RE: [MYP] Some Facts about Sri Varamaha Lakshmi on 31st JULY 2009

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31st JULY FRIDAY, DASHAMYAAM.(ShraadhDha tithi DashamyaM) Tithi : Dasahamyaam (20.02)ISTVaara : Bharga vaasaraNakshatra : AnurAdha (1-17)ISTYoga : BramhaAKaraNa :Taitila SECOND ShrAvaNa ShukravAAraAVAARA. ADi ShukravAraSri Varmahalakshmi Pooja All these Shukravaaras, Evening, Sumangalis sing(Shukravaaradha Gowri haadu) Harapanahalli Bheemavva's song Starting with"Rudrakumaarana CharaNakkomdhane maadi.!ShraavaNa maasa Shukravaara ShuBha Muhurtha kaaladhi!Kaamakshiyara AlayaDhoLagittu Bharadhim Poojise!Bedidha Ishtaartha NeeduvaLu VaralakshmiThe glory of performing the VARALAKSHMI VRATAM, narrated directly by Lord Shiva Himself, is elaborately discussed in the Skanda Puranam. This is a festival to propitiate Shri Varalakshmi (Mahalakshmi ) - the consort of Lord Vishnu, who is the abode of all mangalam (auspiciousness) , prosperity and wealth. The Varalakshmi Vratam is to be performed on the shrAvaNa shukla shukra vAram , that is, the Friday immediately following the full moon day (Purnima) in the auspicious month of Shravanam (corresponding to August - September). This Vratam is undertaken by the sumangalis (whose husbands are still living) for good progeny, good health, and wishing long life for the husbands.Lakshmi is symbolic of eight forces - wealth (shrI), earth (bhU), learning (sarasvati), love (prIti), fame (kIrti), peace (shAnti), pleasure (tuShTi), and strength (puShTi). Each of these forces is called a Lakshmi, and collectively they are known as ashTa lakshmi. Worship of Varalakshmi is rendered equivalent to the pUja for ashTalakshmi. Since She is ever ready to grant boons to her true devotees, she is usually referred to as "vara lakshmi".The WorshipThe rituals of worship during the Varalakshmi Vratam differ from region to region in south India, but they all have the same basic format. The performer begins the day with a holy purification bath, and wears clean clothes. The arena is decorated with kolam (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). A sacred pot (kalasham) is filled with pure water and rice (akshata), topped with a bunch fresh mango leaves, and a coconut (unbroken, with its kudimi on) smeared with turmeric powder is placed atop. Also, sandal paste and kumkumam are applied to the kalasham, and a cloth is tied around it before placing it on the mandalam. Some people further beautify the kalasham with a picture of Varalakshmi drawn on it and decorated with jewels. Then, Goddess Lakshmi is invoked. Fresh flowers and grains are used in the worship, indicating growth and prosperity.After performing the initial worship of Lord Ganesha (seeking removal all obstacles), prayers are offered to the kalasham. A toram (which consists of nine threads and nine knots) is tied to the Goddess. Then they worship the thread (raksha). Now the main worship of Lakshmi begins, with a second worship of the sacred Thread. Finally, it is tied around the right hand of the performer. Prayers in the form of Lakshmi Ashtottara shatanAma and sahasranAma are then chanted. Another sumangali is then chosen, and she is offered auspicious articles as gifts and food. The function concludes with the singing of several hymns and songs in praise of Varalakshmi.Legends There are several varied legends associated with this festival. Goddess Parvathi once asked Lord Shiva to recommend her a vratam, which would be beneficial for the womenfolk on earth who seek prosperity. Then, Lord Shiva preached her about Varalakshmi Vratam (as mentioned in Skanda Puranam). To illustrate the sanctity of this vratam, Lord Shiva then narrated the story of one Charumati (of Kuntinapura in the Maratha desham). Charumati was a true pativrata (devoted to husband in all sincerity). Pleased with her true and