Varalakshmi Vratham -Pooja procedure

Varalakshmi Vratham Pooja Procedure

VaraLakshmi Vratham is performed on The 2nd firday of Sravana maasa or the firday before full moon day (Pournami).It is believed that worship of Goddess Lakshmi on this day will bring health, wealth and prosperity. Vara means boon. Needless to say, performing puja (in the form of a Vratam) to Goddess Varalakshmi will bring in boons to those who performs with utmost devotion. Those who fail to perform the Vratam  can do it so on any other Friday of the Sravanamasam.

Things you need

Sri Varalakshmi Devathaia Namaha.

The following are the materials required to perform the pooja:

1. Turmeric

2. Kumkum

3. Fruits (Banana)

4. Flowers

5. Beetle leaves

6. Doop sticks or Incense sticks

7. Camphor

8. Sandal power

9. Akshanthalu

10. Coconut

11. Kalasam

12. Kalasavasthram(any new cotton cloth preferably red/green)

13. Statue or face/photo of Goddess Lakshmi

14. Panchamritham ( Cow milk, cow curd, cow ghee, honey, sugar)

15. Deepam (Gingely oil or ghee)

16. New Cloth

17. New saree and blouse piece

18. Mangalyam ( tie a turmeric piece or a coin of lakshmi in a yellow thread)

19. Jewellary ( If there is any new ornament bought, put it to Lakshmi devi and wear it)

20. Naivedyam 12 varieties with ghee ( can do this as per your capability and wish)

21. kankanam 3 ( 9 knots and for every knot, tie a flower 1 for Lakshmi devi, one for ourselves and one to offer to a married women )

22. Lord Ganesha (Vinakayudu) made with a turmeric powder paste.

23.   Also have water in a tumbler with spoon in it.

Preparation:

Goddess Lakshmi loves cleaner and tidier homes. Hence,the pooja room and the house is cleaned on previous day itself. Puja related vessels are cleaned and polished. On the Puja day Women woke up early morning clean the pooja room and make kolam (rangoli) with rice flour.

Keep a flat wooden platform/ plate spread a blouse piece over it. Over the blouse piece spread a cup of rice . Place a cloth and spread some raw rice on it and place kalash on it. The Kalash is half-filled with water and decorated with betelleaves, usually five in number.The Kalash tray can be filled with turmeric, kumkum, sandalwood and other Pooja items..

The coconut is applied with turmeric and is richly decorated with kumkum. Now close it with with coconut with red cloth folded like pyramid,(look like a cap). The features of the Goddess are also drawn on the coconut to make the image of Her to facilitate worship. Jewelry is put round the coconut. Decorate and place some flowers.

Steps in performing Varalakshmi Vratham

Tilak is considered auspicious mark and Aachman is considered helping washing off sins committed by action, thought, and speech. Apply Tilak on your forehead and do ‘Aachman’ (drinking of holy water after accepting it in your palm) with the following mantra:

Om Keshavaya Namah(drop water in hands and drink), Om Narayanaya Namah(drop water in hands and drink), Om Madhavaya Namah(drop water in hands and drink), Om Govindaya Namah drop the water in a plate… and chant 20 names of narayana…

Om Vishnave namah

Om Madhusudayanaya namah

Om Trivikramaya namah

Om Vamanaya namah

Om Shridharaya namah

Om Rshikesaya namah

Om Padmanabhaya namah

Om Damodaraya namah

Om Sankarshanaya namah

Om vasudevaya namah

Om Pradyumnaya namah

Om Anirudhaya namah

Om Purushothamaya namah

Om Adhokshjaya namah

Om Narasimhaya namah

Om Achyutaya namah

Om Janardhanaya namah

Om Upendraya namah

Om Haraye namah

Om sri Krishnaya namah…

Sankalpam

Shubhe shobhane muhUrte Adya-brahmaNaH dvitIya-parArdhe Shveta-varAha kalpe vaivasvata-manvantare ashtAvimSatitame kaliyuge  prathame pAde jambU- dvipe bhArata-varshe bharatha-khaNDe meroH dakshiNe pArshve  —-shakAbde  asmin vartamAne vyAvahArike prabhavAdi shhashTi-samvatsarANAM madhye   —- nAma-samvatsare —-ayane —–Ritau  —-mAse    —pakshe   —  tithau — nakshatra-yuktAyAM shubha-yoga shubha-karaNa evamguNa viSeshaNa-viSishTAyAM asyAM — shubha-thithau  mamopAtta-samasta-durita-kshayadvArA  shrI-parameSvara-prItyarthaM asmAkaM saha-kuTumbAnAM kshema-sthairya-vIrya-vijaya-Ayur-Arogya-aiSvaryANAM abhivRiddhyarthaM  dharmArtha-kAma-moksha caturvidha-phala-purushArtha-siddhyarthaM ishTa-kAmyArtha-siddhyarthaM sarvAbhIshTa-siddhyarthaM sarvArishTa-shAntyartham ShrI Mahalakshmi Prithyadham – sri Varalashmi poojam karishye..

