And today we’ll tell you the story behind the festival of Varalakshmi Puja, which is celebrated primarily in South India during the monsoon season.
The Divine Beginning
Once upon a time, Lord Shiva was seated on his throne of ashes while the gods and demigods were singing his praises. It was a glorious moment with the ten directions echoing with Shiva’s name.
Just then, Goddess Parvati walked in. She saw this joyful atmosphere and wished for similar joy, prosperity, and fortune to be extended to everyone in the world.
She asked Shiva,
“Oh Lord, is there a prescribed way for people to gain prosperity, fortune, and happiness?”
Shiva replied,
“Indeed, that is why the world has Lakshmi Puja.”
Parvati’s Curiosity and Shiva’s Story
Parvati got curious.
“Lakshmi Puja? What is that, my Lord? Who performed it for the first time ever? And how does one perform it?”
To answer her questions, Shiva narrated this story:
The Story of Charumathi
There was once a woman by the name of Charumathi. She was very dedicated to her family and took great care that everyone in her house was comfortable, well looked after, and happy. She was a very pious and virtuous lady.
One night, when Charumathi was asleep, she had a divine dream. A goddess appeared and told her that she was very happy with her sincerity and dedication to her family.
This goddess was none other than Goddess Varalakshmi, the goddess who grants boons. (“Vara” means boon in Sanskrit.)
Varalakshmi instructed Charumathi to perform a special puja for Goddess Mahalakshmi. And in return, she would be granted a boon.
But this puja was to be performed at a specific time — in the Indian month of Shravan, which coincides with July/August, on the Friday before the full moon.
After giving these instructions, the goddess disappeared.
The First Varalakshmi Puja
Charumathi woke up filled with joy. She shared her dream with the entire town and invited everyone to perform the puja with her.
On that special Friday, everyone gathered. Charumathi built a beautiful altar by:
- Spreading raw uncooked rice on a platform,
- Placing a pot or Kalash over it,
- Decorating it with mango leaves, and
- Placing a coconut on top — symbolizing the goddess.
She then performed a detailed puja of Goddess Varalakshmi and offered many varieties of dishes including:
- Steamed rice, lemon rice, tamarind rice, dal, cooked vegetables, vadas, salted snacks, sweets, kheer, and more.
She offered all of it to the goddess with a smile and devotion.
Finally, a sacred thread with nine knots was tied around her hand, symbolizing her commitment to the puja.
Everyone prayed to Goddess Mahalakshmi and received blessings.
Charumathi too was blessed. And that is how the tradition of performing Mahalakshmi Puja in the month of Shravan started.
Another Story – Power of Varalakshmi Puja
To illustrate the power of this puja, Shiva told another story.
Once, Lord Shiva and Parvati were playing a game of dice. A dispute arose over who was winning. Both started to argue and couldn’t come to a conclusion.
They decided to bring in a third person as judge — a follower of Shiva named Chitranemi.
Chitranemi listened to both and ruled that Shiva had won. But Parvati was upset. She felt Chitranemi was being partial, and in her anger, she cursed him with leprosy.
Chitranemi pleaded,
“I only said what I believed was right.”
Parvati felt compassion and agreed to remove the curse — but with a condition. She told him to attend a Varalakshmi Puja and that his leprosy would be cured.
He did as told, and he was healed.
Such is the power of the Mahalakshmi Puja.
Closing
That was the story behind Varalakshmi Puja, celebrated in India during the monsoon season.
