Goddess Kali Puja Vidhi: Steps, Mantras and Meaning

The puja involves several rituals, including invoking Goddess Kali, offering flowers, performing Upachara Puja, and concluding the worship with a Samarpan Mantra. Here is a step-by-step guide to Kali Puja Vidhi, along with the Sanskrit mantras, their English transliterations, and meanings.

Kali Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Puja Rituals)

Kali Puja is performed with devotion and traditional rituals. Follow these steps to worship Goddess Kali at home.

1. Clean the Puja Area and Prepare the Altar

Begin by cleaning the puja area and taking a bath. Wear clean clothes and arrange the idol or picture of Goddess Kali on a clean altar. Decorate the altar with flowers and prepare all the puja samagri before starting the rituals.

Light a diya and incense sticks to create a sacred atmosphere.

2. Shri Kali Dhyan (Meditation Mantra)

Begin the puja by meditating upon Goddess Kali and remembering Her divine form. Recite the Shri Kali Dhyan Mantra with devotion.

Sanskrit Mantra:

ॐ सद्यश्छिन्नशिरः कृपाणमभयं हस्तैर्वरं बिभ्रतीं।
घोरास्यां शिरसां स्रजं सुरुचिरां उन्मुक्तकेशावलिम्॥
सृक्कासृक्प्रवहां श्मशाननिलयां श्रुत्योः शवालङ्कृतिं।
श्यामाङ्गीं कृत-मेखलां शव-करैर्देवीं भजे कालिकाम्॥

Mantra in English:

Om Sadyashchhinna-Shirah Kripanam Abhayam Hastairvaram Bibhratim।
Ghorasyam Shirasam Srajam Suruchiram Unmukta-Keshavalim॥
Srikka-Asrik-Pravaham Shmashana-Nilayam Shrutyor-Shavalankritim।
Shyamangim Krita-Mekhalam Shava-Karair Devim Bhaje Kalikam॥

Meaning:

I meditate upon Goddess Kalika, who holds a freshly severed head and a sword in two of Her hands, while Her other hands offer protection and blessings. She has a fierce expression, wears a beautiful garland of severed heads, and has loose, flowing hair. Blood flows from the corners of Her mouth, and She is adorned with ornaments made of corpses. She has a dark complexion, resides in the cremation ground, and wears a girdle made of severed hands.

3. Shri Kali Avahan (Invocation Mantra)

After meditation, invoke Goddess Kali and invite Her divine presence into the place of worship. Pray to the Goddess to remain present throughout the puja and bless the devotees with protection and well-being.

Sanskrit Mantra:

ॐ देवेशि! भक्ति सुलभे! परिवारसमिन्वते!
यावत् त्वां पूजयिष्यामि तवात् त्वं सुस्थिरा भव॥
दुष्पारे घोर-संसार-सागरे पतितं सदा।
त्रायस्व वरदे देवि! नमस्ते चित्-परात्मिके॥
ये देवा याश्च देव्यश्च चलितायां चलन्ति हि।
आवाहयामि तान् सर्वान् कालिके परमेश्वरि॥
प्राणान् रक्ष यशो रक्ष रक्ष दारान् सुतान् धनम्।
सर्व-रक्षा-करी यस्मात् त्वं हि देवि जगन्मये॥
प्रविश्य तिष्ठ यज्ञेऽस्मिन् यावत् पूजां करोम्यहम्।
सर्वानन्द-करे देवि! सर्वसिद्धिं प्रयच्छ मे॥
तिष्ठात्र कालिके मातः! सर्व-कल्याण-हेतवे।
पूजां गृहाण सुमुखि! नमस्ते शङ्कर-प्रिये॥

॥ श्रीमहा-काली-देवीम् आवाहयामि॥

Mantra in English:

Om Deveshi! Bhakti Sulabhe! Parivara-Samanvite!
Yavat Tvam Pujayishyami Tavat Tvam Susthira Bhava॥
Dushpare Ghora-Samsara-Sagare Patitam Sada।
Trayasva Varade Devi! Namaste Chit-Paratmake॥
Ye Deva Yashcha Devyashcha Chalitayam Chalanti Hi।
Avahayami Tan Sarvan Kalike Parameshwari॥
Pranan Raksha Yasho Raksha Raksha daran Sutan Dhanam।
Sarva-Raksha-Kari Yasmat Tvam Hi Devi Jaganmaye॥
Pravishya Tishtha Yajnesmin Yavat Pujam Karomyaham।
Sarvananda-Kare Devi! Sarvasiddhim Prayachchha Me॥
Tishthatra Kalike Matas! Sarva-Kalyana-Hetave।
Pujam Grihana Sumukhi! Namaste Shankara-Priye॥

Shri Maha-Kali-Devim Avahayami॥

Meaning:

O Goddess of the Devas, who is easily pleased by devotion and accompanied by Your divine family, please remain present here for as long as I worship You.

