Vara Mahalakshmi
Festival
The goddess, called Devi, Ambal, Lakshmi, Shakthi,
is one of the most important figures in the Hindu pantheon.
Tradition tells us to pray to the Goddess first, because
with her kind and benevolent heart, she will intercede
with the Lord for the granting of any boon. While the
goddess represents everything from power to prosperity,
in the form of Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu,
she is a symbol of wealth.
Visitors to the hill shrine of Tirupati, after offering
worship at the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Srinivasa,
circumambulate the shrine and then come to the figurine
of Goddess Lakshmi set high up in the wall. She is in
standing posture with gold coins pouring out of her
hand. They reach up and touch her feet. Even children,
too small to reach the image, are lifted up and the
ritual is gone through.
The name Varalakshmi itself can be interpreted in two
ways. In one sense, Varalakshmi is one who grants boons.
In another, she is the Goddess who is invited into the
home and honoured. The different types of benefits that
will accrue thanks to performing the Varalakshmi puja
are "dhan" (money), "dhanyam" (grains
or food), "arogyam" (health), "sampath"
(property), "sathsanthanam" (virtuous offspring)
and "dheerga saumangalyam" (longevity of the
husband).
Performing the Varalakshmi puja is said to be equivalent
to worshipping all the different forms of Lakshmi.
The evening before the day of the puja, the area for
its performance is cleaned and decorated. A bronze or
silver kalasam (special pot) is filled with rice or
water and coins, a whole lime, five types of leaves
and betel leaves and betel nut. The kalasam is smeared
with sandal paste and covered with a new cloth up to
the neck. A coconut applied with turmeric paste is placed
on top with mango leaves around. An image of the Goddess
made of different materials, including cloth, is affixed
to this. The kalasam is deemed to be the Goddess herself.
Offerings of pongal are made and arathi is performed.
The next morning, before rahu kalam, the kalasam is
placed on a bed of rice. This signifies that Lakshmi
has entered the house. After the installation, a puja
beginning with an invocation to Lord Vinayaka begins.
During the puja, the Lakshmi Sahasranamam and other
slokas dedicated to Varalakshmi are chanted. Different
types of sweets are offered to the Goddess. The women
and girls of the house tie yellow coloured saradu or
thread around their wrists.
This pooja falls on dwadasi as well as Friday in the
month of Aadi or Aavani (Tamil month), the day in which
goddess Lakshmi was born from the cosmic sea. Varalakshmi
is the Goddess of wealth and gives us whatever we want.
To get the blessing of Lakshmi, we perform this pooja
with great care and devotion. This pooja is celebrated
in a grand manner.
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