aarti, take a mala and repeat it 11, 21 or 108 times, as tradition and your evening allow.

5. Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Lakshmi-rupena Samsthita

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु लक्ष्मीरूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu Lakshmi-rupena samsthita, namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah.

Meaning: Ya Devi — the goddess who. Sarvabhuteshu — in all beings. Lakshmi-rupena — in the form of Lakshmi. Samsthita — abides. Namastasyai (three times) — salutations to her. Namo namah — again and again, salutations. Together: "To the goddess who dwells in all beings as Lakshmi, salutations again and again."

This verse is from the Devi Suktam in the Durga Saptashati. Its idea is different from the others: Lakshmi is not only in coins and ledgers but in every living being.

Pronunciation: sar-va-BHOO-te-shu, with a long "bhoo" and a light "shu". "Namastasyai" is na-mas-TAS-yai; keep all three repetitions at the same pace.

When: After the japa, just before the aarti, with folded hands, once or three times. It is the closing bow of the puja.

Where does each mantra fall in the puja?

The full materials list and the step-by-step ritual are in our Diwali 2026 Lakshmi-Ganesh puja vidhi. Here is only the mantra map.

1. Sankalp and Ganesh puja — no Lakshmi mantra yet; this step belongs to Ganesh.
2. Sthapana — place the kalash (water pot) and the Lakshmi-Ganesh images on the chowki (puja platform).
3. Dhyan — eyes closed, the Lakshmi Gayatri (mantra 3), once or three times.
4. Aavahan — Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhyo Namah (mantra 2).
5. Offerings — water, akshat, flowers, incense, lamp, naivedya; Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah (mantra 1) with each.
6. Japa — the Kamale Kamalalaye mantra (mantra 4), 11, 21 or 108 times.
7. Shri Suktam (optional) — tradition recites the full Shri Suktam, a hymn from the appendices (parishisht) of the Rigveda, at this point. If time is short, it can be left out.
8. Stuti — Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu (mantra 5), once or three times.
9. Aarti.

How many times should a mantra be chanted?

Tradition uses 11, 21 or 108. A mala makes 108 easy to keep track of, but it is not required; counting on the fingers is fine. What the tradition weighs more than the number is three things: bhav (sincere feeling), clear pronunciation, and regular practice. The tradition attaches no promise of a particular outcome to any count, and neither do we.

What if I mispronounce a word?

Pause, take a breath, and say the line again. The tradition places feeling above phonetics. If a mantra keeps tripping you, replace it with mantra 1, Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah, which fits every step. If this is your first time, read the mantras aloud two or three times before the puja begins; the pronunciation lines above exist for exactly that rehearsal.

A few more questions

Can I do the whole puja with one mantra?

Yes. Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah alone is considered sufficient. The five are offered so that each stage has words suited to it, not because all five are compulsory.

Do I need to understand the meaning to chant?

It is not a requirement, but it helps. When you know what the words say, the mind moves with them and attention stays on the puja rather than on the syllables. That is why each mantra above has a word-by-word meaning.

What about children or elders who cannot manage the longer mantras?

Mantra 1 is enough. If Sanskrit itself is difficult, saying "Salutations to Mahalakshmi" in your own language is still part of the puja.

Are these mantras only for Diwali?

No. The same mantras serve any Lakshmi puja, on a Friday or on any other day. Diwali is special because of the pradosh window, which is why timing gets more attention on this night.

A short checklist for the evening of 8 November

• Begin after sunset (17:30 in Delhi) and within the window that runs to about 19:54. Your own city's sunset is on our daily panchang page.
• Read mantras 1 and 4 aloud twice before you sit down.
• Have the mala or your counting method ready so you do not have to get up mid-puja.
• Keep one line in mind: all five mantras come down to "Salutations to Mahalakshmi".