Varalakshmi Vratam is a festival celebrated by married women to please the goddess, Lakshmi. Varalakshmi gives Varam. It is an important pooja performed by women in Andhra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra for the well-being of the family. ’Vara Lakshmi Vrata’ is celebrated on the Second Friday in July–August.
It is believed that worshipping Varalakshmi on this day is equivalent to worshipping will bring Wealth, Earth, Learning, Love, Fame, Peace, Pleasure, and Strength. Anybody can do this rather. There is no restriction.
History
In the kingdom of Magadha of yore, there was a Brahmin woman called Charumathi in a town called Kundina. The prosperous town was the home of Charumathi and her husband. Impressed by her devotion to her family, Goddess Mahalakshmi appeared in her dream and asked her to worship Vara-Lakshmi (Vara = boon, Lakshmi = goddess of wealth) and seek to fulfill her wishes was prescribed to be offered on the Friday of Sravana month preceding the night of the full moon. When Charumathi explained her dream to her family, she found them encouraging her to perform the pooja. Many other women of the village joined her in traditionally performing the pooja and offered many sweet dishes to the Goddess Varalakshmi. They prayed with deep devotion:
How to do varalakshmi pooja?
Collect all the items necessary for this pooja on Thursday itself. ( Amman mugham, kalasa sombu, plate,vilakku, Betel leaf, nut, manjal, maavilai thoram, silk paavadai for Amman, coconut, jewel, flowers for Amman, yellow thread ). ( coins, whole lime, betel leaf and nut, turmeric, comb, mirror, black bangles, and black beads for kalasam)
Wake up early in the morning and clean the front yard and put the rangoli.
Take an oil bath and start preparing for the neivedhyam.
Generally, idli, appam, vada, kozhukkattai or payasam, or sarkarai Pongal is prepared.
Put a kolam in a place where you are going to place the Amman.
Keep the tambalam over the kolam and spread raw rice over it.
Fill the kalasa sombu with water and put some coins, whole lime, betel leaf and nut, turmeric, comb, mirror, black bangles, and black beads.
Keep the maavilai on top of the kalasam and place the coconut over the maavilai.
Tie the Amman mugham in the kalasam.
Decorate Amman silk paavadai and flowers. Now kalasam symbolically represents Goddess Lakshmi.
Light the vilakku. Place vetrilai pakku, fruits, agarbathi, and do the neivedhyam and tie the yellow thread on the hand. Sing Goddess Lakshmi songs or play cd songs.
Recite this sloka
“Padmaasane Padmakare Sarva lokaika poojithe Narayana priyadevi supreethaa bhava sarvada”
After doing the pooja women can have food.
Give vetrilai pakku, kumkum, mirror, blouse piece, bangle, or anything as you wish to some ladies in your area.
The next day after taking bath dismantle Lakshmi and sprinkle the kalasa water in the house, and add the rice into your rice pot.