Thakur Shri Saty Narayan Ji

Festivals

A large number of traditional festivals are observed by the devotees of Saty Narayan Ji. Out of those numerous festivals, thirteen are important.

1. Shri Krishna Janamashtmi
2. Shri Ram Navmi
3. Ratha Yatra or Sri Gundicha Yatra
4. Shri Vaman Dwadashi
5. AnnKoot
6. Shri Krishna’s Chhati

1. Holi

Shri Krishna Janamashtmi, Ratha Yatra is most significant of all festivals of Saty Narayan Ji Temple.

Ratha Yatra

The Jagannath triad are usually worshipped in the sanctum of the temple, but once during the month of Asadha (Rainy Season of Punjab, usually falling in month of August or September), they are brought out onto the Devi Chowk (The main high street of Nabha) and travel (1 km) to the Prikrama of the city Nabha, in huge chariots (Rath), allowing the public to have Darshan (Holy view). This festival is known as Rath Yatra, meaning the festival (Yatra) of the chariots (Ratha). The Rathas (Chariots) are huge wheeled wooden structures, which are built anew every year and are pulled by the devotees. The chariot for Jagannath is approximately 20 feet high and 15 feet square and takes about 1 week to construct. The artists, Mandir Committee members and painters of Puri decorate the cars and paint flower petals etc. on the wheels, the wood-carved charioteer and horses, and the inverted lotuses on the wall behind the throne . The huge chariots of Jagannath pulled during Rath Yatra is the etymological origin of the English word Juggernaut. The Ratha-Yatra is also termed as the Shri Gundicha yatra.

The most significant ritual associated with the Ratha-Yatra is the chhera pahara. During the festival, the King wears the outfit of a sweeper and sweeps all around the deities and chariots in the Chera Pahara (Sweeping with water) ritual. The Gajapati King cleanses the road before the chariots with a gold-handled broom and sprinkles sandalwood water and powder with utmost devotion. As per the custom, although the King has been considered the most exalted person in the kingdom, still he renders the menial service to Jagannath. This ritual signified that under the lordship of Jagannath, there is no distinction between the powerful sovereign King and the most humble devotee. Chera pahara is held on two days, on the first day of the Ratha Yatra, when the deities are taken to garden house at Mausi Maa Temple and again on the last day of the festival, when the deities are ceremoniously brought back to the Shri Mandir.

As per another ritual, when the deities are taken out from the Shri Mandir to the Chariots in Pahandi vijay, disgruntled devotees hold a right to offer kicks, slaps and the derogatory remarks to the images, and Jagannath behaves like a commoner.

In the Ratha Yatra, the three deities are taken from the Jagannath Temple in the chariots to the Gundicha Temple, where they stay for seven days. Thereafter, the deities again ride the chariots back to Shri Mandir in bahuda yatra. On the way back, the three chariots halt at the Mausi Maa Temple and the deities are offered Poda Pitha, a kind of baked cake which are generally consumed by the poor sections only.

The observance of the Rath Yatra of Jagannath dates back to the period of the Puranas. Vivid descriptions of this festival are found in Brahma Purana, Padma Purana and Skanda Purana. Kapila Samhita also refers to Rath Yatra. In Moghul period also, King Ramsingh of Jaipur, Rajasthan has been described as organizing the Rath Yatra in the 18th century. In Odisha, Kings of Mayurbhanj and Parlakhemundi were organizing the Rath Yatra, though the grandest festival in terms of scale and popularity takes place at Nabha.

Satya Narayan Puja

The Satya Nārāṇaya Puja is the religious worship of the Hindu god Viṣṇu.

History

Śrī Satya Nārāṇaya puja is a very popular ritual in most parts of India including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Bengal, Orissa,Maharashtra and Goa. It is not known clearly when the origin of puja is started, but it is believed that doing this vratam (puja) is started for the first time in Andhra Pradesh. In Maharashtra, Satya Nārāṇaya Puja is not done on Ekādaśī or Caturthī. This puja has a special significance for the Chitpavan community of Maharashtra. In West Bengal, people perform this puja before house warming ceremony.

