Varalakshmi Viratha – 04-08-2017
Varalakshmi is goddess of
wealth and prosperity. Goddess Varalakshmi who is the consort of Lord Vishnu is one of the forms
of Goddess Malahalakshmi. Varalakshmi was incarnated from
the milky ocean. Varalakshmi means – Vara + Lakshmi i.e.Lakshmi bestowing boons to
her devotees and it is believed that worshipping Goddess Varalakshmi on Varalakshmi Viratha Day is equivalent to
worshipping Askhtalakshmi – i.e. eight
Goddesses of Wealth (Sri), Earth (Bhu), Learning (Saraswathi), Love (Priti), Fame (Kirti), Peace (Shanthi), Pleasure (Tushti) and Strength (Pushti).
There are different versions about Varalakshmi Viratha.
One version: Once upon a time Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi were dancing. There
was a dispute regarding the winner. Parvathi claimed that she won the dance and also Lord Shiva. So
they decided to consult Chitranemi, a gana who could give
testimony regarding the winner. Chitramani confirmed that Lord
Shiva won the dance. Goddess Parvathi got angry with the verdict and she accused Chitranemi of lying and cursed Chitranemi to suffer from leprosy and be born on earth. When Lord Shiva pleaded for Chitranemi's cause,
Parvathi conceded and offered a remedy. She blessed him that he would
be cured of the curse the day celestial apsaras performed Varalakshmi Vratham on the banks of holy waters. And on
witnessing celestial apsaras’ performing Valaralakshmi Viratha, Chitranemi was completely cured of leprosy.
Another
version: Lord Shiva and Parvati were playing a game of dice and Chitranemi,
a gana
of Shiva, was appointed as the umpire. When Chitranemi
named Shiva as the winner, Parvathi became angry and cursed him to be a
leper, but, on Shiva’s pleas, Parvathi had said that he would be cured of his
leprosy, once he witnessed Varalakshmi Viratha performed by pious women.
This
Viratha is an important Hindu festival for married women who decorate Varalakshmi idols with silk sarees, garlands etc. and after puja, the sacred threads called Nombu Charadu
are tied by their husbands around their right hand wrists. In this Viratha, women folks pray for
well-being of their husbands and other family members.
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