ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ
“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”
Tulsi is considered a sacred plant and carries a major religious significance within the cultures and beliefs of Hinduism.
As per Vedic scriptures, the Tulsi plant is another incarnation of Goddess Laxmi, who is the consort of Lord Vishnu.
Tulsi or holy basil can be found in almost every Hindu house as it symbolizes purity and is famous for its medicinal qualities. “Tulsi Vivaah” is an auspicious traditional wedding (Vivaah) ceremony of the Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu.
Hindu sacred books describe Tulsi as “Vishnu Priya” literally meaning “the beloved of Lord Vishnu”.
Most Hindus celebrate this festival on the day of “Dev Uthani Ekadashi, also known as Prabodhini Ekadashi” which falls during the lunar month Kartik.
How to celebrate Tulsi Vivaah?: Hindus perform this auspicious wedding ceremony either at home or by visiting a temple.
Most of the devotees observe fast on this day till the completion of the divine ritual.
Wake up before sunrise and complete your morning activities.
• To begin the puja, fold your hands respectfully in front of the Tulsi plant then bathe it with Ganga Jal (water) and clean the statue of Lord Vishnu.
• Place both of them in a clean place and offer sindoor (Vermilion), Haldi (Turmeric), flowers, garlands, incense sticks, and Diya with clarified butter.
• You can wrap a red cloth around and prepare the Tulsi plant in the form of a bride.
• Offer prasad along with fruits and sweets.
• Tie a holy thread or a garland of flowers between Tulsi and the statue of Lord Vishnu.
•Remember Goddess Laxmi, chant mantras, and sing the Tulsi aarti.
• In the end offer aarti and bow down with hope for prosperity and peace in life.
• Distribute the Prasad among your family members and dear ones.
Mantra to chant during the Puja: According to the teachings of Hindu mythology, chanting of Tulsi mantras is the most powerful way to please God Vishnu and Goddess Tulsi.
Tulsi Gayatri Mantra:
Om Tripuray Vidmahe, Tulsi Patrya Dhimahi, Tanno Tulsi Prachodayat.
Tulsi Pujan Mantra:
Tulasi Srirmahalaks mirvidyavidya Yasasvini, Dharmya Dharmanana Devi Devidevamana Priya Labhate Sutaram Bhaktimante Visnupadam Labhet, Tulasi Bhurmahalaksmi Padmini Srirharapriya.
Significance of Tulsi Vivaah:
• Tulsi is not a common herb.
It is an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and blessed by Lord Vishnu.
• The Tulsi Vivaah signifies the beginning of the Hindu wedding season and the end of the four-month sacred period known as “chaturmasa”.
• Tulsi holds great importance in the lives of Hindus.
The marriage (Vivaah) of Tulsi with Lord Vishnu means that God likes purity and His love and blessings are same for a human or a plant.
• Tulsi and astrology goes hand in hand, if a newly married couple celebrates Tulsi Vivaah then within no time the relationship grows stronger.
• As per the Padma Purana, Vindra, a blissful devotee of Lord Vishnu took birth as a Tulsi plant.
Thus, conducting a marriage along with Kanyadaan (giving away the bride) on this day is believed to be most auspicious.
Sometimes, a daughterless couple pays for the arrangements of this ritual so that they may get the Punya (merits) of Kanyadaan.
Tulsi Vivah – A Divine Story: The story of “Tulsi Vivaah” is found in the Padma Purana.
There was a very pious woman, a great devotee of Lord Vishnu named Vrinda.
She was the daughter of Daityaraj Kalnemi, the King of Mathura, and wife of the demon king Jalandhar.
A short detail about Jalandhar: Once Lord Shiva got annoyed with the King of Gods, Indra, and opened His third eye.
But, upon the request of Dev Guru Brihaspati, Lord Shiva forgave Indra and directed the fire from His third eye towards an ocean.
A boy was born out of it and become the mighty asura (demon) king Jalandhar.
Being a son of Lord Shiva, Jalandhar had great powers.
Because of his demonic nature, he headed towards conquering all God.
