As the legend goes, this is a pooja that was pronounced by 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. Even the young girls of the household join the pooja for Goddess Lakshmi's blessings. The prescribed day for the pooja is the Friday of the month of Shravana in the fortnight known as Sukla paksha, preceding the full moon day. The word, Vara- lakshmi means one who grants the boon of wealth.

History

In the kingdom of Magadha, there lived a brahmin woman called Charumathi in a town named Kundina. The prosperous town was the home of Charumathi and her husband. She devotedly served her husband and her parents-in-law. Impressed by her piety, Goddess Mahalakshmi appeared in her dream and asked her to worship Vara-Lakshmi and seek to fulfill her wishes. Varalakshmi is yet another form of Lord Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

When Charumathi explained her dream to her family, she found them encouraging her to perform the pooja. Many other women of the town also joined her in performing the pooja in a traditional way and offered many sweet dishes to the Goddess Varalakshmi. They prayed with deep devotion:

"Padmaasane Padmakare sarva lokaika poojithe
Narayana priyadevi supreethaa bhava sarvada"

The people who performed the pooja were blessed with good fortune. Done with devotion, it is said that boons would be granted and thus many wishes would be realized.

Goddess Lakshmi, wealth and prosperity is invoked in a kalasa. The pooja is performed with the assistance of the priest. A doraka (thread) is also offered in pooja and later worn on the right hand.

May Goddess Lakshmi's blessings be there with us all the time!