VARALAKSHMI VRATA VIDHI (PROCEDURE)

VARALAKSHMI VRATA:

It is believed that the 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 (but just incase you miss this friday ,it can be performed on any one of the fridays in the month os shrvan masa), 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( Personally speaking, i have been doing this vrata from 15 years).

The Worship

The rituals of worship during the Varalakshmi Vratam differ from region to region in south India. 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.

 Story

On one occasion, Parvati and Parameswara were engaged in a game of chess. Parvati was winning game after game, but Parameswara is said to have claimed the victory at each games, wantonly, to her intense chagrin. So Parvati wanted to have an umpire and one Chitranemi, a creation of Parameswara, was chosen. As an underling of Parameswara, he sided with him most unjustly. This provoked Parvati's anger and she cursed Chitranemi that he should become a leper for discharging his duty in most unfair manner.

When Chitranemi begged Parvati's forgiveness and Parameswara added his entreaties to it, she is said to have relented and modified the curse by adding that he would be cured of his leprosy by observing the Vara Lakshmi Vrata. By doing this Chitranemi was, it is said, rid of the loathsome disease.

The history of the origin Of the Vara Lakshmi 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.

History

In the kingdom of Magadha of yore, there lived a brahmin woman called Charumathi in a town named Kundina. The prosperous town was the home of Charumathi and her husband. She devotedly served her husband and her parents-in-law. Impressed by her piety, Goddess Mahalakshmi appeared in her dream and asked her to worship Vara-Lakshmi (literally, boon granting - goddess of wealth) and seek to fulfill her wishes. Varalakshmi is yet another form of Lord Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Thus was prescribed the Friday of Sravana month preceding the full moon day for the worship.

 

 When Charumathi explained her dream to her family, she found them encouraging her to perform the pooja. Many other women of the town also joined her in performing the pooja in a traditional way and offered many sweet dishes to the Goddess Varalakshmi. They prayed with deep devotion:

 "Padmaasane Padmakare sarva lokaika poojithe
Narayana priyadevi supreethaa bhava sarvada"

 The well dressed women made offerings of delicious feast with utmost devotion. As they went round the deity in prayer, dazzling jewelry is said to have appeared as ornaments on the bodies of these worshippers and their houses filled with riches. They rewarded the priest who assisted them in performing the pooja and they all partook in the feast. The women expressed their gratitude to Charumathi who shared her dream and helped them become prosperous. This pooja came to be practiced year after year by women. Done with devotion, it is said that boons would be granted and thus many wishes would be realized.

SRI ASTHA LAKSHMI STOTRA

ADILAKSHMI

Sumanasa vandhitha, Sundari madhavi Chandra sahodhari hemamaye,

Munigana manditha, moksha pradhayini , manjula bhashini, veda nuthe,

Pankaja vasini deva supoojitha sadguna varshani, santhiyuthe,

Jaya jaya hey madhusoodhana kamini Adhilakshmi sada palaya maam.

DHANYALAKSHMI

Ayi kali kalmasha nasini, kamini, Vaidhika roopini, veda maye,
Ksheera samudhbhava mangala roopini, Manthra nivasini, manthranuthe,
Mangala dhayini, ambuja vasini, deva ganarchitha padayuthe,
Jaya jaya he madhusoodhana kamini Dhanyalakshmi sada palaya maam.

 DHAIRLAKSHMI

Jaya vara varnani, vaishnavi, Bhargavi, manthra swaroopini, manthra maye,
Suragana poojitha seegra phala pradha , gnana vikasini, sasthranuthe,
Bhava bhaya harini, papa vimochini, Sadu janarchitha pada yuthe
Jaya jaya he madhusoodhana kamini Dhairyalakshmi sada palaya maam.

GAJALAKSHMI

Jaya jaya durgathi nasini kamini, Sarva phala pradha sastra maye,
Ratha gaja thuraga padathi samavrutha, Parijana manditha lokanuthe,
Harihara brahma supoojitha sevitha , Thapa nivarini pada yuthe,
Jaya jaya he madhusoodhana kamini Gajalakshmi sada palaya maam.

 

SANTHANA LAKSHMI

 

Ayi kagha vahini, mohini, chakrini, raga vivrdhni, gnanamaye,
Gunagana varidhi, loka hithaishini , Swara saptha bhooshitha gana nuthe,
Sakala surasura deva muneeswara , Manhava vandhitha padayuthe,
Jaya jaya he madhusoodhana kamini Santhanaalakshmi sada palaya maam.

 

 

VIJAYALAKSHMI

 

Jaya kamalasini, sadgathi dayini, gnana vikasini ganamaye
Anudina marchitha kumkuma dhoosara bhooshitha vaasitha vadhyanuthe,
Kanakadhara sthuthi vaibhava vanditha shankara desika manyapathe,
Jaya jaya he madhusoodhana kamini Vijayalakshmi sada palaya maam

 

 

 

 

VIDHYALAKSHMI

Pranatha sureswari, bharathi, bhargavi shoka vinasini, rathna maye,
Mani maya bhooshitha karma vibhooshana, Santhi samavrutha hasyamukhe,
Nava nidhi dhayini kalimala harini, Kamitha phalapradha hasthayuthe,
Jaya jaya he madhusoodhana kamini Vidhyalakshmi sada palaya maam

 

 DANALAKSHMI

 

Dhimidhimi dhimdhimi dhimdhimi dhimdhimi, dundubhi nada supoornamaye,

 
Ghumaghuma ghumaghuma ghumaghuma, Sankha ninadha suvadhyanoothe,

 
Veda puranethihasa supoojitha, Vaidhika marga pradarsayuthe,

  Jaya jaya he madhusoodhana kamini Danalakshmi sada palaya maam.

Ethi Shri Astha Lakshmi Strotra sampoorna.

Irrespective of all caste and creed this vratham can be performed by all. It is not mandatory to have all the things and do pooja, just pray with heart and soul with just offering a flower to the goddess.

I have made an effort to list down few things as per my knowledge would be delighted to know more or answer if you have any questions. however, in my place we perform sathyanarayana pooja on the of varalakshmi vrata as this is very auspicious to do so ,hence in the pics you can see lord Vishnu as well.