The Meaning:

• Satya means” truth” and Narayan means the Lord Vishnu the Protector and Provider, in other words, the highest being, who is the embodiment of truth.


• Vrat means to worship the Lord by observing fast and seek his blessings before doing any good deed. Auspicious results of this fast have made it special.


• Apart from Lord Satyanarayana, Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Krishna, and Ganesha are also worshipped during this fast. Therefore, one also gets the auspicious blessing of all these deities.

The Purpose:

This Vrat has originated from the scriptures of Skanda Purana and formed a part of the Hindu religion. The purpose of the Satya Narayan fast is to appease the almighty Lord Vishnu, to provide one solace from sufferings and to fulfill one’s desires for prosperity and happiness in life.

The Satyanarayan Vrat puja is done to seek blessings from the Lord of health, wealth, prosperity and education. It is also done for relief from troubles and sickness, for success in career and business. Further, this Puja is performed during auspicious occasions such as marriage, house warming ceremony, naming of children, etc.

The Story:

The basic lessons have 170 shlokas in Sanskrit which is divided into five lessons. In each of these, there are short stories through which have moral. Predominantly the stories conclude that those who don’t believe in truthfulness suffer in many ways.

We should obey the universal laws with utmost grit and commitment. Whatever is written in the scriptures should be followed and human beings should practice truthfulness. Those who don’t follow and are disgraceful towards Lord ultimately suffer setbacks on every front.

Chapter one:

The Satyanarayana Katha comes from Skanda Purana, Reva Khand. For the benefit of humanity, this Puja was being performed by Rishis. Suta Maharishi is narrating this story to Sanuka Muni in Naimisharanya. This Puja ritual itself was narrated to Rishi Narada by the Lord Himself.

Chapter Two:

This chapter tells us about the benefit of this Puja. A poor Brahman performed this Puja on the advice of the Lord himself, who had come to visit poor Brahman in disguise. Once the poor Brahman performed the puja with full devotion, he started leading a blissful life. A woodcutter who noticed the Brahman doing the Puja and leading a prosperous life. He also followed the Brahman’s footsteps, performed the Puja and gained prosperity.

Chapter Three:

This chapter narrates about the mishaps that one encounters when one vows to do the Puja but forgets later on. The chapter talks about a merchant who took a vow to do Puja on childbirth but later postponed it till the marriage of his child. On forgetting the vow the Lord decided to teach the merchant a lesson. The merchant’s business gets confiscated by the King and he goes bankrupt. When tragedy strikes the merchant’s wife that they are suffering because they had not fulfilled their vow to perform Satyanarayan Puja on childbirth. The couple then complete puja and life get back on track.

Chapter Four:

This chapter tells us about the blessings of the Lord and the importance of Prasad. When the merchant’s wife goes on to perform Puja, the merchant sits through the Puja but refuses the Prasad in haste. This is equivalent to disrespecting the Lord. Consequently, the merchant loses all his merchandise, thereby bearing the complete loss. Eventually, the merchant realizes his folly and seeks forgiveness from the Lord.

Chapter Five:

This chapter focuses on the importance of the Puja. A group was performing Puja, the King shows no respect for the Puja and discards the offerings thereby invoking the wrath of Sri Satyanarayana. As a result, loses his kingdom, then he realizes his folly and seeks forgiveness from the Lord. The King performs the Puja with all the offerings and his kingdom gets restored.

Procedure for Puja:

Invite friends and relatives and abstain from worldly pleasures. Remember Sri Satyanarayana every moment. Prepare yourself for the Puja mentally. Take a bath early in the morning, wear a clean dress. This Puja should be performed by both by the husband and the wife. Decorate your front door with mango leaves and clean the place where Puja is to be performed. Both should observe fast on that day.

The Altar should be placed in an east-west direction. A new white cloth should be spread on the altar. Devotees should sit with their face towards the east. A Kalash is placed in the middle of the altar (Kalash Sthapna). A picture of Lord Satyanarayana is placed on the altar at height and is decorated with flowers and garlands.

First of all, Lord Ganesha is worshipped, then Lord Rama and Sita, Radha and Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma are worshipped.

Materials Required for Satyanarayan Vrat

Branches of banana tree, Kalasha, Panchratna,coins,Dry dates, rice, camphor, Dhoop,or incense sticks, wreath of flowers, Shrifala, Ritufala, clothes, Naivedya, Kalava, mango leaves, rose flowers,Haldi, Kumkum Deep, Tulsi leaves, Paan, Panchamrit(milk, curd, Ghee, Honey, Sugar),a ghee lamp, Kesar, Bandhanwar, Chowki(small wooden bed), picture of Lord Satya Narayana.

Prasad for Puja:

Prasad can be anything from rice and Dal to Puri and Bhaji. The main Prasad is generally Panjiri or Sheera. The main Prasad can be offered with fruits or any other food item. Along with that Panchamrit made of milk, Ghee, yogurt, honey, and sugar should be offered.

Benefits:

Benefits of performing Satyanarayana Puja are many as it bestows peace and harmony in one’s family, protects one from the evil eye of the enemy and negative energy. It helps to overcome the hurdles they come across in life and helps fulfill their desires of a happy life.

It will bring stability in personal and professional life. The person observing the fast resolves to worship Lord Satyanarayana with full faith and seeks fulfillment of his/her wishes. Satyanarayana Puja is generally performed on Purnima generally but it can be performed on any day.

After that, read or listen to the saga of Lord Satyanarayana. Perform the Aarti of all deities after worship, take Panchamrit and distribute the sweets. Offer Dakshina and clothes to the Purohit. After giving food to the Purohit, take his blessings.