Varalakshmi Vratham

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Varalakshmi Vratham -- Legend has it that during a game of dice

between Shiva and Parvati, there arose an argument as to who was

winning. When a Gana called Chitranemi was asked to decide the

winner, he favored Lord Shiva that angered Parvati very much. She

curses him with leprosy. When Shiva pleads for Chitranemi's cause

saying he never utters lies and always speaks the truth, Parvati

conceded and offers a saaba vimochana'. She blesses him with the

words that he will be cured of the curse the day celestial women

perform Varalakshmi Vratham on the banks of holy waters.

 

Chitranemi now waits by the river, suffering from leprosy. One day

he observes the celestial women performing a pooja. When he

enquires, they inform him that they are observing the Varalakshmi

Vratham and explain to him the immense good it will result in.

Chitranemi also performs the Vratham and is freed of the curse.

 

Another legend says that this pooja was pronounced by Lord Shiva to

be performed by Parvati to seek prosperity and happiness of the

family.

 

Thus started the ritual of fasting by the married women who sought

boons for the health, wealth and prosperity of the entire family.

Women also pray and fast to be blessed by children.

 

The history of the origin Of the Varalakshmi Vrata is rather

interesting. Lakshmi is said to have visited a pious woman by name

Sarmadi, living in the city of Kuntinapura in Magadha (Bihar), in in

one of her dreams and expressed her satisfaction at her devotion to

her children. When she woke UP from her sleep, she took a bath and

worshipped Lakshmi to ensure her blessings. When the other ladies

heard of her dream and her worship of Lakshmi, they too began to

worship her, and the custom is then said to have spread everywhere

throughout the land in course of time.

Varalakshmi Vratham -- Celebrations

 

 

 

For the celebration of this pooja there is no restriction of caste

and creed. Everyone can perform this pooja and get the blessings of

Goddess Lakshmi.

 

The previous evening of the festival, the house is cleaned and a

bronze or silver kalasam is filled with rice or water, coins,

turmeric, a whole lime, betel leaf and nut. The kalasam is decorated

with sandal paste and kumkum, a coconut smeared with turmeric is

kept on it and mango leaves placed around. The face of Goddess

Lakshmi decorated with jewels is placed against the coconut. Arati

is taken at night after the Goddess is offered white Pongal for

neivedhyam.

 

The next morning the Goddess is welcomed to the specially erected

pandal by singing the song "Varalakshmi Raave ma intikki". The

kalasam is placed on a bed of raw rice spread over a plantain leaf.

Pooja is begun with an invocation to Lord Ganesha. During the Pooja

the Lakshmi Sahasranamam and other slokas are chanted.

 

After doing the pooja that would include the Lakshmi Ashtothram and

Sahasranamam a yellow thread called 'saradu' is tied by the women on

their right wrists. The women who do the Nonbu fast that day eating

only certain foods that have been offered to the Goddess first.

 

The evening women visit one another for exchange of thamboolam. The

next day after doing the punar pooja, the holy water is sprinkled

through out the house or the rice is added to the storage.

 

Special temples dedicated to Maha Lakshmi exist in Doddagaddavalli

in Mysore as well as in Kolhapur in Maharashtra. Lakshmi is said to

have worshipped Lord Siva in the temples of Tiruvadi near Tanjore,

in Tiruninriyur near Vaithiswarankoil, in Tiruthengur near Tiruvarur

and Tiruppathur in the Ramnad district, and consequently these

places are considered to be specially important for the observance

of Vara Lakshmi Vrata and other Vratas invoking the blessings of

Lakshmi.