Mahalakshmi vrata

Mahalakshmi Vrata

http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/09/mahalakshmi-vrata-for-16-days-in-

north.html

An important Vrata dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi in North India is the

Mahalakshmi Vratha or Mahalaxmi Puja which begins on the Bhadrapad Shukla

Ashtami Tithi . The main ritual during the Vrata is abstaining from non-

vegetarian food, waking up early taking bath and praying to Goddess Lakshmi

for prosperity. The Vrata ends on the Ashwina Krishna Ashtami day with

evening prayers dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. A Kalash or Purna Kumbha is

worshipped as Mahalakshmi on the last day. A bronze Kalasham (pot) is filled

with water, akshatas, couple of coins etc. The neck of the pot is decorated with

betel leaves or mango leaves. The pot is smeared with kumkum, sandalwood

and turmeric paste. A coconut is placed on the neck of the pot and is also

smeared with kumkum and turmeric. A new cloth is tied to the Kalasha and it is

worshipped as Goddess Lakshmi.

The importance of the Vrata is also mentioned in the Bhavishya Purana.

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/faith-and-

rituals/mahalakshmi-or-varalakshmi-vrata

In Bhavishya Purana, one of the 18 major Puranas or ancient Hindu scriptures,

there is a legend that explains the significance of Mahalakshmi Vrata. As the

legend goes, when Yudhishtira, the eldest of the Pandava princes, enquires Lord

Krishna about a ritual fast that can get back the wealth that they lost in his

gambles with the Kauravas, Krishna recommends Mahalakshmi Vrata or Puja,

which can replenish the worshipper with health, wealth, prosperity, family and

kingdom through the divine grace of the Lakshmi.

http://www.astrojmd.com/Festival/festival.php?tit=Mahalaxmi%20Vrat

It is mainly celebrated in North India referred to as "Mahalakshmi Vrat" or

"Mahalakshmi Pooja". It starts at Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami Tithi (eight day

after new moon in September) and winds up on Ashwin Ashtami Tithi (eight

day after full moon in September).

Maha Laxmi(Ghagari phunkane) -A Unique ritual of Kokanastha Brahmin

Source: http://www.kokanastha.com/articles/mahalaxmi.html

http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/09/mahalakshmi-vrata-for-16-days-in-north.html

http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/09/mahalakshmi-vrata-for-16-days-in-north.html

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/faith-and-rituals/mahalakshmi-or-varalakshmi-vrata

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/faith-and-rituals/mahalakshmi-or-varalakshmi-vrata

http://www.astrojmd.com/Festival/festival.php?tit=Mahalaxmi%20Vrat

http://www.kokanastha.com/articles/mahalaxmi.html

Contributor: Madhuri Bapat, Thatcher, AZ.

Email - [email protected]

This is another unique ritual besides Bodan, for Kokanastha women. This is also

disappearing very fast in modern age. After girls are married, for five years they

are supposed to worship goddess ‘Maha Laxmi’ on eighth day ‘Durga Ashtami’

in ‘Navaratri’. This ritual suppose to increase woman’s husband’s life. This is

performed usually in temple or community place. Occasionally it is performed

at somebody’s house. At noon they worship ‘Maha Laxmi’. Pooja material

includes haladi-kumkum, flowers, leaves of flowering plants, ‘Soubhagya

laynie’ (bangles, mangalsutra, earrings, etc) made up of wheat flour. They sing

Durga Aarti and eat Prasad consists of Puran Poli. Women typically wear nine

yard silk sari. Only married women take part in the ceremony.

In the evening, a mask (Mukhwata) of ‘Maha Laxmi’ is made out of (Ukad)

cooked rice flour. The Mask is then decorated with brand new sari and jewelry.

Women worship that mask, sing Aarti and eat ‘Prasad’.

Blowing air in the earthen pot (Ghagar Phunkane) while standing, dancing

in front of ‘Maha Laxmi’ is considered part of worshiping. Some women do

that all night and go in trance. Resonating sound of blowing air in earthen pots

makes whole atmosphere mysterious and sometimes scary for children. Smoke

of burning ‘Uda’ makes the atmosphere even more enchanting. Many believe

that the goddess appears in their form. People with problems ask them questions

to get solutions. Their answer is considered as answer from Goddess. With their

forehead covered with red kumkum and adrenaline going high in their bodies,

those women truly look like full of some kind of super power.

