Varalakshmi pooja

Varalakshmi pooja  celebrated in most of the temple today in Malaysia. It is an important pooja performed by many women in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,and Tamilnadu.

The Hindu festival going by the name ‘Vara Lakshmi Vrata’ is celebrated on the Second Friday in the month of Śravaṇā, also called Śawan(in Hindi), which corresponds to the English months of July–August.

In 2012 Varalakshmi Vratham Date is 27th July 2012.

Women and unmarried ladies performing special pooja or Khutuvilaku pooja to god Lakshmi in temple  by observing fasting or vratam.

More than 200 women and ladies participated in this auspicious pooja at Raja Rajeswari temple in Klang Sentosa to fulfill their vow.

The name Varalakshmi itself can be interpreted in two ways.In one meaning, Varalakshmi is one who grants boons (Vara/Varam).

In another, she is the Goddess who is invited into the home and honoured.One who performs this  pooja with great devotion and bhakti is believed to be blessed with dhanam (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.

Varalakshmi vratam is considered auspicious for a married women.

This vratam is also known as sravana sukravaram vratam.

The legend behind Varalakshmi puja and the vratam is fascinating. It was a game of dice which caused a small tiff between Lord Shiva and Parvati as to who was the victor.

An honest gana, Chitranemi, was asked to arbitrate and he decided in Shiva’s favour. An angry Parvati cursed him to suffer from leprosy.

When Shiva pleaded with her, she gave in and said the day women in the world observed Varalakshmi puja, Chitranemi would get deliverance.

Chitranemi got relief when he observed some women performing the puja.

Ever since then, this vratham has been observed.