Sri Meenakshi Temple Society Celebrated Aadi Sukravara Ashtalakshmi Deepa Pooja on Friday August 11

By Nachal Sethuraman

PEARLAND: Aadi Sukravara Ashtalakshmi Deepa Pooja was conducted at MTS on Friday, August 11, 2017 in a grand manner. More than 75 devotees participated in lighting the lamp and reciting the slokas which was a feast to the eyes. The Fridays in the month of Aadi is very special for women in performing this pooja. It is believed that Goddess Shakthi doubles her power and worshipping her will help one to achieve what one needs.

Ashtalakshmi represents the 8 goddesses of Wealth, Earth, Learning, Love, Fame, Peace, Pleasure and Strength.

The month of Ashada (Tamil month of Aadi) is the fourth month of the Tamil Calendar, and the start of this month is the Dakshinayana punyakalam or the night time of Devas. Ashada Sukravara Lakshmi Puja and Vratam is observed on the Fridays of the month in many communities in South India including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. This Vratam also known as Shaaka Vrata is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Aadi is also the month where prayers and pujas are offered to seek the protection of many other powerful goddesses like Mariamman in Tamil Nadu. The month of Aadi is considered very auspicious to connect oneself to the power of the divine mother, Lakshmi.  The heat of the sun reduces and the rains start during this month to replenish the rivers and streams, often to near full levels. Traditionally the names of Tamil months are named based on the star that prevails during the full moon day or Pournami. In the month of Aadi full moon day happens during Aashada Nakshathiram, giving this month the name Aash Aadi (in north) / Aadi (in the south).

Lighted lamps are used for puja to pray to the goddess for the wellbeing and prosperity of the family.

According to tradition, all Poojas and auspicious religious events begin with the lighting of an oil lamp, also known as Deepam or ThiruVilakku in Tamil. The ghee or oil, and the flame signifies Goddess Lakshmi who blesses us with her wealth.

The bright flame signifies Goddess Saraswathy who blesses us with education and knowledge, while the heat from the flame signifies Mother Durga who destroys all evil. Lighting a lamp is considered as the first step to enlightening ourselves and taking us a step closer to god by keeping the darkness of life away.

Aadi Sukravara Ashtalakshmi Deepa Pooja aims at worshipping the 8 forms of Mahalakshmi through offering prayers to the Deepam by many women collectively to bring prosperity to their homes and peace to the world. The women who participated in the Ashtalakshmi Deepa Pooja sat before the lighted lamps, and followed the Pooja rituals as instructed by the priests Sri Sridharan Raghavan, Sri Pawan Kumar Sribhashyam, and Sri Sriman Narayana Charyalu.

The divine ambience was created by the chanting of mantras. The Ashtalakshmi Lamps and Utsava Murthy decorations by the Priests was a sight to behold. The flawlessly executed event was coordinated by Nachal Sethuraman, Padmini Nathan and Sheila Sriram.