The glory of performing the Varalakshmi Vratam

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Varalakshmi

 

 

 

 

The glory of performing the VARALAKSHMI VRATAM, narrated directly by Lord Shiva

Himself, is elaborately discussed in the Skanda Puranam. This is a festival to

propitiate Shri Varalakshmi (Mahalakshmi ) - the consort of Lord Vishnu, who is

the abode of all mangalam (auspiciousness) , prosperity and wealth. The

Varalakshmi Vratam is to be performed on the shrAvaNa shukla shukra vAram ,

that is, the Friday immediately following the full moon day (Purnima) in the

auspicious month of Shravanam (corresponding to August - September). This

Vratam is undertaken by the sumangalis (whose husbands are still living) for

good progeny, good health, and wishing long life for the husbands.

Lakshmi is symbolic of eight forces - wealth (shrI), earth (bhU), learning

(sarasvati), love (prIti), fame (kIrti), peace (shAnti), pleasure (tuShTi), and

strength (puShTi). Each of these forces is called a Lakshmi, and collectively

they are known as ashTa lakshmi. Worship of Varalakshmi is rendered equivalent

to the pUja for ashTalakshmi. Since She is ever ready to grant boons to her

true devotees, she is usually referred to as "vara lakshmi".

The Worship

The rituals of worship during the Varalakshmi Vratam differ from region to

region in south India, but they all have the same basic format. The performer

begins the day with a holy purification bath, and wears clean clothes. The

arena is decorated with kolam (rangoli). A geometrical design known as mandalam

is then drawn on the clean surface of the floor (with the picture of a lotus

upon it). A sacred pot (kalasham) is filled with pure water and rice (akshata),

topped with a bunch fresh mango leaves, and a coconut (unbroken, with its kudimi

on) smeared with turmeric powder is placed atop. Also, sandal paste and kumkumam

are applied to the kalasham, and a cloth is tied around it before placing it on

the mandalam. Some people further beautify the kalasham with a picture of

Varalakshmi drawn on it and decorated with jewels. Then, Goddess Lakshmi is

invoked. Fresh flowers and grains are used in the worship, indicating growth

and prosperity.

After performing the initial worship of Lord Ganesha (seeking removal all

obstacles), prayers are offered to the kalasham. A toram (which consists of

nine threads and nine knots) is tied to the Goddess. Then they worship the

thread (raksha). Now the main worship of Lakshmi begins, with a second worship

of the sacred Thread. Finally, it is tied around the right hand of the

performer. Prayers in the form of Lakshmi Ashtottara shatanAma and sahasranAma

are then chanted. Another sumangali is then chosen, and she is offered

auspicious articles as gifts and food. The function concludes with the singing

of several hymns and songs in praise of Varalakshmi.

Legends

There are several varied legends associated with this festival. Goddess Parvathi

once asked Lord Shiva to recommend her a vratam, which would be beneficial for

the womenfolk on earth who seek prosperity. Then, Lord Shiva preached her about

Varalakshmi Vratam (as mentioned in Skanda Puranam). To illustrate the sanctity

of this vratam, Lord Shiva then narrated the story of one Charumati (of

Kuntinapura in the Maratha desham). Charumati was a true pativrata (devoted to

husband in all sincerity). Pleased with her true and undivided devotion to her

husband, Goddess Lakshmi appeared in her dream and advised her to undertake the

Varalakshmi Vratam on the auspicious day of shrAvana shukLa shukRa vAram.

Charumati performed this pUja with utmost devotion, the same day, in the dream

itself (mAnasIka pUja). The next day she narrated this dream to her husband,

and with his full consent, to all other women folk in town. On the auspicious

day, she did not fail to

perform Varalakshmi vratam as prescribed to her by Goddess Parvathi. Then some

miracles took place. As the womenfolk stepped out of the house, they saw all

houses decked with riches and gold, and a golden chariot awaiting them outside

Charumati's house. Everything seemed bountiful! Ever since, this Vratam has

been regularly performed in households.

Another legend is that a person by name Chitranemi was once cursed (to become a

leper) by Parvati for showing partiality toward Lord Shiva in a game, in which

he was the judge. Chitranemi got shApa vimochanam (relief from this curse) when

he watched with great attention, the Varalakshmi Vratam performed by some pious

ladies.

Legend also says that this Vratam was later conveyed by sage Suka to Shaunaka

and other sages. There are numerous varying legends too.

Songs on Varalakshmi

In the attached PDF file we have a selection of nine beautiful Carnatic

Compositions in praise of Goddess Lakshmi, that are rendered during this

auspicious occasion. These songs are chosen from a variety of composers. The

first three songs are by Muthuswami Dikshitar, the next two by Mysore

Vasudevachariar, then two in chaste Tamil by Papanasam Sivan and finally two in

Kannada by Purandharadasa. They are:

