Friday, August 7, 2026
श्रावण पूर्णिमा से पहले के शुक्रवार को विवाहित स्त्रियों द्वारा मनाया जाने वाला प्रमुख दक्षिण भारतीय व्रत। साड़ी, पुष्प और आभूषणों से सज्जित कलश में देवी लक्ष्मी का आह्वान किया जाता है। वे स्वास्थ्य, धन और दीर्घ-वैवाहिक जीवन के वरदान देती हैं।
Dedicated to Goddess Varalakshmi (Lakshmi who grants boons)
Married women bathe early in the morning and wear a new or traditional silk saree. Decorate the puja room with rangoli (kolam) and mango-leaf torans. Set up a wooden plank (mane) covered with a red cloth for the kalash.
Sit facing east. Hold water, akshat, and a flower in your right palm. Take Sankalp — dedicating the vrat to Goddess Varalakshmi for the long life of your husband, the wellbeing of your family, and the blessings of health, wealth, and progeny.
ॐ विष्णुर्विष्णुर्विष्णुः। अद्य श्रावण मासे शुभ शुक्रवारे वरलक्ष्मी व्रत पूजनम् करिष्ये।
Draw a lotus with rice flour on the mane. Place the kalash on the lotus. Fill the kalash with water, akshat, turmeric, a coin, and betel leaves. Insert five mango leaves at the rim. Place a coconut wrapped in red cloth on top. Tie moli around the kalash neck three times.
गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति। नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु॥
Attach the silver or paper Lakshmi face (mukha) to the front of the coconut. Drape the kalash with a new saree, creating the form of the seated goddess. Adorn her with jewellery — mangalsutra, earrings, nose-pin, bangles, and a nose-ring. Apply kumkum, haldi, and chandan to the face.
Worship Lord Ganesha first with durva, red flowers, and a modak. Then worship Navagraha briefly with akshat and flowers.
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः॥
Invoke Goddess Varalakshmi into the kalash by chanting the Avahana mantra. Perform the sixteen upacharas — Asana, Padya, Arghya, Achamaniya, Snana (panchamrit over the coconut), Vastra (the saree already draped), Gandha (chandan on the mukha), Akshat, Pushpa (lotus and marigold), Dhupa, Deepa (both diyas), Naivedya (payasam, sundal, fruits), Tambula, Pradakshina, Namaskar.
ॐ वरलक्ष्म्यै नमः॥ ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः॥
Recite the 108 names of Goddess Lakshmi (Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamavali), offering a flower at each name. Then recite the Shri Suktam — the most sacred Lakshmi hymn from the Rig Veda. Also recite the Kanakadhara Stotra of Adi Shankaracharya.
ॐ हिरण्यवर्णां हरिणीं सुवर्ण रजतस्रजाम्। चन्द्रां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मीं जातवेदो म आवह॥
The 9 or 11-knotted yellow thread (sacred Varalakshmi string) is placed before the goddess and worshipped. After the main puja, married women tie this thread on their right wrist as a symbol of the goddess's continuous blessing. Others in the family may also receive the thread.
Perform the Varalakshmi Aarti with camphor — singing 'Om Jai Lakshmi Mata' or the traditional South Indian 'Mahalakshmi Stotram'. Ring the bell throughout and let the flame be offered to every family member.
ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता, मैया जय लक्ष्मी माता।
Distribute the naivedya — payasam, sundal, fruits — as prasad. Invite nine or eleven married women (muttaidu) to the house, wash their feet with turmeric water, apply kumkum, and offer them tambulam (betel, fruits, a blouse piece or saree, and dakshina). They symbolise the goddess; their blessing is the culmination of the vrat.
This guide reflects classical Parashari tradition. Regional variations exist — consult a family priest for specifics.