Sravana Masam

Sravana Masam is the fifth and holiest month of the Telugu calendar — sacred to Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu and Devi Shakti. Every day carries a special vratam. Fridays are for Varalakshmi Vratam, Tuesdays for Mangala Gowri Vratam, Saturdays for Venkateswara Swamy, and Mondays for Shiva abhishekam. Homes glow with fresh flowers, kalasham, and continuous chants of the Sri Sukta.

“The most auspicious month of Lakshmi, Vishnu & Shakti”

Step by Step

How to perform the ritual

1
Wake before sunrise, bathe and wear traditional madi (yellow/red preferred for women).
2
Set up a silver or brass kalasham on unbroken raw rice, wrapped in a new blouse-piece and decorated with turmeric, kumkum and mango leaves.
3
Place a coconut smeared with turmeric on the kalasham — this is the Varalakshmi swaroopam.
4
Light two pure A2 cow ghee deepams and sandalwood agarbatti facing east.
5
On Fridays, perform Varalakshmi Vratam — offer 9 varieties of flowers, tie the sacred toram (yellow thread with 9 knots) on the right wrist.
6
Chant Sri Sukta, Lakshmi Ashtottaram (108 names) and read the Varalakshmi Vrata Katha aloud.
7
Offer naivedyam of payasam, vada, pulihora and sweet pongal. Perform aarti with camphor.
8
On Tuesdays, newly-married women perform Mangala Gowri Vratam for marital bliss and long life of the husband.
9
Every Saturday, visit a Venkateswara temple or perform tulsi archana at home for wealth and clarity.
10
Distribute tamboolam (betel leaves + coconut + kumkum + blouse-piece) to 5, 7 or 9 married women.