Sunday, 21 August 2011

varalaksmi vratham-2011













Varalakshmi Vratham is a popular ritual observed by married women in South India and Maharashtra. Goddess Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and prosperity – is worshipped on this day. In 2011, Varalakshmi Puja is on August 12.


According to Hindu mythology, once Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva about a vratha that will be beneficial to women. Lord Shiva then mentioned the importance of Varalakshmi Vratha. The conversation on Varalakshmi Vratham between Parvati and Shiva takes place in the Skanda Purana. The Hindu mythological story about this vratham you can find it here.
Varalakshmi literally means the boon granting goddess. Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on this day is equivalent to worshipping Ashtalaksmi – the eight goddesses of Wealth, Earth, Learning, Love, Fame, Peace, Pleasure, and Strength. It comes in the holy month of Shravan on the first friday before the full moon (Pournami/ Poonam).

We generally buy something in gold and offer to the Goddess Lakshmi. We do Alankaranam with all the jewelery and offer saree, prasadam/ naivedyam, differnet varieties of fruits and Thamboolam – betel leaf, areca nut, flowers, pair of banana/any fruit, turmeric, kumkum, coin, khajoor – is offered to women in the locality and in the evening anarati is offered.
I thought of sharing few snaps of the puja performed at my home, since this puja was followed by weekend and one of our friend visited us, I was not able to post it on 12th August. I made 5 varieties of naivedyam, offered 7 kinds of fruits including coconut and bananas.performing puja on the silver mahalakshmi coinscan you also see the pasupu ganapathi!













5 varieties of Prasadam/naivedyam offered to the Goddess Varalakshmi(Pulihora, payasam, halwa, garelu (vada) and chana Saree and 5 varieties of fruits, apples, plums, nectarines, grapes, and orangesbeing offered to the Goddess

No comments:

Post a Comment