Varalakshmi puja and mantra

Varalakshmi puja and mantras

As mentioned in the Hindu mythology, Goddess Lakshmi is the presiding deity of prosperity, wealth, fortune, wisdom, light, generosity, courage and fertility. The women, particularly married ones, perform this vrat to please Goddess Lakshmi and receive Her divine grace. Women women keep this sacred Varalakshmi vratam to seek blessings for the long life of their respective husbands and also seek blessings for a good progeny. Varalakshmi vratam is primarily a festival for women and the importance of Varalakshmi vratam is explained in the 'Skanda Purana'.

As per the Hindu scriptures it is a strong belief that worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on this auspicious day is equivalent to offering prayers to Ashtalakshmi - the eight Goddesses of Love, Wealth, Strength, Peace, Fame, Pleasure, Earth and Learning. This vratam can be observed by everyone, irrespective of the caste and creed discriminations.

The varalakshmi vratham pooja procedure includes Anga Puja, Shodashopachar Puja, Thoragrandhi Puja, Mantra Pushpam, Thorabandhanam, Vayana Vidhi, Varalakshmi Vratha Katha, etc.

Items required :

• Face of Goddess Lakshmi

• Turmeric powder

• Kumkum

• Chandanam (sandal wood paste)

• Akshatha (consecrated rice)

• Betel leaves

• Bananas

• Coconuts

• Thoram (sacred thread made of 9 strings)

• Flowers

• Milk

• Panchamritham

• Dry Date and fruits

• Mango leaves

• New blouse pieces for Kalasham, decoration of puja place

• Naivedyams (based on your traditional recipes) (Payasam, Purnam Boorelu,

Appam, etc)

Decorations for Puja :

On a wooden plank or plate keep Lakshmi idol. Pooja mandapam or the Goddesss idol should be faced East. Clean the idol, lamps, bronze or steel pot & other pooja vessels. On the plank or peeta, spread few cups of rice. Put Chandanam & Kumkum on four sides of the pot. Fill slightly more than half the pot with rice. Place betel nuts, betel leaves, dry date fruits, one coin (silver or copper) inside the pot. Apply turmeric, chandanam, kumkum to a coconut (with husk or without - as per traditions) and place it on top of the pot surrounded by mango leaves.

The tail of the coconut should be upward. Decorate the Goddess’ face and fix that against the coconut, fixing back tightly against the pot and tie it with a thread. Decorate the pot and the face of the Goddess with jewels, dress, etc. and keep a new blouse piece. Now, place this over the rice on the plate. Keep a small garland and light a lamp at the Goddess.

Puja :

Ganapathi Puja:

Make a cone shaped turmeric Ganesha by mixing turmeric powder and few drops of water and put kumkum mark. Visualise Lord Ganesha and chant

Suklam Bharadharam Vishnum

Sashivarnam Chaturbhujam

Prasanna vadanam dhyayeth

Sarvavignopa Shantaye

Worship Lord Ganesha to give all the strength to perform Varalakshmi Vratham without any obstacle.

Varalakshmi Vratha Sankalpam & Kalasha Puja:

Clasp the right palm over the left palm holding a flower, akshatra and place them on the right thigh and chant

Evamguna viseshana visistayamasyam shubha thithou, asmakam saha kutumbanam

kshema sthairya vijaya ayur arogya aishwarya abhivridhyartham, dharmartha kaama

moksha chaturvidha purushartha siddhyartham, ishta kamarthya siddhyartham,

sathsanthana soubhaya shubha phalavapyartham varshe varshe prayuktham

varalakshmi muddhishya varalakshmi preethyartham bhavishyottara purana kalpoktha

prakarena yavaschakti dhyanavahanadhi shodashopachara pujan karishya. Thadan

gathwena kalasha pujan karishya. Kalashe gandha pushpa akshathair abhyarcha,

kalasha shyopari hastham nidhaya.

Shloka:

Kalashasya mukhe Vishnu

Kante rudra samasritha

Moole thathra sthitho brahma

Madhye mathru ganaa smrutha

Kukshouthu sagara ssarve

Sapta dweepa vasundhara

Rugvedoda yajurveda

Samavedoh atharvana

Angaischa sahita ssarve

Kalashambu samasritha

Ayanthu lakshmi pujartham

Durithakshaya karaka

Gangecha yamune chaiva Godavari saraswati

Narmade sindhu kaveri jalesmin sannidhim kuru

Evam kalasha puja

Varalakshmi Puja starts :

Padmasane padmakare sarvalokaika pujithe,

Narayana priye devi supreetha bhava sarvada !!

