THE LAKSHMI PUJA FESTIVAL
Bhandaru Acchamamba
Around seven in the evening o the dhana trayodasi day, the entire city of Bombay was celebrating
the occasion exuberantly. There were not as many lamps as on the deepavali day, yet each house
was sufficiently glowing with the little lamps to display the contour and the beauty of it. The
firecrackers were making the loud PHAT, PHAT noises from every corner. In every house, people
adorned the goddess Lakshmi with gold jewelry and performed the puja per custom.
In one house however, there was no sign of those festivities. Instead of calling it a home, it is better to
call it a shed. That shed, set between two mansions of rich businessmen, was looking like Jyeshta,
the goddess of poverty, who she had come to see the celebrations of her younger sister, Lakshmi.
We can however say that the people felt happy as they saw the cleanliness in the shed and the
system, despite a feeling that it was also undermining the beauty of the neighborhood a bit. Maybe,
my dear sisters would be upset that I was giving them the news of a poor family instead of telling the
stories of a wealthy man on this festive occasion in this great city. Sisters! If you listen to this story
prudently and without getting annoyed in that manner, you would understand that the story of this
shed is extraordinary.
I have stated earlier that there were two great mansions on either side of this shed. In those
mansions, many lamps were lit but there was only one lamp in the middle of this hut and it was
shining bright. In front of that lamp, Vijayalakshmi sat down, sewing the blouse, she had agreed to
make for another woman for money. A four-year old girl and a three-year old cute boy sat next to her,
and made her happy by showing their toys and asking childlike questions.
Vijayalakshmi finished cooking for the evening was waiting for her husband to come home. Her
husband Venkataratnam was working as a clerk for a rich businessman. She was aware that it was
dhana trayodasi day and her husband would not be able to come home until after the puja at the
businessman’s house had been completed. Therefore, she fed the children, and left her madi
condition, and sat down to make the blouse while waiting for her husband. Ah! The woman’s face,
which carried the signs of waiting for her husband to come home and which paid no attention to the
festivities going on around was so fascinating! Only to those who had seen such women with their
own eyes could appreciate it but not the others. She sat there thus with her physical eyes fixed on
the blouse and her mind’s eye on her husband’s coming home.
At that time, the cute son came to her and hugged her neck tight. She had to turn her attention to
him. Up until now, she was answering his questions with a brief “ha” or “um” rather inattentively while
working on the blouse. But, now the sweet little boy held on to her neck tight, she had to set aside
her sowing and take him into her arms. She said softly, “Nayanaa! What do you want? You’ve been
playing with your sister so far. Go, play for a little longer. I am sowing the blouse for somebody, need
to finish it soon.”
As soon as that well-behaved boy heard the mother’s words, he left her and moved away. Then, he
saw the bright lights from the fireworks lit in front of their neighbor’s house. He started clapping and
laughing with great joy. He said to her in his baby-like words, “Look, Amma, that’s so nice. I’ll go
there. I want to see.”
The place he wanted go to was nearby and so Vijayalakshmi called her daughter Rukmini and said to
her, “Baby, you take Ramu to watch the festivities in our neighbor’s home. Be careful, don’t go too
close to the lights, and don’t fight with anybody there.”
The two children went to their neighbor’s home. As the mother watched the two children leave, her
eyes were filled with tears and uncontrollable grief. Poor woman, probably she remembered the first
day. It was the day of fireworks yet she had managed to calm them down somehow. After that, the
children did not ask for them again. Now they asked for her permission to watch the fireworks in the
neighbor’s home; she could not but think of their fine behavior; she felt sorry again that she had not
had the money to fulfill the wishes of such well-behaved children. The thought was even more painful
to her. She had been anguished that they did not have a good home to live in, good clothes to wear,
and no sumptuous meals even on a special holiday. She had been spending her days happily in the
company of her worthy husband, despite all kinds of hardships they had been facing each day.
However, when she thought of the pain her children had been put through, her grief was boundless.
She was aggrieved for her children’s suffering especially because she had experienced unlimited
wealth in the past.
Both Vijayalakshmi and Venkataratnam had had a rich life in their childhood. Venkataratnam had
been the only son of Mallayya, a prominent man of Kolakaluru village Therefore, his wedding was
celebrated on a grand scale; he was ten at the time. A sum of fifteen thousand rupees was spent on
the ceremony. Oh, god! The couple, on whose wedding, fifteen thousand rupees had been spent,
now could not even lay their eyes on such amount. Maybe, for those whose agraharams had been
ruined, it might be a surprise. Part of Mallayya’s agrahaaram had already been pawned even before
the wedding took place. Yet, they continued to celebrate more and more events and the loans
continued to escalate. Under those circumstances, he thought the time for the wedding of his only
son was passing fast. Therefore, took out one more loan and performed the ceremony.