Almost all Hindus, throughout Andhra Pradesh, have strong faith, belief, and devotion towards Śrīman Nārāyaṇa, an incarnation of Viṣṇu. There is a very ancient famous temple for Śrī Satya Nārāṇaya Svāmī at Annavaram, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. (near Visakhapatnam ), India. This vratam is performed daily in Annavaram. Large numbers of devotees, many with families, visit the temple, offer prayers, perform this Vrata there, right in the temple.

The Puja as it is performed today has its origin in the Syncretism of Hindu and Sufi traditions in Bengal during the Middle ages where the Satya Nārāṇaya of the Hindus became Satya Pir of the Muslims and vice versa.

The puja is performed by some buddhists in Bangladesh.

Procedure

The puja starts by a prayer to Gaṇeśa, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by chanting all the names of Lord Gaṇeśa and offering prasāda (a food offering, usually consisting of one of Lord Gaṇeśa's favorite foods - modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or laddu) and the showering of flower petals.

Another part of the prayer involves a prayer to the Navagraha's - the nine important celestial beings in the universe. They consist of Sūrya - Sun, Candra - Moon, Aṅgāraka - Mars, Buddha - Mercury, Guru - Bṛhaspati (Jupiter), Śukra - Venus, Śani - Saturn, Rāhu - North Node as the head of Svarbhānu, and Ketu - South Node as the body including the tail of Svarbhānu.

The rest of the puja consists of worship to Satya Nārāṇaya, an extremely benevolent form of Viṣṇu. First "pañcamṛtam" is used to clean the place where the deity is placed. After placing the deity in the correct position, Satya-Nārāṇaya Svāmī is worshipped. Names of Satya Nārāṇaya are chanted along with offering of a variety of prasāda (including a mixture of milk, honey, ghee/butter, yogurt, sugar) and flower petals.

Another requirement of the puja is that the story of the puja be heard among all those observing and partaking in the puja. The story involves the origin of the puja, the benefits of it, and the potential mishaps that may occur with the forgetting performance of the puja.

The prayer concludes with an Āratīka, which consists of revolving a small fire-lit-lamp in the vicinity of an image of the Lord. After the puja is over, participants and observers of the puja are required to ingest in the prasāda that was offered and blessed by the Lord.

Puja (Prayer) Vidhi (performing method)

The Satya Nārāṇaya Puja is performed in reverence to the Nārāyaṇa form of Lord Viṣṇu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth.

Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However one can do it in the morning as well. On the day of the puja, the devotee has to fast. After bathing the person can begin the puja.

Materials needed for the Satya Nārāṇaya Rituals

'Sirni': A special type of food offering, which is prepared by mixing unboiled milk, flour, sugar, smashed bananas, and other flavours like cinnamon etc., or optional garnishing like groundnuts, cashews, cherries, crushed coconuts/fruits etc.

Kuṅkum powder, turmeric powder, raṅgolī

Incense sticks, camphor.

Thirty betel leaves, thirty betel nuts, two coconuts.

Five almonds,

Flowers to offer

One thousand Tulasī (Indian Basil) leaves; banana tree as a canopy [1]

One square shaped wooden platform

Two copper jars, two plates.

One shawl

A mixture of milk, yogurt, honey, sugar, ghee to make the Pañcāmṛta, Sandal wood paste.

Akshat (rice grains) with turmeric powder.

Sandalwood sticks

Two flower garlands, conch shell, bell, a cloth, a ghee lamp and an oil lamp.

1 kg of raw rice

1 kg of Sweet semolina (Sirni)preparation as Offering to the Deity prasāda

6 numbers of coconuts after completing each chapter of the narration (kathā).

Satya Nārāṇaya Puja Rituals

The Satya Nārāṇaya Puja is a Hindu religious observance. It is a ritual performed by Hindus before/on any major occasion like marriage, house warming ceremony etc. It can also be performed on any day for any reason. The Satya Nārāṇaya Puja is usually done on the Pūrṇimā day of every month (full moon day), Ekādaśī (11th day after full moon or new moon), Kārtika Pūrṇimā, Vaiśākhā Pūrṇimā, solar eclipse day or on Saṅkrānti except during Āṣāḍha Candra Masa. It is also done on special occasions and during times of achievements as an offering of gratitude to the Lord. These occasions include marriage, graduation, new job, and the purchase of a new home to name a few. In addition, it is said that a devotional performance of this puja will bear children to couples trying to start a family.

