Varalakshmi Vratham Katha

The Katha (Story)

Once, Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva to teach her a vrat that would benefit all women — particularly sumangalis (married women whose husbands are alive). Shiva taught her the Varalakshmi Vratham.

In the city of Kuntinapura lived a Brahmin woman named Charumati. One night, Goddess Lakshmi appeared in her dream and instructed her to perform the Varalakshmi Vratham. The Goddess promised that women who perform the vrat with devotion would receive all the wealth, health, children, and blessings they desired.

Charumati announced the vrat in her neighborhood. The women of the city — both wealthy and poor — joined her in the observance. On Shravana's last Friday, all the women bathed, dressed in finery, set up sacred kalashas in their homes, and worshipped Lakshmi with the prescribed rituals.

After the vrat, Goddess Lakshmi appeared before the women and granted each the boons (vara) she desired. Charumati received all eight forms of Lakshmi's blessing (Ashta Lakshmi). The wealthy women became wealthier; the poor women became prosperous; childless women conceived; women with ailing children saw them recover; daughters found good husbands.

The vrat's message: regardless of social standing, a woman who worships Lakshmi with sincere devotion receives blessings appropriate to her righteous desires.

Puja Vidhi (Ritual Procedure)

1. Step 1: Begin preparations 1-2 days before: clean the house, purchase new bangles/sari, prepare offerings.
2. Step 2: On the day: take an oil bath at sunrise; wear new or freshly-washed silk sari, full bangles, kumkum, and bottu.
3. Step 3: Draw a rangoli (lotus, vintage Telugu padma rangoli) at the entrance and puja area.
4. Step 4: Set up the sacred kalasha (silver, brass, or clay) on rice spread over a banana leaf — this is the Lakshmi murti.
5. Step 5: Place mango leaves around the kalasha mouth; place a coconut wrapped in yellow turmeric cloth on top.
6. Step 6: Decorate the coconut as Lakshmi's face with eyes, nose, mouth (using turmeric, kumkum, sandalwood).
7. Step 7: Adorn the kalasha with flowers, ornaments, garlands.
8. Step 8: Worship Lord Ganesha first.
9. Step 9: Perform 9 thread-tying ceremony (women tie 9-knotted sacred thread on wrist while reciting Lakshmi mantras).
10. Step 10: Offer 9 types of fruits, 9 types of flowers, 9 types of foods.
11. Step 11: Read the Varalakshmi Vratham Katha aloud (family women + neighbors invited).
12. Step 12: Recite Lakshmi Ashtottara (108 names) and Mahalakshmi Ashtakam.
13. Step 13: Distribute "tambulam" — turmeric-coloured rice, kumkum, banana, betel leaves and areca nuts, fruit, sari blouse piece — to all visiting married women.
14. Step 14: Conclude with aarti and prostration.
15. Step 15: Many families maintain the kalasha worship through the evening with diya (lamp) burning.

Benefits

Long life and good health of husband (foremost intention); financial prosperity and freedom from debt; blessings for unmarried daughters to find good husbands; healing of family illness; emotional harmony in marriage; obstacles to fertility removed; auspiciousness (saubhagya) preserved.

When to Perform

The last Friday of Telugu Shravana month. In 2026, Varalakshmi Vratham 2026 falls on Friday, August 7. Married women observe; in some families, all women of marriageable age and above participate.

Other Vrat Kathas

→ See all Vrat Kathas in the library