Mantras for puja: a simple daily puja at home, step by step
A simple daily puja at home with the mantra for each step: lighting the lamp, Ganesha, the guru, offerings, japa, aarti and the closing prayer.
A daily puja at home can take ten minutes. Light the lamp with Shubham Karoti, remember Ganesha with Vakratunda Mahakaya, bow to your guru, make simple offerings, chant your deity's mantra (11, 21 or 108 times), do the aarti, and close by asking forgiveness for any mistakes. Each step has a short mantra, given below in order.
Every family does puja a little differently. If yours has its own order or its own prayers, follow them; this is one simple, widely used pattern for anyone starting out.
Before you begin
Bathe or wash your hands, feet and face. Clean the place of worship and refresh the water in the small pot (kalash or lota). Keep ready: a lamp with ghee or oil, incense, a few flowers, a little sandalwood paste or kumkum, and something to offer, even a few grains of sugar or a fruit. Sit facing east or north if you can.
If you like, start the day even earlier with the waking prayer Karagre Vasate, said while looking at your palms. See morning mantras for more.
The puja, in order
1. Light the lamp
शुभं करोति कल्याणमारोग्यं धनसंपदा । शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तुते ॥ Shubham Karoti Kalyanam Arogyam Dhanasampada, Shatrubuddhi Vinashaya Dipajyotir Namostute
"I bow to the light of this lamp, which brings what is good and auspicious, health and plenty, and ends ill will." Many families say this every evening too, at lamp-lighting time. Listen on Mahakatha.
2. Remember Ganesha
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ। निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्व कार्येषु सर्वदा॥ Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha, Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva Kaaryeshu Sarvada
"O Ganesha of the curved trunk and mighty form, bright as a million suns: remove the obstacles from all my work, always." Every puja begins with Ganesha. Listen on Mahakatha.
3. Bow to the guru
गुरुर ब्रह्मा गुरुर विष्णु गुरुर देवो महेश्वरः गुरुर साक्षात्परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwara, Gurur Saakshaat Parabrahma, Tasmai Shri Guravay Namah
"The guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; the guru is the Supreme itself. To that guru, I bow." A bow to everyone who has taught you. Listen on Mahakatha.
4. Welcome all the deities
इष्टदेवताभ्यो नमः कुलदेवताभ्यो नमः ग्रामदेवताभ्यो नमः स्थानदेवताभ्यो नमः Ishtadevatabhyo Namah, Kuladevatabhyo Namah, Gramadevatabhyo Namah, Sthana Devatabhyo Namah
"I bow to my chosen deity, my family deity, the deity of my village and of this place." Listen on Mahakatha.
5. Make the five offerings
The simplest form of worship, panchopachara, has five offerings. Offer each with a quiet "I offer this to you":
- Gandha: sandalwood paste or kumkum
- Pushpa: a flower or a few petals
- Dhupa: incense, waved gently
- Deepa: the lamp, shown to the deity
- Naivedya: food, fruit or sweets, later shared as prasad
6. Chant your deity's mantra
This is the heart of the puja. Choose one mantra and chant it 11, 21 or 108 times, with a japa mala or the japa counter. Some short, widely chanted ones:
- ॐ गं गणपतये नमः (Om Gam Ganapataye Namah) for Ganesha
- ॐ नमः शिवाय (Om Namah Shivaya) for Shiva
- ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय (Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya) for Vishnu and Krishna
- ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै नमो नमः (Om Mahalakshmyai Namo Namah) for Lakshmi
7. Aarti
Wave the lamp in slow circles before the deity while singing your family's aarti. Then hold your palms over the flame and touch them to your eyes.
8. Ask forgiveness for any mistakes
करचरणकृतं वा कायजं कर्मजं वा श्रवणनयनजं वा मानसं वापराधम् Karacharana Kritam Vaa Kaayajam Karmajam Vaa, Shravana Nayanajam Vaa Maanasam Vaaparadham
"For any wrong done by my hands or feet, by speech or action, by ears, eyes or mind: please forgive me." The verse ends by asking Shiva, the ocean of compassion, to forgive it all. It is a humble way to close, since no puja is ever perfect. Listen on Mahakatha.
9. Close with peace
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके । शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोस्तु ते ॥ Sarva Mangala Maangalye Shive Sarvartha Sadhike, Sharanye Tryambake Gauri Narayani Namosthute
"You who are the goodness in all that is good, refuge of all, three-eyed Gauri, Narayani: I bow to you." Often said at the end of puja, followed by a moment of silence. Listen on Mahakatha.
Keeping it simple
On a busy day, three steps are enough: light the lamp, chant your mantra 11 times, and bow. Regularity matters more than length. If you are learning the words, play the mantras first and chant along; Mahakatha Radio plays mantras all day and night, free, with no ads. For a puja with fire, see mantras for havan.
If you would like a prayer said for someone on a special day, you can offer a prayer; it is read aloud on air and followed by a mantra chosen for them.
Questions people ask
What is the best mantra for daily puja?
Start with your own deity's mantra, such as Om Namah Shivaya or Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya. Around it, Vakratunda Mahakaya for Ganesha at the start and Sarvamangala at the end make a complete daily puja.
What are the five steps of puja?
The simplest form, panchopachara, has five offerings: gandha (sandalwood paste), pushpa (flowers), dhupa (incense), deepa (the lamp) and naivedya (food). The mantras above frame them at the start and end.
What should I say during puja?
Begin with Ganesha, offer each item with a quiet "I offer this to you", chant your chosen mantra, and close by asking forgiveness for any mistakes. Simple words said with attention are enough.
How do I do Durga puja at home daily?
Light a lamp before her image, offer red flowers and kumkum, and chant a Devi mantra such as Sarvamangala or Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu. See Navratri mantras for her nine forms.
What are mantras in Hinduism?
Sacred words or sounds, usually in Sanskrit, repeated with attention as prayer or meditation. Read more in what is a mantra.