Summary of the puja process:

The puja starts by a prayer to Lord Gaṇeśa, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by chanting all the names of Lord Ganesha and offering prasāda (a food offering, usually consisting of one of Lord Gaṇeśa's favorite foods – modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or laddu) and the showering of flower petals.

Another part of the prayer involves a prayer to the Navagraha's - the nine important celestial beings in the universe. They consist of Sūrya - Sun, Candra - Moon, Aṅgāraka - Mars, Buddha - Mercury, Guru - Bṛhaspati (Jupiter), Śukra - Venus, Śani - Saturn, Rāhu - North Node as the head of Svarbhānu, and Ketu - South Node as the body including the tail of Svarbhānu.

The rest of the puja consists of worship to Satya Nārāṇaya, an extremely benevolent form of Lord Viṣṇu. First Pañcāmṛta is used to clean the place where the deity is placed. After placing the deity in the correct position, Satyanaraya swami is worshipped. Names of Satya Nārāṇaya are chanted along with offering of a variety of prasad (including a mixture of milk, honey, ghee/butter, yogurt, sugar) and flower petals.

Another requirement of the puja is that the story of the puja be heard among all those observing and partaking in the pooja. The story involves the origin of the puja, the benefits of it, and the potential mishaps that may occur with the careless performance of the puja.

The prayer concludes with an Aarti, which consists of revolving a small fire-lit-lamp in the vicinity of an image of the Lord. After the puja is over, participants and observers of the pooja are required to ingest in the prasad that was offered and blessed by the Lord.

It is told that Satya Nārāṇaya Kathā is in Revā volume of the Skanda Purāṇa. But this volume is devoted to pilgrimages on the valley of river Revā. In Satya Nārāṇaya there is no Revā river. In original Skanda Purāṇa there is nothing like Satya Nārāṇaya. Recent Skanda Purāṇas added it with clear note of its new addition in Skanda.

Puja vidhānam:

The Satya Nārāṇaya Puja is performed in reverence to the Narayan form of Lord Viṣṇu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth. This puja is conducted to ensure abundance in one's life. Many people carry out this puja immediately after or along with an auspicious occasion like a marriage or moving into a new house or any other success in life. It is believed the ceremony originated in Bengal as Satya Pir and was later adapted into Satya Nārāṇaya puja.

The Satya Nārāṇaya puja can be performed on any day. It is not a puja confined to any festivities. But Pūrṇimā (full moon day) or Saṅkrānti are considered to be most auspicious day for this puja.

Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However one can do it in the morning as well. On the day of the puja, the devotee has to fast. After bathing the person can begin the puja.

Prasād Preparation

The main Prasāda is prepared with sugar, Semolina and banana. Other parts of the prasad offering include various Fruits and Panchamrutam made by mixing together milk, Yogurt, Ghee, honey, and sugar.

Śrī Satya Nārāṇaya Svāmī Kathā

Śrī Satya Nārāṇaya katha (narrative) comes from the Skanda Purāṇa, Revā khaṇḍa. Sūta Maharṣi is the one narrating these account to Śaunaka Muni, in Naimiṣāraṇya to the ṛiṣhis who were performing a 1,000 year yajña for the benefit of mankind led by Śaunaka. In the stories characters who ignored their promise to perform the puja after their wish had been fulfilled suffered as a result. Therefore, one is to deduce that one must stick to the promise given to the Lord in exchange of the desire fulfilled by his grace. One is not to ignore or forget the Lord’s Grace.

Prasāda is symbolic of God's Grace which Kalāvatī ignored as she learned of her husband’s safe return. One can understand her eagerness in wanting to be re-united with her beloved, but one must understand that if one forgets to be thankful for gifts received from the Lord, one would have to go through another test until one remembers to remember.

When a rich merchant (called Sādhu with suffixes such as Banīya, Vāṇi, or Vaiśya in North and Central India) is asked what the boat contains, he untruthfully replies,

Only dry leaves

and the Mendicant says,

Tathāstu - So be it.

