Vishwakarma Puja Vidhiविश्वकर्मा पूजा विधि

Vishwakarma Puja is performed with faith in Lord Vishwakarma, the divine architect and craftsman, and is centred on the worship of the tools, machines and vehicles that support a person's work. There are different ways of performing it. Some people install an idol or a framed picture of Lord Vishwakarma, while many craftspeople regard their tools themselves as his form and worship them directly. This page sets out the vidhi step by step, with simple mantras that anyone can say. For an overview of who performs the puja and how it differs at home and at a workplace, see the procedure of Vishwakarma Puja.

The puja is usually performed on Kanya Sankranti (which usually falls on 16, 17 or 18 September). Many people prefer to begin at the time recommended by their priest or local panchang. Customs differ by region and family; where your tradition differs, follow it.

Before you begin

• Clean the workplace, tools, machines and vehicles, ideally the day before, and switch off all machines. See Vishwakarma Puja preparation.
• Keep all the samagri ready on a thali. The full list is on the Vishwakarma Puja items page.
• Sit on an asan facing east or north if possible, with the altar in front of you.

Step-by-step Vishwakarma Puja vidhi

1. Bath and clean clothes

Bathe in the morning and put on clean or new clothes. Many people keep a fast until the puja is complete, as a personal choice.

2. Set up the altar

On a clean spot, draw a rangoli or an eight-petalled lotus (ashtadal kamal) with rice flour or colours if you wish. Place a chowki over it, cover it with a yellow or red cloth and place the picture or idol of Lord Vishwakarma on it. Arrange the cleaned tools on a clean cloth beside the altar.

3. Purification and lamp

Sip a little water three times from your right palm (achaman), saying one name each time, then wash your hands:

Om Keshavaya Namah, Om Narayanaya Namah, Om Madhavaya Namah
ॐ केशवाय नमः, ॐ नारायणाय नमः, ॐ माधवाय नमः

Sprinkle a little water (with Ganga jal, if available) over yourself, the altar and the samagri with a flower or mango leaf. Light the ghee lamp and place it to the right of the deity.

4. Sankalp

Take a little water, akshat, a flower and a coin in your right hand. Say your name, the place and the occasion, and state your intention in your own words, for example: "On this day of Vishwakarma Puja, I worship Lord Vishwakarma and the tools of my work, and pray for skill, safety and wellbeing for all who work here." Release the contents in front of the altar. Then tie a mauli (raksha sutra) on the right wrist of the person performing the puja, and on the spouse's wrist if both are seated together.

5. Ganesh puja

Place a betel nut on a betel leaf as a symbol of Lord Ganesh, or use a small idol. Offer water, roli, akshat, flowers and durva, and say:

Om Gam Ganapataye Namah
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः

6. Kalash sthapana

Draw a swastika on the kalash with roli and tie mauli around its neck. Fill it with water, add a little Ganga jal, akshat, haldi, a betel nut and a coin, place five mango leaves at the mouth and set a coconut wrapped in red cloth on top. Place it to the left of the deity on a small heap of rice, offer roli, akshat and a flower, and say:

Om Varunaya Namah
ॐ वरुणाय नमः

7. Worship of Lord Vishwakarma

First honour the seat of the deity by offering a few flowers and akshat on the chowki, saying:

Om Adhara Shaktyai Namah, Om Kurmaya Namah, Om Anantaya Namah, Om Prithivyai Namah
ॐ आधारशक्त्यै नमः, ॐ कूर्माय नमः, ॐ अनन्ताय नमः, ॐ पृथिव्यै नमः

Then close your eyes and meditate on Lord Vishwakarma as the four-armed divine craftsman with a white beard, holding his tools, seated on his swan. Holding a flower, invite him to the altar and offer the flower at his feet:

Om Vishwakarmane Namah, Avahayami, Sthapayami
ॐ विश्वकर्मणे नमः, आवाहयामि, स्थापयामि

Now make the offerings one by one, saying "Om Vishwakarmane Namah" (ॐ विश्वकर्मणे नमः) with each:

• Water to wash the feet and for achaman; bathe a small idol with water and panchamrit, or sprinkle a picture with a flower
• Mauli, janeu or a small piece of cloth as vastra (clothes)
• Sandalwood paste, roli, kumkum, haldi and akshat
• Flowers and a garland
• Incense (dhoop) and the lamp (deep)
• Fruits, sweets, panchamrit and any cooked prasad as naivedya, with a little water
• Betel leaf with betel nut, and dakshina

8. Worship of tools and machines

Go to each tool, machine and vehicle in turn. Sprinkle a little water, apply a tilak of roli or sindoor, offer flowers and akshat, and tie a mauli if that is your custom, saying "Om Vishwakarmane Namah" each time. Large machines are worshipped where they stand. Some people also show the lamp and incense to each machine. Keep all machines switched off throughout.

9. Katha

Sit with the family or workers and read or listen to the Vishwakarma Puja katha. Many people also recite the Vishwakarma Chalisa.

10. Aarti and pushpanjali

Light camphor or a ghee lamp on the aarti plate and sing the Vishwakarma aarti "Om Jai Shri Vishwakarma" together, ringing the bell. After the aarti, everyone takes a few flowers in folded hands and offers them at the altar (pushpanjali), saying "Om Vishwakarmane Namah" three times.

11. Havan (optional)

Where a havan is performed, light the fire in the havan kund with mango wood and cow dung cakes, and offer ghee and havan samagri with the mantra below, usually 11, 21 or 108 times as your priest advises. End with the purnahuti, offering a coconut with ghee and the remaining samagri. Some priests perform the havan before the final aarti.

Om Vishwakarmane Swaha
ॐ विश्वकर्मणे स्वाहा

12. Prayer for forgiveness, prasad and dakshina

With folded hands, ask Lord Vishwakarma to forgive any mistakes made during the puja, whether in words, actions or the items offered. Offer the prasad, then share it with everyone present. If a priest has performed the puja, offer him dakshina and, if possible, some fruit, sweets or clothes.

After the puja

Keep the lamp safely away from fuel, oil and cloth, and never leave it burning unattended. If a clay idol was installed, it is usually immersed the next day along with the flowers and offerings, ideally in a tank or a bucket of water rather than a river. A picture stays in place. Work and machines usually resume the following day.

A simpler version

If you are short of time or items, a simple puja is entirely acceptable according to tradition: bathe, clean your tools, light a lamp and incense before Lord Vishwakarma's picture, offer roli, akshat, flowers and sweets to the Lord and to your tools while saying "Om Vishwakarmane Namah", sing the aarti and share the prasad.