1. varalakSmIM bhaja re re, saurAShTram, Adi (muttusvAmi dIkSitar)2. shrI

varalakSmi namastubhyam, shrI, rUpakam (muttusvAmi dIkSitar)3. mahAlakSmi

karuNArasalahari, mAdhavamanOhari, Adi (muttusvAmi dIkSitar)4. varalakSmi

namostute gaurimanohari, rUpakam (mysore vAsudEvAcAriar)5. shrI mahAlakSmIM

bhajeham, paraju, Adi (mysore vAsudEvAcAriar)6. varalakSmI nIyE vandarLvAyE,

sAlaga bhairavi, Adi (pApanAshaM shivan)7. mahAlakMi jagan mAtA,

shankarAbharaNam, misra cApu (pApanAshaM shivan)8. bhAgyadA lakSmI bAramma ,

madhyamAvati/shrI, Adi (purandharadAsa)9. pAlise enna shrI mahAlakSmi, shrI,

aTa (purandharadAsa)

Last year, during the Varalakshmi Puja uploads, Carnatica presented the text of

the shrI rAga k.rti : "shrI varalakshmi namasthubhyam" by Muthuswami Dikshitar,

with word-for-word meaning. The charaNam line of this song clearly mentions the

Charumati legend, as well as the correct day for the performing the vratam -

ShrAvaNa paurNamI pUrvastha shukravArEChArumatI prabh.rtibhiH pUjitAkArE

The k.rti also features the beautiful gopucha yati

sArasa padErasa padEsapadEpadE

We recall that Dikshitar has used this type of "yati" (a figure of speech) in

various other compositions (e.g. tyAgarAja yoga vaibhavam, mAyE tvam yAhi). In

the saurAshtra rAga k.rti "varalakshmIm Bhaja re re mAnasa ", Dikshitar

mentions that Lakshmi was worshipped by the King of Saurashtra (also suggesting

the raga mudra for saurAShTram!).

The mAdhava manOhari composition, "mahAlakShmI karuNArasalahari" is the only one

in that ragam composed by Dikshitar in this beautiful janyam of shrI (asampUrANa

melam 22). In fact, Professor S. R. Janakiraman remarks in his recent book that

mAdhavamanohari is an Eka krti rAga (just one composition exists in this

rAgam). However, there is a second version of mAdhavamanohari under mELam 57

(simhEndramadhyamam), and Muthaiah Bhagavathar has a composition in this

version.

The compositions in gaurimanOhari, and paraju by Mysore Vasudevachariar are in

simple sanskrit, short and sweet!

The Tamil composition "varalaksmi nIyE vandaruLvAyE", a simple song by Papanasam

Sivan, has been popularized by Shri O. S. Thyagarajan. He invariably sings this

piece in his concerts. Papanasam Sivan's shankarAbharaNa song " mahAlakshmI

jagan mAta" is increasingly popular in concerts these days.

The Purandhara dasa krithi "bhAgya lakshmi bAramma" (in madhyamavati/shrI) is

another popular composition we often hear in the post pallavi segment, at the

conclusion of carnatic concerts, as well as in south Indian Bhajans. It is a

favorite of the instrumentalists. Saxaphone artist Kadri Gopalnath plays it

regularly in his concerts. Flute artist K S Gopalakrishnan regularly uses this

compostion as a Mangalam for all his concerts (instead of the traditional piece

"pavamAna sududupaTTu" of Tyagaraja).

Though we have not provided the lyrics, the song "lakshmi ravE ma indikE" is

very popular for Varalakshmi celebrations. The composer of this beautiful song

in mAyamALavagauLa is unknown.

The rendering of the Varalakshmi songs usually conclude with a mangala krti,

"lakshmI kalyANa vaibhOgamE", usually rendered in rAgam kura~nji.Commercial

Recordings

There are at least two commercial audio cassettes (perhaps more!) that are

exclusively devoted to Varalakshmi Puja and Varalakshmi songs. They are:

Varalakshmi Songs (rendered by Sangita Kalanidhi R. Vedavalli, assisted by R.

Abhirama Sundari - GITA GCT 4003). It has the following songs :

lakshmi rAvE mA yinDike (mAyamAlavagauLa)pUja seika murAre (sahAna)gauri kalyana

vaibhogame (kura~nji)shri varalakshmi (shrI)ninnu jUDe

(shankarAbharaNam)mahAlakshmi karunalahari (mAdhava manohari)bhAgyada

(madhyamavAti),mangaLam

Another recording is:Varalakshmi Puja Vidhanam and Songs (Valuttor S. Rajagopala

Sharma, songs by Bombay Sisters) containing the following songs:

lakshmi rAve ma iniDike (mAyamALavagauLa)mahalakshmi

(shankarAbharaNam)varalakshmIm bhaja (saurAShTram)varalakshmi namostute

(gaurimanOhari)shri mahalakshmIm bhajeham (paraju)palisenna shri mahalakshmi

(kamAs)shri varalakshmi namasthubhyam (shrI)

mahAlakShmi Stotrams

Stotrams on Vara (mahA) lakshmi too are very popular and chanted on this

auspicious occasion. The Composition Bank has a few stotrams in praise of Maha

Lakshmi. The following stotrams can be accessed from the Composition Bank (in

the shlOka bank) :

ashTlakShmi stotram

mahAlakShmi ashtakam

Both these prayers are sung melodiously by Carnatica's own Sowmya in a

cassette/CD entitled "mahiShAsura marddani", which includes many other popular

Devi Stotrams.CLICK HERE for lyrics of Varalakshmi songs in Sanskrit and tamil.

CLICK HERE for lyrics in diacritical English. "...always look at the positive

side of things... " sri sathya sai

sairamdoris (AT) (DOT) es