📜 Significance:
Shanti Puja is a powerful Vedic ritual performed to invoke peace (Shanti), remove planetary doshas, negativity, and ensure well-being and harmony in one’s life, home, or work environment. It is commonly conducted before important events like marriage, griha pravesh, childbirth, new ventures, exams, or to overcome obstacles, fear, or mental stress.
In Maharashtra, it is often done as a family ritual or even as part of upcoming auspicious functions to ensure all planets and deities are in favor and no hidden dosha affects success or prosperity.
🗓️ When It’s Performed:
- Before starting new beginnings (marriage, business, home entry, exams)
- To neutralize negative effects of planets (Navgraha Doshas, Pitru Dosha, etc.)
- During difficult phases in life – illness, losses, or disturbances
- On auspicious tithis selected by a Panditji as per birth chart (Kundli)
🛐 Who Can Perform:
- Individuals or families facing stress, setbacks, health or spiritual disturbances
- Recommended by astrologers/Pandits after horoscope (Kundli) analysis
- Performed under the guidance of a qualified Panditji with proper rituals
📦 Puja Samagri (Items Required):
- Ganapati idol or photo, Kalash with mango leaves and coconut
- Navgraha yantra or symbols for planetary peace
- Haldi, kumkum, akshata, durva, chandan
- Flowers, garlands, betel leaves, supari, fruits
- Panchamrit (milk, honey, ghee, curd, sugar)
- Samidha, ghee, havan kund for homam
- Black sesame seeds, rice, navadhanya (9 grains), cow ghee, camphor
- Specific items based on the dosha or Shanti type (e.g., Rudraksha, silver, cloth, etc.)
🕯️ Main Ritual Steps:
- Ganesh Puja to remove obstacles
- Kalash Sthapana and Sankalpa (intention setting)
- Navgraha Shanti (if applicable): chanting and offering to 9 planets
- Abhishek and chanting of specific mantras (e.g., Maha Mrityunjay, Durga Sukt, Vishnu Sahasranama)
- Havan / Homam: Fire ritual to purify environment and invoke divine grace
- Tarpan and Brahman Bhojan (if Pitru dosha or graha shanti involved)
- Aarti and Ashirwad (blessing ceremony)
⏳ Duration:
Approx. 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the type of Shanti Puja (basic or dosha-specific)
🎁 Benefits of Shanti Puja:
- Brings mental peace, positivity, and removes anxiety
- Helps overcome planetary afflictions and karmic disturbances
- Protects against accidents, illness, or business losses
- Invokes blessings for peaceful home, prosperity, and well-being
- Ideal before any major event to ensure smooth, successful outcomes