As night progresses, one notices the mask getting wrinkles and getting

older. (obviously due to the fact that ukad gets dry). In early morning,

women take bath and worship goddess and let mask flow (Visarjan) in river

water. Women going in trance seems difficult to contemplate. In old days,

women had no careers other than house hold chores. So this provided outlet to

show off their abilities. It seemed suspicious especially as soon as a woman

became widow how she lost her ability to go into state of trance. Since dancing

in front of goddess was privilege of Sawashna or married woman.

All in all, this ritual provided women something to do. And perhaps gave them

peace of mind and may be to some a way to reach that supreme being, just like

any other ritual would have.

Again my question is if it is exclusively ‘Kokanastha‘ ritual, how come Puran

Poli (which is typical Deyshastha dish)is main dish for the food.

Comments: It can thus be seen that (1) The chitpavan system is different from

the procedure followed elsewhere in the country in two aspects: A mask of the

Devi is prepared from cooked rice floor. This mask is worshipped and not the

kalasha. (2) Ghagar Phunkane is more in the nature of worshipping Goddess

Maha Lakshmi. (3) Puran Poli is not necessarily a Deshashtha dish. Konkan

was for several years a part of Pulakesin / Kadamba empires. And Puran Poli is

also a typical Karnataka dish, and it is quite popular in the districts bordering

Maharashtra, (often referred to as Bombay-Karnataka).

But surprisingly some government documents describe this “ghaghar

phunkane” as a “dance form”. For example:

http://nagpur.nic.in/gazetteer/gaz1966/final_gazettee/people1.html

Another dance of the ecstatic kind is the Mahalaksmi dance better known

as ghagar phunkane perhaps exclusively practised by women of the

Citpavan Brahman community at the time of Mahalaksmi worship in the

bright half of Asvin.

Let us now see how this Mahalakshmi Vrata is described at various places.

A. Bhavishya Purana

As mentioned earlier, this Vrata is also mentioned in the Bhavishya Purana. One

Pandit Madhavacharya has compiled a book entitled Vratraj and published by

Venkateshwar Press. Vratraj gives in detail this Vrat as described in Bhavishya

Purana.

http://nagpur.nic.in/gazetteer/gaz1966/final_gazettee/people1.html

B. Khapre.org

This site is being maintained by one Khapre family. The site contains lots of

religious and spirituality related documents in Marathi and Sanskrit. Lt us

see how this site describes Mahalakshmi Vrat.

http://www.khapre.org/portal/url/pages/z70706121526/view

व व व

आ ण . आ . . ण .

. ण , . .

ए . ( .) ण . ए , ए ण .

, ए

. . ए

ॐ । ॐ ण । ॐ

ण आ . ण

ॐ ।


ण ण ण . . - , . . ण आ

,

. . ए .

ण - ण . ण आ , ण . आ .

. ए . ए .

.

ण . ण . - . ए ण आ .

ण .

, , आ आ ण .

ण आ , - , , !

-

आ .


- -

, , ण , आ

ण आ . ण , - .

ण , . आ . ए ण

. - .

ण , आ ण -

- ण ए आ ण ए .

ण आ ण ण . -

.

. , , . .<

ण ण आ . - .

आ ण आ , -आ ण . आ ण . आ

.

ए , ण -आ . . ण


, . . .

- - . ए

. ए ण . ए ण ण ण .

. .

ण .

.


Mashalakshmi Vrat Katha.

- आ , आ

, - - ; ण

. ण .

, आ . , , , , , , , , , , , , , . , ण आ . - . आ .

ए . . ,

. , , ण . ण . ण , ण आ ण

. ए आ . आ ण ए . - ण . ए आ , आ ण

. आण ; आण

. , ए . ण

ए , , आ आ ण

- ण आ . ए आ . , " ण ? आ ? ?

? ? ? ण , " . . ण आ .

आ ? ण , " ण आ . ,

. ? . आ ." आ . ण . " ण ए .

. ण . ण . ए आ ण - . आ . , आ ण

ण - . ण . . . , . आ . - - . आ . आ ण आ ." ण ण . ण , आ ण

ण , " ? . ण , ण ; ण ."

.

ण , ण आ .

