What is Shanti Puja?
Shanti Puja (peace ritual) is performed to pacify afflicted planets in your birth chart or during challenging transits. When planets are weak, debilitated, or causing difficulties in specific Dasha periods, Shanti Puja helps reduce their malefic effects.
While elaborate Shanti pujas require priests and specific rituals, you can perform simplified versions at home with devotion. The key is sincere intention and regular practice.
Prepare the Puja Area
- Clean a space in your home temple or quiet corner
- Spread a clean cloth (color based on planet - see below)
- Place image/idol of the planet deity or yantra
- Keep water, flowers, incense, lamp ready
- Face East or North
Planet Colors: Sun-Red, Moon-White, Mars-Red, Mercury-Green, Jupiter-Yellow, Venus-White, Saturn-Black/Blue, Rahu-Blue, Ketu-Grey
Gather Planet-Specific Materials
Common items: Flowers, rice, kumkum, sandalwood paste, ghee lamp, incense, fruits
Planet-specific offerings:
- Sun: Red flowers, wheat, jaggery
- Moon: White flowers, rice, milk
- Mars: Red flowers, red lentils, jaggery
- Mercury: Green items, moong dal
- Jupiter: Yellow flowers, chana dal, turmeric
- Venus: White flowers, rice, sweets
- Saturn: Blue/black flowers, black sesame, mustard oil
- Rahu: Blue flowers, urad dal
- Ketu: Multi-colored flowers
Begin with Ganesha Prayer
Always start any puja by invoking Lord Ganesha:
"Vakratunda Mahakaya Surya Koti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva Karyeshu Sarvada"
Or simply: "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah" (3 times)
Light the lamp and incense.
Perform Sankalpa (Intention)
State your intention clearly:
- Sprinkle water on yourself for purification
- Hold rice/flowers in right hand
- State: "I am performing this [Planet name] Shanti Puja for peace and to reduce negative effects. May the deity bless me."
- Place rice/flowers near the deity
Main Puja Ritual
- Dhyana: Meditate on the planet deity for few minutes
- Avahana: Invite the deity with mantras
- Asana: Offer seat (place flowers)
- Padya: Offer water for washing feet
- Arghya: Offer water for washing hands
- Snana: Bathe the idol/image with water/milk
- Vastra: Offer cloth (place colored cloth piece)
- Gandha: Apply sandalwood paste
- Pushpa: Offer flowers
- Dhupa: Wave incense
- Deepa: Wave lamp
- Naivedya: Offer food/fruits
Chant Planet Mantra
Chant the relevant mantra 108 times (or 11/21 if time is limited):
- Sun: Om Hraam Hreem Hraum Sah Suryaya Namah
- Moon: Om Shraam Shreem Shraum Sah Chandraya Namah
- Mars: Om Kraam Kreem Kraum Sah Bhaumaya Namah
- Mercury: Om Braam Breem Braum Sah Budhaya Namah
- Jupiter: Om Graam Greem Graum Sah Gurave Namah
- Venus: Om Draam Dreem Draum Sah Shukraya Namah
- Saturn: Om Praam Preem Praum Sah Shanaye Namah
- Rahu: Om Bhraam Bhreem Bhraum Sah Rahave Namah
- Ketu: Om Sraam Sreem Sraum Sah Ketave Namah
Conclude with Aarti
- Perform aarti with camphor or ghee lamp
- Circumambulate the altar mentally or physically
- Offer final prayers and seek forgiveness for any errors
- Distribute prasad
- Donate to needy on the planet's day
Regular simple pujas are more effective than occasional elaborate ones. Perform on the planet's day weekly for best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Analyze your birth chart for: 1) Currently running Dasha lord if causing problems, 2) Debilitated planets, 3) Planets in 6th, 8th, or 12th house, 4) Planets causing specific Doshas. GrahaGuru's AI can identify your problematic planets.
For ongoing planetary issues: Weekly on the planet's day. For general peace: Monthly. For specific problems: 40-day continuous practice is traditional. Even 11 days of regular puja shows benefits.
Identify Your Afflicted Planets
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