Friday, August 12, 2011

VaraLakshmi Vratam

You know what I love about my country the most? (I get super patriotic in August :P) I love how there is history and there are tales and legends born here. But most of all, I love the celebration my country believes in.


Its a long weekend for most of us especially in the South and that starts on Friday (just about now). Then it is Rakhi or Rakshabandhan which deserves a post of its own and then on Monday it is something all Indians are proud of. Our Independence day! Yay!


Anyway, For now-
It is the Varalakshmi Puja today or the Varalakshmi Vratam as we call it in Andhra Pradesh. It is a puja (prayer) performed by married women on the first Friday of this month (Shravan). This is what I know and the rest, Wikipedia shall tell you!


Varalaksmi Vratha (Varalakshmi Vratam) is a sacred day in Hinduism. The ceremony is performed by married Hindu ladies on the Friday before the full moon in the month of Sravana in the Hindu calendar (corresponding to July/August in the western calendar). Those who cannot perform it on that day, can do it on any other Friday in that month. This is an important Vratha, meaning a vowed religious observance in Sanskrit. Varamahalakshmi Vratha is performed more commonly in the southern Indian States of Andhra PradeshKarnatakaTamil Nadu and also in parts ofMaharashtra and Orissa.


As the legend goes, this is a pooja that was pronounced by no other than Lord Parameswara (Lord Shiva) to be performed by his consort Parvathi to seek prosperity and happiness for the family. Thus it came to be emulated by married women who sought boons (varam) for the health, wealth and knowledge for the entire family. In some cases, women prayed for being blessed with children. The prescribed day for the pooja is the Friday of the month of Sravan in the fortnight known as Sukla paksha, preceding the full moon day.


Here is wishing each one of you a lifetime of prosperity, enlightened intellect and happiness!
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5 comments

  1. Arre we don't keep this vrath! I wonder why :O

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  2. wishing u happiness,prosperity n all u wish for...

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  3. What a beautiful post! Thank you for doing it! I love Indian culture, there's a big Indian community here where I live. Complete with many Indian Markets and restaurants. I looove both.

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  4. Ki it is not a vrath.. A puja here is called a vratham. But its super strict like you're not supposed to eat till the puja is over. and no one is supposed to touch the person who is making the prasad.. But we don't do that! I hug my mum the first thing in the morning and did that today too when she was cooking without brushing:P:P

    Pavani, Thank you!!!:)

    Sonia, :D:D I am loving everything like this this year. I want to add my bit to the celebration. Its very bog here down South! :) I lovveee you back from India!!:D:D

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  5. Hey I did the vratham yday :) I love doing it :) This is the 2n yr I am doing it :D

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