आ ण ण ण , " ण ? आ ? ." . ण , ण . ण ण

. ण ण , ए आ . . ण , "आ , . आ . . ." ण आ . .

. . ण

. ण . .

. . - . ण ण

. . , . ण ; आ . - . ; ण ण ? ए ,

ए , , आ ण -आ

. ण आ . -

; ण ए . ण . . . . . आ ण

- आण आ ण आ

. आ ण ण

. आ . . ./P>

, ए . आ . आ ,

आ . ण . आ

? . ! . .

. . ए -ए

. ए ण . ण . . . . आ - . आ आ .

. . आ - ण

आ . ण ' ' ; ण आ ,' ण . ण . ण ए . ण आ आ . आ

. .

आ आ

आ , " आण ?"

आण . ण आ

, ! , " ?

? ण , " , ण ." . ण . . ण ण . . -

आ . " !' ण . णण

, ण - आ ण , . ण आ ण , , - ; ण ; ण P

, ण ण ॥

ॐ । ॐ


Mahalakshmi Mahatmya

ॐ

। ।

ॐ ॥ ॐ ण । ॐ ण ॥ । । ण ॥ १ ॥


। ॥ ण ।

॥ २ ॥

ण । - ण । ।

आ ॥ ३ ॥

, , । । । ॥ ४ ॥

- । - - ण । ण । ॥ ५ ॥

। आ । ।

॥ ६ ॥

। । ण ।

ण ॥ ७ ॥

। ण । ।

॥ ८ ॥

। । ण ।

॥ ९ ॥

। - - ण ण । ण ।

॥ १० ॥

ण । ण । ।

॥ ११ ॥

ण आ । ए । । ण ॥ १२ ॥

आ । ।

। ॥ १३ ॥

। । । ॥ १४ ॥

। आ । आण । - ॥

१५ ॥

। ए ण । । ॥ १६

॥

। आ । ।

? ॥ १७॥

, आ ण ? , आ ? । ण ।

॥ १८ ॥

। । आ । ण ॥ १९ ॥

ण । । ।

॥ २० ॥

ण ? । । ण

। ॥ २१ ॥

ण । ए ण । - ।

॥ २२ ॥

, , । । ।

॥ २३ ॥

। । । ॥ २४ ॥

- । । । ॥ २५ ॥

। , । ण , । -

॥ २६ ॥

। ण ण । ण । ॥ २७ ॥

। - ण ण । ।

॥ २८ ॥

। । ण । ॥ २९ ॥

! । । ॥ ३०

॥

- । । , । ण ॥ ३१ ॥

ण । ण ण । ण । ॥ ३२ ॥

ण । । ण ।

॥ ३३ ॥

। । ण । ॥ ३४ ॥

। ।

। ॥ ३५ ॥

। । ण ।

॥ ३६ ॥

। । । आ

॥ ३७ ॥</P>

। । । ॥ ३८ ॥

। । । ॥ ३९ ॥

आ - । । ण ।

॥ ४० ॥

ण । ण आ ण । ण आ । ॥ ४१ ॥

ण । । ।

आ ण ॥ ४२ ॥

। । । ॥ ४३ ॥

आ । । ण । ण ॥ ४४ ॥

। ण । ।

आ ॥ ४५ ॥

ण , । आ । ण । ॥ ४६ ॥

ण । । , । आ ॥ ४७ ॥

आ । ए ।

। ॥ ४८॥

ण । ण । ण । ण ॥ ४९ ॥

ण । । आ ।

॥ ५० ॥

। । । ॥ ५१ ॥

। आ । ।

॥ ५२ ॥

ण । ण ण । । ॥ ५३ ॥

। । , , । ॥ ५४ ॥

ण । । ।

॥ ५५ ॥

आ । । , - - ।

ण ॥ ५६ ॥

। । । ॥ ५७ ॥

। , । ।

॥ ५८ ॥

। । आ , । ॥ ५९ ॥

ण । ण , , । - । आ ॥ ६० ॥

। । ।

ए ॥ ६१ ॥

। । । ॥ ६२ ॥

आ । ण । । ॥ ६३ ॥

ण 'ॐ ' । । , ,

। आ ॥ ६४ ॥

। आ ण ण । ण । ॥ ६५ ॥

ण । ।

। ण , ॥ ६६ ॥

< । ण । । आ ॥ ६७ ॥

। । । ण ॥ ६८ ॥

। - । । ण ॥ ६९ ॥

। । ण ।

॥ ७० ॥

। । । ॥ ७१ ॥

। आ । । ॥ ७२ ॥

ण । । - - ।

' ॥ ७३ ॥

। । ण । ॥

७४ ॥

। । । ॥ ७५ ॥

। ण । आ ण ।

॥ ७६ ॥

ण । । ण ।

ए ए ॥ ७७ ॥

। । - । ॥ ७८ ॥

। ण । । ॥ ७९ ॥

। । । ण ॥ ८० ॥</P>

। । । ॥ ८१ ॥

