Varalakshmi vrutham : method to perform

Hi latha, one of the participant want the method to perform varalakshmi Pooja. Hope this will be useful. Varalakshmi Vrutham : Varalakshmi pooja falls on 20th August this year, the day is clubed with Ekadasi day, it is auspious to perform by placing a gold lakshmi coin in the kalasam. Requirement for Pooja : Varalakshmi Muham Sambu to keep - Kalasam Coconut - 1 Blouse piece - 1 (red or green) Paavadai for goddess Mangoleaves - 1 bunch Banana Leaves -1 Banana plant (Small - 4) Beetal Leaves - few Beetal nuts - 1 packet Kumkum Chandanam Turmeric powder - to make Ganesha Turmeric Stems (kizhangu) Valak - 2 big Deepan ( valak) Rice Black bangles _ small beeds Flower - 1 malai + loose flowers for arachanai Aarti water (Kumkum + water mix) lime coin Kolam - sundal to be prepare for the evening NIEVEDHYAM 1. PAYASAM 2. IDLI 3. AMAI VADAI (ULUNDU) 4. MODHAKAM MAHA NEIVEDHYAM RICE DAL First draw kolam at pooja place. Place Banana leaf, place silver tray atop Banana leave, place silver sambu atop the tray after spreading Rice and creating a pond shaped - crater. Fill sambu with rice betel leaves betel nut, coin termeric, nut lime, black bangle. Place coconut atop the sambu. a coconut that is smeared with vermillion and turmeric powder is placed on the Kalasha. Placed atop the kalasha. ( select coconut according to the size of sambu, smaller the better. Place Amman Moham is such a way that it rests properly. A new cloth is placed on the coconut. Decorate the Kalasha with jewels to make it appear more beautiful. The moham can be decorated with ornaments flowers and tie pavadai. (Coconut kudumi shoud not be visible). Place 2 big lamps on either side of the table with 5 heads. These decoration can be done preferable the earlier day to ensure that you have enough time to do the pooja properly and leisurely. Pooja can start before 10.30 or after 12.30 (10.30 to 12.30 is Rahukalam) or Pooja can be started before Rahukalam and can be continued. On the morning of varalakshmi Vratham : Place kolam in front yard. Place Amman Moham duly decorated at the house entrance for few minutes. Sing Lakshmi Rave maa initiki and welcome the Goddess Varalakshmi home. You may buy Varalakshmi Pooja cassette and play to perform the pooja according. I do the same, ( first hear the cassette and note the gotram, nakshatram, masam, varsham) The puja starts with the worship of Lord Ganesha, who is considered to help in getting rid of obstacles as well as evil forces. Subsequently, the devotees invoke Goddess Varalakshmi to enter the Kalasha. Then torams are worshipped and one is tied around the Kalasha, while another one is tied on the right hand of the woman, who is performing the puja. Then they chant Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamam (it is a list consisting of a hundred names praising the Goddess). Nine types of sweets as well as savories are offered to the Goddess. Hymns are sung in praise of the deity. Sumangalis woman and children are invited; who is considered to be Goddess Varalakshmi and sweets as well savories are offered. In the evening all the ladies in the locality are invited and are offered tamboolam (betel leaves, betel nuts fruits, turmeric as well as dakshna (money). Together they sing songs in praise of the Goddess. Do perform aarthi with kumkum water only. NEXT DAY :: Punar pooja to be performed. Navedhayam to be offered. In the night do perform aarti and keep aman moham with a single garland in rice pot.