Amma's
Special Guidance for Sri Vara Lakshmi Vratam
When we offer
sacred flames to the auspicious Sri Chakra, Divine
Mother floods our inner being with light, peace, and inner joy
Jai Karunamayi!
In 2008, Sri Vara Lakshmi Vratam falls on August 15th. This holy day
is sacred to Sri Maha Lakshmi Devi, who showers her abundant motherly
love and precious spiritual boons on those who perform puja to her
on this day. “Vara” means “boon,” so this
is the day when Divine Mother grants all of our noble wishes. Amma
has given some specific guidance for some practices that can be done
on this day in order to bring every auspicious blessing into our
lives.
Amma’s
Guidance for Observing Sri Vara Lakshmi Vratam
Ghee
lamps are especially sacred to Sri Lakshmi Devi, so if a ghee lamp
can be kept lit in the puja room for the entire day, this is very
auspicious. If this is not possible, it is good to at least light
a ghee lamp during the practices described below.
Before
doing any of these practices, it is best to take a head bath (shower
and wash the hair) and put on clean clothes. It is very good to recite
the Samputita Sri Suktam five times on this day. The recitations
can be split between the morning and evening, according to one's
schedule. If it is not possible to chant five times, one can at least
try to chant it just once. During one of the recitations, milk abhishekam
can be performed to a Sri Chakra. If possible, keep a ghee lamp lit
during the puja. While chanting Samputita Sri Suktam, offer spoonfuls
of milk to the Sri Chakra, making sure to use only the right hand
for offering. Any spoons, bowls or trays used in the puja should
have always been used only for puja purposes. Items that have ever
been used for eating or for any other purpose should not be used
for puja. If no proper puja vessels are available, you can use new,
unused paper plates or bowls.
After
finishing the Samputita Sri Suktam, carefully wash the Sri Chakra
with water and dry it with a clean paper towel or a new, unused cloth.
You can do this in the puja room itself. The water used for cleaning
should not be brought from the bathroom, and the Sri Chakra or puja
vessels should never be taken into the bathroom.
Next, you can chant the Sri
Lakshmi Ashtottara Sata Namavalih (The
108 Names of Sri Lakshmi Devi). While chanting each name, you
can offer kumkum, flowers, or flower petals. The flowers would ideally
be some shade of red or pink. One or two dozen red or pink roses
can be gently separated into petals, and then one petal can be offered
with each name. After finishing the archana, you can light some incense
and offer it to the Sri Chakra.
Next,
you can offer food (naivedyam). If you know how to make sweet pongal,
this is a very auspicious offering. Otherwise, any sweet fruits,
like apples, bananas, etc., can be offered. Simply place the fruits
on a puja tray and keep that near the Sri Chakra. Finally, you can
offer harati, preferably with five ghee wicks. If this is not possible,
you can offer a single ghee or camphor flame.
Once the
puja is completed, the offered milk and fruits will be highly charged
with the divine vibrations of Sri Maha Lakshmi Devi. The milk and
fruits can be distributed as Mother Lakshmi's sacred prasadam to
one’s family and friends. The offered flower petals should
not be thrown away; they can be respectfully placed in a clean, natural
place somewhere outside. This will be a wonderful blessing for Mother
Earth. If you have lit any ghee or oil lamps, please do not blow
these out. Let them burn out naturally.
Vara Lakshmi Ceremony Sponsorship
You can sponsor the Vara Lakshmi and Sravana Purnima homa ceremonies at Amma's ashram in India. You will receive holy prasad from the ceremony. Sponsorship list.
Photos from Vara Lakshmi Homas and Abhishekams at Amma's Ashram
Additional Resources for Learning
and Practice
On
the holy occasion of Sri Vara Lakshmi Vratam, may the
whole Earth be drenched in a nectarean flood of Sri Maha Lakshmi Devi’s
divine peace, compassion and motherly love.
Lokah
Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
May
All Beings Be Happy
Om
Shantih Shantih Shantihi
May
the Whole World Be in Peace
