Some traditionalists argue that Sanskrit or Tamil must be used. But the Divine does not hear language — the Divine hears devotion. When you chant the 108 Potri in English with understanding and bhakti, the vibration is pure. It allows:
The term "Thiruvilakku" translates to "Sacred Lamp" in Tamil ("Thiru" meaning sacred/holy, and "Vilakku" meaning lamp). "Poojai" refers to the ritual of worship. Thus, Thiruvilakku Poojai is the ceremonial worship of the holy lamp, most commonly performed to honor Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, or Lord Murugan (Kartikeya), and sometimes to invoke the blessings of ancestors.
Unlike other forms of worship that involve complex offerings, the lamp is considered a direct manifestation of divine consciousness. It represents the removal of darkness (ignorance) and the ushering in of light (knowledge and prosperity). The number 108 holds profound significance in Sanatana Dharma, representing the 108 Upanishads, the 108 marma points in the body, and the 108 beads of a japa mala.
Below is the complete list of 108 sacred salutations. You may chant them one by one, each preceded by "Om" and followed by "Potri."
| No. | Potri in English | Meaning / Attribute | |---|---|---| | 1 | Om Agni Swaroopini Potri | Salutations to the one in the form of Agni (fire) | | 2 | Om Jyothir Mayi Potri | Salutations to the one who is full of light | | 3 | Om Tamasi Nashini Potri | Salutations to the destroyer of darkness | | 4 | Om Vidhya Pradhayini Potri | Salutations to the bestower of knowledge | | 5 | Om Shanti Swaroopini Potri | Salutations to the embodiment of peace | | 6 | Om Ananda Roopini Potri | Salutations to the form of bliss | | 7 | Om Siva Jyothi Potri | Salutations to the light of Shiva | | 8 | Om Parameswari Potri | Salutations to the supreme goddess (in the lamp) | | 9 | Om Surya Mandala Madhyasthai Potri | Salutations to the one residing in the sun’s orb | | 10 | Om Chandra Mandala Vasini Potri | Salutations to the one dwelling in the moon’s orb | | 11 | Om Agni Mandala Samsthayai Potri | Salutations to the one established in fire’s circle | | 12 | Om Brahma Swaroopini Potri | Salutations to the form of Lord Brahma | | 13 | Om Vishnu Swaroopini Potri | Salutations to the form of Lord Vishnu | | 14 | Om Rudra Swaroopini Potri | Salutations to the form of Lord Rudra | | 15 | Om Sarva Devatmike Potri | Salutations to the soul of all deities | | 16 | Om Papaharini Potri | Salutations to the destroyer of sins | | 17 | Om Dukha Vimochini Potri | Salutations to the reliever of sorrows | | 18 | Om Rogaharini Potri | Salutations to the remover of diseases | | 19 | Om Bhaya Nashini Potri | Salutations to the destroyer of fear | | 20 | Om Shatru Vinashini Potri | Salutations to the annihilator of enemies | | 21 | Om Mangala Pradayini Potri | Salutations to the bestower of auspiciousness | | 22 | Om Putra Pradhayini Potri | Salutations to the granter of children | | 23 | Om Dhana Pradhayini Potri | Salutations to the granter of wealth | | 24 | Om Vidya Pradhayini Potri | Salutations to the granter of education | | 25 | Om Ayurvardhini Potri | Salutations to the increaser of lifespan | | 26 | Om Yasho Vardhini Potri | Salutations to the increaser of fame | | 27 | Om Kanti Pradhayini Potri | Salutations to the bestower of radiance | | 28 | Om Lakshmi Swaroopini Potri | Salutations to the form of Goddess Lakshmi | | 29 | Om Saraswati Roopini Potri | Salutations to the form of Goddess Saraswati | | 30 | Om Dhurga Roopini Potri | Salutations to the form of Goddess Durga | | 31 | Om Kali Swaroopini Potri | Salutations to the form of Goddess Kali | | 32 | Om Bhadrakali Potri | Salutations to the auspicious Kali | | 33 | Om Annapoorni Potri | Salutations to the one who provides food | | 34 | Om Kamakshi Potri | Salutations to the one with love-filled eyes | | 35 | Om Meenakshi Potri | Salutations to the fish-eyed goddess | | 36 | Om Visalakshi Potri | Salutations to the large-eyed goddess | | 37 | Om Rajarajeswari Potri | Salutations to the queen of queens | | 38 | Om Lalithambikai Potri | Salutations to the divine mother Lalitha | | 39 | Om Maha Tripurasundari Potri | Salutations to the beautiful one of the three cities | | 40 | Om Gnana Pradayini Potri | Salutations to the giver of wisdom | | 41 | Om Moksha Pradayini Potri | Salutations to the giver of liberation | | 42 | Om Bhakta Vatsale Potri | Salutations to the one affectionate to devotees | | 43 | Om Daya Sagari Potri | Salutations to the ocean of compassion | | 44 | Om Karuna Roopini Potri | Salutations to the form of mercy | | 45 | Om Sarva Rakshaka Potri | Salutations to the protector of all | | 46 | Om Sarva Palaka Potri | Salutations to the nourisher of all | | 47 | Om Sarva Kundalini Swaroopini Potri | Salutations to the form of cosmic energy | | 48 | Om Adhar Sakti Potri | Salutations to the primordial power | | 49 | Om Para Sakti Potri | Salutations to the supreme power | | 50 | Om Jnana Sakti Potri | Salutations to the power of knowledge | | 51 | Om Ichha Sakti Potri | Salutations to the power of will | | 52 | Om Kriya Sakti Potri | Salutations to the power of action | | 53 | Om Sath Chit Ananda Roopini Potri | Salutations to truth, consciousness, bliss | | 54 | Om Nirakara Potri | Salutations to the formless one | | 55 | Om Niranjana Potri | Salutations to the untainted one | | 56 | Om Nityanandi Potri | Salutations to the eternally blissful | | 57 | Om Paripurna Potri | Salutations to the complete one | | 58 | Om Bhava Roga Vaidya Potri | Salutations to the physician of worldly disease | | 59 | Om Samsara Tharini Potri | Salutations to the one who helps cross the ocean of life | | 60 | Om Bhukti Mukthi Pradayini Potri | Salutations to the giver of enjoyment and liberation | | 61 | Om Sarva Kamanda Dharini Potri | Salutations to the fulfiller of all desires | | 62 | Om Sri Chakra Vasini Potri | Salutations to the resident of Sri Chakra | | 63 | Om Meru Prushte Samsthayai Potri | Salutations to the one seated on Mount Meru | | 64 | Om Kundalini in the Spine Potri | Salutations to the awakened serpent power | | 65 | Om Sushumna Nadi Vasini Potri | Salutations to the one in the central subtle channel | | 66 | Om Idakalai Swaroopini Potri | Salutations to the left lunar channel | | 67 | Om Pingalai Swaroopini Potri | Salutations to the right solar channel | | 68 | Om Shad Chakra Peda Vasini Potri | Salutations to the dweller of six chakras | | 69 | Om Sahasrara Kamala Vasini Potri | Salutations to the one in the thousand-petaled lotus | | 70 | Om Omkara Swaroopini Potri | Salutations to the form of primal sound Om | | 71 | Om Bindhu Nada Kalatheetha Potri | Salutations to the one beyond point, sound, and time | | 72 | Om Turya Vasini Potri | Salutations to the one in the fourth state of consciousness | | 73 | Om Artha Pradayini Potri | Salutations to the giver of wealth | | 74 | Om Dharmasthapini Potri | Salutations to the establisher of righteousness | | 75 | Om Kama Pradhayini Potri | Salutations to the fulfiller of desires | | 76 | Om Moksha Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the wealth of liberation | | 77 | Om Gaja Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the Lakshmi with elephants | | 78 | Om Dhana Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the Lakshmi of wealth | | 79 | Om Dhanya Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the Lakshmi of grains | | 80 | Om Veera Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the Lakshmi of valor | | 81 | Om Santana Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the Lakshmi of progeny | | 82 | Om Vijaya Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the Lakshmi of victory | | 83 | Om Vidya Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the Lakshmi of knowledge | | 84 | Om Arogya Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the Lakshmi of health | | 85 | Om Bhoga Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the Lakshmi of enjoyment | | 86 | Om Vaibhava Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the Lakshmi of grandeur | | 87 | Om Siddha Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the Lakshmi of