Varalakshmi Vratam

Varalakshmi Vratam, is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) consort of Lord Vishnu, performed by women in the states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Varalakshmi Puja is performed by married women for the well being of the family.

Varalakshmi, the one who makes, wishes come true. Offering prayers to her on this auspicious day to seek her blessing is equivalent to worshipping AshtaLakshmi - the eight Goddesses - Adi Lakshmi, Dhana Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi, Santana Lakshmi, Veera Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi, and Vidya Lakshmi.

This Hindu festival is celebrated on Sukravaram (Friday) in the month of Shraavana (Aadi/Avani in Tamil calendar - July/August in English Calendar) on a Sukla Paksha day which would fall before the full moon day of that month. With many festivals in a year that are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, but this Puja is considered to be even more auspicious. It is also called as Varalakshmi Nonbu in Tamil.

Puja Vidhi:

On the previous evening, the house is cleaned and the God is kept facing the entrance which is decorated with maakolam or rangoli. A geometrical design known as mandalam is then drawn on the clean surface of the floor (with the picture of a lotus upon it).

Next day people wake up in Braahma Muhurtam(4:30-6:00 AM), take bath and wear fresh-clean clothes; the Kalasam(sacred pot) is filled with rice and coins; topped with mango leaves or betel leaves and full coconut with kudumi that is smeared with turmeric and is placed on the top to make it poorna kumbham.

After drawing swastika with sandal paste and Kumkum (vermilion) in the Kalasam, a cloth is tied around it and Amman’s face is attached to the Kalasam and is further decorated with bangles, necklace, sowri(false plait), flowers and a silk or a new pavadai. The Kalasam is then lifted and placed in pithal(brass) thambal with a banana leaf and rice on it to invoke the Goddess.

The woman, who is observing the Varalakshmi puja abstains from eating till the puja is offered and later breaks the fast by consuming the nivedhana prasadam.

The puja starts with worshipping Ganesha and the charadu - the turmeric thread is tied to Goddess and the sacred thread, considered as Raksha is worshipped and is tied to the right hand of the person who is offering the puja and the other women who are present.

Shodashopachara Puja is offered to Goddess Varalakshmi.

Later prayers are done by chanting hymns and prayers like Lakshmi Ashtothram Sathanamavali, Sri lakshmi sahasranamam stotram, arathi songs are sung like:

Bhagyadha Lakshmi Baramama

Lakshmi Rave Ma Intiki

Gowri Kalyana

Shri Varalakshmi Namasthubhyam

Mahalakshmi Karunarasalahari

Mangalam Jaya Mangalam

In the evening, other sumangalis (married women) are invited and are given thambulam(auspicious articles) that has bettle leaf, bettle nut, comb, mirror, Kumkum, manjal kilangu, banana, bangles are offered.

The next day after taking bath, punarapuja is done and the kalasam is dismantled and rice that is in the sacred pot is mixed with the rice which is kept for regular usage.

Vrata Katha

The vrata katha is found in Skand Puran where: Goddess Parvathi asked Lord Shiva to narrate the importance of the performance of the Vratam which will provide women with all kinds of wealth that she desires. Lord Shiva accepted her request and told her that "Vara Lakshmi Vratam" should be observed on a Friday that falls just before the full moon day in the month of "Shravanam". To illustrate the holiness of the Vratam, Lord Shiva also recited the story of Charumati of Maratha Desam(Bihar).

The Story of Charumati of Maratha Desam:

Long long ago there lived a courteous and shrewd brahmin lady called Charumati in the Maratha Desam. Maratha Desam was a town where houses are built of golden walls and it was a town with golden houses. Charumathi was called as a "Maha Pativrata" who indulged in whole hearted worship of her husband and took great care of her in-laws and gave utmost respect. Goddess Lakshmi was very pleased with her nature and she wanted Charumathifs fame to spread across the universe. So Goddess Lakshmi appeared in her dream and advised her to perform the Varalakshmi Vratam on the Sukravaram (Friday) in the month of Sravana on a sukla paksha day which should fall before the full moon day of that month. Charumathi prayed in devotion to the Goddess Lakshmi in the dream itself and the following morning, she narrated the whole dream to her husband and in-laws. She took permission from her husband and in-laws and she called other neighborhood women and discussed about the performance of this pooja. Everyone from her neighborhoods were very excited and eagerly awaited for the day to come when Charumati would perform this puja.

On the much awaited day, the women cleaned their houses with cow dung; put a stage to keep the picture of Goddess Varalakshmi on one corner of the house. Everyone performed the pooja to the Kalasam with sincere and pure hearted devotion and holiness. They tied the "kankanam" to their wrist and offered "Naivedyam" to the Goddess Lakshmi. A miracle started to happen as they started to take "Pradakshinam" (walk in a circular motion around the Kalasam / God) after the puja. They saw themselves covered with various jewels one at a time such as, anklets on their feet, bracelets on their hands, "haaram" for their neck and various other ornaments before the final pradakshina. Enthralled with the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi, all of them prayed to the Goddess and honored the Pundit with "Dakshina" (offerings by way of money or rice or other cereals) and ended the Vratam by taking the "Naivedyam".

Women stepping out of Charumathi's house saw their houses decorated and filled with various riches and golden chariots waiting for them outside her house. Filled with extreme happiness, women thanked Charumathi for sharing her luck with them. Ever since, Varalakshmi Vratam is performed in every house on this auspicious day of Shravana Sukravaram, which is the Friday before the full moon day in the month of "Shravana Masam".

Varalakshmi Vrat Nivedhanam

Ulundu Vadai
Rava Kesari
Sakkarau Pongal
Vella Kozhukattai
Uppu Kozhukattai
Mani Kozhukattai
Idli
Neyyapam
Ven Pongal
Payasam

Sundal

Chick pea Sundal(Kondaikadalai Sundal)
Pattani Sundal
Navadhanya Sundal
Karamani Sundal
Kadalai Paruppu Sundal
Green gram sweet Sundal

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