There was no way to kill Jalandhar as long as his wife Brinda the pious woman stayed loyal (Pativrata) towards him.
As per the request of all other demigods, Lord Vishnu decided to take the form of Jalandhara and meet Brinda at her palace.
Brinda was not able to recognize that the disguised husband was Lord Vishnu, and spent that night with Him.
The devotion and the chastity (Pativrata dharma) of Brinda was thus destroyed, due to this ugly act of Lord Vishnu.
Ultimately, demon Jalandhar was defeated and killed by Lord Shiva due to Vrinda’s inability to guard him anymore.
As a result, Brinda got extremely upset with Lord Vishnu’s deeds and cursed Him to turn into a stone, suited to the way He behaved, since stones are heartless.
Lord Vishnu becomes a stone- Shaligram and the whole creation becomes unbalanced.
Looking at this unexpected situation, Goddess Lakshmi and other demigods prayed to Vrinda to take back her cruse.
As a devotee of Lord Vishnu, she took it back without any protest.
After that incident, Vrindra immolated herself in the fire with her husband.
And a plant was sprung from her ashes and Lord Vishnu named that plant “Tulsi”.
The Supreme Lord transmuted Vrinda’s soul into the Holy Basil plant.
The merciful God Vishnu declared that one of His forms will be called Shaligram and His devotees will worship it along with Tulsi.
Thus, started, the tradition of honoring Tulsi by performing “Tulsi Vivaah” in the month of Kartik.
Summary: Many plants and trees are given a sacred place and worshiped like Gods and Goddesses in Hinduism.
Tulsi is one of them which is often referred to as “Vishnu Priya” (Loveable to Lord Vishnu).
Hindu devotees celebrate Tulsi Vivaah on the day of “Dev Uthani Ekadashi, also known as Prabodhini Ekadashi” of Hindu month Kartik.
In India, Tulsi Vivaah is also famous because it’s time to bid farewell to the monsoon season and welcome the Hindu marriage season.
On this holy day, devotees of Lord Vishnu decorate a mandap (place for marriage) with flowers, lights, sugarcane tree, etc.
Two different families make the necessary arrangements for this marriage ceremony as if they are the families of the bride and the groom.
They perform the ceremony and distribute the prasad among all devotees after the ritual.
Tulsi Vivah
In Hinduism, many plants and trees are given holy status and worshipped as Gods and Goddesses.
One of them is Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil.
She is regarded as a symbol of purity, has excellent medicinal qualities, and is found in the majority of Hindu homes.
In Hindu culture, Tulsi Puja plays a vital role.
Tulsi is thought to be an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, so the union of Gods and Goddesses is celebrated with great fanfare throughout the country.
Tulsi Vivah refers to the mythical marriage of Shri Krishna which is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu with the tulsi plant.
Tulsi Vivah Time, Date and Tithi
Tulsi Vivah is celebrated on the 12th day of the Shukla Paksha of the Kartik month, as per the Hindu calendar.
Although this ceremony may be held at any time from the Ekadashi of Prabodhini to Kartik Poornima.
Sometimes the festival is held for five days, ending on the full moon day of the month of Kartik.
Tulsi Vivah signifies the beginning of the Hindu wedding season and the end of a monsoon season.
Tulsi Vivah’s day is different from one region to another.
- Tulsi Vivah Date : Friday, 24th November
- Dwadashi Tithi Begins – 09:01 PM on Nov 23,
- Dwadashi Tithi Ends – 07:06 PM on Nov 24,
Tulsi Vivah Significance
Tulsi Puja plays a very significant role for Hindus.
It is believed that on this day, Lord Vishnu married Goddess Tulsi in the form of Shaligram or his Shri Krishna avatar on Prabodhini Ekadashi.
As per the Hindu scriptures, Tulsi Mata is said to be the avatar of Goddess Lakshmi who is the wife of Lord Vishnu.
She took birth as Vrinda, as the legends say.
Hence, this day is considered to be the most auspicious day for conducting rituals and ceremonies related to marriage along with Kanyadaan.