The above incident tells us that the spoken word has power. What you speak, manifests. Hence one must not speak an untruth. Especially an inauspicious untruth.

In the last story one learns that no one is higher or lower in status in the eyes of the Lord. Hence one must accord respect to whoever it may be, who is taking the name of God.

Chapter 1

Sūta Maharṣi narrated the stories. Once upon a time while travelling the three worlds, Nārada Maharṣi reached Bhū-loka (Earth) and saw the human beings immense suffering. He then went to the abode of Lord Śrī Satya Nārāṇaya Svāmī (the benevolent form of Lord Viṣṇu), who alone can relieve the mankind from the sufferings. There he met the Lord Viṣṇu with four arms each with Śaṅkha, Cakra, Gadā & Padma, adorned with the Tulasī Mālā (garland) around his neck. Nārada Maharṣi then asked the lord for a panacea for the miseries of the world. Lord Śrī Satya Nārāṇaya told Nārada Maharṣi that there is a vrata (fast) and puja which can be performed by anyone to overcome these obstacles. The Lord said,

“Anyone who performs Śrī Satya Nārāṇaya Svāmī’s Vrata and his Puja in the right way they will get all the pleasures on earth & will reach their goal.”

The fast would result in the fulfillment of his desires and also liberation from the cycle of birth and death into attaining Mokṣa (salvation). Whosoever performs Śrī Satya Nārāṇaya Svāmī’s Kathā with a Brahmin and with his family with full rites/rituals, they will be relieved off their sufferings and sorrows. They will be bestowed with wealth & wisdom, they will be blessed with children and they will get overall victory & increased devotion.

For this prayer, one requires ripe bananas, ghee, milk & choori (made with wheat flour, ghee & sugar). After the prayers, all present must have the prasādam & then take their meals together, & then sing, praise, & chant mantras of Śrī Satya Nārāṇaya Svāmī. By doing this, their wishes will be fulfilled. This Satya Nārāṇaya Vrata in Kali Yuga gives boon (reward) very quickly.

Thus ends the second chapter of Lord Satya Nārāṇaya Svāmī's Kathā.
*All chant together (say):
Śrī Satya Nārāṇaya ji ki jai.
Swami Narayan, Narayan, Narayan, swami Narayan, Narayan, Narayan.*

Chapter 2

Lord Satya Nārāṇaya then narrated to Devarṣi Nārada how and who performed the puja first. In a place named Sunder Kashipur, there used to live a very innocent Brahmin. In hunger & thirst he used to roam begging for his daily bread. When the Lord saw the Brahmin in sorrow and begging daily, he disguised himself as an old Brahmin & asked him,

“On Brahmana, why are you so sad. Please tell me all about your difficulties. Is there any way I could help you?”

The Brahmin replied,

“I am a poor Brahmin & I roam daily for bread. Do you know if there is any way to come out of all this sorrow?”

Then, the Lord, in the guise of a Brahmin, said,

“Lord Satya Nārāṇaya grants all the wishes of all the people if his puja and fast is performed diligently. If you pray to him & keep his fast you will overcome all your sorrow and get Mokṣa”

After telling him all the details of the prayer and the fast, Lord disappeared. The poor Brahmin could not sleep that night. He kept thinking of the fast and the prayer which the Lord had asked him to do. In the morning, he woke up with the thought that somehow he must perform the puja and so thinking went out for his bhikṣā (alms). On that day the Brahmin got a lot of money. He used most of this money to buy all the necessary things for the prayer. He called his family and performed Lord Satya Nārāṇaya’s prayer. By doing so, the Brahmin overcame all his sorrows & became rich. From then onwards, he performed the prayers every month without fail. Thus everyone who performs Lord Satya Nārāṇaya Svāmī’s puja will be relieved from all their sorrows.

The Lord then narrated another story. The same Brahmin now a rich person performed the prayer every month without fail with his family. Once a Brahmin was in between his prayer when a wood-cutter passed by. After keeping the bundle of wood outside the Brahmin’s house, he went in to quench his thirst. The thirsty wood-cutter saw the Brahmin performing the Satya Nārāṇaya Vrata. He bowed down to the Brahmin & asked him,

“Oh Brahmana, what are you doing, please tell me.”

