5 Mantras to Chant Before Lighting the First Lamp of Diwali
Nidhi | Oct 08, 2025, 11:48 IST
Lakshmi
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
Before you light the first Diya this Diwali, chant these five powerful mantras that invite prosperity, wisdom, and peace into your home. From invoking Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha to awakening your inner light, each mantra transforms your Diwali ritual into a moment of deep spiritual connection. Discover the meaning, timing, and significance behind every chant — and learn how these sacred vibrations purify your home’s energy and attract divine blessings during the festival of lights.
As the first Diya flickers to life on Diwali evening, it’s more than just a symbol of light—it’s the awakening of divine energy. In Hindu tradition, every act of worship begins with sound — the vibration of sacred mantras that purify the space, invoke blessings, and align one’s inner self with cosmic consciousness. Before you light that first lamp this Diwali, take a few moments to chant these powerful mantras. Each one opens a spiritual doorway, ensuring the light you kindle outside also illuminates within.
(Lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to immortality.)
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Meaning & Significance:
This mantra from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is the very essence of Diwali — a prayer to move from ignorance to truth, darkness to light. Chanting it before lighting the first lamp creates a mental and spiritual shift. It transforms your act of lighting a Diya into an invocation for inner clarity and divine guidance.
When to Chant:
Just before lighting the first lamp, take a deep breath, and recite this mantra slowly three times.
(Salutations to the light of the lamp, which destroys ignorance and brings auspiciousness.)
दीपज्योतिः परं ब्रह्म दीपज्योतिर्जनार्दनः।
दीपो हरतु मे पापं दीपज्योतिर् नमोऽस्तुते॥
Meaning & Significance:
This mantra is offered directly to the flame itself, which is seen as the embodiment of the divine. The lamp is not just fire — it represents knowledge, wisdom, and the eternal presence of God (Brahman). Chanting this sanctifies the act of lighting the lamp, inviting purity, protection, and enlightenment into your home.
When to Chant:
While lighting the very first lamp of the evening or Lakshmi Puja.
(Salutations to Goddess Mahalakshmi, the bestower of wealth, grace, and prosperity.)
Meaning & Significance:
Diwali night is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi — the goddess of abundance, harmony, and auspiciousness. This mantra invokes her divine energy, ensuring your home radiates the vibration of prosperity, not just materially, but in heart and spirit.
When to Chant:
After lighting the main lamp near the idol or image of Goddess Lakshmi. Repeat it 11 or 21 times for best effect.
Optional Variation:
You may also chant the Lakshmi Beej Mantra:
“Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhyo Namah” for amplifying wealth energy.
(Salutations to Lord Ganesha, remover of all obstacles.)
Meaning & Significance:
Every auspicious act in Sanatan Dharma begins with invoking Ganesha. Chanting this mantra before lighting the lamp removes obstacles, calms the mind, and ensures that the Diwali rituals flow with peace and positivity. Lord Ganesha’s presence brings harmony and protects the home from negativity.
When to Chant:
Before beginning the Puja, with folded hands facing the direction of your temple or sacred space.
(Salutations to the Supreme Lord, the source of all light and consciousness.)
Meaning & Significance:
This is one of the most powerful moksha mantras — invoking Lord Vishnu or Krishna, the sustainer of the universe. On Diwali, when light conquers darkness, this chant connects you with the eternal divine source — the light behind all lights. It’s a reminder that the flame you light outside is a reflection of the divine flame within.
When to Chant:
After lighting all the lamps and sitting quietly for a few moments in meditation.
1. Om Asato Maa Sadgamaya
Lakshmi
( Image credit : Pixabay )
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Meaning & Significance:
This mantra from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is the very essence of Diwali — a prayer to move from ignorance to truth, darkness to light. Chanting it before lighting the first lamp creates a mental and spiritual shift. It transforms your act of lighting a Diya into an invocation for inner clarity and divine guidance.
When to Chant:
Just before lighting the first lamp, take a deep breath, and recite this mantra slowly three times.
2. Om Deepajyotir Namostute
Lord Dhanvantri worship
( Image credit : Freepik )
दीपज्योतिः परं ब्रह्म दीपज्योतिर्जनार्दनः।
दीपो हरतु मे पापं दीपज्योतिर् नमोऽस्तुते॥
Meaning & Significance:
This mantra is offered directly to the flame itself, which is seen as the embodiment of the divine. The lamp is not just fire — it represents knowledge, wisdom, and the eternal presence of God (Brahman). Chanting this sanctifies the act of lighting the lamp, inviting purity, protection, and enlightenment into your home.
When to Chant:
While lighting the very first lamp of the evening or Lakshmi Puja.
3. Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah
Pooja
( Image credit : Pexels )
Meaning & Significance:
Diwali night is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi — the goddess of abundance, harmony, and auspiciousness. This mantra invokes her divine energy, ensuring your home radiates the vibration of prosperity, not just materially, but in heart and spirit.
When to Chant:
After lighting the main lamp near the idol or image of Goddess Lakshmi. Repeat it 11 or 21 times for best effect.
Optional Variation:
You may also chant the Lakshmi Beej Mantra:
“Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhyo Namah” for amplifying wealth energy.
4. Om Gam Ganapataye Namah
Aarti
( Image credit : Pexels )
Meaning & Significance:
Every auspicious act in Sanatan Dharma begins with invoking Ganesha. Chanting this mantra before lighting the lamp removes obstacles, calms the mind, and ensures that the Diwali rituals flow with peace and positivity. Lord Ganesha’s presence brings harmony and protects the home from negativity.
When to Chant:
Before beginning the Puja, with folded hands facing the direction of your temple or sacred space.
5. Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Om Namah Shivaya
( Image credit : Freepik )
Meaning & Significance:
This is one of the most powerful moksha mantras — invoking Lord Vishnu or Krishna, the sustainer of the universe. On Diwali, when light conquers darkness, this chant connects you with the eternal divine source — the light behind all lights. It’s a reminder that the flame you light outside is a reflection of the divine flame within.
When to Chant:
After lighting all the lamps and sitting quietly for a few moments in meditation.