Astha SangrahASTHA SANGRAHhttps://asthasangrah.comDiwali Lakshmi Puja Katha
The Diwali Lakshmi Puja Katha tells the story of King Bali and Lord Vamana, which gave rise to the three-day tradition of lighting lamps and worshipping Lakshmi through Diwali. The complete text is presented here.
Chapter 1 · Yudhishthira's Question and King Bali's Yajna
Once, King Yudhishthira humbly asked Lord Krishna, 'My lord, kindly tell me some vow or rite by which I may recover my lost kingdom, for I am deeply grieved at having been driven from my throne.' Lord Krishna said, 'O king, my supreme devotee, the demon king Bali, once resolved to perform a hundred Ashwamedha yajnas. Ninety-nine of these he completed without hindrance, but as soon as the hundredth neared completion, he began to fear being exiled from his own kingdom.'
Taking the other gods with him, Indra went to Lord Vishnu, who dwells in the Kshirsagar, and praising him with Vedic hymns, recounted the whole of his distress. Hearing this, the Lord said to him, 'Go back to your realm without fear, I shall soon remove your trouble.'
Chapter 2 · The Vamana Avatar and the Boon of Diwali
After Indra departed, the Lord took the form of Vamana, and in the guise of a young Brahmachari, went to King Bali's yajna. Binding King Bali to his word, the Lord asked him for a gift of three paces of land. The moment Bali resolved to grant this, the Lord assumed his cosmic form and measured the entire earth in one pace, the heavens in the second, and placed his third step upon Bali's own head.
Pleased by King Bali's generosity, the Lord asked him to name a boon. King Bali said, 'From the Trayodashi of Kartik Krishna Paksha until Amavasya, that is, until Diwali, let my own rule remain upon this earth. Through these three days, let everyone light lamps and worship Lakshmi, and let Lakshmi come to dwell in the home of whoever does so.'
Granting King Bali the boon he had asked for, the Lord gave him dominion over Patalpuri and sent him to the netherworld. From that time onward, all the people of the land have continued to celebrate this sacred festival of Diwali. It is therefore held that observing this festival with goodwill is, for every being, not merely worthwhile but a duty.
How to Read Diwali Lakshmi Puja Katha
Light lamps at home for three days, from Kartik Krishna Trayodashi (Dhanteras) to Amavasya (Diwali). On the evening of Diwali, during Pradosh Kaal, worship Maa Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh according to the proper rites, offer lotus flowers and sweets, arrange a row of lamps, and perform the aarti.
About Diwali Lakshmi Puja Katha
The Diwali Lakshmi Puja Katha is told across two chapters. In the first, Yudhishthira asks how to regain his lost kingdom, and Krishna answers with the story of King Bali's Ashwamedha yajna and Indra's distress. In the second, Lord Vishnu takes the form of Vamana and asks Bali for three paces of land, and Bali asks in return for the boon of lamp-lighting and Lakshmi worship on Diwali.
This story is read during Lakshmi Puja on the evening of Diwali. This page presents the full text of both chapters in plain Hindi, with adjustable text size and print support.
The Diwali Lakshmi Puja Katha is the well-known Puranic legend of King Bali's Ashwamedha yajna and Lord Vishnu's Vamana avatar, traditionally recounted as the story Krishna told Yudhishthira, describing the origin of the custom of lighting lamps and worshipping Lakshmi on Diwali. The text presented here is a faithful transcription of this episode as printed in a published Hindi vrat-katha collection booklet, with only clear printing errors corrected and no other change made to it. Diwali's other two well-known legends, Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya, and Maa Lakshmi's emergence from the Samudra Manthan, are already told in detail on this site's Diwali festival page, so they are not repeated here.
Frequently asked questions
How many chapters does the Diwali Lakshmi Puja Katha have?
It has two chapters in total, traditionally read or heard together as one complete text.
Why are lamps lit for three days at Diwali?
As the story describes, King Bali asked Lord Vamana for the boon that everyone would light lamps and worship Lakshmi for three days, from Kartik Krishna Trayodashi to Amavasya, this boon is held to be the origin of the tradition.
Is this the only story associated with Diwali?
No, Diwali is also tied to the legends of Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya and Maa Lakshmi's emergence from the Samudra Manthan, both told in detail on this site's Diwali festival page. This page specifically presents the story of King Bali and the Vamana avatar, which explains the origin of the lamp-lighting and Lakshmi-worship tradition.
Who was King Bali?
King Bali was a demon king and a supreme devotee of Lord Vishnu, who resolved to perform a hundred Ashwamedha yajnas. The Lord, taking the form of Vamana, took three paces of land from him as a gift and granted him dominion over the netherworld in return.