Shodasha Upachara Puja starts :

Dhyanam samarpayami : ( Meditation ) :

Visualise the Goddess and pray her by chanting this mantram

Ksheerodarnava sambhuthe kamala kamalalaye,

Susthirabhava may gehe surasura namaskruthe

Sri Varalakshmi devatham dhyayami !!

Avahanam samarpayami ( Invocation ) :

Visualise Goddess Varalakshmi in mind and offer flower or Akshatha to Kalasha Ganapathi.

Sarvamangala mangalye Vishnu vaksha sthalalaye,

Avahayami devee thwaam supreetha bhava sarvada,

Varalakshmi devatham avahayami

Aasanam samarpayami ( offering seat ) :

Offer flowers at the feet and chant Aasanam Samarpayami mantra

Suryayutha nibha spoorthe sphura drathna vibhushitham,

Simhasana midham devee stheeyatham sura pujithe,

Rathna simhasanam samarpayami

Arghyam samarpayami ( washing hands) :

Offer one spoon of water from the glass with water to the empty cup. Chant arghyam samarpayami slokam

Shuddodakam cha pathrastham gandha pushpadhi mishritham,

Arghyam dasyami the devee gruhaana sura pujithe,

Arghyam samarpayami

Paadhyam samarpayami ( washing feet ) :

Suvasitha jalam ramya sarva theertha samudbhavam,

Paadhyam gruhaana thwam sarvadeva namaskruthe,

Paadhyam samarpayami

Aachamanam samarpayami (Inner Purification) :

Offer one spoon of water from the cup with water to empty cup and chant Aachamanam samarpayami slokam

Suvarna kalashaa neetham chandanagaru samyutham,

Gruhaana achamanam devee mayaa dattham shubhapradhe,

Aachamaneeyam samarpayami

Panchamrutha Snanam samarpayami (offering bath with Panchamrita) :

Offer bath with few drops or a spoon of panchamritham to the Goddess by chanting the below sloka

Payodadhi gruthopetham sharkaramadhu samyutham,

Panchamrutha snanamidham gruhaana kamalalaye,

Panchamrutha snanam samarpayami

Shuddodaka Snanam samarpayami (offering bath with pure water) :

Offer bath with few drops or a spoon of water to the Goddess by chanting the below sloka

Gangajalam mayaaneetham mahadeva shirasthitham,

Shuddodaka snanamidham gruhaana vidhu sodhari,

Shuddodaka snanam samarpayami

Vasthram samarpayami (offering dress) :

Offer a cotton thread made of cotton, haldi, kumkum & chandan paste by chanting the below slokam

Surarchitanghri yugale dukoola vasana priye,

Vasthrayugmam pradasyami gruhaana hari vallabhe,

Vasthra yugmam samarpayami

Abharanam samarpayami (offering jewelry) :

Offer any jewelry or akshatra to the Goddess by chanting this stotram

Keyura kankane divye haaranupura mekhala,

Vibhushananya moolyani gruhaana rushi pujithe,

Abharanani samaryami

Upavitham samarpayami ( offering flowers / chandanam / akshitham ) :

Thaptha hema krutham suthram muktadama vibhushitham,

Upavitha midham devi gruhaana thwam shubhapradhe,

Upavitham samarpayami

Gandham samarpayami ( offering chandanam ) :

Offer gandham (chandanam paste) to the Goddess by chanting the slokam

Karpuragaru kasturi rochanadhi bhiranvitham,

Gandham dasyamyaham devee prithyartham prathigruhyatham,

Gandham samarpayami

Akshatham samarpayami (Offering consecrated rice) :

Offer akshatha to the Goddess

Akshatha dhavala devi shaliyam sthadula shubha,

Haridra kumkumopetha gruhyathaa mabdhi puthrike,

Akshatha samarpayami

Pushpam samarpayami (offering flowers) :

Offer flowers to the Goddess by chanting this slokam.

Mallika jaaji kusumai champakairva kulaisthatha,

Shathapathrai scha kalharai pujayami haripriye,

Pushpai pujayami

Adhanga Puja :

Offer akshata and flowers or gandham to the Goddess by chanting the below mantrams

Chanchalayai namaha padhau pujayami

Chapalayai namaha januni pujayami

Peethambara dharayai namaha ooroo pujayami

Kamala vasinyai namaha katim pujayami

Padmalayayai namaha naabhim pujayami

Madanamathre namaha sthanau pujayami

Lalithayayai namaha bhujadwayam pujayami

Kambh kantyai namaha kantam pujayami

Sumukhayai namaha mukham pujayami

Shreeyai namaha oshtau pujayami

Sunasikayai namaha nasikam pujayami

Sunethrai namaha nethram pujayami

Ramaayai namaha karnau pujayami

Kamalayai namaha shirah pujayami

Varalakshmai namaha sarvaagani pujayami

Ashtottara Shatanama Puja

Chant the Lakshmi Astottra shatanamavali ( 108 names of goddess ):

