Purattasi Saturday Vratam

Purattasi is the sixth month in the Tamil Hindu calendar, usually between mid-September and mid-October. This month is considered very sacred and auspicious for the devotees of Lord Vishnu, especially in his form of Lord Venkateshwara, the supreme Lord of wealth and prosperity. 

Purattasi is the month when the Sun will be in the sign Virgo, ruled by Mercury, which signifies intelligence, communication, and business. This is also the month when the Navaratri festival takes place, celebrating the victory of good over evil.

According to legend, Lord Venkateshwara descended to Earth in Purattasi month to save his devotees from the troubles of Kaliyuga, the age of darkness and ignorance. He chose this month because it is the most favorable time for spiritual growth and material success. The Lord also married Goddess Padmavati, the daughter of King Akasha Raja, in this month. Therefore, Purattasi month is associated with love, marriage, and family happiness.

Another legend says that Sage Brigu once insulted Lord Vishnu by kicking him on his chest, where Goddess Lakshmi resides. The goddess became angry and left Vaikuntam, the abode of Vishnu, to perform penance on Earth. Lord Vishnu followed her and assumed the form of Venkateshwara to win her back. He also took a huge loan from Kubera, the god of wealth, to finance his wedding expenses. He promised to repay the debt by the end of Kaliyuga. Hence, Purattasi month is also related to debt relief and financial stability.

Among all the days in Purattasi month, Saturdays are considered the most special and auspicious for worshipping Lord Venkateshwara. This is because Saturday is ruled by Saturn (Shani), who is the son of Lord Surya (Sun) and Chhaya (Shadow). Saturn is known as the planet of karma, justice, and discipline. He tests the people with hardships and delays to make them learn their lessons and improve their character. He also bestows longevity, leadership, authority, ambition, wisdom, and immense wealth to his devotees.

Saturn is said to lose his negative power in Purattasi month and becomes more benevolent and merciful. He is pleased by the devotion and service of Lord Venkateshwara's followers and grants them his blessings. Therefore, worshipping Lord Venkateshwara on Purattasi Saturdays can help one overcome the obstacles and challenges in life, achieve success in career and business, clear debts and loans, enjoy good health and longevity, and attain spiritual enlightenment.

Lord Venkateshwara is one of the most popular and revered forms of Lord Vishnu. He is also known as Balaji, Srinivasa, Tirupati Thimmappa, Govinda, and many other names. He is worshipped as the supreme Lord of wealth, prosperity, happiness, and salvation.He resides in Tirumala Hills in Andhra Pradesh, where his temple attracts millions of pilgrims every year. Vekateshwara is depicted as a dark-complexioned deity with four arms holding a conch (shankha), a discus (chakra), a lotus (padma), and a mace (gada). The Lord wears a crown (kireeta) adorned with an emerald (vaidurya) and a garland (vanamala) made of tulsi leaves.

Lord Venkateshwara has a special connection with Purattasi month, as he manifested on Earth in this month to protect his devotees from the evils of Kaliyuga. He also married Goddess Padmavati this month, fulfilling her wish to become his consort. The Lord also took a huge loan from Kubera this month to arrange his wedding ceremony and vowed to repay it by the end of Kaliyuga. Therefore, Purattasi month is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara as a token of gratitude and love for his divine grace and compassion.

Devotees observe strict fasting and worship on Purattasi Saturdays to please Lord Venkateshwara and seek his blessings. They abstain from eating non-vegetarian food, onion, garlic, alcohol, tobacco, and other tamasic items during this month. The devotees also avoid cutting their hair or nails or shaving their beard on Saturdays. They wake up early, bathe, wear clean clothes, preferably white or yellow, and apply sandalwood paste (Chandan) on their forehead. Devotees also draw the symbols of shankha and chakra on their chest and arms using namakatti (a piece of chalk).

They then perform a simple puja at home or visit a nearby temple of Lord Venkateshwara. They offer flowers, fruits, betel leaves, nuts, coconut, and tulsi leaves to the Lord. They also prepare five rice varieties, namely sweet pongal, coconut rice, tamarind rice, sesame rice, and curd rice, and offer them as naivedyam (food offering) to the Lord. The devotees also make vada malai (garland of vadas) with 11 or 21 pepper vadas (without onion) and offer it to the Lord. They also make maavilakku (a lamp made of rice flour and ghee) and light it before the Lord. The devotees chant the names of the Lord, sing his praises, and listen to his stories. They also donate food, clothes, money, or other items to the poor and needy as a part of charity.

Worshipping Lord Venkateshwara on Purattasi Saturdays can bring many benefits to the devotees. Some of them are:

• Help overcome the difficulties and delays caused by Saturn and achieve success in your career and business.
• Clear debts and loans and improve one's financial condition and stability.
• Bestow good health and longevity and prevent diseases and accidents.
• Help one find a suitable partner and get married or improve one's marital harmony and happiness.
• Bless with progeny and bless one's children with good health, education, and prosperity.
• Bless with attaining spiritual enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

The following is a simple procedure to perform Purattasi Saturday pooja at home:

• Clean the house and the puja area. Place a silver pot or tumbler (velli sombu) upside down on a wooden plank (manai) or a banana leaf. Draw the symbols of shankha and chakra on it using namakatti. This represents Lord Venkateshwara.
• Place a small idol or picture of Lord Venkateshwara in front of the silver pot. Decorate it with flowers, garlands, jewels, etc.
• Light a lamp with ghee or oil and place it on the right side of the Lord. Light some incense sticks and put them on the left side of the Lord.
• Take some water in a small vessel (kalasam) and add some turmeric powder, kumkum powder, sandalwood paste (chandan), saffron, tulsi leaves (thulasi), cardamom, cloves (kirambu), edible camphor (pachai karpoora), etc. This is the holy water (theertha) for the puja.
• Take some akshata (raw rice mixed with turmeric powder) in your right hand and recite the following mantra:

- Om Kesavaya Namah

- Om Narayanaya Namah

- Om Madhavaya Namah

- Om Govindaya Namah

- Om Vishnave Namah

- Om Madhusudhanaya Namah

- Om Trivikramaya Namah

- Om Vamanaya Namah

- Om Sridharaya Namah

- Om Hrishikesaya Namah

- Om Padmanabhaya Namah

- Om Damodaraya Namah

• Sprinkle some water on yourself, the Lord, and the puja items. This is to purify them.
• Offer some flowers to the Lord and recite the Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam
• Perform aarti and offer the naivedya to Lord Vishnu.
• Distribute the prasad to the family members and guests.

The Purattasi Saturday dates for 2023 are as follows:

September 16

September 23

September 30

October 7

October 14

Purattasi Saturday pooja is a powerful way to appease Lord Vishnu and seek his blessings for peace, prosperity, and good health. If you face any challenges in your life, performing Purattasi pooja can help you overcome them and achieve your goals.

If you need assistance performing Purattasi pooja, please get in touch with Sulekha Astro and Pooja Services. We have experienced and skilled priests who can guide you through the process and help you to perform the pooja correctly. To book a consultation, please visit our website or app.