undivided devotion to her husband, Goddess Lakshmi appeared in her dream and advised her to undertake the Varalakshmi Vratam on the auspicious day of shrAvana shukLa shukRa vAram.Charumati performed this pUja with utmost devotion, the same day, in the dream itself (mAnasIka pUja). The next day she narrated this dream to her husband, and with his full consent, to all other women folk in town. On the auspicious day, she did not fail to perform Varalakshmi vratam as prescribed to her by Goddess Parvathi. Then some miracles took place. As the womenfolk stepped out of the house, they saw all houses decked with riches and gold, and a golden chariot awaiting them outside Charumati's house. Everything seemed bountiful! Ever since, this Vratam has been regularly performed in households. Another legend is that a person by name Chitranemi was once cursed (to become a leper) by Parvati for showing partiality toward Lord Shiva in a game, in which he was the judge. Chitranemi got shApa vimochanam (relief from this curse) when he watched with great attention, the Varalakshmi Vratam performed by some pious ladies.Legend also says that this Vratam was later conveyed by sage Suka to Shaunaka and other sages. There are numerous varying legends too.Songs on Varalakshmi In the attached PDF file we have a selection of nine beautiful Carnatic Compositions in praise of Goddess Lakshmi, that are rendered during this auspicious occasion. These songs are chosen from a variety of composers. The first three songs are by Muthuswami Dikshitar, the next two by Mysore Vasudevachariar, then two in chaste Tamil by Papanasam Sivan and finally two in Kannada by Purandaradasaru. They are:1. varalakSmIM bhaja re re, saurAShTram, Adi (muttusvAmi dIkSitar)2. shrI varalakSmi namastubhyam, shrI, rUpakam (muttusvAmi dIkSitar)3. mahAlakSmi karuNArasalahari, mAdhavamanOhari, Adi (muttusvAmi dIkSitar)4. varalakSmi namostute gaurimanohari, rUpakam (mysore vAsudEvAcAriar)5. shrI mahAlakSmIM bhajeham, paraju, Adi (mysore vAsudEvAcAriar)6. varalakSmI nIyE vandarLvAyE, sAlaga bhairavi, Adi (pApanAshaM shivan)7. mahAlakMi jagan mAtA, shankarAbharaNam, misra cApu (pApanAshaM shivan)8. bhAgyadA lakSmI bAramma , madhyamAvati/shrI, Adi (purandharadAsa)9. pAlise enna shrI mahAlakSmi, shrI,aTa (purandharadAsa)Last year, during the Varalakshmi Puja uploads, Carnatica presented the text ofthe shrI rAga k.rti : "shrI varalakshmi namasthubhyam" by Muthuswami Dikshitar,with word-for-word meaning. The charaNam line of this song clearly mentions the Charumati legend, as well as the correct day for the performing the vratam - ShrAvaNa paurNamI pUrvastha shukravArEChArumatI prabh.rtibhiH pUjitAkArEThe k.rti also features the beautiful gopucha yati sArasa padErasa padEsapadEpadEWe recall that Dikshitar has used this type of "yati" (a figure of speech) in various other compositions (e.g. tyAgarAja yoga vaibhavam, mAyE tvam yAhi). In the saurAshtra rAga k.rti "varalakshmIm Bhaja re re mAnasa ", Dikshitar mentions that Lakshmi was worshipped by the King of Saurashtra (also suggesting the raga mudra for saurAShTram!).The mAdhava manOhari composition, "mahAlakShmI karuNArasalahari" is the only one in that ragam composed by Dikshitar in this beautiful janyam of shrI (asampUrANa melam 22). In fact, Professor S. R. Janakiraman remarks in his recent book that mAdhavamanohari is an Eka krti rAga (just one composition exists in this rAgam). However, there is a second version of mAdhavamanohari under mELam 57 (simhEndramadhyamam), and Muthaiah Bhagavathar has a composition in this version. The compositions in gaurimanOhari, and paraju by Mysore Vasudevachariar are insimple sanskrit, short and sweet!The Tamil composition "varalaksmi nIyE vandaruLvAyE", a simple song by Papanasam Sivan, has been popularized by Shri O. S. Thyagarajan. He invariably sings this piece in his