Upasana is known as continuous worship of an angelic presence or god. If you follow a particular god or goddess / a deity to help you in all your personal and complete life cycle then you have to follow certain protocols on which a particular deity will be satisfied and helps by speaking, appearing in dreams and giving some message, making success in business/ career, marriage, service to others etc. Firstly, please do not panic or no fear of worshiping lord Ganapathy, Mahavishnu, Lakshmi, Hanuman, Swamy Iyyapa or Kaali as these angelic powers will do only good things for us. They won't punish or reject us; because after all we are humans seeking help from angels and god to help us and only they can. Also any mantras can be chanted or prayers can be performed anytime anywhere. Only our mind and soul involvement is very important. Touching pooja things/ idols and deities at home or temple, lighting up lamp should be done with ablution (mandatory). For example if you choose Mahalakshmi/ Laxmi as your favourite deity and you need his full help then, you have to pray her everyday more than the other deities. You can start with Ganapathy pooja daily after taking bath (at least Om Maha Ganapathye' Namaha - 32 or 54 or 108 times) or follow the Ganapathy mantras given in this book and then start worship Lakshmi with Moola mantra, Gayatri mantra, Astothram (108 names), Sahasranama (1000 names), Sukthams, Hrudhayam, Kavacham or Ashtagam mantras - where Lakshmi will be pleased and start helping you. This may be continued for 40 to 48 days to take effect where a particular deity or angelic presence to help depending on our mind, body and soul balance. But don't worry as it happens automatically over the period of time. Lakshmi is also referred to as Sri or Thirumagal because she has six auspicious and divine characteristics, or gunas, and is Vishnu's divine power. She was born of the primordial ocean churning (Samudra manthan) in Hindu religion and she chose Vishnu as her perpetual consort. When Vishnu went to Earth as the Rama & Krishna avatars, Lakshmi originated as Sita and Rukmini as his respective consort. All females are proclaimed to be Lakshmi embodiments in India's ancient scriptures. The marriage and connection in Hindu weddings between Lakshmi and Vishnu as mother and husband is the paradigm for the bride and groom's rituals and ceremonies. Lakshmi personifies wealth, riches, happiness, loveliness, grace, charm and splendor in the Epics of Hinduism as in Mahabharata. In another Hindu legend, about the formation of the universe as outlined in Ramayana, Lakshmi springs from the ocean of milk foam with other valuable stuff. She appeared in her hand with a lotus, so she's also called Padmā. For simple Lakshmi pooja, please do Ganapathy pooja from the first chapter and then Lakshmi Gayatri, Moola mantras and then Ashtothram (108 names) plus Lakshmi Ashtakam. If you add Ashta lakshmi slogams/part and Kanagadhara slogam/part or Sri Suktham (with or without Sahasranama-1000 names) it can be like Vaibava Lakshmi or Vara Lakshmi pooja or Ashta Lakshmi pooja. If you add Kuber pooja chapter with the simple Lakshmi Pooja, then it is Lakshmi Kuber pooja. Mantras can be chanted with oblution without doing any pooja also. But choose mantras/chapters accordingly. Flowers or kumkum or yellow rice (akshatha) can be used for archana offerings. Also if you do pooja then fruits/ sweets are necessary to offer for Lakshmi Devi. If you want to practice homam/havan; then Gayatri mantra + Moola mantras can be chanted and offer Ghee in Agni (fire). Refer last chapters for Yagam/Yagna. Include little Maha Vishnu/ Narayana sosthrams (or simply gayatri/moola mantras) if you know before starting Lakshmi pooja always. (Given in starting of Lakshmi chapter). You can keep fasting for any Friday/ Monday virdha pooja/ Vaibava Lakshmi or Vara Lakshmi poojas if interested. Or simply keep only vegetarian diet. Do all Lakshmi Poojas