Start worshiping Lord Ganesha, who is believed to drive away all obstacles and evil forces. Offer prasadam or fruit to Ganesh and chant the mantra…

Shuklaambaradharam vishnum

shashivarnam chaturbhujam |

prasannavadanam dhyaayaet

sarva vighnopa shaantayae ||

Give Aarathi to Lord Ganesha and Start performing vara Lakshmi Pooja . Invoke Goddess  Mahalakshmi into the kalasha.

Om Shree Laxmi Devayay Namah

Oh Goddess Lakshmi ! We pray to you in benign solemnity to bestow your blessings and shower your wealth on us.

OM SHREEM HEEM SHREEM KAMLE KAMALALAYE PRASEED PRASEED,

SHREEM HEEM SHREEM , OM MAHALAXMI NAMAYE

Om and salutations to that feminine energy which bestows all manner of wealth, and for which  Shreem is the seed. 

Drop the flowers at the feet of the goddess.

OM SARVA LOKASYA JANANIM SULA HASTAM TRILO CANAMSARVADE VAMA YIMI SAM DEVI 

MAVA HAYA MY AHAM DEVIM AVAHA YAMI SWAHA

Then worship a couple of torams (a bunch of nine threads with nine knots) and tie one to the kalasha while the other one is tied around the right hand wrist of the lady performing the pooja ans start performing pooja. 

Do the following while chanting the mantra ;

Offer Seat to the deity – Aum Idam aasaanam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Touching the feet of the deity - AumPaada-yoha paadyam Sri Laxmi Mata samarpa-yaami  swaha 

Giving deity water to drink – AumHastayor-arghyam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha 

Purifying area around deity with water -AumMukhe aachman-eeyam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Vastram (Silk Cloth) – AumVastram Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Kacha Soot (Holy Thread) – AumYajno-paveetam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Attar (Perfume) – AumGandham Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Chandan (Brown Sandalwood) – AumChandanam prati grihayatam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Sindoor (Red Sandalwood) – AumSindooram Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Hardee (Yellow Tumeric) – Aumhaldeeyam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

With an incense arti the deity – Aumdhoopamaa-ghraa-payaami Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Akshat – Aumakshataya Shri Lammi Mata samarapa-yaami swaha