Om prakrityai namah

Om vikrityai namah

Om vidyaayai namah

Om sarvabhuutahitapradaayai namah

Om shraddhaayai namah

Om vibhuutyai namah

Om surabhyai namah

Om paramaatmikaayai namah

Om vaache namah

Om padmaalayaayai namah

Om padmaayai namah

Om shuchaye namah

Om svaahaayai namah

Om svadhaayai namah

Om sudhaayai namah

Om dhanyaayai namah

Om hiranmayyai namah

Om laxmyai namah

Om nityapushhtaayai namah

Om vibhaavaryai namah

Om adityai namah

Om ditye namah

Om diipaayai namah

Om vasudhaayai namah

Om vasudhaarinyai namah

Om kamalaayai namah

Om kaantaayai namah

Om kaamaaxyai namah

Om krodhasambhavaayai namah

Om anugrahapradaayai namah

Om buddhaye namah

Om anaghaayai namah

Om harivallabhaayai namah

Om ashokaayai namah

Om amritaayai namah

Om diiptaayai namah

Om lokashokavinaashinyai namah

Om dharmanilayaayai namah

Om karunaayai namah

Om lokamaatre namah

Om padmapriyaayai namah

Om padmahastaayai namah

Om padmaaxyai namah

Om padmasundaryai namah

Om padmodbhavaayai namah

Om padmamukhyai namah

Om padmanaabhapriyaayai namah

Om ramaayai namah

Om padmamaalaadharaayai namah

Om devyai namah

Om padminyai namah

Om padmagandhinyai namah

Om punyagandhaayai namah

Om suprasannaayai namah

Om prasaadaabhimukhyai namah

Om prabhaayai namah

Om chandravadanaayai namah

Om chandraayai namah

Om chandrasahodaryai namah

Om chaturbhujaayai namah

Om chandraruupaayai namah

Om indiraayai namah

Om indushiitalaayai namah

Om aahlaadajananyai namah

Om pushhtayai namah

Om shivaayai namah

Om shivakaryai namah

Om satyai namah

Om vimalaayai namah

Om vishvajananyai namah

Om tushhtayai namah

Om daaridryanaashinyai namah

Om priitipushhkarinyai namah

Om shaantaayai namah

Om shuklamaalyaambaraayai namah

Om shriyai namah

Om bhaaskaryai namah

Om bilvanilayaayai namah

Om varaarohaayai namah

Om yashasvinyai namah

Om vasundharaayai namah

Om udaaraangaayai namah

Om harinyai namah

Om hemamaalinyai namah

Om dhanadhaanyakarye namah

Om siddhaye namah

Om strainasamnyaayai namah

Om shubhapradaaye namah

Om nripaveshmagataanandaayai namah

Om varalaxmyai namah

Om vasupradaayai namah

Om shubhaayai namah

Om hiranyapraakaaraayai namah

Om samudratanayaayai namah

Om jayaayai namah

Om mangalaa devyai namah

Om vishhnuvaxassthalasthitaayai namah

Om vishhnupatnyai namah

Om prasannaaxyai namah

Om naaraayanasamaashritaayai namah

Om daaridryadhvinsinyai namah

Om devyai namah

Om sarvopadrava vaarinyai namah

Om navadurgaayai namah

Om mahaakaalyai namah

Om brahmaavishhnushivaatmikaayai namah

Om trikaalagyaanasampannaayai namah

Om bhuvaneshvaryai namah

Om Ashottara shatanama pujam samarpayami

Dhupam (offering dhupam or Agarbatti) :

Offer Agarbatti (incense sticks) to the Goddess by chanting the below mantram

Dashangam guggulopetham

Sugandham cha manoharam

Dhupam dasyami deveshi

Varalakshmi gruhaana tham Dhupam samarpayami

Deepam (offering deepam or light ) :

Light a deepam by chanting this mantram

Ghrutakthavarthi samyuktam andhakaaram vinashakam,

Deepam dasyami the devi gruhaana muditha bhava,

Deepam samarpayami

Naivedyam (offering food items) :

Offer naivedyam (fruits / food items & coconut) by chanting this mantra

Naivedyam shasrasopetham dadhi madhwajya samyutham,

Naanaa bakshya phalopetham gruhaana harivallabhe,

Naivedyam samarpayami

While offering naivedyam, offer water (Paaneeyam)

