The meaning behind the Lutchmee string
WITH August being declared Women's Month worldwide, it is indeed profound and apt in the South African context that Hindus will invoke the blessings of the Goddess Lutchmee on Friday (Lutchmee Prayers).
The festival is observed by all Hindus, but mainly by married women and girls, whereby the prayer is dedicated to Goddess Lutchmee.
By observing Lutchmee prayers young girls and married women will be blessed with good husbands. The prayer also helps to bring unity, peace and harmony to a family.
Clay lamps with a picture of Lutchmee is carried by the wife/ mother early in the morning, together with a brass container of rice with a coconut on it.
In South Africa, this prayer is usually observed in the morning in many homes by offering fruit, milk, coconut, and sweet rice to the deity to invoke her divine blessing.
Pieces of red sacred string/ cotton are also placed in front of the deity's statue or photograph to be blessed by Mother Lutchmee .
The mother of the home ties the red strings around the wrists of every member of the family.
The red string has profound religious significance.
It is a sacred string that signifies that the wearer will be blessed with prosperity, fertility, wealth, beauty, peace, happiness, health and long life.
The strings have seven knots with the eighth formed when tied.
These knots symbolise the eight kinds of wealth that are established.
Tied for good luck and divine inspiration, the Lutchmee string wards away evil, misfortune and calamities and is a constant reminder of the values of Hindu culture.
As the consort of Lord Vishnu or Narayana (God of Preservation), Lutchmee Devi is the Goddess of health and beauty.
Lutchmee embodies sublime beauty, peace, strength and a balance between opulence and wisdom.
Lutchmee in her form as Vara Lutchmee – Varam means boon, wealth or prosperity – grants us boons or prosperity.
The Tamil word for wealth is dhanam. When the words are combined it becomes Dhana Lutchmee, thus Vara Lutchmee is also known as Dhana Lutchmee.
- KRIBA VAYAPURI