Varalakshmi Vrat: Pooja, Tithi and Vidhi
Varalakshmi Vrat or Varalakshmi Vratham or Varalakshmi Nombu is a festival to appease Maa Lakshmi, the consort of Shri Hari Vishnu, one of the Hindu Trinity (Tridev), the other two being Brahma Dev and Mahesh (Bhagwan Shiva). The Varalakshmi Vrat falls just a few days before Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi Purnima) and Shravana Purnima and is observed on the last Friday of Shravana Shukla Paksha tithi. It is majorly celebrated by married Hindu women in Southern India.
Varalakshmi Vrat 2023 Dates
The festival is observed on the last Friday, a few days before the day of Purnima – in the Hindu month of Shravana, which falls during the English months of July and August. Varalakshmi Vrat also called Varamahalaxmi Vratham will be observed on Friday, August 25, 2023, this year.
- Simha Lagna Puja Muhurat (morning) – 05:55 to 07:42
- Vrishchika Lagna Puja Muhurat (afternoon) – 12:17 to 14:36
- Kumbha Lagna Puja Muhurat (evening) – 18:22 to 19:50
- Vrishabha Lagna Puja Muhurat (midnight) – 22:50 to 00:45, Aug 13
You can consult professional astrologers here for more accurate information.
Significance of Varalakshmi Vrat
Dedicated to Maa Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity, Varalaksmi Vrat puja is performed on this day to please the Devi and seek her blessings for a prosperous life ahead. It is believed that the Devi Lakshmi’s Varalakshmi form fulfils all the desires of her devotees. Hence she is known as Vara + Lakshmi in this form, meaning Maa Lakshmi who blesses her devotees with Vara/Varam (boons) that is, whatever they seek from her or whatever they desire.
The Varalakshmi Vrat Pooja is celebrated across the country by married women, however, it is majorly observed by married Hindu women of South India, first for their own well-being and also for the health, well-being and prosperity of their husbands and their entire families. It is believed that worshipping this form of Devi Lakshmi on the Varalakshmi puja day is similar to worshipping the Ashtalakshmi – the eight forms of Maa Lakshmi, all of whom are manifestations of different forms of wealth and prosperity.
The Eight Different Forms of Maa Lakshmi are
- Dhan Lakshmi (Wealth)
- Aadi Lakshmi (Force)
- Vidhya Lakshmi (Wisdom)
- Vijaya Lakshmi (Success)
- Dhairya Lakshmi (Courage)
- Santaan Lakshmi (Children)
- Dhaanya Lakshmi (Food)
- Gaja Lakshmi (Strength)
Varalakshmi Vratham Puja Vidhi
While both men and women can perform the Varalakshmi Vrata and Puja, it is generally the women of the family, who observe the fast to seek blessings for the well-being and prosperity of their family members.
- If you are observing Varalakshmi Vrat, you must get up early morning, clean the house, take a bath and wear clean clothes
- To perform Varalakshmi Pooja, keep flowers and fresh sweets (a very usual offering in any Hindu puja) as offerings to the Goddess, ready.
- If you are observing fast abstain from eating foods that are prohibited, it may vary from region to region.
- Kalash Sthapna, a Kalash (brass pot) is wrapped in a saree and decorated. The Kalash represents the deity. Draw a Swastika symbol with kumkum and sandalwood paste on it. Fill it with raw rice or water, coins, five different kinds of leaves, and betel nuts.
- Finally, some mango leaves (in odd numbers of 5, 7, etc.) are placed on the top of the Kalash, the stem of the leaves should be inside the Kalash. Now put a coconut smeared in turmeric on the mouth of the Kalash. Keep a sacred thread, Dorak for the purpose of tying during the Varalakshmi Puja.
- Flowers and gold are kept in front of the pot, as offerings to the goddess.
- The offerings like sweets and fruits kept in front of the deity are called Vayana.
- In the evening, an aarti is performed and offered to the Goddess.
- The next day, the water in the Kalash is sprinkled around the house. If rice grains were also put in the Kalash, then devotees use it to prepare a rice meal or Prasad the next day.
Mantra to Chant to Invoke Varalakshmi
The following Mantra must be recited on the day of Varalakshmi Vrat to invoke the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi:
|| Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhayo Namah ||
|| Om Shree Mahalakshmyai Cha Vidmahe Vishnu Patnyai Cha Dheemahi
Tanno Lakshmi Prachodayat Om ||
Talk to our astrologers for more information on Vara Lakshmi Vrat, Varalakshmi Puja Vidhi and Varalakshmi Katha.