Ghanasaara sughandena mishritham pushvasitham,

Paaneeyam gruhyatham devi sheethalam sumanoharam,

aaneeyam samarpayami

Thamboolam (offering betel nut & betel leaves) :

Offer thamboolam (betel leaves, betel nut, dry date fruits & rupee coins)

Poogeephala samayuktam nagavalli dalairyutham,

Karpurachurna samyuktam thamboolam prathigruhyatham,

Thamboolam samarpayami

Neeraianam (offering Aarti) :

Offer Aarathi with burning camphor to the Goddess by chanting the below mantra

Neerajanam samaaneetham karpurena samanvitham,

Thubhyam dasyamyaham devi gruhyatham Vishnu vallabhe,

Neerajanam samarpayami

Mantra Pushpam (offering the garland of Mantras) :

Offer akshata by chanting the Mantrapushpam

Padmasane padmakare sarvalokaika pujithe,

Narayanapriye devi supreetho bhava sarvadaa,

Mantrapushpam samarpayami

Pradakshina (offering circumambulations) :

Just do five self-circumambulations by chanting the mantram

Yanikanicha paapani janmanthara kruthanicha,

Thani thani pranashyanthi pradakshina pade pade

Namaskaram (offering prayers) :

Offer namaskarams by chanting this mantram

Samastha loka jananee namasthe Vishnu vallabhe,

Pahimam bhakta varadhe varalakshmi namo namaha

Sri varalakshmi devathayai namaskaaraan samarpayami

Atha Thoragranthi Puja (worshipping the Thoram or sacre thread) :

Worship the Thoram or sacred thread by offering gandham, haldi, kumkum, akshata & flowers by chanting this Thoragranthi mantram

Kamalayai namaha prathama granthim pujayami

Ramayai namaha Dwiteeya granthim pujayami

Lokamatre namaha thrutiya granthim pujayami

Vishwajananyai namaha chaturtha granthim pujayami

Mahalakshmyai namaha panchama granthim pujayami

Ksheerabhi thanayayai namaha sashtama granthim pujayami

Vishwa sakshinyai namaha saptama granthim pujayami

Chandra sodaryai namaha ashtama granthim pujayami

Harivallabhayai nahama navama granthim pujayami

Thorabandhanam (tying the sacred thread) :

Tie the sacred thread yourself to your right wrist while chanting the below mentioned

Varalakshmi Vratham Thorabandhana Mantram

Badnami dakshine hasthe navasuthram shubhapradam,

Putrapauthrabhi vruddhincha sowbhagyam dehi mey rame.

Vaayanaa Vidhi :

Evam sampujya kalyaneem varalakshmi swa shaktitha,

Daathavyam dwadashapoopam vaayanam hi dwijathaye.

After performing Thorabandhanam, offer Vayanam to the Goddess. Then, offer to other married women.

Vavana Daana Mantram :

Offer vayanam to other married women by chanting this mantram

Indiraa prathigruhnathu indiraa vai dadaathi cha,

Indiraa tharakobhabhyam indirayai namo namaha.

Ithi pooja vidhanam sampurnam (It concludes the Varalakshmi Vratham Puja procedure).

Story:

Charumathi, a Brahmin woman lived in a town, Kundina. She was very humble and kind in her nature. She was very much devoted to her husband and family. One night, Goddess Laxmi appeared in her dream and told her to worship Vara Laxmi and seek her blessings. Goddess Laxmi also explained the Vrata procedure and the best day to observe Vara Laxmi Vrata. Laxmi asked Charumathi to observe Varalaxmi Vrataon the Friday just before Shravan Purnima, the Full Moon day in Shravan Month. Charumathi informed about the dream to his husband and family. She also told to her friends and the word spread throughout the town. On the Friday before Shravan Purnima, Charumathi along with her family, friends and the women of the town observe Vara Laxmi Vrata. They worshipped Vara Laxmi with utmost devotion and offered special recipes and fruits to please her. Goddess Vara Laxmi appeared before them and granted boons to all of them. Their houses were filled with grains, diamonds, jewels and gold. They all lived happily in their rest of life. Since the time, women have begun observing Vara Laxmi Vrata every year on the specific Friday. And take theertha & prasada and also distribute among other devotees. Next day a small puja (Punar Puja) is performed to mark the conclusion of Varalakshmi puja. On Sunday morning, Goddess Lakshmi is lifted from the Puja place and kept safe for next year's Varalakshmi Puja. After the completion of Varalakshmi Puja, the coconut which is used on the top of Kalasham should be broken and the water in it should be thrown to any plant like Tulsi or any other flowering plants which are away from the stamping of human. The biodegradable waste like flowers, turmeric, kumkum, and many other material should be thrown in a well or in nearby fresh flowing water which are not stamped by human.