Because of this loan, the family had to suffer several hardships. There was no food in the house.
They had to see the day when even the children had to suffer because of their miseries. During
Mallayya’s time, the creditors had not bothered them. But as soon as he died, they all came together
and collected their dues from what was left at the rate of one half of one rupee. Poor Venkataratnam,
he had to experience the hardships resulting from either the stupidity or cleverness of his
predecessors. Venkataratnam was an honorable man. Although he had lived the rich life as an owner
of an agraharam, he had not acquired their bad habits such as egotism, conceit, and indolence. The
pecuniary circumstances were painful yet he was managing because his wife was also as righteous
as he was. By the time his father had died, he passed the entrance exam. Although he was young
enough to continue his studies and improve his educational qualifications, he had no money to do so.
Therefore, he started working. It was not a good time to get a job. Under the circumstances, he
managed to get a job as a clerk under a businessman named Setty for ten rupees per month. They
were managing with that ten rupees somehow. It is only natural for them to worry about the children
under the circumstances.
I have stated earlier that Vijayalakshmi was very worried about her children’s plight. She visualized in
her mind the rich life they had enjoyed previously, and the way it had been destroyed, and the
hardships the children had been through because of all that. She was struggling to keep her
unmanageable sorrow under control. Just then, she heard Ramu crying. She stood with a jolt and
went to her neighbor’s house. She reached the place and saw her neighbor beating her son. She
asked what happened and was told that the little boy picked a firecracker, which had no leading wick,
broke into two, and put next to the lamp, The lamp was out. The owner’s child beat Ramu and Ramu
started crying. The boy was afraid that his mother might beat him. So, he turned around and said
Ramu hit him first. The boy’s mother believed her own son, and started beating Ramu as if he was an
animal, but not a little boy. Even those mothers who usually beat their own children could not take it if
somebody beats them. That being the case, imagine how difficult it was for Vijayalakshmi, who never
beat her children, to see somebody beating her own child. She was angry beyond words, yet,
controlled herself, and brought Rukmini and Ramu home. After coming home, she comforted the two
children, however could not control her own grief. She was heartbroken; she told herself that her
children were suffering only because of their poverty. She ran her fingers tenderly over Ramu’s
bruises and shed tears incessantly. There was nobody to comfort her. If Venkataratnam were
present, he would have comforted her. Look! Even now, only he was the reason for lessening her
present anguish.
Vijayalakshmi heard her husband’s footsteps, hid her sorrow, and put on a happy face.
Aha! Vijayalakshmi! Who can count your fine qualities? You are so considerate of your husband’s
feelings, you hide your sorrow, wipe your tears, and appear in front of him with a happy face and the
baby in your arms. If all the women cherish the same kind of values, imagine how much more our
country may prosper?
Venkataratnam came home. However, he was not as happy as he used to be but sad and down. He
was sweating all over. Usually, he would come home, address his wife with a smile, and kiss the baby,
and then only he would go in. Today, he went in, without addressing his wife and kissing the baby.
Vijayalakshmi thought that her husband probably had worked more than normal and was tired, and
started dabbing the sweat off his face. The baby in her arms was sleepy. She went in, put the baby to
bed, and returned to help her husband change clothes.
Venkataratnam changed, handed the old clothes to his wife and sat down, leaning on the bedding on
the floor.
Vijayalakshmi saw his conduct and wondered if he had a headache. He went near him, put her palm
on his forehead, and asked, “Why are you quiet today? Is your head hurting?”.
Venkataratnam said he had no headache.
Vijayalakshmi was not satisfied with his answer and asked, “If you do not have a headache, what is
the reason for you being so quiet today?”
Venkataratnam looked at her and felt sad. He asked her, “Do you not think of our sad situation and
feel sorry?”
On hearing this, Vijayalakshmi remembered the grief she had suffered a few minutes back, thought
her husband might be worried in the same manner, stifled her own grief, assumed a happy face, and
said, “Is that all? Why be sorry for such small matter? I am not worried even in the least bit.”
