Santoshi Mata pooja

Santoshi Mata is one of the most revered Goddess in the Hindu Pantheon and she emerged as a Goddess in the early 1960’s. Initially her faith and powers were spread through word of mouth, Vrata-pamphlet and poster art. She is worshipped by North Indian and Nepalese women primarily, although other communities are also seen to worship the revered Goddess.

Santoshi Mata is an emblem of well-being, love, happiness, hope, and contentment of all desires of devotees. In ancient religious books, Santoshi Mata is named as the Goddess of Satisfaction and she is a daughter of Lord Ganesha.

Goddess Santoshi Mata accepts all the problems and sorrows of all her devotees and bless them with happiness and prosperity. If you worship her by fasting and praying for 16 consecutive Fridays, you would be blessed with prosperity and peace in the family. The devotees should perform the Puja of Santoshi Mata – Goddess of Satisfaction by offering flowers, incense and a bowl of sugar and roasted Gur Chana.

Santoshi Mata Puja Vidhi

The Santoshi Mata Puja Vidhi and vrat follows a ritual that should be held only on Fridays. It is considered to be the day on which Santoshi Mata was born.

Select an appropriate place to offer your prayers and puja and clean it properly.

On Friday morning, take a bath and place the deity in the place where you want to do the puja. Decorate the place beautifully with flowers and place a kalash to mark the beginning of this puja.

Offer your prayers first to Lord Ganesha to be successful in all your endeavours, remove destruction and evil from life, and remove poverty. Thereafter, offer your prayers to mother Riddhi Siddi for wealth and abundance of gold, pearl, silver and other types of gems.

To follow Santoshi Mata Puja Vidhi, you must also read the entire Santoshi Mata story to the devotees and everyone hearing the story should say together – “Santoshi Mata ki Jai.”

Before reading out the Santoshi Mata story to everyone, fill water in the chosen kalash that has been placed, and keep a small bowl of channa and jiggery (gur-chhana) on it. At the end of the Mata story, perform Santoshi Mata ki Aarti and sprinkle the holy water from the kalash to every corner of your house.

If water remains in the kalash, pour it into the Tulsi plant of your house.

Then, you should distribute Mata Ka Prasad to everyone present in the puja.

During the entire day, make sure you don’t each or touch anything that is sour, like lemon or curd. This is one rule to be followers strictly if you are doing the Santoshi Mata Puja Vidhi, failing which the benefits of fasting and all your prayers shall go in vain.

In this way, you have to do the same procedure for a total of 16 Fridays.

Udyapan – Process to Complete the Santoshi Mata Puja Vidhi

After successfully completing the fast for 16 Fridays, you are required to perform the Udyapan, which involves the process of offering food to eight children. Udyapan is also called the closing ceremony of the Santoshi Mata Puja Vidhi. On the day of Udyapan, you have to read the Mata story and also perform Aarti, as it was done during the puja, and finally distribute the holy Prasad. Bear in mind that you cannot use any sour item at home and you cannot serve anything sour to children. You can call children from your own family or from the neighbourhood too. You can give them cloths and fruits as Dakshina, but do not offer them money or anything sour.

The Rituals

Fasting on Friday

Santoshi Mata Vrat

Santoshi Mata Puja Vidhi

Santoshi Mata Aarti

Santoshi Mata Bhajan

Santoshi Mata Chalisa

Santoshi MataSantoshi Mata » Fasting on Friday

Fasting on Friday – The Story of Santoshi Mata

According to Hindu religion, each day of the week is dedicated to Gods and Goddesses. Friday is the day of Santoshi Mata, the goddess of Shakti, and also to Venus or shukra. One of the most vital Upvaas or fast is done on this day to pay respect to Santoshi Mata, the incarnation of Mata Shakti. This method of fasting is also called Solah Shukravar Vrat as devotees fast for a total of 16 consecutive Fridays. The colour white holds special significance on Friday. Fasting on Friday begins at dawn and ends at dusk.

Santoshi Mata is also considered the mother of satisfaction or contentment. She is the symbol of commitment, love, hope, happiness and forgiveness. It is believed that she is the daughter of Lord Ganesh, having a calm and positive nature. Her followers live with peace and happiness.

