How to Perform Varalakshmi Pooja at Home | Tamil Nadu Tradition

INTRODUCTION

I am very fond of celebrating each and every special occasion of Tamil Nadu. The one main thing that I feel proud of being a Tamilian is the culture we cherish. Silk sarees, gold jewelry, malligai poo (garlands), festivals, kolam (rangoli), South Indian delicacies, etc., are all something that can take us back to the pre-historic era.

“It is found and proved that about 3,200 years ago the origins of Tamilians were found, suggesting that the Tamil Nadu civilization existed alongside the Indus Valley Civilization.”

I was born and brought up in Mumbai with my family. Although we used to celebrate festivals at home, they weren’t completely like how we do in our native place, the reason being a city half the time few things are not available, and the rest of the time, due to certain restrictions implied by the city regulatory body, we cannot celebrate the way we want to. Then schools and higher studies kept us too busy and unavailable to be there for any occasion except that it falls on Sunday.
After I got married, I experienced a totally different level of exposure to our culture and the way they are celebrated in my husband’s native. So, this article features how certain festivals/occasions are followed in TIRUNELVELI, TAMILNADU. Because there may be certain differences in the method they choose in different parts of TAMIL NADU.

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Varalakshmi is the goddess who grants boons, meaning ‘Varam’ in Tamil. It is believed that worshipping the Goddess Varalakshmi on this day is equivalent to worshipping ‘Ashtalakshmi’—

The eight goddesses of
Wealth, Earth, Wisdom, Love,
Fame, peace, progeny and strength.

In this article you will see:

• Overview
• When and how do I perform the pooja if I am menstruating on this day?
• Why is Varalakshmi Vratam Pooja so special?
• Who all can perform this pooja vidhi?
• Who are the Ashtalakshmi?
• How to perform this pooja at home?
• How to prepare lakshmi kalash? (Explained stepwise)
• Varalakshmi pooja mantra to be recited
• Varalakshmi Vratam Fasting Rules?
• Attire on this day

Overview

This is an important Hindu festival most commonly celebrated in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, and mainly in Tamil Nadu. This year of 2021, it is being observed on the 20th of August. I stay in an apartment, and it is not so convenient for me to celebrate the pooja vidhi in a fully 100% traditional manner.
So by asking my elder relatives in my family and reading a few articles, I arrived at a specific way of celebrating this pooja vidhi.

Also these days the people from the young generation don’t find enough time to celebrate the rituals in the total traditional way due to many reasons. Like, either they are living away from in-laws or parents, they might be working women, or they could even be abroad, where they might find it difficult to collect all the things required for pooja vidhi.

I learned to celebrate this pooja after my mother-in-law explained it to me. Though I have not seen my mother also celebrating this important ritual of South India in a traditional way, I managed to pick it up later. But she does perform Lakshmi pooja this day in a way she has been performing so far. I have been celebrating this pooja for 5 years by now. So let us see how simple and efficient we can be in performing this pooja vidhi at home all by ourselves.

When and how do I perform the pooja if I am menstruating on this day?

Women who are menstruating on the day of Varalakshmi pooja can have a head bath on the 7th day post their menstruation days and perform the rituals completely. You can also observe the fasting on this day if you wish to. If nothing at all, just put some rangoli, lit a Lakshmi Ganesh lamp at the entrance, put a door garland, and just chant mantras in your heart with eyes closed.

Why is Varalakshmi Vratam Pooja so special?

According to Hindu mythology, it is said that the Goddess Parvati wanted to know about a Vrata that is highly beneficial for a woman and should help her lead a happy and prosperous life. It is only during this time that Lord Shiva mentioned to her about the Varamahalakshmi Vratam, which today is observed by thousands of women in southern states of this country.

Who all can perform this pooja vidhi?

Who are the Ashtalakshmi?

1. Aadi Lakshmi (the Protector)
2. Dhana Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth)
3. Dhairya Lakshmi (Goddess of Courage)
4. Sowbhagya Lakshmi (Goddess of Prosperity)
5. Vijaya Lakshmi (Goddess of Victory)
6. Dhanya Lakshmi (Goddess of Nourishment)
7. Santaana Lakshmi (Goddess of Descendants)
8. Gnana Lakshmi (Goddess of Knowledge)

How to perform this pooja at home?

On this day, wake up early in the morning and clean the entire house, including your aangan (entrance). You can also get it done a night before in order to save time and energy for the pooja day.  Have a nice ubtan bath if you can, because the goddess loves the good fragrance around her. Clean the pooja room on the same day. Keep the Kutthu vilakku washed and ready and all other diyas that you are going to light up.

Tie the garland at the entrance of the door. Draw some simple rangoli or grand colorful ones, depending on your convenience. Place flowers on either side of the entrance floor and diya if you wish to.

How to prepare Lakshmi Kalash?

