• Attraction of Wealth and Prosperity: Observing the vratam is believed to invoke the blessings of Goddess Mahalakshmi, attracting financial stability, wealth, and prosperity into the household.

• Fulfillment of Desires: Devotees who observe the Mahalakshmi Vratam with faith are often blessed with the fulfillment of their deepest desires, whether related to wealth, family, or personal aspirations.

• Protection from Financial Difficulties: The vratam is considered a powerful remedy for overcoming financial challenges, debts, and economic hardships, bringing stability and abundance.

• Promotion of Family Harmony: By performing the rituals together, families strengthen their bonds, ensuring peace, love, and mutual understanding among members.

• Spiritual Growth and Devotion: The vratam enhances spiritual awareness and deepens the devotee's connection with the divine, leading to inner peace and contentment.

• Health and Well-being: Observing the vratam with discipline, including fasting and prayers, is believed to purify the body and mind, contributing to overall health and well-being.

• Removal of Obstacles: The goddess's blessings are sought to remove any obstacles or negative energies that may hinder personal or professional progress.

Step-by-Step Procedure to Perform Mahalakshmi Vratam

1. Preparation

• Cleanse the House: Start by thoroughly cleaning the house, especially the area where the puja will be performed. This is done to purify the environment and create a sacred space for the ritual.
• Gather Puja Items: Prepare all the necessary items for the puja, including:
  • A picture or idol of Goddess Mahalakshmi
  • Kalash (a small pot, usually made of brass or silver, filled with water)
  • Turmeric, kumkum (vermilion), sandalwood paste
  • Flowers (especially lotus and marigold), garlands
  • Fresh fruits, sweets, coconut, and betel leaves
  • Panchamrit (a mixture of milk, curd, honey, sugar, and ghee)
  • A new piece of cloth or saree for the deity
  • Lamps, camphor, incense sticks
  • Rice, grains, and coins for offering
• Fasting and Prayers: If you are observing the fast, prepare yourself mentally and physically by having a light, sattvic meal the previous night. Avoid non-vegetarian food, onion, and garlic during the vratam.

2. Kalash Sthapana (Establishing the Kalash)

• Place a clean, decorated wooden platform in the puja area.
• Fill the Kalash with clean water, add a few rice grains, betel leaves, and a coin or gold ornament inside.
• Place a coconut covered with a red cloth on top of the Kalash.
• Decorate the Kalash with turmeric, kumkum, and flowers.
• Position the Kalash in the center of the platform, symbolizing the presence of Goddess Mahalakshmi.

3. Invoking Goddess Mahalakshmi

• Place the idol or picture of Goddess Mahalakshmi near the Kalash.
• Offer flowers, sandalwood paste, turmeric, and kumkum to the goddess.
• Dress the goddess in new clothes or adorn the picture with a new cloth.
• Light the lamps and incense sticks to purify the space and signify the presence of divine energy.

4. Sankalpam (Taking the Vow)

• Sit facing the east or north direction and take a Sankalpam (vow) to observe the vratam with devotion.
• Recite the Sankalpam mantra, mentioning your name, the day, the purpose of the vratam, and your devotion to Goddess Mahalakshmi.

5. Performing the Puja

• Offerings: Begin by offering Panchamrit, flowers, fruits, sweets, and other items to the goddess. Place these items in front of the idol or picture.
• Chanting of Mantras: Recite Mahalakshmi mantras, stotras, or Ashtalakshmi Stotram. You can also recite the Lakshmi Sahasranama (a thousand names of Lakshmi) during this time.
• Aarti: Perform the aarti by waving the camphor flame in a circular motion in front of the goddess, accompanied by the ringing of bells and the chanting of bhajans or prayers.
• Naivedyam: Offer the prepared food items (prasadam) to the goddess and then distribute it to family members and guests after the puja.

6. Vrat Katha (Story of the Vrat)

• It is customary to listen to or read the Mahalakshmi Vrat Katha, a story narrating the significance and origin of the vratam. This helps in understanding the deeper spiritual meaning behind the observance.

7. Breaking the Fast

• In the evening, after the puja and aarti, you can break your fast by consuming the prasadam and other sattvic food.
• Ensure that the day is spent in a pious and peaceful manner, avoiding any unnecessary arguments or negative thoughts.

8. Visarjan (Concluding the Puja)

• On the final day of the vratam, offer your thanks to Goddess Mahalakshmi for her blessings throughout the vratam period.
• Perform the visarjan (ritual immersion) of the Kalash water by pouring it into a sacred water source or under a Tulsi plant in your home.
• The idol or picture of Mahalakshmi can remain in your puja space for daily worship.

9. Charity and Helping Others

• After completing the vratam, it is considered auspicious to donate food, clothes, or money to the needy. This act of charity is believed to multiply the blessings received during the vratam.

By following these steps with devotion and sincerity, you can perform the Mahalakshmi Vratam, inviting prosperity, happiness, and the blessings of Goddess Mahalakshmi into your life.

Mahalakshmi Vratam Katha

The Mahalakshmi Vratam, also known as Varalaxmi Vratam, is a significant Hindu festival primarily observed in South India, especially in states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. This vrat (fast) is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and well-being. It is believed that observing this vrat with devotion and faith brings prosperity, happiness, and long life to the family.

Here is the story (Katha) associated with Mahalakshmi Vratam:

The Story of Charumati:

Once upon a time, in a town called Kundinpur, there lived a pious and devout woman named Charumati. She was a devoted wife and was very dedicated to her family. She was known for her virtues and for taking care of her household with great love and affection.

One night, Goddess Mahalakshmi appeared in Charumati's dream. The goddess was pleased with Charumati's devotion and told her, "I am pleased with your devotion and service towards your family. I bless you and your family with wealth, prosperity, and happiness. You should observe a fast (vrat) on the day of Shravana Shukla Ashtami (the eighth day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Shravana). By doing so, you will always have my blessings, and your family will never face any difficulties."

The next morning, Charumati woke up and narrated the dream to her family and the women in her neighborhood. Everyone was excited and decided to observe the Mahalakshmi Vratam together. On the auspicious day, Charumati, along with the other women, cleaned their houses, decorated their homes with flowers and rangolis, and prepared an altar to worship Goddess Lakshmi.

They performed the puja (worship) with great devotion, offering flowers, fruits, and sweets to the goddess. They also tied a sacred thread around their wrists as a symbol of the vrat. As they performed the puja, they chanted the mantras and sang songs in praise of Goddess Lakshmi.

Goddess Lakshmi was very pleased with their devotion and appeared before them. She blessed all the women, granting them wealth, prosperity, and happiness. From that day onwards, Charumati and the women of Kundinpur observed the Mahalakshmi Vratam every year, and their families flourished with the blessings of the goddess.

The vrat became popular, and it spread to other regions. Women began observing this vrat with great faith, believing that it would bring prosperity, happiness, and long life to their families. Even today, women across India observe the Mahalakshmi Vratam, praying for the well-being of their families and seeking the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi.

This katha is recited during the Mahalakshmi Vratam to remind devotees of the importance of devotion, faith, and the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. Observing this vrat is believed to bring peace, prosperity, and abundance to the household.

• Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamavali
• Lakshmi Sahasranama Stotram