O Divine Mother, protect me from the difficult and frightening ocean of worldly existence. O Goddess who grants blessings, I bow to You, the Supreme Consciousness.

O Supreme Goddess Kalika, I invoke all the divine beings who move with You in the universe. Please protect my life, reputation, spouse, children, and wealth, for You are the protector of the entire creation.

Please enter and remain present in this sacred worship until I complete the rituals. O Goddess who brings happiness to all, bless me with success and fulfillment.

O Mother Kalika, please remain here for the well-being of all. Kindly accept my worship. Salutations to You, the beloved of Lord Shankara.

4. Shri Kali Pushpanjali Asana (Flower Offering Mantra)

After invoking the Goddess, offer five flowers as a symbolic seat to Goddess Mahakali. This ritual expresses respect and devotion as you welcome the Goddess into the puja.

Sanskrit Mantra:

नाना-रत्न-समायुक्तं कार्तस्वर-विभूषितम्।
आसनं देवि देवेशि! प्रीत्यर्थं प्रतिगृह्यताम्॥

॥ श्रीमहा-काली-दैव्यै आसनार्थे पञ्च-पुष्पाणि समर्पयामि॥

Mantra in English:

Nana-Ratna-Samayuktam Kartaswara-Vibhushitam।
Asanam Devi Deveshi! Preetyartham Pratigrihyatam॥

Shri Maha-Kali-Devyae Asanarthe Pancha-Pushpani Samarpayami॥

Meaning:

O Divine Goddess, Queen of the Devas, please graciously accept this beautiful seat adorned with various precious gems and decorated with pure gold.

I offer five flowers as a sacred seat to Goddess Mahakali.

5. Shri Kali Navopachara Puja (Nine Offerings)

Now perform the Navopachara Puja by offering nine traditional items to Goddess Kali. Offer each item while reciting the corresponding mantra.

The nine offerings include water for washing the feet, sacred water, sandalwood paste, rice grains, flowers, incense, a lamp, food, water for purification, and betel leaves.

Sanskrit Mantra:

ॐ श्रीकाली-देव्यै नमः पादयोः पाद्यं समर्पयामि।
ॐ श्रीकाली-देव्यै नमः शिरसि अर्घ्यं समर्पयामि।
ॐ श्रीकाली-देव्यै नमः गन्धाक्षतान् समर्पयामि।
ॐ श्रीकाली-देव्यै नमः पुष्पं समर्पयामि।
ॐ श्रीकाली-देव्यै नमः धूपम् आघ्रापयामि।
ॐ श्रीकाली-देव्यै नमः दीपं दर्शयामि।
ॐ श्रीकाली-देव्यै नमः नैवेद्यं निवेदयामि।
ॐ श्रीकाली-देव्यै नमः आचमनीयं समर्पयामि।
ॐ श्रीकाली-देव्यै नमः ताम्बूलं समर्पयामि।

Mantra in English:

Om Shri Kali Devyai Namah, Padayoh Padyam Samarpayami।
Om Shri Kali Devyai Namah, Shirasi Arghyam Samarpayami।
Om Shri Kali Devyai Namah, Gandhakshatan Samarpayami।
Om Shri Kali Devyai Namah, Pushpam Samarpayami।
Om Shri Kali Devyai Namah, Dhupam Aghrapayami।
Om Shri Kali Devyai Namah, Deepam Darshayami।
Om Shri Kali Devyai Namah, Naivedyam Nivedayami।
Om Shri Kali Devyai Namah, Achamaniyam Samarpayami।
Om Shri Kali Devyai Namah, Tambulam Samarpayami॥

Meaning:

I bow to Goddess Kali and offer water for washing Her feet, sacred water for worship, sandalwood paste and unbroken rice, flowers, incense, a lamp, food, water for purification, and betel leaves with areca nut. May the Goddess accept these nine traditional offerings.

6. Shri Kali Puja Samarpan (Concluding Mantra)

After completing all the offerings, conclude the puja by reciting the Samarpan Mantra. Offer your prayers to Goddess Mahakali and seek Her blessings. You may also perform the final aarti with a lit camphor or ghee diya.

Sanskrit Mantra:

ॐ श्रीमहाकाल्यै नमः।
अनेन पूजनेन श्रीकाली देवी प्रीयताम्।
नमो नमः॥

Mantra in English:

Om Shri Mahakalyai Namah।
Anena Pujanena Shri Kali Devi Priyatam।
Namo Namah॥

Meaning:

Salutations to Goddess Mahakali. May Goddess Kali be pleased with this worship. I offer my salutations to Her again and again.