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Varalakshmi Vratham

Lakshmi

Varalakshmi Vratham is a vow of prayer to Goddess Lakshmi, kept by married women in South India for the well-being of their families. This page gives the pooja steps and the story of Charumathi in simple words.

Pooja steps

Language

About

Varalakshmi Vratham is a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi as Vara Lakshmi, the one who grants boons. It is kept mainly by married women in South India, to ask for the health, long life and well-being of their husbands and families.

When to do it

It falls on the Friday before the full moon (Purnima) in the month of Shravana, usually in July or August. Check your panchangam or temple for the exact date and the good time to start.

What you need

A brass or silver pot (kalasam), rice, betel leaves, turmeric sticks, a banana, coins, mango leaves and a coconut rubbed with turmeric. A yellow thread, flowers, kumkum, turmeric, sandalwood paste, incense, a lamp and camphor. Fruits and sweets for the offering. Many homes also keep a face or picture of the goddess, and some jewellery to decorate the pot.

Steps

1. Clean the house and the place for the pooja. Draw a kolam or rangoli.

2. Fill the pot with rice, betel leaves, turmeric sticks, a banana and coins. Place mango leaves around the mouth and the turmeric coconut on top. Draw or fix the goddess's face on the coconut and decorate it with flowers and jewellery.

3. Welcome Lakshmi. Many families set the pot on a tray at the doorstep and carry it into the pooja room at the auspicious hour, singing a welcome song.

4. Begin with a short prayer to Ganesha, then light the lamp.

5. Offer flowers, kumkum, turmeric, incense and camphor to Lakshmi and say the mantras you know. On Grivam you can read Mahalakshmi Ashtakam and Lakshmi Gayatri.

6. Offer the naivedyam: fruits, sweets and the dishes your family prepares (in Tamil Nadu often kolukattai, payasam and vadai).

7. A yellow thread is first tied on the pot. After the pooja it is untied and each woman ties it on her right wrist for blessing and protection. Many homes make it with nine knots.

8. Read or listen to the katha (see the Katha tab). Then do the arati.

9. Give tambulam (betel leaves, turmeric, kumkum, fruit) to the women who came, and give to charity as you can. Share the prasad with everyone.

10. Close the pooja the way your family does. In some Tamil homes the goddess's face is kept in the rice container until next year.

Katha

Language

The story of Charumathi

Long ago there lived a virtuous woman named Charumathi. She spoke the truth, was kind to everyone, and looked after her husband and his family with love. One night she had a divine vision in her dream.

She was told to worship Goddess Lakshmi as Vara Lakshmi on the Friday before the full moon of Shravana, and that she would receive wealth and well-being.

In the morning Charumathi told her family and the women of her town. They all bathed, set up the pot, and worshipped Lakshmi with devotion in the way she had been told.

When the pooja was done, they were blessed with wealth, good health and happiness. The story says their homes were filled with good fortune.

From then on, women everywhere began to keep this vratham every year. It is believed that those who do it with faith and a pure heart receive the goddess's blessings.

This katha is retold in simple words. Details differ between regions and families. For the full traditional text and the exact date, please ask your elders, priest, temple or panchangam.
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