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 of Sri Vara Lakshmi Vratam, this is very auspicious. If this is not possible, it is good to 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 Samputita Sri Suktam five times within the day, you can chant it just once.  It is also auspicious to perform milk abhishekam to a Sri Charka during one of these recitations.  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 only be used for puja purposes, and not for any other use. Items that have been used for eating or for any other purpose should not be used for puja. If there are no proper puja vessels 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 the Sri Chakra or any puja items should not be brought in 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 Namavali. 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 it 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 lamp 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.

There are three attributes that are necessary for receiving the grace of Sri Maha Lakshmi. They are balam, or strength; sauryam, or heroism; and buddhi, or intellect that is quick and powerful. No matter who it may be, or whichever country one resides in, wherever these three attributes are present, that place will flourish with abhi vruddhi, progress and abundance, and Sri Maha Lakshmi will surely dwell in that place. Our beloved Mother Sri Lakshmi Devi, one of whose names is “Loka Mata”, She is the most loving Mother for all the beings in all realms.

When we worship Her, She gives us a loving, tender heart and harmonious relationships with others. In this world, the most important blessing necessary for men, women, and children alike is Maha Lakshmi kataksham, or the most loving grace of Sri Maha Lakshmi, our beloved Divine Mother. The worship of Sri Vara Lakshmi on Vara Lakshmi Vratam (July 31, 2020) bestows good health, knowledge, good discrimination, family welfare, noble positions, fame, prestige and wealth There are many meanings to the word “Sri;” one among them is simply “Lakshmi.” In order to please Mother Lakshmi and receive boons from her, these four Fridays during Shravana are most auspicious. Those who worship Sri Maha Lakshmi on these four days with utmost devotion and dedication are sure to receive her most compassionate grace. Though we normally refer to “Ashta Lakshmis,” or her eight main forms, Mother Lakshmi actually comes in numerous forms to bless her children.