“Ha, You are amazing. When I think of our riches in the past and the current miserable conditions, I
feel very sad. We, who have lived exuberant life previously, are now forced to live every kind of
penury, and that is hard. Today, all the others gathered their valuable jewelry in one place and
worshipped it, while you, who had worn several items of gold and diamonds, do not have even one
piece of jewelry on you. Should you not be troubled about it at least one bit?”
Vijayalakshmi: I am not troubled even a little bit. You are worried that we do not possess riches, right?
I would consider our situation the best, when I watch the egotism and lack of judgment among some
of the rich people. Had we been wealthy, we would not have this unlimited pleasure, which we are
enjoying by following the righteous path. As for me, I would not consider any other kind of riches
beyond your affection.”
Venkataratnam heard her words and cringed. The expression on his face showed the scare in his
heart. He, who had been a virtuous person so far, showed signs of fear in his face. He was surprised;
he was not sure how to respond to his wife. Finally, he picked up the courage and said, “Dear wife!
What would you do with arid affection?”
Vijayalakshmi did not notice the change of expression on his face but was distressed by his words.
She said, “You are causing me only pain by such words.”
Venkataratnam: If so, I will not speak at all. Do you not worry about our children’s sad plight at least?
While the others’ children wore fine clothes, ate sumptuous meals and set off fireworks merrily, our
children stood there with miserable looks on their faces.
Does that not bother you?”
Vijayalakshmi: Why feel sad for that? I do not have even a little bit of sadness in me. Let it be. Why
are you saying the useless things today. You are creating problems which are not there to start with
and then worrying about them, why? Did our children ask for anything big or small?
Venkata: That is the reason I am even more depressed.
As he spoke, he chocked with sadness, “If I tell you something … never mind.“ He bit his tongue; his
face looked as if he was going to say something horrible but held back. Poor woman, Vijayalakshmi
noticed his behavior; she was lost for words. After a while, she came to and asked, “You were going
to say what?”
Venkataratnam collected himself and said, “Nothing. Let it be. You spoke the truth. Why should we
dwell on unimportant things and worry?” Nevertheless, while he was saying those words, the
expression on his face indicated that he was hiding a secret. But Vijayalakshmi, being naïve, could
not understand his privacy. She believed his words.
He said, “I am hungry. I worked hard today and it is frustrating. Let us eat quickly and go to bed.”
Vijayalakshmi heard his words and changed into the madi clothes. She served the food to him, ate
after he had finished eating, tidied up the kitchen, and went to bed. By then, Venkataratnam was
already asleep. It was getting late. Therefore, Vijayalakshmi also decided not to pick up the sewing
job but go to bed straight.
Since Vijayalakshmi was guileless, she fell asleep as soon as she lay down. But, Venkataratnam,
being worried, could not sleep, although he pretended to have fallen asleep. The incident that had
happened earlier at work kept him from sleeping comfortably.
That evening, because his boss Setty was performing the Lakshmi puja, Venkataratnam stayed
longer at their home, helping them with the puja. At the time, the senior clerk, Krishnamurthy, pulled
him to a side and said secretly, “Venkataratnam, I am asking your help since you are very intelligent.
You promise me that you will tell nobody about what I am going to tell you.” Venkataratnam had
known the old clerk to be a good and trustworthy person, and so, promised him to keep his secret.
Then, Krishnamurthy said, “Venkataratnam! Did you see all the priceless jewelry they had taken out
from the chest for the purpose of Lakshmi puja? The items are not much for them. They have jewelry
thousand times more valuable in their store. You do not know about this, right?”
Venkataratnam could not follow where the clerk was leading yet said, “Yes, I know.”
The senior clerk: Even as you know this, you should also know that the entire money is in my custody.
Venkataratnam: Yes. Setty garu has great faith in you and therefore given you the keys to the chest.
The senior clerk: Because they have that kind of faith in me, I am engaged in an activity that will not
fail, I am sure.
The senior clerk’s words gave rise to a little suspicion in Venkataratnam’s mind. Yet he kept quiet
waiting to hear what the senior clerk was going to say next.
Senior clerk: There is so much wealth, it is not wrong if we take a little from it. And Setty garu is not
going to sustain a loss because of it. For us, it rids the Lady Poverty of our lives. I am a senior clerk
and my salary is only fifty rupees. And for you, it is only ten rupees. You know, it is impossible for us
to run our families on such small income. You need not worry that the secret might come out. I will
take care of it. This suggestion of mine must be carried out before the year-end accounting is done.
There is only two more days for that. What do you say?”