। । आ ।

॥ ८२ ॥

। । - ।

आ ण ण ॥ ८३ ॥

। । , , आ ।

॥ ८४ ॥

। ण ण । । ॥ ८५ ॥

। । ।

॥ ८६ ॥

आ । । ।

- आ ॥ ८७ ॥

। । । ॥ ८८ ॥

। - । आ ।

॥ ८९ ॥

ण । ण । ण

। ण ॥ ९० ॥

, ण आ ण ? ॥ ९१ ॥

। ण । । आ ॥ ९२ ॥

। । आण । आ ण ण ॥ ९३ ॥

। आ ण । - आ -

। ॥ ९४ ॥

। । ।

॥ ९५ ॥

आ । आ । ण । आ आ ॥ ९६ ॥

। । । ण आ ॥ ९७ ॥

। ण ण ण । आ । - ॥ ९८ ॥

ण । - । । ए ॥ ९९ ॥

। । ।

॥ १०० ॥

। ।

आ । आ ॥ १०१ ॥

। आ । । ॥ १०२ ॥

। । ।

- ण ॥ १०३ ॥

आ ए । ण । ण । ण ॥ १०४ ॥

। । ।

ण ॥ १०५ ॥

। आ । ण । ॥ १०६ ॥

। । । ॥ १०७ ॥

। । आण ? ।

ण ॥ १०८ ॥

। । आण ? ॥

१०९ ॥

ण , । । आ ण ।

ण ण ॥ ११० ॥

। ण । ।

॥ १११ ॥

ण । । ण ।

आ ॥ ११२ ॥

। - ण - । - ।

॥ ११३

। । । ॥ ११४ ॥

ण- ण । आ ।

आ । ण , ण ॥ ११५ ॥

। । - - । ॥ ११६ ॥

ण ।

Comments: In this version, in Shloka No. 9 it is mentioned that this Mahalakshmi Vrat Katha took place in Saurashtra Desha and that it is has been mentioned in Padma Purana.


Mahalakshmi Ashtakam

, । , ॥

१ ॥

, । ण ॥ २

॥

, । , ॥ ३ ॥


। , ॥ ४

॥

आ , आ । , ॥ ५ ॥

। , ॥ ६ ॥

, ण । ॥

७ ॥

, । ॥

८ ॥

॥ ॐ ॥

C. Shri. Sudesh Vaze

Shri. Sudesh Vaze, in his book: “Shri Mahalakshmi Vrat (Ghagari

Phunkanachye Vrat)” has described the Mahalakshmi Vrat in detail.

The most important and perhaps interesting part of the book by Shri. Vaze is the

Mahalakshmi Vrat Katha. Shri. Vaze has claimed that this forms a part of

Sahyadri Khanda of Skanda Purana. Let us see what Shri. Vaze has stated

The version given by Shri. Vaze is interesting on several counts:

1. In stanza 27 it is specifically mentioned that an image of

Mahalakshmi is to be made out of flour.

2. In Shloka 35 there is a specific mention of “blowing into the pot”

(Ghagar Phunkane).

3. In Shloka 22 a specific town is mentioned which is suspiciously

similar to Dabhol in Konkan.

4. The concluding parts of both the chapters specifically mention that

they form a part of Sahyadri Khanda of Skanda Purana! This is

surprising. I have a copy of Sahyadri Khanda as published by

Gerson da Cunha. The two chapters given by Shri. Vaze do not

appear in the published version of Sahyadri Khanda.

