_______________________________________________________ Today – August 8, 2014 – is Varalakshmi Puja and Vrat _______________________________________________________ Varalakshmi Puja is observed by married women in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and other parts of South India. Varalakshmi Puja 2014 date is August 8. Goddess Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and prosperity – is worshipped on the day. Varamahalakshmi literally means the boon granting goddess. The Friday before the Full Moon, or Pournami day, of Tamil Month Aadi is chosen to perform Varalakshmi Puja. The corresponding month in the Kannada, Marathi and Telugu Calendar is the Shravan month. Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on Varalakshmi Vrata day is equivalent to worshipping Ashtalaksmi – the eight goddesses of Wealth, Earth, Learning, Love, Fame, Peace, Pleasure, and Strength. The importance of Varalakshmi Puja is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. It is believed that importance of Varalakshmi Puja was narrated to Goddess Parvati by Lord Shiva. Goddess Parvati wanted to know about a Vrata that is highly beneficial to a woman, which will help her lead a happy and prosperous life on earth. Lord Shiva then mentioned about the Varamahalakshmi Vratam. ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ------------------------------------------- How to perform Varalakshmi Puja? ------------------------------------------- Varalakshmi Puja or Varalakshmi Vratham is an important ritual observed by married women in South India and Maharashtra for the prosperity and welfare of their families. The date of Varalakshmi Vratham in 2014 is August 8. Varalakshmi Puja falls on a Friday in the month of August and the preparations for the puja begin on Thursday. All the necessary items needed for the pooja are collected by Thursday evening. People wake up early in the morning on Friday and take a bath. Traditionally speaking the waking up time for the puja is the brahma muhurtham. Then the designated puja area and house is cleaned well and a beautiful ‘kolam’ or rangoli is drawn on the intended place of puja. Next is the preparation of the ‘kalasham or kalash.’ A bronze or silver pot is selected and is cleaned thoroughly and a swastika symbol is drawn and is smeared with sandalwood paste. The kalasham pot is filled with raw rice or water, coins, a single whole lime, five different kinds of leaves, and beetle nut. The items used to fill the kalasham vary from region to region and includes turmeric, comb, mirror, small black bangles and black beads. The kalasham up to the neck is sometimes 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. 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 Goddess Lakshmi. In some areas, women place a mirror behind the kalasham. Today, there are also specially made Varalakshmi pots available in the market. The kalasham is usually placed on a bed of rice. First Lord Ganesha is worshipped. Then begins the Varalakshmi Puja. The puja consists of singing slokas dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi like the Lakshmi Sahasranamam. Arati is performed on the kalasham. Different types 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 abstains from eating certain kind of food and this varies from region to region. In some regions, women fast till the puja period. Thamboolam – betel leaf, areca nut and slaked lime – is offered to women in the locality and in the evening an arati is offered. The next day, that is on Saturday, after taking a bath the kalasham is dismantled and the water in the kalasham is sprinkled in the house. If rice is used then it is mixed with rice in the house. There are no hard and fast rules in performing the Varalakshmi Puja and you can be flexible on the puja items. Even a simple prayer will please Goddess Lakshmi. ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ What is the Auspicious Time to do Varalakshmi Puja? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Varalakshmi Nombu, or Vara Mahalakshmi Vrata, is performed on a Friday in August or July. The Rahu Kalam, or the inauspicious period, on Fridays is from 10:30 to 12:00 noon. So the Varalakshmi Puja can be observed in the morning before 1030 hrs or in the afternoon. Avoid performing the puja during the Rahu Kalam period. Usually the apt time for the Pooja is afternoon or evening. Elders say the puja should be performed when the cows return home after grazing. The fasting that begins on Friday morning (sunrise) ends when the puja is completed. ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ------------------------------------------------- Requirements for Varalakshmi Puja ----------------------------------------------- Varalakshmi Puja, or Varamahalaskhmi Pooja, is observed by women in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and by some communities in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The observance is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and falls on the Friday before Shravan Poornima. Varalakshmi Puja is an elaborate puja and is usually performed with the help of elderly women who have performed the Pooja earlier. Here is a list of essential items that are required for the puja. This is only a general list of things required. The puja requirements vary from region to region. =>Picture or image or idol of Maha Lakshmi. =>A Kalash pot for Purna Kumbha – clay or silver. =>Lamps, bells, agarbathis – usual puja articles. =>Usual decorations for puja. =>Cotton dress for the idol or garlands =>A piece of blouse to cover the idol. =>Threads or Saradu =>Mirror =>Comb >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Fruits and Leaves >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> =>Bananas =>Locally available fruits =>Dhruva grass =>Fragrant leaves =>Betel leaves =>Betel nuts >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> For making ‘Prasad’ or offering >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Usually sweets this depends on the person’s ability. There are a lot of varieties of sweets that are made. The preparation begins on Thursday. If you want to strictly follow all the rules and methods of Varalakshmi Puja, then it is wise to take the advice from an elderly woman who is regularly performing the puja. Always remember rituals should not be a trap. It should only be a helping step in realizing the ultimate truth. A simple flower offered with devotion is far better than elaborate showy rituals. ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ----------------------------------------------------- Story associated with Varalakshmi Puja ----------------------------------------------------- Varalakshmi Vratham is a popular ritual observed by married women in South India and Maharashtra. In 2014, the date of Varalakshmi Vratham is August 8. Goddess Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and prosperity – is worshipped on this day. Varalakshmi literally means the boon granting goddess. Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on this day is equivalent to worshipping Ashtalaksmi – the eight goddesses of Wealth, Earth, Learning, Love, Fame, Peace, Pleasure, and Strength. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Varalakshmi Vratham Myth >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> According to Hindu mythology, once Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva about a vratha that will be beneficial to women. Lord Shiva then mentioned the importance of Varalakshmi Vratha. The conversation on Varalakshmi Vratha between Parvati and Shiva takes place in the Skanda Purana. To illustrate the importance of the Vratha, Lord Shiva narrates the story of Charumati. Pleased with Charumati’s devotion to her husband and family, Goddess Lakshmi appeared in her dream and asked her to perform the Varalakshmi Vratha. The pious Charumati invited all her neighbors, friends and relatives and performed the Varalakshmi puja as directed by Goddess Lakshmi. Soon after the puja, all the people who participated in the puja where blessed with wealth and prosperity. According to another Hindu legend, the origin of Varalakshmi Vratha is associated with a game of dice played between Lord Shiva and Parvati. Goddess Parvati who was winning all the games was accused of cheating by Lord Shiva. So they decided to appoint Chitranemi, a gana of Shiva, as the umpire. Chitranemi ruled in favor of Lord Shiva and this angered Goddess Parvati who cursed him to be a leper. Shiva asked Parvati to forgive Chitranemi and she agreed to revoke the curse if he watched Varalakshmi Vratha performed by pious women. The tradition of Varalakshmi Vratha started from then onwards. ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coconut on Kalash – What to do with Water and Coconut atop Kalasham after Varalakshmi Puja? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kalash is an indispensible part of Varalakshmi puja and vratam. What to do with the coconut atop the kalash and water inside the pot always haunts women and men who are part of the puja. You should break the coconut next day and use it to make any sweet like sweet pongal, modak, or kozhukattai with jaggery and rice. The sweet is then offered to the Gods worshipped at home. Family members then eat the sweet. The water in the kalash should be offered to plants which are on ground (not potted plants). The water should not flow out. People should not stamp on water. You can offer the water to Tulsi or any other plant. If you are using turmeric then it should be thrown into a well. Rice used can be used to cook prasad. If not possible it can be donated along with more rice to poor people. Banana leaf with tip or a tray
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 18:47:51 +0000