Varamahalakshmi Puja
Vara means boon – so the meaning of Varamahalakshmi is Mahalakshmi, the mother of all mothers’ grants boons. This festival is celebrated on the Second Friday or the Friday before full moon day – Poornima the month of Sravana. As per the Hindu scriptures it is a strong belief that worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on this auspicious day is equivalent to offering prayers to Ashtalakshmi.
Sri. Mahalakshmi is the goddess of health, wealth, and prosperity. According to ancient Hindu scriptures, there is a legend that explains the significance of Mahalakshmi Vrata. As the legend goes, when Yudhishtira, the eldest of the Pandava princes, enquires Lord Krishna about a ritual that can get back the wealth they lost in his gambles with the Kauravas, Krishna recommends Mahalakshmi Vrata or Puja, which can replenish the worshipper with health, wealth, prosperity, family and kingdom through the divine grace of the Goddess Lakshmi.
Goddess Lakshmi is the consort of the Lord Vishnu. She is commonly portrayed as a beautiful woman with four arms, standing or sitting on a lotus flower. There are usually two elephants behind her, anointing her with water.
How to celebrate
Items required for puja
The following items should be purchased prior to the puja day.
One the day of the puja; clean the stoop and draw Rangoli, if possible, tie a string of mango leaves by the front door. Take a bath, wear clean clothes and follow the steps of the puja:
- Picture or Idol of God/Goddess in the Pooja room
- A dupatta or sari to offer to the deity
- Plain water in Kalash (pitcher)
- Fresh and washed mango leaves
- Fresh grass
- Sandalwood
- One coconut
- Kumkum
- Turmeric
- Red sacred thread
- Rice
- Betel leaves and betel nuts
- Flowers and Fruits
Puja at home (process) (Link to the complete puja process)
Watch Video
Hindu worship or puja at home requires idols (murtis/deity) and prayers (mantras). Usually the deity(s) or pictures are kept in a quiet place called a puja room. Puja in Sanskrit means “honor” or “worship”. We welcome God or Goddess the same way as we welcome our guests. If time is of the essence, the following steps can be taken for the puja:
- Sit on a small carpet or low stool (raised wood plank) facing North or East.
- Create an altar for the Goddess Lakshmi.
- Usually, a lotus rangoli is draw and then the kalasa is kept (pot brass/copper/silver) filled with water. Most of the time, mango leaves are kept on the pot and the coconut is placed over it. Kumkum and haldi are placed on the site of the pot. A yellow thread called Raksha is kept on the coconut.
- Clean the place and God/Goddess by sprinkling few drops of water. Use a separate cloth to wipe the deity and later, apply Haldi (turmeric) & Kumkum to the deity.
- Light the lamps and place in front of the alter.
- Keep betel leaves, nuts, flowers and fruits in a plate in front of altar.
- After keeping the items in front of the alter, begin with Ganesh or Vishwaksena puja or prarthana.
- Then, start chanting shlokas or mantras as per your family traditions.
- After worshiping with shlokas, you decorate the God/Goddess with flowers and offer Naivedyam.
- Light aarti diya and perform aarti.
- Finally, conclude with Pradakshina (circumambulation, which means going in a clockwise direction) namaskar at the end of puja.
- Give everyone present, prasad which you offered as Naivedyam.
Suggested Chants
- Ganesh mantra
- Lakshmi Sahasranamam
- Ashtottara Shantanamavali of goddess Lakshmi