17. The Varalakshmi Worship
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Rule_Segment_-_Span_-_20px.svg/20px-Rule_Segment_-_Span_-_20px.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Rule_Segment_-_Diamond_-_6px.svg/7px-Rule_Segment_-_Diamond_-_6px.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Rule_Segment_-_Diamond_open_-_7px.svg/7px-Rule_Segment_-_Diamond_open_-_7px.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Rule_Segment_-_Diamond_-_6px.svg/7px-Rule_Segment_-_Diamond_-_6px.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Rule_Segment_-_Span_-_20px.svg/20px-Rule_Segment_-_Span_-_20px.svg.png)
LAKSHMI, the bride of Vishnu, is represented as the goddess of Prosperity and abundance as also of Love and Beauty, in the Hindu Mythology: the designation of vara indicates the power, generally credited to her, of granting boons to her devotees. A day is specially set apart for her special worship. The evening is both a religious and festive occasion to the Hindu ladies and children, and soon after sunset the Varalakshmi is worshipped in every Hindu household on a large scale with flowers, food, puddings and sweets of several kinds. A figure of the Goddess of Prosperity is painted on a brass or copper vessel and placed in the hall or court of the house under a small leafy canopy erected for the occasion. The Brahman priest is invited to repeat the form of the worship and the oldest married lady of the house who has observed a fast during the whole day performs the puja of Varalakshmi, soon after sunset,