The Brahmin replied,

“I am performing the vratam of Lord Satya Nārāṇaya Svāmī. One who accomplishes this will overcome all obstacles and their wishes will be granted. They will attain wealth and wisdom. I have acquired my wealth also in the same way.”

After hearing about the prayer and drinking the water, the wood-cutter felt happy. He ate the prasāda from the puja and left for his home.

Thinking of Lord Satya Nārāṇaya in his mind - he said,

“Whatever money I make from selling wood today, I will use it to perform the Satya Nārāṇaya Svāmī Vrata.”

So thinking, he loaded the bundle of wood onto his head and left for his home. Along the way home he went roaming in Sunder Nagar selling the wood. On that day, he got four times more money than what he made usually out of the wood sale. Feeling happy, he went and bought all the necessary things for the prayers (i.e. ripe bananas, sugar, ghee, wheat flour, etc.). On reaching his house and after cleaning himself, he called his family and did the prayer with due respect. He became rich and acquired all the pleasures of life. At the end of his life he went to heaven.

Chapter 3

This Chapter consists of a childless merchant Called Sādhu and his adventures. There was a wise king named Ulkāmukha. He had a pious and beautiful wife. He would go to the temple daily and would give charity to the Brahmins. One day near the banks of river Madhuśālā, where they were performing Lord Śrī Satya Nārāṇaya’s vrata, a wealthy merchant was passing by. He anchored his boat, went to the king and asked him,

“Oh King, please let me know the details about the vratam you are performing with such devotion.”

The king replied that he was performing the Lord Satya Nārāṇaya Svāmī’s vrata. He said that one who performs this vratam will gain worldy pleasures and attain salvation. The merchant with much eager asked him the details stating that,

“Oh King, I would like to know the details as I am childless and would like to perform this vrata.”

The king gladly gave the entire procedural details about the Śrī Satya Nārāṇaya’s vrata and its vidhānam.

After acquiring the entire details of the vratam, the merchant and his wife decided to perform the fast if they get a child. Sometime later his wife Līlāvatī became pregnant and she delivered a girl who they named Kalāvatī. The merchant’s wife Līlāvatī reminded him about his promise to keep the fast and perform the vratam. The merchant postponed it saying that he would do so when the daughter grows and is ready to be married. The merchant told his wife that during the time of Kalāvatī’s wedding it would be easy to do the fast because at the moment he was busy in his business. So saying he left for his business trip to various villages.

Kalāvatī grew up to be a beautiful girl. When the merchant saw his daughter was of marriageable age; he called the match-maker and requested him to search an ideal match for his daughter. Hearing the merchant’s request, the match-maker reached Kanchan Nagar. From there, he brought the proposal of a young handsome boy. Agreeing to the proposal and after speaking to the boy’s parents, Kalāvatī’s marriage was performed with much fanfare and religious ceremonies & rituals. All this while and even at this time of his daughter's wedding the merchant forgot about the promise to perform the Satya Nārāṇaya vratam. So the Lord decided to remind the merchant about his promise.

The merchant, after a few days, left for his business trip with his son-in-law by boat. They anchored their boat in a beautiful village, named Ratnapura ruled by King Candraketu. One day, the thieves robbed the wealth of the king. After robbing they went and stayed at the same place where the merchant was staying. Seeing the guards following them, they left the entire loot near the merchant and then hid themselves. When the guards reached the merchant’s place, they saw all the king’s wealth beside the merchant and his son-in-law. Thinking them to be robbers, they arrested them and brought them before the king stating that they were responsible for the theft. The king, without giving any chance of explaining their case ordered both be confined to behind bars. Even their wealth was confiscated by the king.

While at the merchant’s house, the thieves robbed their entire wealth. This left his wife and daughter to beg for their daily bread. One day while begging for food, Kalāvatī reached a Brahmin’s house. At that time the Brahmin and his family were performing Lord Satya Nārāṇaya’s puja. After listening to the prayer and taking the prasādam, she left for home. By the time she reached home it was already dark.