concerts. Papanasam Sivan's shankarAbharaNa song " mahAlakshmI jagan mAta" is increasingly popular in concerts these days.The Purandhara dasa krithi "bhAgya lakshmi bAramma" (in madhyamavati/shrI) is another popular composition we often hear in the post pallavi segment, at the conclusion of carnatic concerts, as well as in south Indian Bhajans. It is a favorite of the instrumentalists. Saxaphone artist Kadri Gopalnath plays it regularly in his concerts. Flute artist K S Gopalakrishnan regularly uses this compostion as a Mangalam for all his concerts (instead of the traditional piece "pavamAna sududupaTTu" of Tyagaraja).Though we have not provided the lyrics, the song "lakshmi ravE ma indikE" is very popular for Varalakshmi celebrations. The composer of this beautiful song in mAyamALavagauLa is unknown. The rendering of the Varalakshmi songs usually conclude with a mangala krti,"lakshmI kalyANa vaibhOgamE", usually rendered in rAgam kura~nji.Commercial Recordings There are at least two commercial audio cassettes (perhaps more!) that are exclusively devoted to Varalakshmi Puja and Varalakshmi songs. They are: Varalakshmi Songs (rendered by Sangita Kalanidhi R. Vedavalli, assisted by R. Abhirama Sundari - GITA GCT 4003). It has the following songs :lakshmi rAvE mA yinDike (mAyamAlavagauLa)pUja seika murAre (sahAna)gauri kalyana vaibhogame (kura~nji)shri varalakshmi (shrI)ninnu jUDe(shankarAbharaNam)mahAlakshmi karunalahari (mAdhava manohari)bhAgyada (madhyamavAti),mangaLamAnother recording is:Varalakshmi Puja Vidhanam and Songs (Valuttor S. RajagopalaSharma, songs by Bombay Sisters) containing the following songs:lakshmi rAve ma iniDike (mAyamALavagauLa)mahalakshmi(shankarAbharaNam)varalakshmIm bhaja (saurAShTram)varalakshmi namostute (gaurimanOhari)shri mahalakshmIm bhajeham (paraju)palisenna shri mahalakshmi (kamAs)shri varalakshmi namasthubhyam (shrI)mahAlakShmi Stotrams Stotrams on Vara (mahA) lakshmi too are very popular and chanted on this auspicious occasion. Vara Mahalakshmi Pooje HaaDuBEDuvE- naa Lakshmi enage-neDuvaragaLaa- taayeNeeDu varava-neeDu varavaa- taDamaaDade-taaye !!pallavi !!EShTu kaala-dindaa ninna puTTa charaNavAMuTTi bhajisi poojegombe,kriShNaapriyaLe… taaye !!1!!Ninna horatu dhareyoLA-ge anyaraakaaNeEnna paapagaLanu biDisi-dhanyaLaa-maaDe-taaye !!2!!TaryNiyarige-varava koDuvAsiriyu neenelmeKaruNavuLlavaLaadarenage-varav paalise-taaye !!3!![ Courtesy: Sampradaaya HaaDugaLu-Page 54 by R Srimati]The second Friday in Shraavana maasa is observed for performing SriVaramahalakshmi Pooja. Separate Mantapa is made ready and keeping thekalasha decorated with jewels, with Avaahanaadi Shodoshopachaara , pooja is performed.In order to get the full benefit for doing Shaakavratha one has to do danam by giving all sorts of vegetables to a befitting Brahmin by uttering the following MantramUpaayanamidam Deva VrthaSampoorthi hethave|Shaakam thu DwijavaryayaSahiraNyaM dadaamyahaM||Sarvamanagala maangalyeShive Sarvaartha saadhakeSharaNya Thyrambake DeviNaaraayani Namosthuthe ! Sri LakshmiThere is a story in Mahabharat as to How Lakshmi was born. Everybody is aware that the Devathas while churning the Milky Ocean with Demons got Amrutha. Before that, while churning, they came across a beautiful maiden decked with many ornaments. Sri VishNu who was observing the scene, fell in love with this maiden and holding her in his hand , made his " Vakshasthala vaasini"There is yet another, which is older than this in VishNu PuraNa It appears that an avathara of Shree was already there. She was the daughter of Brigu Rushi . Her name was Bhargavi with nickname as Shree. She incurred wrath with Doorvasa muni and vanished. They say that she returned back during the" Samudhra Manthana Kaala".According to the Sri Suktha in Rig veda, Shree and Lakshmi are one and the same. Some pundits hold that this Sooktha