Purpose of Fasting on Friday

Fasting on Friday is believed to be important due to various reasons. One of the obvious reasons for fasting on Friday is because Santoshi Mata was born on Friday. Some people worship Santoshi Mata as the epitome of Shakti or strength that can take away all their grief and worries. Likewise, others perform fasting on Friday to remove obstacles from their life, keep their children healthy and lead a happy family life. There are innumerable stories associated with the Shukravar Upvaas.

The Story

There’s a true story behind the concept of fasting on Friday and performing Santoshi Mata puja on this very day. According to legends, the sons of Lord Ganesh, namely Shubh and Labh, wanted to understand the importance of the custom of Raksha Bandhan and they desired to have a younger sister. Thus, Lord Ganesh created Santoshi Mata. Because she fulfilled the wishes and desired of her elder brothers, she was therefore names Santoshi.

Santoshi Mata Vrat is a devotional fast that devotees observe on 16 consecutive Fridays or until their wishes are fulfilled. Devotees perform puja, or worship, of the Santoshi Mata deity by offering flowers, incense and a bowl of roasted chickpeas with raw jiggery (gur-chana). Devotees performing this vrat have to wake up early in the morning and remember the Goddess. They can take just one meal at dawn, and they must avoid eating anything sour or bitter. It is believed that people performing Santoshi Mata Vrat should stay away from addictive foods, and sour or bitter food items are addictive in nature that could hinder satisfaction.

Once the wish of a devotee is granted, they must organise a special ceremony called udyapan – bringing to conclusion. During this celebration, devotees have to serve a festive meal to 8 young boys.

In Santoshi Mata Vrat, devotees have to follow several strictures like avoiding hurting people or quarrelling with others. By means of the fast devotees can live the rest of their life in peace and harmony like ignoring faith, speaking false and behaving arrogantly. The Santoshi Mata Vrat also teaches devotees to become peaceful, spread love, have sympathy and pass on the message of happiness.

Santoshi Mata Katha tells about a story of how Santoshi Mata blessed the life of a married lady who was in utter pain. The katha also talks about the process to follow while observing the fast (Santoshi Mata Vrat) and how to do the vrat udyapan.

Start the Katha with “Bolo Jai Santoshi Mata”

Santoshi mata ke pita Ganesh, mata Ridhhi Sidhhi; Dhan-dhaanya, sona, chandi, moti, moongon ratnon se bhara parivar; Ganpati pita ki dulaar bhari, Ganpatidev ki kamaayi, dhandhey barkat, daridrata door, kalah-kalesh ka naash, sukh-shanti prakash, balakon ki phulwari, dhandhey mein munafey ki bhari kamaayi, man ki kaamna puran, shok, vipatti, chinta sabh choorn, Santoshi mata key naam, jissey ban jaaye saarey kaam, bolo Jai Santoshi Mata Ki.

How to Do Santoshi Mata Katha? (Santoshi Mata Kathaa Vidhi)

Iss vrat ko karney wala katha kahtey sunntey samay haath mein gudd (jiggery) aur bhuney huey channey rakhey. Sunneywale "Santoshi Mata Ki Jai", "Santoshi Mata Ki Jai", is prakaar jai-jaikaar mukh sey boltey jayein. Katha samaapt honey par haath ka gudd channa gau-mata (Goddess Cow) khilayein. Kalash mein rakha hua gudd channa sabhko prasad ke roop mein baant dein.

Preparation before Santoshi Mata Katha (Katha ke Poorva)

Katha ke poorva kalash ko jal se bharein, uske ooper gudd channey se bhari katori rakhein. Katha evam aarti samaapt honey ke baad kalash ke jal ko ghar mein sabhi jagah chhirkein. Bacha hua jal tulsi ji ki kyari mein daal dein.

Sava aanein ka gudd-channa lekar mata ka vrat karein. Savaa paise ko lein to bhi koi aapati nahin. Gudd agar ghar mein ho to usey lein, vichar na karein kyonki mata bhavna ki bhookhi hai, kam zyada ka koi vichar nahin. Isliye jitna ban pade prasad arpan kar shraddha aur prem se prassann man ho vrat karna chahiye.