Līlāvatī was worried. She asked her daughter Kalāvatī, why it took her so much time to come home. Kalāvatī replied,

“Oh Mother, today I was at a Brahmin’s house where they were performing Lord Satya Nārāṇaya’s vratam.”

On hearing this, Līlāvatī recollected the long pending promise by her husband and narrated it to her daughter. She soon began the preparations for the Lord Satya Nārāṇaya vratam. She did the fast & prayer and asked the Lord for forgiveness. She prayed that her husband and her son-in-law return home safely.

Lord Satya Nārāṇaya was pleased with the prayer and the fast. One day, he told King Candraketu in his dream,

“Oh King, You must release the merchant and his son-in-law as they are not the robbers. Return their wealth and set them free. If you do not do so, your kingdom will be destroyed.”

In the morning, the king called the people in his court and told them about the dream.

The people agreed that the merchant and his son-in-law should be released by the king. The king asked the guards to bring the prisoners, returned all their belongings and set them free. The king told them that due to their wrongdoings, they had to undergo this suffering, but now there was nothing to fear & they could go back home. They bowed down to the king & left for home.

Chapter 4

In this Chapter, Sādhu, the merchant, prayed first and then gave some wealth to the Brahmins before starting his journey for home. When they went little further, Lord Satya Nārāṇaya wanted to test them. He disguised as an old man and went up to the merchant. The Lord asked,

“What is in your boat? Give me little from there.”

The merchant in arrogance and pride, replied,

“Oh Old man, we have nothing in our boat except hay and leaves.”

On hearing such harsh words from the merchant, the Lord said,

“Your words shall be true.”

So saying, he went from there and sat on the bank of the river. When the Lord went away, the boat started to rise higher in the water. The merchant was surprised at this. He went to check inside the boat. To his shock he saw that his boat which was filled with his wealth now contains only leaves and hay. Seeing this he fainted. When he came to his senses, he said,

“How could this happen?”

His son-in-law meanwhile told him,

“Do not cry over this. All has happened because you spoke harshly to the old man and lied to him. Still, nothing is lost. You could go back to him and ask him for his forgiveness. He may set everything right.”

The merchant, after hearing the words of his son-in-law went in search of the old man. He bowed down before him and with respect said,

“Oh Lord, please forgive me for the words I have spoken.”

So saying, he bowed down with tears of sorrow in his eyes. When the Lord, saw the merchant in his state of sorrow and crying for forgiveness, he said, “Oh foolish person, due to your deeds, you have seen all this sorrow & suffering.” On hearing the Sādhu merchant’s words filled with bhakti, the Lord was happy & he turned the boat full of wealth. When the merchant mounted his boat and saw it full with wealth again, he thanked the Lord & said,

“With Lord Satya Nārāṇaya’s grace, my wish is fulfilled. When I reach home, I will do his prayer & fast.”

Saying so, he left for his home.

When the merchant saw that his home-town Ratanpur is nearing, he sent a messenger in advance, to his house to inform his wife & daughter of his arrival. The messenger, on reaching the merchant’s house, bowed down to the merchant’s wife & gave them the most awaited news that the merchant & his son-in-law have reached Ratnapura.

Līlāvatī had just finished doing her Satya Nārāṇaya Puja meanwhile. She told her daughter to finish doing the prayer and then come & receive her husband & her father. Kalāvatī finished doing her puja quickly & without taking the prasāda left to meet her husband. The Lord got angry at her for this, and so he drowned her husband with the boat. When Kalāvatī did not see her husband; she was shocked and she fainted on the floor.

On seeing his daughter and the sudden disappearance of the boat, the merchant was shocked. He prayed to Lord Satya Nārāṇaya, asked him for his forgiveness and prayed to the Lord to take them out of this difficulty. The Lord said to the merchant,

“Oh merchant, your daughter, in a hurry to meet her husband has left my prasādam. When she goes back and takes the prasāda with due respect only then she will see her husband.”

On hearing this, Kalāvatī ran home, ate the prasāda offered respects to Lord Satya Nārāṇaya and came back to meet her husband. When the merchant saw this, he was very happy.

