Satyanarayan Katha
The most common observance on Purnima is the Satyanarayan Puja. The katha is a collection of stories describing how various characters (a poor brahmin, a woodcutter, a merchant) overcame their miseries by accurately performing the puja of Lord Satyanarayan (Truth personified).
Spiritual Benefit: Peace of mind, removal of negative karma, and divine blessings.
Allowed (Satvik)
- Fruits
- Milk
- Sabudana
- Kheer (prasad)
Restricted (Tamasic)
- Salt (many avoid)
- Grains (during the day)
- Sour foods
Fasting Variants
Upvas: Light fasting until the evening moonrise.
Full Fast: No food until next morning (less common).
Viewing the full moon and offering Arghya (water) is a key ritual.
Step-by-Step Worship
- Clean the house and altar.
- Perform Satyanarayan Puja with the guidance of a priest or listen to the katha.
- Prepare Panchamrit (Milk, Curd, Ghee, Honey, Sugar).
- Offer a special prasad of roasted wheat flour, sugar, and bananas (Sapad Bhaksh).
- Perform Aarti.
Mantra to Chant
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Required Samagri
Kalash, Betel leaves, Fruits, Milk, Wheat flour, Bananas
Breaking the Fast (Parana)
Fast is broken after the Puja and viewing the moon (Chandra Darshan).
Timing Note: Consume the Prasad first before other food.