Vrat ke udyapan mein dhai ser khaja, momandar poori, kheer, channey ka shaag, naivedya rakhein, ghee ka deepak jalaakar Santoshi mata ki jai-jaikar bolein, nariyal phodein. Is din ghar mein khataayi na dalein, aur na aap khayein aur na kissi doosrey ko khane dein. Is din aath (8) larkon ka bhojan karayein. Devar, jeth, ghar kutumb ka milta ho to doosrey ko bulana nahin. Agar kutumb mein na miley to brahmano ke, rishtedaaron ke yaa padosion ke ladko ko bulayein. Unhein khatayi ki koi vastu na dein, tatha bhojan kara yatha shakti dakshina bhi dein. Nagad paisa na dein koi vastu dakshina mein dein. Vrat karney wala katha sunkar prasad lein, ek samay bhojan karein. Is prakar se Mata atyant prassann hongi, dukh daridrata door hokar manokamna poori hogi.

108 Names of Santoshi Mata

The 108 names of Santoshi Mata depict her true form and prowess. Devotees worshipping Santoshi Mata must know all the 108 names of the goddess and chant these names regularly. 108 names of Santoshi Mata are noted below:

1)            Aadyaa2)             Aarya3)                Abhavya4)          Agni Jwalaa5)     Ahankaara6)      Ameva Vikrama7)            Ananta8)                Anantaa9)           Anek Shastra Hastaa10)                Anek varnaa11)                Anekaastra Dhaarini12) Aparnaa13)                Apraudha14)      Bahul Prema15)                Bahulaa16)          Balpradaa17)      Bhaavini18)         Bhaavya19)                Bhandrakaali20)                Bhav Preeta21) Bhavmochani22)              Bhavya23)           Bhawaani24)      Bhddhidda25)                Braahmi26)         Brahm Vaadini27)            Buddhi28)           Chaamundaa29)               Chanda Mundavisaashini30)                Chandra Ghantaa31)      Chintaa32)          Chitraa33)           Chitta34)              Chittaroopaa35)               Chitti36)                Daksha Kanyaa37)           Daksha Yagya Inaashini38)           Devmaata39)     Durga40)              Eidree41)             Ek Kanya42)                Ghor Rupaa43)  Gyaana44)          Jaloori45)             Jayaa46)               Kaal Ratri47)       Kaatyaayani48) Kaishori49)                Kalmanjini50)     Karaali51)            Kaumaari52)       Kriyaa53)             Krooraa54)          Kumari55)           Lakshmi56)                Masheshwari57)              Maatangi58)       Madhu Kaitabh Hantari59)           Mahaabalaa60) Mahaatapa61)   Mahishasur Mardini62)          Mahodari63)      Man64)                Matangmuni Pujita65)   Muktakeshi66)  Naarayani67)                Nishumbhashumbhahanini68)   Nityaa69)             Omsati70)           Paatlaa71)           Paatlaavati72)    Parmeshwari73)                Pattaambar Paridhaana74)          Pinaak Dharini75)             Pratyakshaa76) Praudah77)         Purusha Kriti78)                Ratna Priyaa79) Raudramukhi80)               Saadhavi81)        Saavitri82)           Sadagati83)         Sarsundari84)    Sarva Asur Vinaashaa85)     Sarva Shaastramavi86)   Sarva Shastramayi87)     Sarva Vaahan Vaahanaa88)         Sarvadaanavghaatini89)                Sarvamantramavi90)      Sarvvidya91)      Satanandaswaroopini92)              Sattaa93)             Satya94)                Shaambhavi95) Shiv Dooti96)     Shooldharini97)                Sundari98)          Tapasvini99)                Trinetraa100)Utkarshini101)Vaaraahi102)Vaishnavi103)Van Durga104)Vimla105)Vishnu Maaya106)Vriddhmaata107)Yati108)Yuvati

All these 108 names of Santoshi Mata are believed to be sacred. When chanted regularly, it can bring peace, harmony and prosperity in life.