Varalakshmi vratham story or katha

 It is said that Goddess Parvathi requested Lord Shiva to tell Her a Vratha which when performed by women will ensure all good things and blessings.

Lord Shiva said there is such a Vratha which has to be observed on a Friday preceding Sravana Full Moon.  

She asked how to observe this Vratha.

Lord Shiva narrated a story .

In Magadha there was a town called Kundini .  All houses were built with and full of gold.  In the town there was a lady called Charumathi.  She was the most pious lady in the town.  She performed all her duties with devotion and so earned the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi

Once Goddess Lakshmi appeared in her dream and said ,  I am Varalakshmi Devi .  Worship Me on the Friday preceding Sravana Pournami.  I will confer all riches and blessings (  Money alone is not wealth ).  There are sixteen blessings that are sought by us human beings. 

 Goddess Lakshmi in the form of Varalakshmi can give us all the 16 blessings ( Good health, education, money , food, beauty, fame, greatness, youth, wisdom, progeny, strength, bravery , longevity , success, good destiny and pleasant experiences ) 

Charumathi bowed to the Goddess and requested Her that she shower Her blessings on all those who worship Her.  The Goddess also told her how to observe the Vratha

Charumathi woke up from her dream , recollected what she had dreamt and observed the Vratha.

She decorated a mantap, placed a wooden plank inside , placed a plantain leaf on the plank,  spread rice and placed a kalasam etched with the face of Goddess Lakshmi . 

 She placed mango leaves in the kalasam performed Pooja , invited her neighbours, relatives and friends and offered a thread dipped in turmeric which was tied on the wrist of the visiting ladies.  

After the Pooja was performed all present received the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi .

Over a period of time the procedure for the Vrata and Pooja may have undergone few changes in different places, different families but the concept is the same.  Observe the Vratha and perform the Pooja on the Sravan Friday preceding full moon and get the blessings of Goddess Varamahalakshmi .  If the festival falls on Sravana Friday which is also a full moon day , it is very auspicious particularly for those who celebrate the festival for the first time.  

Since Rangoli sans dots is a website for rangolis , let us see a couple of simple rangoli designs using lines,  for the festival