The merchant then performed the Satya Nārāṇaya’s vrata with his family every month from then onward. They all gained the pleasures of life and after their death they got the ultimate gift of ‘Mokṣa’ (Salvation – Liberation from the cycle of life and death).

Chapter 5

Sūta Maharṣi continuing his narrative, tells the ṛṣis, the story of a king called Angadwaja. Once, as King Angadwaja was returning from a hunting expedition, he stopped to rest under a tree for a while. Nearby a small group of cowherd boys were playing the game of doing puja. They offered their humble prasāda to the king, who out of pride left it untouched. Subsequently the king suffered great losses and realised that that was due to the contempt he had shown for those children’s puja. The king, realising his mistake, returned to the spot where he had met the cowherds, and with great faith performed the puja with them. The king regained all that he had lost.

Sūta Maharṣi now told the ṛṣis that the Lord Śrī Satya Nārāṇaya Svāmī vrata (fast_ is very effective during Kali Yuga and that whoever read or heard this story would be rid of all sorrows and difficulties.

The names of the persons who kept Satya Nārāṇaya vratam took rebirth are as follows:

1. The Brahmin took birth as Sudāma & in his entire life he served Lord Kṛṣṇa & attained Mokṣa (Liberation).
2. King Ulkāmukha took birth as King Daśaratha, and in that life he became the father of Śrī Rāma & attained eternity.
3. The merchant took birth as King Morad, who cut his son in half & offered to the Lord & got Mokṣa.
4. King Angadwaja took birth as Kevat, who took Lord Rāma across the river, served him & got Mokṣa.

Thus ends the fifth chapter of Lord Satya Nārāṇaya Svāmī's Kathā.
*All chant together (say):
Śrī Satya Nārāṇaya ji ki jai.
Swami Narayan, Narayan, Narayan, swami Narayan, Narayan, Narayan.*

Concluding the Pūjā: Āratī & Stuti

The rituals concludes with the Puja participants including the story audience singing Invocation prayers (Aarti) to Satya Nārāṇaya. The Āratī in Hindi below:

देवनागरी Āratī

ॐ जय लक्ष्मी रमणा, स्वामी जय लक्ष्मी रमणा ॥ सत्यनारायण स्वामी, जन-पातक-हरणा ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी... रत्न जडैत सिंहासन, अद्भुत छवि राजे । नारद करत नीराजन, घंटा ध्वनि बाजे ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी... प्रकट भए कलिकारन, द्विज को दरस दियो । बूढओ ब्राह्मण बनकर, कञ्चन महल कियो ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी... दुर्बल भील कठारो, जिन पर कृपा करी । चन्द्रचूड इक राजा, तिनकी विपति हरी ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी... वैश्य मनोरथ पायो, श्रद्धा तज दीन्ही । सो फल भोग्यो प्रभुजी, फिर स्तुति किन्हीं ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी... भाव-भक्ति के कारण, छिन-छिन रूप धर्यो । श्रद्धा धारण किन्ही, तिनको काज सरो ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी... ग्वाल-बाल सङ्ग राजा, बन में भक्ति करी । मनवाञ्छित फल दीन्हो, दीन दयालु हरि ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी... चढत प्रसाद सवायो, कदली फल मेवा । धूप-दीप-तुलसी से, राजी सत्यदेवा ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी... सत्यनारायण जी की आरती जो कोई नर गावे । तन-मन सुख-संपत्ति मनवाञ्छित फल पावे ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी... ॐ जय लक्ष्मी रमणा, स्वामी जय लक्ष्मी रमणा । सत्यनारायण स्वामी, जन-पातक-हरणा ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी...

