Varalakshmi Pooja Vratham

Varalakshmi Pooja is a popular festival celebrated for Goddess Varalakshmi. ‘Vara’ is the boon, and Varalakshmi remains the boon-bestowing aspect of the Supreme Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi. This is a ceremonious worship widely done by the women, especially by the married women, seeking the grace of the Mother-Goddess Lakshmi in her benevolent Varalakshmi form. Varalakshmi Pooja is celebrated principally in the Southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.

Vratham generally refers to fasting. On the day of this worship, the women refrain from taking food till they complete the Pooja, and hence this worship is generally known as Varalakshmi Vratham.

Varalakshmi Pooja is held as highly auspicious and is observed in the month of Shravana (July-August), either on the second Friday of Shukla Paksha, the bright fortnight of the Moon or on the Friday before Pournami, the Full Moon.

Varalakshmi Vratham 2021, that is, Varalakshmi Vratham Pooja 2021, is celebrated on 20th August in the year 2021.

Varalakshmi Vratham Legend

There is an interesting mythological story signifying the importance of this worship. As per this account, once there lived a pious lady named Charumathi in the Magadha kingdom, who was very virtuous and devoted to her family. Impressed with her good nature and commitment, Goddess Lakshmi appeared in her dream one night, told her to worship the Goddess in her Varalakshmi Form, described the details of the worship, and assured her that she would then fulfill all the woman’s wishes.

Charumathi was deeply touched by the Goddess’ mercy, shared her dream with family and other women, and started observing the worship as instructed, with full faith in the Goddess. As a consequence, she received the abundant blessings of Lakshmi and many benefits.

This story was said to have been told by none other than Lord Shiva himself to his consort Parvathi, who also then observed this worship and received Lakshmi’s grace.

Varalakshmi Pooja Importance

Apart from wealth, Lakshmi also presides over a host of blessings like wisdom, fortune, prosperity, generosity, and fertility.

She is also worshiped in 8 forms, and they are together known as Ashta Lakshmis. Each of these forms represents an aspect vital for leading a great life in this world.

These Lakshmi forms are – Aadi Lakshmi, the primordial Goddess of Protection; Vijaya Lakshmi, who denotes Victory; Vidhya Lakshmi, indicating Scholarship and Wisdom; Dhaanya Lakshmi, who stands for Nourishment; Sowbhagya Lakshmi, representing Prosperity and Wellbeing; Santana Lakshmi, denoting Progeny blessing; Dhana Lakshmi, the divinity of Wealth; and Dhairya Lakshmi, standing for Courage.

It is believed that propitiating the Goddess with the Varalakshmi Pooja and Vratham on the auspicious occasion is equivalent to offering prayers to the Ashtalakshmis, and that can bestow the devotes will all their grace and immensely beneficial blessings.

Varalakshmi Pooja Vratham Procedure

This Pooja is performed at homes to the deity, which is specially installed on the occasion, in the form of the Goddess’ face. This is generally sculpted or engraved on a sheet of silver and is mounted on a Kalasa, a sacred silver or bronze pot. The deity and the pot are well decorated with turmeric powder, sandal paste, Kumkum, colorful dresses, jewels, and flowers. Oil lamps and Agarbhattis are also kept lighted in front.

The day’s worship begins with Ganapathi Pooja, where prayers are offered to Ganesha, the obstacle remover. This is followed by the main Pooja to Goddess Varalakshmi, which involves chanting of many powerful hymns in her praise, taking her many sacred names in the form of Ashtothra and Sahasranama Archanas, and offering of flowers and Askshata, the turmeric mixed rice grains to the divine image. Finally, the Pooja concludes with Aarti.

The women prepare various special food items for the day and offer them as oblations to the Goddess in the Pooja. These are distributed and partaken by the women after the worship, who break their fast by consuming this Prasad. The women also wear Saradu, the turmeric applied sacred thread kept in the Pooja, on their right wrists, as a form of divine protection.

The devotees offer sincere prayers to the Goddess, seeking her benign presence in their homes and kind blessings for themselves and their families. It is believed that by observing this Vratham and performing the Pooja, the women can receive the abundant blessings of Goddess Lakshmi and get long lives for their husbands, good children, and wealth, health, prosperity, fame, peace, joy, and wellbeing to their families.