Description

Shri Satyanarayan Vrat Katha is a verypopularritual in most parts of India including Karnataka, AndhraPradesh,Gujarat,Bihar, Bengal, Orissa,Maharashtra, Assam and Goa.It is notknown clearly when the origin of puja is started. InMaharashtra,Satya Nārāṇaya Puja is not done on Ekādaśī or Caturthī.In WestBengal, people perform this puja before housewarmingceremony.
Almost all Hindus, throughout Andhra Pradesh, have strongfaith,belief, and devotion towards Śrīman Nārāyaṇa, an incarnationofViṣṇu. There is a very ancient famous temple for Śrī SatyaNārāyanaSvāmī at Annavaram, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh.(nearVisakhapatnam ), India. This vratam is performed dailyinAnnavaram. Large numbers of devotees, many with families, visitthetemple, offer prayers, perform this Vrata there, right inthetemple.
The puja is performed by some buddhists in Bangladesh.
Among the kathas that are prevalent in India, 'ShriSatyanarayanVrat Katha' is the most popular. Satyanarayana vrat isthe easiestand most inexpensive way of self-purification andself-surrender atthe lotus feet of Hari. One who observes it withfull devotion andfaith is sure to attain his heart's desire. Ourshastras state thatduring the 'Kalyug,' the fruit that one gets byhearing the'Satyanarayan Katha' is enormous.

The katha is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his manifestationasLord Satyanarayan. 'Satya' means truth, 'Nar' means a manand'Ayan' means a place. Thus the place where truth resides in maniscalled Satyanarayan. The 'Satyanarayan katha' and the 'vrat'helpus overcome vices like lust, anger, greed, attachments andego.

Procedure :

The puja starts by a prayer to Gaṇeśa, to remove allobstaclesthat may occur as a result of incorrectly performing thepuja. Thisis done by chanting all the names of Lord Gaṇeśa andofferingprasāda (a food offering, usually consisting of one ofLordGaṇeśa's favorite foods - modak, a sugar and coconut mixture,orladdu) 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. Theyconsistof Sūrya - Sun, Chandra - Moon, Aṅgāraka - Mars, Budha -Mercury,Bṛihaspati - Jupiter, Śukra - Venus, Śani - Saturn, Rāhu -NorthNode as the head of Svarbhānu, and Ketu - South Node as thebodyincluding the tail of Svarbhānu.
The rest of the puja consists of worship to Satya Nārāyana,anextremely benevolent form of Viṣṇu. First "pañcamṛtam" is usedtoclean the place where the deity is placed. After placing thedeityin the correct position, Satya-Nārāyana Svāmī is worshipped.Namesof Satya Nārayana are chanted along with offering of a varietyofprasāda (including a mixture of milk, honey, ghee/butter,yogurt,sugar) and flower petals.
Another requirement of the puja is that the story of the pujabeheard among all those observing and partaking in the puja.Thestory involves the origin of the puja, the benefits of it, andthepotential mishaps that may occur with the forgetting performanceofthe puja.
The prayer concludes with an Āratīka, which consists of revolvingasmall fire-lit-lamp in the vicinity of an image of the Lord.Afterthe puja is over, participants and observers of the pujaarerequired to ingest in the prasāda that was offered and blessedbythe Lord.