Roman Transliteration Āratī

oṃ jaya lakṣmī ramaṇā, svāmī jaya lakṣmī ramaṇā ॥ satyanārāyaṇa svāmī, jana-pātaka-haraṇā ॥ oṃ jaya lakṣmī... ratna jaḍaita siṃhāsana, adbhuta chavi rāje । nārada karata nīrājana, ghaṃṭā dhvani bāje ॥ oṃ jaya lakṣmī... prakaṭa bhae kalikārana, dvija ko darasa diyo । būḍhao brāhmaṇa banakara, kañcana mahala kiyo ॥ oṃ jaya lakṣmī... durbala bhīla kaṭhāro, jina para kṛpā karī । candracūḍa ika rājā, tinakī vipati harī ॥ oṃ jaya lakṣmī... vaiśya manoratha pāyo, śraddhā taja dīnhī । so phala bhogyo prabhujī, phira stuti kinhīṃ ॥ oṃ jaya lakṣmī... bhāva-bhakti ke kāraṇa, china-china rūpa dharyo । śraddhā dhāraṇa kinhī, tinako kāja saro ॥ oṃ jaya lakṣmī... gvāla-bāla saṅga rājā, bana meṃ bhakti karī । manavāñchita phala dīnho, dīna dayālu hari ॥ oṃ jaya lakṣmī... caḍhata prasāda savāyo, kadalī phala mevā । dhūpa-dīpa-tulasī se, rājī satyadevā ॥ oṃ jaya lakṣmī... satyanārāyaṇa jī kī āratī jo koī nara gāve । tana-mana sukha-saṃpatti manavāñchita phala pāve ॥ oṃ jaya lakṣmī... oṃ jaya lakṣmī ramaṇā, svāmī jaya lakṣmī ramaṇā । satyanārāyaṇa svāmī, jana-pātaka-haraṇā ॥ oṃ jaya lakṣmī...

देवनागरी Āratī

ॐ जय जगदीश हरे, स्वामी जय जगदीश हरे। भक्त जनों के संकट, क्षण में दूर करे॥ ॐ जय जगदीश… जो ध्यावे फल पावे, दुःख बिनसे मन का। सुख सम्पति घर आवे, कष्ट मिटे तन का॥ ॐ जय जगदीश… मात पिता तुम मेरे, शरण गहूं मैं किसकी। तुम बिन और न दूजा, आस करूं मैं जिसकी॥ ॐ जय जगदीश… तुम पूरण परमात्मा, तुम अंतरयामी। पारब्रह्म परमेश्वर, तुम सब के स्वामी॥ ॐ जय जगदीश… तुम करुणा के सागर, तुम पालनकर्ता। मैं सेवक तुम स्वामी, कृपा करो भर्ता॥ ॐ जय जगदीश… तुम हो एक अगोचर, सबके प्राणपति। किस विधि मिलूं दयामय, तुमको मैं कुमति॥ ॐ जय जगदीश… दीनबंधु दुखहर्ता, तुम रक्षक मेरे। करुणा हाथ बढ़ाओ, द्वार पड़ा तेरे॥ ॐ जय जगदीश… विषय विकार मिटाओ, पाप हरो देवा। श्रद्धा भक्ति बढ़ाओ, संतन की सेवा॥ ॐ जय जगदीश…

Roman Transliteration Āratī

oṃ jaya jagadīśa hare, svāmī jaya jagadīśa hare । bhakta janoṃ ke saṅkaṭa, kṣaṇa meṃ dūra kare ॥ oṃ jaya jagadīśa… jo dhyāve phala pāve, duḥkha binase mana kā । sukha sampati ghara āve, kaṣṭa miṭe tana kā ॥ oṃ jaya jagadīśa… māta pitā tuma mere, śaraṇa gahūṃ maiṃ kisakī । tuma bina aura na dūjā, āsa karūṃ maiṃ jisakī ॥ oṃ jaya jagadīśa… tuma pūraṇa paramātmā, tuma antarayāmī । pārabrahma parameśvara, tuma saba ke svāmī ॥ oṃ jaya jagadīśa… tuma karuṇā ke sāgara, tuma pālanakartā । maiṃ sevaka tuma svāmī, kṛpā karo bhartā ॥ oṃ jaya jagadīśa… tuma ho eka agocara, sabake prāṇapati । kisa vidhi milūṃ dayāmaya, tumako maiṃ kumati ॥ oṃ jaya jagadīśa… dīnabandhu dukhahartā, tuma rakṣaka mere । karuṇā hātha baḍhāo, dvāra paḍā tere ॥ oṃ jaya jagadīśa… viṣaya vikāra miṭāo, pāpa haro devā । śraddhā bhakti baḍhāo, santana kī sevā ॥ oṃ jaya jagadīśa…