For a detailed visual, please click the link below, as it will redirect you to my YouTube channel, where you can see how I performed this Varalakshmi pooja. The video is attached at the end of this article below.

Step 1:

After this, firstly make a Ganesh idol made of turmeric paste. We call it ‘manjal pillayar,’ which is a must before starting the pooja. Place a small brass plate and put a small piece of betel leaf over it. Draw a swastika on it. Place the turmeric paste ganesha over it. Place haldi and kum kum over it. Set it aside.

Step 2:

Take a copper kalash. Place haldi kumkum on the kalash. Grab a long piece of white thread, apply some turmeric paste on it, or you can directly buy yellow thread from a shop and tie it around Kalash’s neck. Place the kalash full of rice, coins, and flowers inside, or you can simply pour water. Place the mango leaf in five directions on the mouth of the kalash and place a coconut on top of it. Apply turmeric paste all over the coconut. You can also place a Lakshmi face on the coconut that we get from shops. Decorate Goddess Lakshmi—the kalash we now believe—in new clothes, jewelry, kumkum, and flowers.

Step 3:

Take a whole turmeric and tie a yellow thread to it by keeping the turmeric in the center. The thread needs to be longer from both sides equally. This is called a taali, where the women performing the pooja will tie around the neck of Lakshmi Kalash with three knots in it. Cover the turmeric by wrapping a small piece of flower around it once you have tied it around the lakshmi kalash. This method is called tying maangalyam to goddess Lakshmi so that she will protect the performer’s maangalyam by blessing her husband’s health and giving him a long life.

Step 4:

Place the Varalakshmi photo or idol on the puja platform if you have.  Offer akshat, chandan, kumkun, and sindur to the goddess. Offer fresh fruits, sweets, panchamrit and water to the goddess. Perform Goddess Lakshmi Aarti with dhoop and camphor. Remove the evil eyes by taking a handful of rock salt in your palm. Close your palm and rotate around the goddess three times and throw it far away outside. You can observe the fast as long as you can. Remember that goddess accepts the prayer performed with the whole heart.

Varalakshmi pooja mantra to be recited:

Every time you recite one line, take a flower in your hand, recite the line and keep leaving them near the right side of Goddess Lakshmi (either the Varalakshmi Kalash or the Lakshmi idol).

Om Varalakshmiyai Namah Padau Pujayami
Om Kamalavasinyai Namah Gulphau Pujayami
Om Padmalayayai Namah Janghe Pujayami
Om Shriyai Namah Januni Pujayami
Om Indirayai Namah Uru Pujayami
Om Haripriyai Namah Nabhim Pujayami
Om Lokadhatryai Namah Stanau Pujayami
Om Vidhatryai Namah Kantham Pujayami
Om Dhatryai Namah Nasam Pujayami
Om Saraswatyai Namah Mukham Pujayami
Om Padmanidhaye Namah Netre Pujayami
Om Mangalyayai Namah Karnau Pujayami
Om Kshirasagarajayai Namah Lalatam Pujayami
Om Shrimahalakshmyai Namah Shirah Pujayami
Om Shrimahakalyai Namah Sarvangam Pujayami

Varalakshmi Vratam Fasting Rules?

Although this Varalakshmi pooja is offered with a minimum of 12 hours fasting, it is still okay if you wish to perform this pooja without fasting. The goddess will accept your prayers and still bless you when you do it with your whole heart. Make sure that you wish for your husband’s long life and your children’s healthy and long lives, including yours. Make sure you pray to Goddess Lakshmi to grant the ashta (eight) boons for yourself and your family.

Offer a thaali full of home-cooked vegetarian platters to Goddess Lakshmi, and after doing the neivedhyam, you can consume the same food and end your fasting successfully. In case you can start the fasting before sunrise and end post sunset, it would be good timing and energy for you.

(From left: Panchamrut, Aloo mutter, veg raita, chapati, veg biryani, some fryums, and some sweets. Don’t forget to serve water.

Attire on this day:

You can groom yourself up with the 16 shringars or less or whichever you find easy with your convenience. But make sure you dress up very nicely for performing aarti for the Varalakshmi pooja. Wear a nice saree, make mehndi in your hands, wear nice jewelry, have a garland in your hair, wear sindoor and bindi, wear a handful of bangles, etc.

It is in a way to grab Goddess Lakshmi’s attention towards you, and we believe you will groom up beautifully. Also, it is believed that the goddess loves to see us in such Mangalagraha attire that she grants you the boon instantly.

You can also check out my Instagram profile for saree styling ideas—@monisha_sd.

‘Happy Varalakshmi Pooja’ 

Some older views of the Varamahalakshmi vratam celebration at my home:

Some of my other festival-related articles may be of interest to you.

1. Tirukarthigai deepam pooja.
2. Simple ways to celebrate the Tamil New Year.

Monisha