Author: - | Last Updated: Wed 24 Jul 2013 2:02:12 PM
Varalaxmi Vratham 2015 is the most appropriate time to understand the importance of Goddess is the Lakshmi in our lives. Laxmi also known as Mahalakshmi, is the Hindu Goddess of wealth, prosperity, good luck and is a personification of beauty. She is the wife of Lord Vishnu and brings good fortune. Thats why people worship her, along with Lord Ganesha, whenever they start anything new. Goddess Lakshmi is also known as Astalakshmi because she represents eight goddesses of Wealth, Earth, Learning, Love, Fame, Peace, Pleasure and Strength. It is said that she comes as a savior of her devotees, whenever they are in trouble, whether financial or personal. So, this festival, Varalakshmi Vratham, is especially dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, in order to invoke her blessings.
Let us study the legend behind the fast while celebrating Varalaxmi Vratham 2015. Once Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva - What should women do, in order to get a happy married life, a long life for their family, children etc.? Lord Shiva told her that women should observe fast in the name of Varalakshmi, who is an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. He told her a story of Charumati of Magadha. Charumati was a complete woman. She was a very good daughter, a good wife, a good mother and also a good daughter-in-law. Goddess Varalakshmi was very much impressed by her devotion towards her family. So, she appeared in her dreams and asked her to keep fast on the second Friday of Shravan month. Next morning, when she woke up, she told about her dream to her family. Her family was very happy to hear this and so, they also encouraged her to observe this fast. She also told about it to her neighborhood women. They all waited for the second Friday of Shravana month. When finally it came, all of them observed fasting. They observed fast and worshipped Goddess Lakshmi and prayed for the well-being of their family. From that day onwards, these women celebrated this festival with great devotion, every year.
Lord Shiva told Parvati that she must also perform this vrat and tell this story of Charumati to every woman, because this Pooja will bring good luck not only to them but also to their families.
On Varalakshmi Vratham or Varalaxmi Vratham women wake up early in the morning and take bath. They dress themselves in silk sarees. Apart from observing fast, women worship Goddess Lakshmi with great devotion and offer her fruits and flowers.
First of all, a mandap is set up. In order to set up the mandap, ladies clean up the place where it is to be set up with cow dung. Keep a stool, also called aasan, on that mandap. On the stool, they pour rice and keep a kalash, decorated with a silk saree, on it. A kalash is a small container on which a coconut is kept in an inverted position. After they have positioned the kalash, they invite Goddess Lakshmi by performing aartis and chanting the mantras. During this period they ask her for blessings with a sincere heart. These rituals are followed every year on Varalakshmi Vratham or Varalaxmi Vratham
Varalaxmi Vratham 2015 will be an excellent opportunity for all women to protect her family from all evils. For each woman, her family comes first. She loves her parents, her husband and her children more than herself. She will do anything to keep her familys well being intact. Varalakshmi Vratham is an occasion, where she can, in a way, ask for her familys happiness. So, this occasion is of a lot of importance for women and they celebrate it with the utmost devotion.
We hope that you will get an opportunity to pray for the well being of your family. With this thought we wish all of you a very happy and prosperous Varalakshmi Vratham 2015.