Vishwakarma Jayanti today: shubh muhurat and significance of the puja

Vishwakarma Jayanti, also known as Vishwakarma Puja, is being observed this year on Thursday, September 17. The day holds special significance in Hinduism. According to religious belief, Vishwakarma was born on Kanya Sankranti, the day the sun enters Virgo. This time, the sun will enter Virgo at 7:58 am on September 17, which is why the puja will be held on this day.

Lord Vishwakarma is regarded as the world's first craftsman and creator. It is customary on this day to worship industries, factories, shops, vehicles, machines and tools. It is believed that doing so brings progress in business and opportunities for career advancement.

Three auspicious time slots have been given for the puja. The first muhurat will run from 7:58 am to 10:43 am. The second is from 12:15 pm to 1:48 pm. The third is in the evening, from 4:52 pm to 6:24 pm. All three periods are considered auspicious for worshipping Lord Vishwakarma.

On September 17, Rahu Kaal will last from 1:48 pm to 3:20 pm, during which the puja should not be performed. In Hinduism, worship and auspicious activities are prohibited during Rahu Kaal, so this period must be avoided.

As for the puja rituals, one should wake up early on the day of Vishwakarma Puja, bathe and wear clean clothes. The worship area is then cleaned and purified by sprinkling Ganga water on it. A wooden platform is covered with a red or yellow cloth, on which an idol or picture of Lord Vishwakarma is placed. Tools and equipment related to one's work are also kept there. Roli and grains of rice are placed on the kalash, and a vessel filled with water is also kept at the place of worship.

Holding flowers and rice grains in hand, devotees chant the mantra of Lord Vishwakarma and scatter rice grains around. After offering flowers in the water vessel, devotees hold water, flowers and betel nut in hand to meditate on Lord Vishwakarma and take the puja sankalp. A ghee lamp and incense sticks are lit before the idol. Rice grains, flowers, fruits, gulal, sweets, betel nut, incense, rakhi, curd and other items are then offered to Lord Vishwakarma. A tilak is applied to machines and tools, and rice grains and flowers are also offered to them. Finally, sweets are offered as bhog and everyone together performs the aarti of Lord Vishwakarma.

Vishwakarma Puja is dedicated to Lord Vishwakarma, the craftsman of the gods and son of Brahma. He is said to have built grand cities such as the golden Lanka, Swargalok, Dwarka and Indraprastha. He is also credited with creating the idol at the Jagannath Puri temple, the Pushpak Viman, and the weapons and armour of the gods. It is believed that worshipping Lord Vishwakarma on this day brings prosperity, happiness, wealth and peace.