Volume 8 : August 2007

Mahalakshmi Vrata (or Varalakshmi Vrata) is a religious holiday performed by married Hindu ladies, who want to seek blessings of the Goddess Lakshmi.

This auspicious holiday is practiced on the Friday just before the full moon day in the month of "Sravana" of the Hindu calendar.

Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi is the Hindu goddess (seated on a lotus), known for power of wealth, wisdom, prosperity, fortune, luck, beauty, courage, and fertility. Lakshmi is the wife of Vishnu and married his incarnations of Rama (as Sita), of Krishna (as Rukmani), and of Venkateshwara (as Alamelu).

Vrata is a religious practice to carry out certain obligations with a view to achieve blessings from God. During the vrata, one must keep their home and self clean, observe celibacy, speak the truth, avoid non-vegetarian foods, and perform all rituals connected with the specific vrata.

The origination of Mahalakshmi Vrata was with a lady named Charumati from Maratha Desa, who had a dream of Lakshmi. In her dream, the goddess Lakshmi asked her to participate in this vrata on a particular day, in order to fulfill her wishes. She and her lady friends from the village gathered together and performed the vrata with a lot of devotion. Once the vrata was completed, they were fascinated to find themselves adorned with beautiful and expensive jewelry and their homes filled with luxurious furniture and items. After this experience, every woman started to perform this vrata to seek wealth and prosperity for their families.

On Mahalakshmi Vrata day, a woman cleans her home and wears beautiful clothes and jewelry. She fills a bronze or silver kalasha with rice and water (symbolizes prosperity), covers it with mango and betel leaves, and then places sandal paste and vermillion on it. She then wraps a coconut in a red cloth and places it on the kalasha. The kalasha and coconut is placed on a plate filled with rice and is worshipped as Varalakshmi.
The main pooja begins by worshiping Lord Ganesha (who drives away all obstacles and evil forces). Then nine threads with nine knots are tied to the kalasha, and one is tied around the right hand of the lady performing the pooja. Chants of "Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamam" and hymns in praise of the goddess Varalakshmi are sung. The goddess is offered nine varieties of sweets.
Finally, during the evening time, each woman invites a few married ladies to her home and offers "tamboolam," which consists of betel leaves, fruits, betel nuts, vermillion, turmeric and money.

In conclusion, after performing this vrath, the Goddess Lakshmi will bless you with Dhana (Money), Dhanya (food), Aayu (long life), Aarogya (health), Aishwarya (prosperity), Satsantana (good offsprings) and Soubhagya (long life of husband).