accomplishments | | 88 | Om Soundarya Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the Lakshmi of beauty | | 89 | Om Prema Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the Lakshmi of love | | 90 | Om Kshama Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the Lakshmi of patience | | 91 | Om Matru Devata Potri | Salutations to the mother deity | | 92 | Om Pitru Devata Potri | Salutations to the father deity | | 93 | Om Guru Devata Potri | Salutations to the teacher deity | | 94 | Om Deva Devata Potri | Salutations to the lord of deities | | 95 | Om Sarva Devata Potri | Salutations to all deities | | 96 | Om Brahma Rakshasa Nashini Potri | Salutations to the destroyer of evil spirits | | 97 | Om Preta Badha Vimochini Potri | Salutations to the reliever from ghostly afflictions | | 98 | Om Graha Dosha Nashini Potri | Salutations to the remover of planetary afflictions | | 99 | Om Naga Dosha Nashini Potri | Salutations to the remover of serpent curses | | 100 | Om Pitru Dosha Nashini Potri | Salutations to the remover of ancestral curses | | 101 | Om Vastu Dosha Nashini Potri | Salutations to the corrector of Vastu defects | | 102 | Om Karma Dosha Nashini Potri | Salutations to the eraser of karmic wrongs | | 103 | Om Sarva Dosha Nashini Potri | Salutations to the remover of all defects | | 104 | Om Sarva Siddhi Pradhayini Potri | Salutations to the bestower of all accomplishments | | 105 | Om Sarva Santhana Mangala Potri | Salutations to all-auspicious one | | 106 | Om Shree Potri | Salutations to supreme radiance | | 107 | Om Maha Lakshmi Potri | Salutations to the great Lakshmi | | 108 | Om Sarva Mangala Mangalye Potri | Salutations to the most auspicious of all | thiruvilakku poojai 108 potri in english
After the 108th Potri, chant Om Shanti Shanti Shanti three times. Then, take the lamp's flame and circle it in front of your eyes (Karpoora Aarti) while saying:
“Deepa jyothir namostute – I bow to the light of the lamp. May it bring prosperity, peace, and liberation.”
In the heart of South Indian Hindu tradition, particularly within Tamil Nadu and the global Tamil diaspora, the term Thiruvilakku Poojai carries profound spiritual weight. "Thiru" denotes sacredness, "Vilakku" means lamp, and "Poojai" refers to worship. Therefore, Thiruvilakku Poojai is the sacred ritual of worshipping a lit lamp—usually a traditional agal vilakku (clay or brass lamp) fueled by ghee or oil.
When combined with "108 Potri," the ritual elevates into a powerful devotional chant. "Potri" is a Tamil word meaning "salutations" or "glory." The number 108 is considered highly auspicious in Hindu cosmology, representing the 108 divine names, the 108 energy lines (nadis) in the human body, and the 108 beads in a Japa mala. Some traditionalists argue that Sanskrit or Tamil must
This article provides a complete, English-language guide to Thiruvilakku Poojai 108 Potri—its significance, step-by-step procedures, the actual 108 Potri lyrics in English, and the benefits of performing this radiant worship.
Q1: Can I chant Thiruvilakku Poojai 108 Potri in English without knowing Tamil? Yes! The English transliteration given above is phonetically accurate. The power lies in intention and vibration, not native fluency. Over time, you can learn the Tamil script for deeper connection.
Q2: How long does chanting 108 Potri take? Depending on speed, 15–25 minutes. A slower, meditative pace with breath awareness takes around 30 minutes.
Q3: Can I use a single wick lamp? Yes, but for Thiruvilakku Poojai, a lamp with at least two or five wicks is ideal – one representing the soul, others the deities. In the heart of South Indian Hindu tradition,
Q4: Is this only for Goddess Lakshmi? No. The lamp is non-sectarian. It invokes Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, and Ganesha simultaneously. It is suitable for any tradition.
Q5: What if I miss a day? No ritual binding. You can start again the next auspicious day. Consistency matters, not perfection.
If you want to combine the 108 Potri with a full ritual, follow this simple guide: