By Varalakshmi Vratam is a festival to pray Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu, Varalakshmi means the one who grants boons (Varam). It is one of the important poojas performed by many women in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
This year it falls on Aug 4th which is a Friday but if anyone can‘t perform on this day, you can perform any Friday in the Sravana masam (Sravan month).
.According to the Skanda Puranam, once Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva about any vratam that will be beneficial to women. Then Lord Shiva mentioned the importance of Varalakshmi Vratam, which is most beneficial Vratam for married women.
Lord Shiva narrated the story of Charumati
Charumati is a pious and soft spoken lady and devoted to her husband and family, Goddess Lakshmi appeared in her dream and asked her to perform the Varalakshmi Vratham. She explained her the procedures of the Vratam and she called all her friends and relatives and performed the Vratam As soon as the Vratam was over all their homes were filled with Gold coins and jewelers and lived prosperously.
People wake up early in the morning on Friday and take a bath. The designated puja area and the entire house is cleaned well and a beautiful ‘kolam’ or rangoli is drawn on the place where the puja is performed.
Then we need to prepare the ‘kalasham.’ A bronze or silver pot can be used and is cleaned thoroughly and a swastika symbol is drawn and is smeared with sandalwood paste. The kalasham pot that is filled with raw rice or water, coins, a single whole lime, five different kinds of leaves, and beetle nut. Or may include turmeric, comb, mirror, small black bangles and black beads. It can be covered with a cloth and mango leaves are placed on the mouth of the kalasham. Finally, a coconut smeared with turmeric is used to close the mouth of the kalasham. And to this coconut, an image of Goddess Lakshmi is fixed or the image of Lakshmi is drawn using turmeric powder. Now the kalasham symbolically represents the Goddess Lakshmi.
First Lord Ganesha is to be worshipped. Then begins the Varalakshmi Puja. The puja consists of singing slokas dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi like the Lakshmi Sahasranamam. Arati is performed to the kalasham. Lots of sweets are offered. Some people offer pongal. In some areas women tie yellow thread on their hands.
The woman who is observing the Varalakshmi Puja abstain from eating certain kind of food and this varies from region to region. In some regions, women fast till the puja period.
Thamboolam is offered to the women in the locality and in the evening an arati is offered.
Next day, after taking a bath the kalasham is dismantled and the water inside the kalasham is sprinkled in the house. If rice is used then it is mixed with rice in the house.
Here with giving the link to perform the Vratam.
You can learn how to do the pooja by clicking here (in Telugu)
Even if you have never done it before, This is good time to start. By Doing Varalakshmi Vritham all the blessings will flow in your home. Family will be blessed with health, wealth and prosperity. May be you are reading about this pooja in the right time for the same reason. May Ma Lakshmi bless you with all your heart desires.
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