Worshiping Goddess Lakshmi on the day of Varalakshmi Vrat is equivalent to worshiping Ashtalakshmi – the eight goddesses of wealth, earth, learning, love, fame, peace, joy and power.
Varalakshmi Vratam or Varalakshmi Nombu is a festival to please Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu, one of the Hindu trinity. Varalakshmi Vrat is observed on the last Friday of Shravan Shukla Paksha and Rakhi and Shravan Purnima.
Varalakshmi Vratam Vrat 2023 Date | Almanac
Singh Lagna Puja Muhurta (Morning) – 05:55 to 07:42
Scorpio Ascendant Puja Muhurta (afternoon) – 12:17 to 14:36
Kumbh Lagna Puja Muhurta (Evening) – 18:22 to 19:50
Taurus Ascendant Puja Muhurta (Midnight) – 22:50 to 00:45 , August 13
Importance of Varalakshmi Vrat
Varalakshmi Vrat, also known as Varamahalakshmi Vratam, is on Friday, August 25, 2023, this year. It is a festival dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. On this day, a special Lakshmi Puja is performed to please the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
It is believed that the Varalakshmi form of the Goddess bestows boons and fulfills all the wishes of her devotees. Hence this form of the Goddess is known as Vara + Lakshmi, meaning Goddess Lakshmi who gives boons.
Main Story (Katha-Vrat Katha)
It is a puja performed by Lord Parameswara through his consort Parvati to wish prosperity and happiness for the family. It is believed that Goddess Parvati observed the fast for the prosperity and happiness of his beloved wife and his family, and since then it has been a popular tradition for women across South India to observe Varalakshmi Vrat or Varalakshmi Vrat . In some cases, women prayed for the blessing of children.
Rituals (Varalakshmi Vratam Procedures)
While men and women can observe the fast, it is usually the women of the family who observe the fast to seek blessings for the well-being of their family members.
- On this auspicious day, women wake up early, observe a fast and perform Varalakshmi Puja, in which they offer fresh sweets and flowers to the goddess.
- Women performing Varalakshmi Puja abstain from eating certain foods which may differ from region to region.
- A kalash or brass vessel (representing the deity) is wrapped and decorated with a sari. The Swastik symbol is made with the paste of kumkum and sandalwood. The kalash pot is filled with raw rice or water, coins, five different types of leaves and betel nuts.
- Finally, some mango leaves are placed on the mouth of the kalash, and a coconut coated with turmeric is used to close the mouth of the kalash. A sacred thread that is tied during Varalakshmi Puja is called Dorak.
- The sweets and offerings placed in front of the deity are known as Vayana.
In the evening, aarti is performed to the goddess. - The next day, the water from the kalash is sprinkled around the house. If rice grains were an ingredient in the kalash, they are used to prepare a rice meal or prasad for the family the next day.
Tips to follow
Fasting involves abstaining from certain food which varies from region to region. For example, while there are no rules to follow in some areas; In some areas, women are offered thamboolam – a combination of slaked lime, betel leaves and areca nut. They conduct Vraja Lakshmi Puja in which women offer flowers, sweets and fruits, known as Vayana, to the goddess.
An urn contains rice or water, coins, betel nuts and five different types of leaves wrapped in a sari. A swastika symbol is drawn on the top of the kalash using vermilion and sandalwood paste. Mango leaves on the urn and coconut wrapped with turmeric are placed at the mouth of the vessel.
Flowers and gold are placed in front of the pot as offerings to the goddess.
Mantra to chant
To get the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi on the day of Varalakshmi Vrat, the following mantra should be chanted:
|| Om Hree Shree Lakshmi Bhayo Namah ||