is not as old as it was. Before this sooktha was composed and added to the Rig Veda, lakshmi as Goddesses had already existed. Shree means the adjectival form of SauBhaagya, Prosperity, Wealth. Aperson's character, his position is determined by the word Shree.In RamayaNa also we could observe the usage of " Lakshmirvaa" In Rigveda, the words, Lakshmi, Bhadra indicates " Shreyasuu, KalyaaNa "( Rig veda10-71-6 )The "Nirukathakaararu" connotes Lakshmi as' LaaBhaadwaa, LakshNadwaa, and Laanchanadwaa"(Niruktha 4-9)In AtharvaNa Veda,( 8-115) it is said that a person is born after getting 100 Lakshmi. Here Lakshmi means " LakshaNa- Character" only..We see in Taithareeya Samihthe ( 7-5-14) that "Adhithi" was Vishnu's wife and used to get worship. She is described as " Swargeeya Vadhu" and used to supply Milk, Called " Vishva Dhaathri and VishNu pathni"In Shree Sookta we have a detailed description of Lakshmi. She is of golden colour, decked with precious, valuable ornaments made up of silver and gold., shining like the moon, and she is called ,HiraNmayi.In order to get her blessings prayer is offered to Agni.Here she is described as Kamsosmitham, Jwalatheem, thrupthaam,thrupathyamthi, admesthithaam, padmavarNaam ,padmamaalinim, YashasaaJwalamthi, Maalineem, Adhraampushti etc .In Dvaitha school she is described as the wife of Paramathma, It is His consort. She is mother to all "sajjeevagaLu" In shree sooktha we observe Lakshmi in 6 forms as, SidhDhalakshmi, Mokshalakshmi, Jayalakshmi, Saraswathi, Shree Lakshmi, Varalakshmi,.(Courtesy: DevathegaLu maththu HabbagaLu, A study on Gods and of Festivals by Ma. Sridharamurthy, 1981 by Punarvasu publications.) Ashwadhaayi Godhaayee Dhadhayee MahaadhanE DhanamMeJuShathaam Devi arva kamyaartha sidhDhayePuthra Pauthra Dhanam Dhaanyam Hastha ashwaadhigavE RathamPrajanaam Bhavasee Maathaa AyuShmamtham KarOthumaam!Mahaalakshmyai vidhmahe VishNu Pathyecha DheemahiThanno Lakshmi Prachodhayaath !!Let Sri Vara Mahaalakshmi bless all Haribhakthas with , health ,happiness, peace, wealth and prosperity Sri Puranadara Dasar describes HER as How fortunate Goddesses Lakshmi is and how Virtuous ! Let us all sing together in ToDi Raaga.Enu DhanyaLO Lakumi Emtha MaanyaLO ! P !!SanurAgadiMda Hariya tAne sEvE MADutihaLu !! A P !! KOTi KOTi BhrutyariraluHATakAMbarana SevESATiyillade PoorNa GuNagaLanuShReshTa MADutihaLu !! 1 !!Chatra ChAmara Vyajana ParyaMtaPatra roopadalli NiMtuChitra charitanAda HariyaNitya Seve MADutihaLu !! 2 !!Sarva sThaLadi VyAptanAdaSarva DosharahitanAdaSarvAdi vaMdya PuraMdaraVittalana SevisutihaLu !! 3 !!For those lovers of Carnatic Music ,may feel appropriate in enumerating Sri Muttuswami Dixitars composition in Sri Raga “ Sri VARA LAKSHMI NamsthubyaM “It would indicate in the CharaNam : “ShravaNa PourNami Poorvasya Shukravaara”, as to how Sri Dixitar had wide knowledge of all the Vratas The beauty in this composition is the “ Alanakara” called “Gopuchchayati” You might have observed the tail of the Cow and its end in “GonDe(Kuchchu), in stages it goes on becoming smaller and smaller. Like that in the Sahitya we observe “ Shree Sarasapade Rasapade Sapade Pade Pade” and could enjoy while singingIn Gopuchcha the words get decreased where as in ShrOtovAha” it is the other way.In his composition in Ananada Bhairavi “ Tyagaraja Yoga VaibhavaM” we could see the use of Gopucchha and Shrotovaaha” Dixitar is the only Vaggeyakaara using these alankaras. Those who could sing in Sri raga Could join :Shree VARALAKSHMI NamasthubhyaM VasupradeShree Sarasapade Rasapade Sapade Pade Pade ! Sri Vara Lakshmi !BhAvaja janaka PraNavallabhe SuvarNaabheBhaanukOTi SamAna prabhe Bhakta SulabheSevakajanapalinmai Shrita pankajamalinaiKevala GuNashalinai KeshavaHrutkhelinai ! Sri varalakshmi !SHRAVAnA POURNAMI POORVASYA SHUKRAVARACharumatiPrabhrutibhih PoojitakaareDevAdi GURUGUHA Samrpita MaNimayahaareDeenajana SamrakShaNa NipuNakanakakadhareBhAvanA Bhedha chature Bharati sannutavareKaivalya VitaraNapare KaaMkShitaphalapradakare ! Sri varalakshmi !!•Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma Here is the lyrics for this song:bhAgyada lakShmI bArammA nammamma nI saubhAgyada lakShmI bArammAhejjaya mele hhejjeyanikkuta gejje kAlgaLa dhvaniya maduthasajjana sAdhu pUjeya vELege majjigeyoLagina beNNeyante(bhAgyada)kanaka vrStiya kareyuta bAre mana kAmanaya siddhiya tOrEdinakara kOTi tEjadi hoLeva janakarAyana kumAri bega(bhAgyada)attittalagalade bhaktara maneyali nitya mahOtsava nitya sumangaLasatyava tOruva sAdhu sajjanara cittadi hoLevA puttaLi bombe(bhAgyada)sankhye illAda bhAgyava koTTu kankaNa kaiya tiruvuta bArekunkumAnkite pankaja lOcane venkaTaramaNana binkada rANI(bhAgyada)sakkare tuppada kAluve harisi shukravAradha pUjaya vELageakkareyuLLa aLagiri rangana cokka purandara viThalana rANI(bhAgyada) Another beautiful composition on Varalakshmi is by my Guru Sangeeta KalLanidhi, Sangeeta Rathna-Sangeeta Vishaarada,Vaggeyakaara Mysore Vasudeva char (1865-1961)Varalakshmi namostute varade narahari sukhade - Gaurimanohari/Rupaka aurally gratifyingvaralakSmi namOstutE. rAgA: gaurimanOhari. rUpaka tALA. Composer: Mysore Vasudevachar P: varalakSmi namOstutE varadE narahari sukhadE A: aravinda lOcanE agha brnda mOcanE aruNAmbuja vara sadanE amarEndranuta caraNE C: vAsudEva vinutArthE vAsavAdi vanditE bhUsurAdi sEvitE bhAsuramaNi bhUSitE dAsajana kalpalatE dharahasitE suvrttE Adi lakSmi namastEstu. rAgA: kharaharapriyA. Adi tALA Adi lakSmi namastEstu parabrahma svarUpiNi yasho dEhi dhanam dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE santAna lakSmi namastEstu putra pautra pradAyini putrAm dEhi dhanam dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE vidyA lakSmi namastEstu brahma vidyA svarUpiNi vidyAm dEhi kalAm dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE dhana lakSmi namastEstu sarva dAridrya nAshini dhanam dEhi shriyam dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE dhAnya lakSmi namastEstu sarvAbharaNa bhUSitE dhAnyam dEhi dhanam dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE vEdA lakSmi namastEstu kali kalmaSa nAshini pragjnAm dEhi shriyam dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE gaja lakSmi namastEstu sarva dEva svarUpiNi ashvamsha gOkulam dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE dhIra lakSmi namastEstu parAshakti svarUpiNi vIryam dEhi balam dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE jaya lakSmi namastEstu sarva kAryai jayapradE jayam dEhi shubham dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE bhAgya lakSmi namastEstu saumAngalya vivardhini bhAgyam dEhi shriyam dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE siddhi lakSmi namastEstu viSnupakSa sthaLa sthitE siddhim dEhi shriyam dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE ArOgya lakSmi namastEstu sarva rOga nivAraNi Ayur dEhi shriyam dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE siddha lakSmi namastEstu sarva siddhi pradAyini siddham dEhi shriyam dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE saundarya lakSmi namastEstu sarvAlankAra shObhitE rUpam dEhi shriyam dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE sAmrAjya lakSmi namastEstu bhukti mukti pradAyini mOkSam dEhi shriyam dEhi sarva kAmAmsha dEhi mE mangaLE mangaLAdAdi mAngalyA mangaLa pradE mangaLArtham mangaLEshi mAngalyam dEhi mE sadA sarva mangaLa mAngalyE shivE sarvArtha sAdhikE sharaNyE triyambakE dEvi nArAyaNI namOstutE shubham bhavatu kalyANI Ayur ArOgya sampadAm mama shatru vinAshAya dIpa jyOti namOstutE dIpa jyOti namOstutE dIpa jyOti namOstutE Later Perform Arathi to Lakshmi devi.MAY MAHALAKSHMI BLESS ALL.GRRRAoSolihull (UK) Courtesy: Dvaita List

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