Anant Chaturdashi is a sacred festival observed on the 14th day (Chaturdashi) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in the month of Bhadrapada. On this day, devotees worship Lord Vishnu in His endless (Ananta) form, symbolizing eternal protection, prosperity, and peace.

“Ananta” means infinite, and this observance emphasizes the limitless nature of the Divine, whose blessings know no boundaries. The pooja is especially performed for preserving family harmony, removing obstacles, and invoking everlasting divine grace.

It is also the last day of the Ganesh festival, where Lord Ganesha idols are immersed, making it a spiritually charged and emotionally vibrant day.

🙏 Spiritual Significance:

  • Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Anant Padmanabha, lying on the serpent Ananta (Shesha), in the cosmic ocean.
  • The sacred thread known as “Anant Sutra” is tied on the wrist as a symbol of divine protection.
  • This Pooja ensures eternal prosperity, removal of sins, and protection from misfortunes.

🪔 Purpose of Anant Chaturdashi Pooja:

  • To invoke Lord Vishnu’s infinite energy and grace
  • To bring stability in life, relationships, and finances
  • To fulfill vows and remove karmic debts
  • To dissolve ego and connect with the divine eternal Self

🛕 Anant Chaturdashi Pooja Vidhi (Ritual Procedure)

🌅 1. Purification and Preparation:

  • Take a bath early in the morning.
  • Clean the pooja altar or space.
  • Prepare the Anant Sutra – a sacred 14-knotted thread (silk or cotton) dyed with kumkum and turmeric.

🌼 2. Sankalp (Intention Setting):

Take water in your right hand and say:

“Today, on Anant Chaturdashi, I worship Lord Vishnu as Anant Padmanabha to seek His infinite blessings for peace, prosperity, and protection for my family and myself.”

🖼️ 3. Altar Setup:

  • Place an image or idol of Lord Vishnu reclining on Shesha (Anantasayana form).
  • If available, place a picture of Anant Padmanabha Swamy.
  • Decorate with flowers, light a lamp, and place offerings.

📿 4. Pooja Offerings and Mantras:

  • Offer turmeric, kumkum, flowers, incense, and sandalwood paste.
  • Prepare a Naivedyam of milk-based sweets, fruits, and Panchamrit.
  • Offer Anant Sutra to the deity first before tying it.

🌸 Mantras to Chant:

  • “Om Anantaya Namah”
  • Vishnu Sahasranama or Ananta Ashtottara Shatanamavali
  • Recite or listen to the Anant Chaturdashi Vrat Katha (story of King Sushila and Koundinya Rishi)

🧵 5. Tying the Anant Sutra:

  • Men tie it on their right wrist, and women on their left wrist.
  • Chant:

“Anantah samudrasya Rajatah nagasya cha
Sahasra shirsha purushah anantam pratigruhyaami”
(“I accept this sacred thread representing the infinite Lord, who rests upon Ananta Shesha in the cosmic ocean.”)

  • It is worn for 14 days, after which it is respectfully removed and placed in flowing water.

🔥 6. Aarti and Prarthana:

Perform aarti with devotion:

“Om Jai Jagadish Hare…”
“Shantakaram Bhujaga-Shayanam…”

Pray for forgiveness, spiritual upliftment, and eternal grace.

🪔 Concluding Ritual:

  • Distribute prasadam among family and neighbors.
  • If also celebrating Ganesh Visarjan, immerse the Ganesh idol with chants of “Ganapati Bappa Morya”, symbolizing the release of our prayers to the Divine.

✨ Benefits of Anant Chaturdashi Pooja:

  • Ensures continuous prosperity and protection in the household
  • Grants long life, mental peace, and liberation from sorrow
  • Fulfillment of vows and ancestral blessings
  • Strengthens faith in eternal divine support

🌈 Conclusion:

Anant Chaturdashi is a reminder that while life has ups and downs, the blessings of Lord Vishnu are infinite. By observing this sacred day with devotion and sincerity, one binds themselves to the eternal thread of dharma, love, and divine presence.

Whether you seek material peace or spiritual freedom, Lord Ananta’s grace ensures a life of stability and eternal purpose.