08-27-2004, 02:13 PM
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http://www.chennaionline.com/specials/va.../pooja.asp
http://www.chennaionline.com/pooja/zip/varalakshmi.zip
http://www.chennaionline.com/specials/vara...hmi/slogams.asp
http://www.chennaionline.com/pooja/varalakshmi.asx
http://www.chennaionline.com/specials/vara...hmi/gallery.asp
http://www.chennaionline.com/specials/va.../index.asp
<b>Celebrating the birth of Lakshmi </b>
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.
In Chennai, one of the most popular shrines is the Ashtalakshmi Temple
in Besant Nagar. Located close to the sea, the winding steps take
one-to-one manifestation of Lakshmi. It is said that Lakshmi will enter the
house of anyone who thinks of her and bless them. There are many
festivals in the year dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. Among them, Varalakshmi
Vratham is unique because it is marked by strict observance of certain
practices and austerities. It is also called Varalakshmi Nonbu. The puja
falls on Friday before the full moon in the Tamil month of Aadi. This
year, it occurs on August 3rd.
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. Thamboolam is given to other "sumangalis"
(married women) who are invited to the house that evening. The woman who
has performed the puja observes a fast on that day, eating only certain
items. The following day the holy water in the kalasam is sprinkled
throughout the house. If rice has been used in the place of water then it
is mixed with the rice stored in the house.
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.
http://www.chennaionline.com/specials/va.../pooja.asp
http://www.chennaionline.com/pooja/zip/varalakshmi.zip
http://www.chennaionline.com/specials/vara...hmi/slogams.asp
http://www.chennaionline.com/pooja/varalakshmi.asx
http://www.chennaionline.com/specials/vara...hmi/gallery.asp
http://www.chennaionline.com/specials/va.../index.asp
<b>Celebrating the birth of Lakshmi </b>
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.
In Chennai, one of the most popular shrines is the Ashtalakshmi Temple
in Besant Nagar. Located close to the sea, the winding steps take
one-to-one manifestation of Lakshmi. It is said that Lakshmi will enter the
house of anyone who thinks of her and bless them. There are many
festivals in the year dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. Among them, Varalakshmi
Vratham is unique because it is marked by strict observance of certain
practices and austerities. It is also called Varalakshmi Nonbu. The puja
falls on Friday before the full moon in the Tamil month of Aadi. This
year, it occurs on August 3rd.
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. Thamboolam is given to other "sumangalis"
(married women) who are invited to the house that evening. The woman who
has performed the puja observes a fast on that day, eating only certain
items. The following day the holy water in the kalasam is sprinkled
throughout the house. If rice has been used in the place of water then it
is mixed with the rice stored in the house.
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.