Varalakshmi Vratham is an important day for Tamil women who are Hindus. On this day, they observe a Vratham/Nombu (fast) to please Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu, and perform Varalakshmi Pooja. The festival takes place in Aadi (July-August) month. It is also celebrated in states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Varalakshmi means ‘one who grants Varam or boons.” The festival is usually celebrated on the 2nd Friday or the Friday before the Pournami or Full Moon Day in Shravan/Aadi month.
The word ‘Shravan’ comes from Lord Vishnu’s birth star, or Janma Nakshathra, which is Shravana Nakshathra. Shravan is Vishnu’s favorite month. Goddess Lakshmi also worships Vishnu during this month. As this month is auspicious for Her husband, it is a good time to worship her as well. Devotees believe that they will get the blessings of both the deities if they worship her on this day.
Story of Varalakshmi Vratham
An interesting story lies behind Varalakshmi Vratham. In the town of Kuntinapuram in Maratha desham, there was a humble and pious Brahmin woman called Charumathi. She was devoted to her husband and family. Goddess Lakshmi was so impressed by her devotion to her family that she appeared in her dreams one night and told her to perform the Varalakshmi Vratham.
She even told her how to perform the Pooja. The Goddess also suggested that Charumathi perform the Pooja on the Friday that comes just before the Aadi Pournami (Shravan Purnima), as it was a very auspicious day for this ritual.
The next day, Charumati told her family about her dream. They took her seriously and encouraged her to perform the Pooja. Charumati also told her friends and neighbors about her dream. Soon, word began to spread in the town. That year, all the women in Charumathi’s town worshipped Goddess Varalakshmi and prayed to her for the welfare of their families.
Another legend says that a person called Chitranemi was cursed with leprosy by Goddess Parvati for being partial toward Lord Shiva in a game in which Chitranemi was the judge. It is said that Chitranemi got ‘shaapa vimochanam’ or relief from his curse after watching some pious ladies performing the Varalakshmi Vratam.
It is also believed that this Vratam was described by Sage Suka to Shaunaka and other sages later.
Rituals of Varalakshmi Vratham
On this occasion, women offer sweets and flowers to the Goddess. They decorate a Kalash (a metal pot that represents the deity) by keeping a coconut on top of it. They also adorn it with a sari, flowers, and gold jewelry. The offerings are placed before the deity. Supposedly, performing the Varalakshmi Pooja is equivalent to worshipping the Ashtalakshmis or the 8 different forms of Lakshmi. Lakshmi represents eight forces - wealth (shri), earth (bhu), learning (saraswati), love (priti), fame (kirti), peace (shanti), pleasure (tushti), and strength (pushti). Each of these is a Lakshmi, and they are collectively called Ashta Lakshmi.
One can do the Pooja at home. It is also performed in a grand manner in temples. Tiruchanur Padmavathi Temple is the most renowned temple for the Varalakshmi Vratham festival. All the arrangements are done by the Tirumala Thirupathi Devasthanam (TTD) to accommodate thousands of devotees.
The Pooja is called ‘Samuhika Varalakshmi Vratham’ – a mass ceremony where thousands of women perform the Vratham at the appointed hour in the same place.
Goddess Padmavathy Thayar is decorated as Varalakshmi on this day, and her blessings are invoked by devotees for happiness, wealth, and prosperity. In the evening, she is taken out in a procession atop the Bangaru Rathnam (Golden Chariot) around the four Mada Veedis of Padmavathy Thayar Temple, Tiruchanur.
People of all castes and creeds can perform this Pooja. Varalakshmi Vratham 2022 is on 12 August.
Significance of Varalakshmi Vratham
The main purpose of Varalaksmi Vratam is to seek the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi for the welfare of the family. This vratham has no strict rules or rigid rituals that devotees have to observe. A simple prayer can suffice to please Goddess Varalakshmi.
Hindu mythology says that Lakshmi is the presiding deity of wealth, prosperity, luck, wisdom, and fertility. For Sumangalis (married women), this vratham is very important as they believe that the grace of the Goddess can give good health and long life to their husbands and also bless them with good progeny. This is a festival that is chiefly for women and is also celebrated by women. The Skanda Purana explains the importance of Varalakshmi Vratham. It says that Goddess Parvathi asked Lord Shiva to recommend a vratham, which could benefit women on earth who sought prosperity. Shiva told her about the Varalakshmi Vratam, and to explain its significance, he also narrated the story of Charumati.
