Vara Mahalakshmi Festival: Hinduism is a religion with many rituals and beliefs. Each of these traditions is important to us. Hindus have been celebrating the Varalakshmi Vrat event for hundreds of years. Maha Lakshmi Puja is like Varalakshmi Vrat. In this piece, we’ll examine the history, meaning, celebration, and stories behind Varalakshmi Vrat.
We celebrate the Varamahalakshmi festival (Varalakshmi Vratham) to get the benefits of Goddess Lakshmi, the wealth goddess. Men and women from the Hindu religion take part in these events. Varalakshmi Vrat is done by Hindu women, usually Sumangalis or married women. Vara is a Sanskrit word that means “bonus” or “reward,” while Vrat means “fasting.”
On Mara Mahalakshmi Vratha, women fast to get goddess Mahalakshmi’s gifts. It is a holiday in South India, primarily held in Kerala, Telangana, Andra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Karnataka. The holiday happens on the second Friday or the Friday before Poornima in the Hindu month of Shravana. It usually happens in July or August. Varalakshmi Vrat is an auspicious festival that can bring us prosperity, money, health, happiness, and satisfaction.
Legends of Varamahalakshmi Festival
Varalakshmi Vrat isn’t mentioned in many ancient books and scriptures, unlike other festivals. In Skanda Purana, Lord Shiva tells Goddess Parvathi about Varalakshmi Vrat. He explains to His loving consort what it means and why the festival of Varalakshmi is celebrated.
According to the Puranic book, Charumathi was a young woman from Kundinyapura who worshipped Goddess Lakshmi. She usually prayed to Goddess Lakshmi. Goddess Lakshmi came into Charumathi’s dream one night when she was sleeping. The Goddess told her to worship Varalakshmi, a version of Goddess Lakshmi, on the second Friday of the Shravana month. Once Charumathi told her family about the dream, they asked her to lead the prayers. So, she decided to organize it. Many other women from her town took part in the practice with her. They repeated mantras and songs. Ultimately, they received gifts from the Goddess and did well in life. During prayer, they repeated:
Padmasana Padmakare, Sarva Lokaika Poojithe
Narayanapriye Devi, Supreetha Bhava Sarvadha
During the Varalakshmi Vrat, devotees continue to repeat this mantra to get Goddess Lakshmi’s blessings. Varalaksmi Vrat has gotten a lot more popular in recent days.
Importance of Vara Mahalakshmi Festival
The festival of Varamahalakshmi is explained in the Skanda Purana by Lord Shiva. On the day of Varalakshmi Vrat, Goddess Lakshmi becomes Ashtalakshmi, which means “eight goddesses.” Varalakshmi mata is the goddess of wealth, Earth, knowledge, love, fame, peace, happiness, strength, and contentment. When we enjoy the festival with all our hearts, we can find happiness, peace of mind, and joy. By doing the practices related to Varalakshmi Vrat, we can:
- Dhanya, or food for ourselves and our families
- Arogya, or happiness for our families and us
- Aaaya, or a long life without sickness or difficulties
- Aishwarya, or money and success for our family
- Soubhagya, which means luck in our lives
- Santana or offspring for married couples
How Varalakshmi Vratam is Celebrated in Karnataka?
Different parts of India celebrate Varalakshmi Vrat in different ways. During the Varalakshmi Vrat holiday, waking up at Brahma Muhurta is best. After cleaning your body, you can pray to Lord Ganesha before you worship Goddess Lakshmi. But on the Vrat, women fast for the health of their husbands, families, and themselves.
People Varalakshmi pooja give her fruits and sweets. They do this using Kalasha. They would use Kumkum or sandalwood paste to make a Swastika sign on the Kalash. Then they’d wrap the Kalash in a saree.
Devotees put different things in the Kalash. They include mango leaves, raw rice, lime, turmeric powder, betel nut, money, and water.
Then, they’d put a coconut on the Kalash’s mouth and tie a holy thread around it. In some areas, they kept it on top of raw rice. Devotees also cover the Kalash with jewellery, flowers, and other decorations.
After the Varalakshmi puja, devotees also give many things to others as gifts and acts of kindness. After that, they’ll do special poojas that include reciting mantras. Women would tie the holy thread from the pooja as a Prasad after the ritual. It’s their way of keeping themselves safe from the bad things in the world.
The event can be run by anyone, regardless of caste or religion. With Varalakshmi Vrat, there are no such differences. After Varalakshmi Vrat, devotees would give sweets like Pongal, Huli Anna, and Hesaru Bele Pasaya. They’d trade it among themselves or with their neighbours. The next day, a Saturday, the followers would break up the Kalash and sprinkle the water in their homes. They will use both the rice from the Kalash and the rice they already have at their places.
Varalakshmi Vrat is a big festival for Hindus in India, especially in South India. It’s a way to show Goddess Lakshmi respect and get her gifts in our lives. It can help us be successful and happy.