5. Khapre.org describes this as ( व ). According to this site

this Vrat is to commence from first Thursday of . But

according to other sites as also Shri. Vaze, this Vrat is to be

performed on Ashwin Shukla Ashtami

6. Does this mean that khapre.org is referring to some other

Mahalakshmi Vrat? This does not appear to be so. Shri.Vaze has

given in his book a version of Mahalakshmi Ashtakam. This Stotra is

the same as the one given on the site khapre.org.

D. Hemadri

We also have another version of Mahalakshmi Vrata Katha as given by

Hemadri in his book Chaturvarga Chintamani, Vol.2. And this version merely

mentions that it is taken from Skanda Purana and does NOT mention

Sahyadri Khanda. Hemadri was a Prime Minister in the Yadava Dynasty

during the period 1259 to 1274 CE. Let us see what Chaturvarga Chintamani

has to say.

Caturvargacintamani vol. 2, pt. 2-pages-1114

As pointed out earlier, Hemadri merely mentions that Mahalakshmi Vrata is

taken from Skanda Purana. He does not mention from which Khanda /

Mahatmay of Skanda Purana this Vrata has been taken. The Skanda Purana as

published by Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, or the copy available with the Digital

Library of India does not seem to contain this Mahalakshmi Vrata. But I may be

wrong. If anyone knows the exact place in Skanda Purana, where this Vrata is

occurring, he isrequested to point it out to me.

Similarly if anyone has a copy of Sahyadri Khanda, which contains the

Mahalakshmi Vrata Katha, as claimed by Shri. Vaze, he is requested to place

that copy of Sahyadri Khanda in public domain.

E. Other Sources

http://www.karnataka.com/festivals/vara-mahalakshmi/

The importance or significance of the Varalakshmi Vrata was narrated by Lord

Shiva to Goddess Parvathi in Skanda purana. Those who perform this Vratam

will be blessed with Dhana (food), Dhanya (food), Aayu (Long life), Aarogya

(health), Aishwarya (wealth), Santanana (progeny) and Soubhagya (long life of

husband).

According to the legend, once a lady named Charumath lived in the

Maratha kingdom. Pious lady, she indulged in whole heartened worship of the

Goddess and took good care of her family – respectful to her in-laws, loving

and caring her husband and children. One day she dreamt about Goddess

http://www.karnataka.com/festivals/vara-mahalakshmi/

Lakshmi telling her to perform the puja . She, with the consent of her family

performed this Vratam and informs other ladies too.

With the blessings of the Goddess she, her family and friends will be bestowed

with success and wealth. Hence forth they shared their luck many more people.

With the blessing of both Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi one can find

peace and prosperity in ones life.

Comments: The very fact that this version refers to Maratha Kingdom, means

that this Vrata Katha at least in South India seems to be a recent interpolation.

Conclusions:

1. Does this Mahalakshmi Vrata really appear in Skanda Purana? If it

does can someone tell in which Khanda / Mahatmya of Skanda

Purana it appears?

2. Does this Mahalakshmi Vrata really appear in Sahyadri Khanda of

Skanda Purana? Since the published version of Sahyadri Khanda

does not seem to contain the chapters mentioned by Shri. Vaze, is

there any other version of Sahyadri Khanda?

3. Apparently Skanda Purana mentions that Mahalakshmi Vrata has

been described in Mahabharata as well. Does this really appear in

the published version of Mahabharta?

4. What is the exact location where the Vrata Katha has taken place?

There are three claimants: Dabhol (according to Shri. Vaze),

Saurashtra (according to khapre.org) and Maratha territory

(according to Karnataka.com).

5. The version given at khapre.org does not seem to agree either with

Shri. Vaze or with Bhavishya Purana. Khapre.org makes a reference

to Padma Purana? Does this really appear in Padma Purana? Or

does this mean that the version given in Padma Purana is different

from the one described in Bhavishya Purana?

6. Apart from the reference furnished by Shri. Vaze, is there any other

reference specifically dealing with (a) preparing mask with cooked

rice and (b) Ghagar phunkane (blowing into the pot)?

7. While Bhavishya Purana describes the Mahalakshmi Vrata, the

Mahalakshmi Ashtakam in fact makes its appearance in Padma

Purana!! Can someone tell in which Khanda or Adhyaya

Mahalakshmi appears in Padma Purana?

Mahalakshmi vrata

Documents

Transcript of Mahalakshmi vrata