While the senior clerk talked like this, Venkataratnam became irate and his eyes turned red. He
wanted to stop him in the middle but swallowed his irritation and kept quiet since the man was his
senior and more powerful. After the senior clerk finished however, Venkataratnam said, “Sir!
Krishnamurthy garu! If you are suggesting this to me for fun, that is all right. If it is real, your
suggestion is absolutely not acceptable to me. Since I have given you my word, I will not reveal this to
anybody else though.”
From Krishnamurthy’s demeanor, it was obvious that his enthusiasm had slowed down by the
powerful argument put forth by Venkataratnam. Yet, the senior clerk was determined, and so
continued to persuade Venkataratnam.
Venkataratnam was aware of the boundless wealth of Setty yet remained steady in his stance.
The senior clerk recounted the pecuniary circumstances of Venkataratnam and the hardships his
wife and children were being subjected to.
Tears started flowing from Venkataratnam’s eyes as he heard his own heartbreaking plight, narrated
by the senior clerk, well seasoned in business dealings for a long time. The senior clerk saw the tears
and said, “Venkataratnam, what is it? Am I not correct in describing your family matters?”
Venkataratnam: (Wiping his tears) Yes. It ha been like that for sometime.
The senior clerk: If so, why would you not accept my suggestion?
Venkataratnam: Chi. Krishnamurthy garu! Do not speak to me like that anymore. My heart could be
tainted by your words.
The senior clerk was well aware of human nature. He knew that if a person’s heart turned to evil,
even a little, it would be very hard to bring it back to goodness, and, it would be better to give him
some time to think. He said, “All right. So be it. I will not speak with you now. You think about it all
night, come back to my house tomorrow and let me know your decision. Today, it is deepavali festival
and probably you have nothing at home to celebrate. Therefore, take this one-hundred rupee note.
Do not say you do not want it.” So saying, the senior clerk put the note in Venkataratnam’s pocket.
On his way home from the store, several waves of thoughts were rising in the heart of that family
man, Venkataratnam. Should he do as the old man (senior clerk) had said or not? The question was
troubling his mind. His conscience was saying that such action would ruin his good family name. At
the same time, the preaching of shrewd Krishnamurthy was coming back and encouraging him to do
as he was told. Venkataratnam reached home in that kind of mindset. You, the intelligent readers,
probably had guessed by now that it was what Venkataratnam wanted to tell his wife yet was hesitant
to do so.
At the moment, he closed his eyes and pretended to be sleeping but he could to sleep. As described
earlier, several thoughts beset his mind. He had not decided what he was going to do though. He
noticed that his wife had fallen asleep, rose from the bed, and started pacing. He suddenly
remembered the hundred rupee note the senior clerk had given him, took it out from his pocket and
started examining it, standing by the lamp. Then, his face showed that he had made a decision. He
told himself, “Yes, I will take his advice. He said it only to help me. Is it not so?” He turned and looked
at his wife. Then the words she had spoken a few minutes back came to his mind. He forgot at once
the decision he had made earlier and told himself, “Chi. I would never do such a thing.” He looked at
the children, who were sleeping next to his wife, and the sight drove away the good thought he had
entertained earlier. He thought, “I cannot see the miseries of these little children. Besides, nobody
else is going to know what I am thinking of doing.”
At that moment, for some reason, Vijayalakshmi woke and sat up.
Venkataratnam saw her, was dumbfounded and leaned back on to the wall. The note in his hand fell
on the floor.
Since Vijayalakshmi was sleeping, she was not aware of what had happened in the past few minutes.
Surprised and worried, she approached her husband and asked, “What is this? Why are up at
midnight, and what are you doing? You seem to be worried since evening. Can you not tell me what
is bothering you?” At once, she also noticed the note on the floor. It broke her heart. She said,
almost crying, “Sir! This has come from where? Can you not tell even me from where you have
brought this note? Today, I have seen several bad omens. I bow to you. Please, explain to me a little.”
Since Venkataratnam was clever and also influenced by the senior clerk’s words, he tried to
persuade his wife but it was of no avail. Additionally, Vijayalakshmi was anguished and shuddered as
she heard his words. She was angry beyond control; her eyes turned red and started shedding tears.
Even in her anger, she did not think that she should keep quiet because he was her husband. She
was convinced that, if she ignored it now, he would take to evil ways and be ruined; and, that it was
her duty to stop that from happening. Thus, she decided not to keep quiet. She said in a challenging
tone, “I suspect you did not earn this money by fair means. What is your reason for doing so? Did I
ever bother you for jewelry or clothes? Did the children ever create a scene for something or other?
