CONSTRUCTION OF A TEMPLE: SANKALPAM Oh goddesses Lakshmi, please bless me with strength & faith to fulfill my desire to construct a beautiful

bliss full temple for you to reside & govern us towards a righteous path Use me as an instrument to carry out this divine work Bind a holy thread on your right hand to take up the assignment PRAY TO LORD GANESHA: Chant gananam tva Ask for his blessing to remove any obstacles & ask for his blessing towards the construction of the temple PROCEDURE ( Visuvalize) 1) Bhupariksha select a place good & fertile soil & proper site / location 2) Yajna - for purification of the place - Pavamana suktam 3) Adyestaka: Laying down the first stone 4) Nirmana: Then foundation is laid and land is purified by sprinkling water. A pit is dug, water mixed with navaratnas ( navarthana samarpanami) (diamond, Pearl, red coral, hemerald, ruby, pearl, yellow sapphire, blue sapphire, catseye and jade) Navadhanyas nine grains bengal gram - guru, (thoor dal thuvaram parupu) wheat - sun, horse gram - kollu- ketu, green gram budhan ( moong dal pasi paruppu) rice - chandran - arisi white beans shukra ( rajma mocha kottai ) - goduma black seasame seeds shani ( sesame yellu) chic peas mars or mangal ( channa dal kondai kadali) black gram - rahu ( urud dal) Navakhanijas is then put in and pit is filled. Then the temple is constructed. Architecture: A typical temple consists of the following major elements 1. Rajagopuram - an entrance om sri lakshmi deviye namaha

2. Kodi-maram 3. Prakaara 4. Main hall mandapa 5. Entrance porch - antaraala 6. The inner sanctum called the garbagriha, literally 'womb chamber' 7. The tower built directly above the garbagriha. Pots are filled with gems minerals seeds etc. and then the pinnacles are placed. Sowing seeds in pots of mud collected and waiting till they germinateGarbhanyasa: A pot made of five metals (pancaloha kalasa sthapana) is installed at the place of main deity. Installation of shri cakra Installation of main deity Kumbabeshakam Opening of eyes of lakshmi om shrim shriyai namaha Bathing her Decorate her with golden saree, ornaments Nievedhyam Chant: Sri Suktam is a vedic hymn addressed to Goddess Lakshmi, the companion of Vishnu. She is the representative of abundance in all its forms, accessible to all and readily responsive the effects of yagyas when sincerely performed. hirayavar hari suvararajatasrajm, candr hiramay lakm jtavedo ma vaha. t ma vaha jtavedo lakmmanapagminm, yasy hiraya vindeya gmava purunaham. Invoke for me, O Agni, the Goddess Lakshmi, who shines like gold, yellow in hue, wearing gold and silver garlands, blooming like the moon, the embodiment of wealth. O Agni! Invoke for me that unfailing Lakshmi, being blessed by whom I shall win wealth, cattle, horses and men. avaprv rathamadhy hastindapramodinm, riya devmupahvaye rrm devrjuatm, k sosmit hirayaprkrmrdr jvalant tapt tarpayantm, padme sthit padmavar tmihopahvaye riyam,

I invoke Shri (Lakshmi), who has a line of horses in front of her, a series of chariots in the middle, who is being awakened by the trumpeting of elephants, who is divinely resplendent. May that divine Lakshmi grace me. I hereby invoke that Shri (Lakshmi) who is an embodiment of Absolute Bliss; who is of pleasant smile on her face; whose lustre is like that of burnished gold; who is wet, as it were, (just from the milky ocean), who is blazing with splendour, and is the embodiment of the fulfilment of all wishes; who satisfies the desires of her votaries; who is seated on the lotus and is beautiful like the lotus. candr prabhs yaas jvalat riya loke devajumudrm, t padminm araamaha prapadye alakmrme nayat tv ve. dityavare tapasodhijto vanaspatistava vkotha bilva, tasya phalni tapas nudantu myntaryca bhy alakm. For shelter in this world, I resort to that Lakshmi who is beautiful like the moon, who shines bright, who is blazing with renown, who is adored (even) by the gods, who is highly magnanimous, and grand like the lotus. May my misfortunes perish. I surrender myself to Thee. O Thou, resplendent like the Sun! By Thy power and glory have the plants, (like) the bael tree, grown up. May the fruits thereof destroy through Thy Grace all inauspiciousness rising from the inner organs and ignorance as well as from the outer senses. upaitu m devasakha krtica main saha prdurbhtosmi rresmin krtimddhi dadtu me. kutpipsmal jyehmalakm naymyaham, abhtimasamddhi ca sarv niruda me gaht. O Lakshmi! I am born in this country with the heritage of wealth. May the friend of the Lord Siva (Kubera) and Kirti (fame) come to me. May these (having taken their abode with me) bestow on me fame and prosperity. I shall destroy the elder sister of Lakshmi, the embodiment of inauspiciousness and such evil as hunger, thirst, and the like. O Lakshmi! Drive out from my abode all misfortune and poverty. gandhadvr durdhar nityapu karim, var sarvabhtn tmihopahvaye riyam. manasa kmamkti vca satyamamahi, pan rpamannasya mayi r rayat yaa.

I invoke hereby that Lakshmi (Shri), whose (main) avenue of perception is the odoriferous sense (i.e., who abides mainly in cows); who is incapable of defeat or threat from anyone; who is ever healthy (with such virtuous qualities as truth); whose grace is seen abundantly in the refuse of cows (the cows being sacred); and who is supreme over all created beings. O Lakshmi! May we obtain and enjoy the fulfilment of our desires and our volitions, the veracity of our speech, the wealth of cattle, the abundance of varieties of food to eat! May prosperity and fame reside in me (thy devotee)! kardamena praj bht mayi sambhava kardama, riya vsaya me kule mtara padmamlinm. pa sjantu snigdhni ciklta vasa me ghe, nica dev mtarag riya vsaya me kule. Lakshmi! You have progeny in Kardama. (Hence) O Kardama, may you reside in me. Make Mother Shri with garlands of lotuses, to have Her abode in my (ancestral) line. May the (holy) waters create friendship (they being of an adhesive nature). O Chiklita (Progeny of Shri), reside in my home; and arrange to make Divine Mother Shri to stay in my lineage! rdr pukari pui suvar hemamlinm, sry hiramay lakm jtavedo ma vaha. rdr ya kari yai pigal padmamlinm, candr hiramay lakm jtavedo ma vaha. Invoke for me, O Agni, Lakshmi who shines like gold, is brilliant like the sun, who is powerfully fragrant, who wields the rod of suzerainty, who is of the form of supreme rulership, who is radiant with ornaments and is the goddess of wealth. Invoke for me, O Agni, the Goddess Lakshmi who shines like gold, blooms like the moon, who is fresh with anointment (of fragrant scent), who is adorned with the lotuses (lifted up by celestial elephants in the act of worship), who is the presiding deity of nourishment, who is yellow in colour, and who wears garlands of lotuses. t ma vaha jtavedo lakmmanapagminm, yasy hiraya prabhta gvo dsyovnvindeya purunaham.

Invoke for me, O Agni, that Goddess Lakshmi who is ever unfailing, being blessed by whom I shall win wealth in plenty, cattle, servants, horses, and men. m mahdevyai ca vidmahe viupatn ca dhmahi, tanno lakm pracodayt. We commune ourselves with the Great Goddess, and meditate on the Consort of Vishnu. May that Lakshmi direct us (to the Great Goal). nti nti nti. Om. May there be Peace, Peace, Peace. Thank the goddess for making you as a instrument for constructing a temple Thank her blessing you with all the health, wealth & prosperity