Chant 108 names of lakshmi devi with flower/kumkuma/akshitha

Om Prakruthyai Namaha

Om Vikrithyai Namaha

Om Vidyayai Namaha

OM Sarwabutahitapradayai Namaha

OM Shradhayai Namaha

OM Vibhutyai Namaha

OM Surabyai Namaha

OM Paramatmikayai Namaha

OM Vaache Namaha

OM Padmalayayai Namaha

OM Padmayai Namaha

Om Suchayai Namaha

OM Swahayai Namaha

OM Swadayai Namaha

OM Sudhayai Namaha

OM Dhanyayai Namaha

OM Hiranmayyai Namaha

OM Lakshmyai Namaha

OM Nityapushtayai Namaha

OM Vibhavaryai Namaha

OM Adityai Namaha

OM Dityai Namaha

OM Deeptayai Namaha

OM Vasudayai Namaha

OM Vasudharinyai Namaha

OM Kamalayai Namaha

OM Kanthayai Namaha

OM Kamakshyai Namaha

OM Krodasambavayai Namaha

OM Anugrahapradayai Namaha

OM Budhaye Namaha

OM Anaghayai Namaha

OM Harivallabayai Namaha

OM Ashokayai Namaha

OM Amrutayai Namaha 

OM Deeptayai Namaha

OM Lokashokavinasinyai Namaha

OM Dharmanilayayai Namaha

OM Karunayai Namaha

OM Lokamatre Namaha 

OM Padmapriyayai Namaha

OM Padmahastayai Namaha

OM Padmakshyai Namaha

OM Padamsundaryai Namaha

OM Padmodbhavayai Namaha

OM Padmamukhyai Namaha

OM Padmanabapriyayai Namaha

OM Ramaayai Namaha

OM Padmamaladharayai Namaha

OM Devyai Namaha

OM Padminyai Namaha

OM Padmagandinyai Namaha

OM Punyagandayai Namaha

OM Suprasannayai Namaha

OM Prasadabhimukhyai Namaha

OM Prabhayai Namaha

OM Chandravadhanayai Namaha

OM Chandrayai Namaha

OM Chandrasahodaryai Namaha

OM Chaturbhujayai Namaha

OM Chandraroopayai Namaha

OM Indirayai Namaha

OM Indusheethalayai Namaha

OM Ahladajanyai Namaha

OM Pushtyai Namaha

OM Shivayai Namaha

OM Shivakaryai Namaha

OM Satyai Namaha

OM Vimalayai Namaha

OM Vishwajananyai Namaha 

OM Pustayai Namaha

OM Dharidhryanashinyai Namaha

OM Preetipuskarinyai Namaha

OM Shantayai Namaha

OM Shuklamalyambarayai Namaha

OM Shriyai Namaha

OM Bhaskaryai Namaha

OM Bilvanilayayai Namaha

OM Vararohayai Namaha

OM Yashasvinyai Namaha 

OM Vasundarayai Namaha

OM Udarangayai Namaha

OM Harinyai Namaha

OM Hemamalinyai Namaha

OM Dhanadhanyakaryai Namaha

OM Sidhaye Namaha

OM Sthrainyasoumyayai Namaha

OM Shubhapradhayai Namaha

OM Nrupaveshmagatanandhayai Namaha

OM Varalakshmai Namaha

OM Vasupradhyai Namaha

OM Shubayai Namaha

OM Hiranyaprakarayai Namaha

OM Samudratanayayai Namaha

OM Jayayai Namaha

OM Mangalayai Namaha

OM Vishnuvakshastalastitayai Namaha

OM Vishnupatnai Namaha

OM Prasanakshyai Namaha 

OM Narayanasamashritayai Namaha

OM Daridhryadvamsinyai Namaha

OM Dhevyai Namaha

OM Sarvopadravavarinyai Namaha

OM Navadurgayai Namaha

OM Mahakalyai Namaha

OM Bramhavishnushivatmikayai Namaha

OM Trikalajnanasampannayai Namaha

OM Bhuwaneshwaryai Namaha

Thoram pooja

Then worship a couple of torams (a bunch of nine threads with nine knots) and tie one to the kalasha while the other one is tied around the right hand wrist of the lady performing the pooja and start performing pooja. 

Pushpam (White Flower) – Aumpushpam Maalam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Tambulam (Betal leaves, areca,fruits)- AumTambulam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Naivedyam (Special dishes,sweets)   – Aum Naivedyam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaamiswaha

Coins (silver) – Aumdakshinaam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

With a diya arti the deity – Aumdeepam darsha-yaami Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami swaha

Circle the Deity with Karpoor – Aumkarpoor-aaraarti-kayam Shri Lammi Mata samarpa-yaami

Take akshitha to your hand and read/listen story 

Long long ago there lived a courteous and shrewd brahmin lady called Charumati in the Maratha Desam. Maratha Desam was a town where houses are built of golden walls and it’s a town with golden houses. Charumathi was called as a "Maha Pativrata" who indulged in whole hearted worship of her husband and took great care of her in-laws and gave utmost respect. Goddess Lakshmi was very pleased with her nature and she wanted Charumathi’s fame spread across the universe. So Goddess Lakshmi appeared in her dream and advised her to perform the Varalakshmi Vratam on the Sukravaram (Friday) in the month of Sravana on a sukla paksha day which should fall before the full moon day of that month. Charumathi prayed in devotion to the Goddess Lakshmi in the dream itself and the following morning, she narrated the whole dream to her husband and in-laws. She took permission from her husband and in-laws and she called other neighborhood women and discussed about the performance of this pooja. Everyone from her neighborhood’s were very excited and eagerly awaited for the day to come when Charumati would perform this puja.

On the much awaited day, the women cleaned their houses with cow dung; put a stage to keep the picture of Goddess Varalakshmi on one corner of the house. Everyone performed the pooja to the Kalasam with sincere and pure hearted devotion and holiness. They tied the "kankanam" to their wrist and offered "Naivedyam" to the Goddess Lakshmi. A miracle started to happen as they started to take "Pradakshinam" (walk in a circular motion around the Kalasam / God) after the puja. They saw themselves covered with various jewels one at a time such as, anklets on their feet, bracelets on their hands, "haaram" for their neck and various other ornaments before the final pradakshina. Enthralled with the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi, all of them prayed to the Goddess and honored the Pundit with "Dakshina" (offerings by way of money or rice or other cereals) and ended the Vratam by taking the "Naivedyam".

Women stepping out of Charumathi’s house saw their houses decorated and filled with various riches and golden chariots waiting for them outside her house. Filled with extreme happiness, women thanked Charumathi for sharing her luck with them. Ever since, VaraLakshmi Vratam is performed in every house on this auspicious day of Sravana Sukravaram, which is the Friday before the full moon day in the month of "Sravana Masam".

There is also another tale which says that the Vratam was also preached by sage Suta to Sounaka and other sages. Another myth is that Chitranemi who was one cursed by Parvati for having made a partial judgement in favour of Shiva when asked to play the referee for their game, got relieved from the curse by having watched this Vratam performed by some pious women. Such is the sacredness of the Vratam.

 Drop those akshithas on goddess,you on everybody and take blessings

Neivedyam

The following principles are essential to the preparation of Naivedyam
» After taking bath, clean the work area and hands – The principle is nothing impure should be offered to God.
» The person preparing the Naivedyam should refrain from tasting the food as well should not allow others to taste the food before offering to God.
» While preparing the Naivedyam, chant mantras or slokas of your interest like “hare rama hare rama, rama rama, hare hare, hare Krishna, hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna hare hare”.
» The offerings are not only for our enjoyment but for the pleasure of the God asking him to accept the offering.


You can decide what you would like to offer as “Naivedyam” (offering to the Goddess). Traditional items include; Pulihora, Vadalu, Payasam, Bobbatlu, Poornalu.


POOJA VIDHANAM IN TELUGU


Songs of goddess varalakshmi devi