Varalakshmi Vrat Katha

It is an account of ancient times, once Lord Shiva was playing a game of dice or Chausar with Mother Parvati on the peak of Mount Kailash. At that time, a dispute arose between Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati over who had won. Both of them were proving themselves victorious. They asked Chitra-nemi, who was present there, for the winner's name. Chitra-nemi was a devotee of Lord Shiva. Therefore, he lied and said that Lord Shiva had won. Devi Parvati was extremely angry at Chitra-nemi's false speech and while cursing him, she said - "O liar! You have insulted me and committed irreligious conduct by speaking lies before me, therefore you become afflicted with leprosy." Chitra-nemi was extremely surprised and terrified by Mother Parvati's curse and began to cry for mercy.

Thereafter, Lord Shiva said - "I have neither seen nor heard of a sin more grave and terrible than false speech. But this Chitra-nemi is very learned, he never speaks lies. Therefore, O Devi! Cast your kind gaze on this helpless one, forgive him and deliver this refugee."

When her anger subsided, Mother Parvati, being kind, showed Chitra-nemi the way to liberation from the curse and said - "When Apsaras will perform a holy fast at a beautiful lake and will tell you everything with concentration, at that time you will be freed from the curse." As soon as Devi Parvati said this, Chitra-nemi fell down from Kailash and began to spend his life as a leper near the lake.

Near the lake, he saw Apsaras performing worship. Saluting those graceful ones, Chitra-nemi asked them - "O noble ones! Whom are you all worshiping and what is your wish? Please tell me some such spiritual practice whose fruit I may obtain in this world and the other world as well. Please describe some such fast by following which I may be freed from that curse of Mother Parvati which has been giving me trouble for a long time."

One of the Apsaras said - "This is Shri Varalakshmi Vrat which fulfills all wishes and provides happiness and prosperity. You also follow this best of fasts. At the time when Surya Deva is situated in Cancer (Karka) sign in Shravan, at that same time, all self-controlled persons should observe the fast of Devi Mahalakshmi on the Friday of the Shukla Paksha of that same Shravan month at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna or on the bank of Tungabhadra river.

To perform this fast, get a four-armed golden image of Mother Lakshmi made, and decorate the house with Rangvalli (Rangoli) and festoons (Torana) etc. In the eastern part of the house, especially in the Ishana corner (North-East), place one prastha i.e., about 400 grams of rice (Tandula) on the ground. Establish a Kalash filled with holy water on a lotus (Padma). Placing fruit on it, put gold, brass or copper metal and five leaves (Pancha Pallava) into it and cover it with a cloth. Thereafter, after completing the Agnyuttarana etc. rituals, establish the image on the Kalash according to procedure and worship it. For worship, perform pure bath and bath with Panchamrit through mantras respectively, and perform Abhishekam while reciting the Devi Suktam. Worship with Ashtagandha and then worship with leaves. Take 21 leaves of Ashvattha i.e., Peepal, Banyan (Vata), Bilva, Mango (Amra), Malati and Pomegranate etc., and also offer other flowers like Malati etc. to the Mother. Worship Devi Mahalakshmi, the fulfiller of wishes, with incense, lamp etc. Offer Naivedya (consecrated food) to Devi Shiva consisting of various kinds of delicacies including Payas (Kheer) and twenty-one apupas (puas/sweet fritters). Thereafter, pray to the Mother for obtaining a boon. Praying to Shri Lakshmi Ji through dance and singing etc. while meditating on Devi Saraswati and the soft-spoken Devi Shachi."

After performing the fast by the above method, offer five kinds of Vayan, i.e., offerings, and listen to the Vrat Katha with faith. Remaining silent, worship the Mother with five Aartis. In this way, those Apsaras of heaven described the procedure of Varalakshmi Vrat in detail.

The observer of the fast should take an areca nut and carefully preserve a leaf without powder, tie it in a piece of cloth and observe it in the morning. If it turns red properly, then perform the fast; otherwise, one who desires land should not perform this fast. Accept the fast only by the above procedure. The Apsaras completed this fast, which fulfills all desires, according to the procedure. After completing the worship, when the Apsaras looked towards Chitra-nemi, he had become free from leprosy by the influence of the smoke of incense and the lamp of ghee, and had become radiant like gold.

Chitra-nemi said to all those Devis - "I will also certainly perform this success-giving fast with effort." Chitra-nemi got an image of the Devi endowed with divine clothes and ornaments made and worshiped her by the previously mentioned procedure. He offered five kinds of Vayan consisting of vessels of bamboo (Venu), Dakshina, fruit, grain and twenty-one delicacies to the Mother Goddess. He offered one Vayan each to a Brahmin (Vipra), ascetic (Yati), Devi, celibate (Brahmachari) and a married woman (Suvasini). After offering five Vayans in this way and bowing at the feet of the Mother Goddess, he proceeded towards his residence.

Tying a leaf of Nagvalli i.e. betel leaf without powder and an areca nut in a cloth, he observed it in the morning and found that it had turned red. Seeing it red, Chitra-nemi performed the fast with devotion. As a result of the fast, the Mother Goddess appeared to him, by which he became free from the curse. After completing the fast, he reached before Lord Shiva on Mount Kailash. After reaching Kailash, Chitra-nemi saluted Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati with faith.

Devi Parvati said to him - "O Chitra-nemi! You are worthy of being nourished and protected just like my son. Understand this fact as truth." Chitra-nemi said - "O Mother! Only by the grace of Devi Varalakshmi have I obtained the sight and shelter of these holy lotus feet of yours. May you always be kind to me."

Thereafter, Lord Shiva said to Chitra-nemi - "By the influence of this merit-providing Varalakshmi Vrat, enjoying desired pleasures on Kailash from this very moment, you will obtain Vaikuntha Loka in the end. In ancient times, with the desire for obtaining a son, Devi Parvati also had followed this fast. Only by the holy influence of this fast was she blessed with son Kartikeya. Vikramaditya had obtained kingdom by the influence of this fast and Nanda had obtained a wife of good character (Sulakshana). Nanda's wife too had performed this fast for obtaining a son, by which she was blessed with a son capable of protecting the three worlds. Therefore, as a result of this fast, you will enjoy various kinds of rare pleasures."

From that day onwards, this Varalakshmi Vrat became popular in the whole world. Since that day, whichever living being follows this fast, after enjoying various pleasures, he departs for Shivapur in the end. O Brahmins! In this way, I have described the Varalakshmi Vrat completely. Whoever will read and listen to this story with faith and concentration, he will surely go to Shivapur by the grace of Devi Varalakshmi. Thus, the Varalakshmi Vrat performed on Shravan Friday described in the Bhavishya Purana is completed.

॥ Thus ends the Varalakshmi Vrat Katha ॥