Introduction:
Varamahalakshmi Vrata is a highly revered Hindu festival that is mostly observed in South India. This auspicious day is observed by devotees to honour and seek the blessings of Goddess Mahalakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The puja (worship) rites are very important in this event, and the choosing of appropriate Varamahalakshmi vrat materials is very important. In this post, we will look at the necessary things for the Varamahalakshmi puja and their significance in asking the goddess’s graces.
Setup of the Puja Altar:
The first step is to create a sacred environment for the Varamahalakshmi puja. It is necessary to have a clean and well-decorated altar or puja area. The following elements are required for the puja altar to be put up:
- Puja Chowki: The puja setting is supported by a little elevated platform or chowki.
- Cloth: To serve as the puja backdrop, a clean and ideally new cloth, such as silk or cotton cloth, is put over the chowki.
- Flowers: For decorating and offering to the goddess, fresh flowers, particularly marigold and jasmine, are utilised.
- Incense Sticks and Dhoop: To create a pleasant mood and purify the surroundings, fragrant incense sticks and dhoop (incense cones) are burnt.
Goddess Mahalakshmi Idol or Image:
The presence of Goddess Mahalakshmi is the focal focus of the Varamahalakshmi puja. Devotees typically keep a miniature idol or representation of the goddess on the puja altar. A gold or silver idol of the goddess is considered auspicious, but a portrait or a clay replica is equally acceptable. Jewellery, flowers, and vermillion are used to embellish the deity or figure.
Essentials for a Puja:
The following objects are required to execute the Varamahalakshmi puja:
- Kalasha: The kalasha, a brass or silver jug filled with water and ornamented with mango leaves and coconut, represents abundance and purity.
- Turmeric and Kumkum: Turmeric powder and kumkum (vermillion) are used to apply a tilak (mark) on the idol’s or image’s, as well as devotees’, foreheads.
- Rice: Raw rice grains are used as a shower offering to symbolise success and abundance.
- Betel Leaves and Nuts: Betel leaves and betel nuts are offered to the goddess as a mark of respect and hospitality.
- Fruits and Sweets: As prasadam (blessed food), various fruits and sweets are offered to the goddess and subsequently distributed to devotees as a symbol of divine grace and rewards.
Bangles and sacred threads:
The tying of sacred threads and the donning of bangles are other key aspects of the Varamahalakshmi puja. Married ladies wear yellow or red threads around their wrists to represent a sacred relationship with the goddess and to seek her blessings for marital happiness and well-being. Women also wear new bangles, ideally made of gold or glass, to invoke Goddess Mahalakshmi’s blessings for prosperity and abundance.
Puja Accessories: The following items add to the ambiance and purity of the Varamahalakshmi puja:
- Diyas and Oil: Pure ghee or oil is used to light earthen or brass diyas (lamps), symbolising the banishing of darkness and the presence of heavenly light.
- Bell: During the puja, a small bell is rung to create a rhythmic and beautiful sound that is thought to invite positive energy and ward off harmful influences.
- Puja Plate: During the puja, a plate containing a tiny cup of water, turmeric, kumkum, flowers, and a small spoon is used to offer these items to the goddess.
Conclusion:
The Varamahalakshmi puja honours Goddess Mahalakshmi, who represents the divine virtues of wealth, prosperity, and abundance. The selection and placement of proper puja materials is important in establishing a conducive setting for requesting the goddess’s blessings. Each object, from the puja altar to the sacred threads and accessories, has its own symbolism and significance in Goddess Mahalakshmi’s devotion. Devotees seek the goddess’s blessings and attract prosperity and well-being into their life by doing the puja with devotion and using the necessary Varamahalakshmi puja items.
