Varalakshmi Vratham is a popular ritual observed by
married women in states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra
Pradesh.Varalakshmi Vratam is a festival to appeas the
goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu. 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.
This Vratham comes in the holy month of Shravan on the
first friday before the Pournami or Poornima (the full moon
day), corresponding to the months of July – August . This
Vratham is undertaken by the married women for good progeny,
good health, and wishing long life for their husbands.
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
Vratham. He narrates the story and explains the process of
performing the vrat to Goddess Parvathi. This conversation
on Varalakshmi Vratham between Parvati and Shiva takes place
in the Skanda Purana.
Story Related to Varalakshmi Vratham
The story happens in a beautiful town called Kundinagaram
located in the Kingdom of Vidarbha (Vidarba Rajyam). In that
Kundinagram town, Charumathi was a true pativrata (devoted
to husband in all sincerity). Goddess Adilakshmi, being
pleased by her devotion tells Charumathi in a dream and
directed her to perform the vrata to enable her to fulfil
her desires. Charumathi wakes up and tells her husband about
the dream. Charumathi along with some neighbourhood women
takes bath in the wee hours and prepare a mandapam and
invites Varalakshmi Devi. Then she wore nine threads
Thoranam to right hand and offers naivadyam to Goddess
Lakshmi Devi. When Charumati and her friends performed the
Vrata, they were showered with riches following the
completion of each pradakshina.Following this event,
Varalakshmi vratam became an annual event in many households
and since then, Hindu women perform this vrata with utmost
faith and trust till today.
On the Puja day maried women should wake up early
morning, clean the puja room or place and make kolam
(rangoli) with rice flour. Now place a mandapam or a small
wooden platform and spread a blouse piece over it. On the
blouse piece spread a cup of rice. Place a kalasham
partially filled with holy water from any river on it.
Decorate the kalash with betelleaves, usually five in
number.The Kalash tray can be filled with turmeric, kumkum,
sandalwood and other Puja items. Now place a coconut on top
of the kalash smeared all over with turmeric powder and a
kumkum tilak. The kalasham, now symbolically representing
Goddess Lakshmi is further decorated with gold ornaments old
and new, silk cloth or saree and fresh flowers. From now on
Kalasham is called and worshipped as a Devi. Lord Ganesh is
worshipped first and then begins the Varalakshmi puja. The
puja usually comprises of Kalash puja, archana, ashtothra
puja and Kanakana puja. Ladies wear the kankanam (yellow
thread) in their right hand wrist. After worship, Thamboolam
consisting of a betel leaf (Paan ka patta), areca nut
(supari), turmeric, gold coin or currency, blouse piece and
flowers are given to married women who in turn bless the
household.