If that is the reason for harboring such evil thought, I swear on your feet that I will never ask for
anything and make sure that children will not ask for anything. Please, be kind to us and stay away
from such actions. You may say that other people would not know of your action. Nevertheless, can
you deceive the omniscient lord and pursue your plan? If you do so, do you think your poor soul will
be at peace as before? Can we have the same happiness with this stolen money as we do with the
hard-earned ten rupees? Does it not bother you each time you touch it that you’ve got it through
deception? Oh God! I am unable to stop his plan. I will not be able to enjoy the happiness I have
been enjoying so far from the present poverty.” She could not control her sorrow. She wept pitiably.
Venkataratnam saw that, hugged her to his chest, and said, “Oh, the best of satis! Your good words
eliminated the gloom of ignorance from my mind. I will never do a bad deed again. We will stay poor
and enjoy the pleasure the righteous path bestows on us. Oho! Only because I have a wife of
impeccable virtues, I am freed from a huge sin. You, a form of my life! The name Vijayalakshmi suits
you well. Today, I have earned the victory in the true sense of the word. A little while ago, I was
worried that I did not have “Lakshmi” to worship while the entire world was worshipping her. I have
you, a personification of Lakshmi right in front of me. Why should I worry about a metal Lakshmi?
Today, I will worship only this Lakshmi.” So saying, Venkataratnam worshipped her and hugged her,
who has no gold jewelry on her person yet was adorned with plausible virtues.
In that moment, Vijayalakshmi was elated and, unconsciously, leaned on his shoulder. She was
worried beyond words that she had blamed her husband for no good reason. After a while, she came
to and said, “You would not commit such act ever? Is that right?”
Venkataratnam embraced her again and said that he would never do so again.
She touched his feet tightly; felt that her husband had been redeemed from a huge mistake and
returned to her. Venkataratnam picked her up. They both spent the rest of the night in a hearty sleep
with a clean conscience.
The second day, it was naraka chaturdasi day (The day before deepavali.) and so they had to be up
at the crack of dawn. Vijayalakshmi made Rukmini offer harati to her husband and son. They all had
head bath. Venkataratnam ate the piece of jaggary his wife gave him, wore clean clothes, and went
to Krishnamurthy’s house. He put the hundred rupee note in front of him and said, “I will not accept
your plan,” and was about to leave.
Krishnamurthy stopped him, asked him to sit, saying, “You wait here until I come back” and went in.
Venkataratnam sat there wondering about Krishnamurthy’s behavior. Not only that. On the previous
day, Krishnamurthy had been disappointed when Venkataratnam refused to go along with his plan.
Now, the same Krishnamurthy seemed to be happy about it.
Venkataratnam was pondering over the events while waiting for the senior clerk. Then he saw that
Krishnamurthy return and along with him his boss, Setty. He stood quickly and walked towards them.
Setty came to Venkataratnam and said, “Venkataratnam! Well done!” and patted on his shoulder.
Then added, “You are very intelligent and hard-working. Therefore, I wanted to test you, to see if you
are equally righteous. I asked Krishnamurthy to test you. You passed my test and also your
impenetrable poverty. Yesterday, it looked like your heart was shaken a bit. That was the mistake of
the poverty but not yours. A man who had attempted to do an evil act but swerved away from it is a
greater person than the man who had never entertained an evil thought. It is possible to commit a sin
by the first person but there is no possibility at all in the case of the second person. You have earned
the hundred rupees you had received yesterday through remaining principled. Secondly, I will
promote you as an assistant to Krishnamurthy at 20 rupees per month.”
Venkataratnam could not keep quiet after hearing all this. He did not like the praise that was being
poured on him. He told them what had happened the night before.
Setty heard his story and was very happy. He told his wife and sent for Vijayalakshmi. Setty told her,
“Amma! You are Vijayalakshmi in the true sense of the term. You are like my dharma daughter.”
Since then, Setty continued to treat Vijayalakshmi as his daughter. Venkataratnam loved his wife and
treated like a goddess. The couple enjoyed the riches they had received as a result of their courage,
for a long time.
***
(The Telugu original, dhana trayodasi, was originally published in Hindusundari monthly, November
1902 and reproduced in bhumika monthly, January 2006.)
(Translated by Nidadavolu Malathi)
To read another story, women's education, click here.
To read an analytical article by Kondaveeti Satyavati, click here