Married women across India perform the Tulsi Vivah puja for the well-being of their husbands and family members.
The Hindus worship the tulsi plant, and Tulsi herself is thought to be an incarnation of Goddess Mahalakshmi, who was previously known as ‘Vrinda.’
To obtain marital bliss, young women pray to Goddess Lakshmi with full dedication.
Young, unmarried women also follow Tulsi Vivah rituals in order to find good husbands.
Also, many schedule their marriage on Tulsi Vivah day as it blesses the couple with blissful married life.
Tulsi Vivah Rituals
- Lord Krishna’s marriage to Tulsi is very similar to a traditional Hindu wedding. The rituals are carried out in various temples, but the Tulsi Vivah can also be performed at home.
- The one who observes the Tulsi Vivah must keep fast until the evening, once the actual rituals begin.
- The tulsi plant is surrounded by a beautiful mandap made of sugarcane stalks and decorated with colourful rangoli. The tulsi plant is then dressed up like an Indian bride with a bright sari, earrings, and other jewellery. Also offer vermillion powder and turmeric to the holy tulsi plant.
- A face is drawn on a piece of paper and attached to the Tulsi plant, along with a nose ring and a bindi.
- Either a brass idol or a photo of Lord Vishnu is used to represent the groom. The puja may also include the use of the ‘Shaligram Stone,’ which represents Lord Vishnu. A dhoti is then placed over the image of Lord Krishna/Vishnu.
- For this grand occasion, a special type of vegetarian lunch is prepared. After the marriage rituals are completed, the prepared food is set aside for ‘bhog.’
- In the evening, the actual ceremony begins. Before the wedding, both Lord Vishnu and Tulsi are given a bath and adorned with flowers as part of the Vivah ceremony. For the ceremony, a yellow thread is used to tie the couple together.
- A priest can perform the Tulsi Vivah ceremony, or women in the house can perform the puja collectively. Only widows are not permitted to participate in the Tulsi Vivah ceremony. Throughout the wedding ceremony, mantras are chanted. The newlyweds are showered with rice mixed with vermillion after the marriage rites are completed.
- A tulsi aarti is sung after the puja. After the aarti, the cooked food is served as a ‘bhog,’ along with fruits. The prasad is then shared among family members and other visitors.
- A person who performs the Tulsi Vivah is also required to eat a Tulsi leaf, which represents Goddess Tulsi entering the devotee’s body. After that, everyone receives prasad in the form of sweets.
Tulsi Vivah Puja Vidhi at Home
Tulsi Vivah Puja Vidhi can also be performed at the comfort of your home.
Fasting is one of the key rituals in Hinduism during any festival.
Hence, devotees observe fast on this day.
The fast is broken in the evening after offering rituals.
- Bathe the Tulsi plant with water, clean the statue of Lord Vishnu, and adorn it with flowers and mala.
- Get the Tulsi plant ready in the form of a bride. You can wrap a red cloth around and embellish her with ornaments like bangles and bindi.
- Tie a holy thread between Tulsi and Lord Vishnu’s idol.
- Offer flowers and fruits to the holy Tulsi plant and Lord Vishnu.
- After performing puja and aarti, distribute prasad to family members and other devotees.
- You may also sing devotional songs and read the Tulsi Vivah Vrat Katha and distribute the Prasad and Panchamrit among everyone afterwards.
Tulsi Vivah Celebration
Tulsi Vivah celebrations are grand happenings that take place in temples across India. The Lord Rama temples in Saurashtra have much more elaborate celebrations.
The bride’s temple sends the groom’s temple an appropriate wedding invitation.
The bride’s side is greeted by a grand Barat accompanied by dancing and singing devotees.
It is widely believed that childless couples who perform Tulsi’s kanyadaan will be blessed with children soon.
The ceremonies end when Lord Vishnu and his bride Tulsi return home.
The Tulsi Vivah is a perfect example of an Indian wedding.
Tulsi Vivah Story
Vrinda was a devout follower of Lord Vishnu.
She was married to the demon king Jalandhar and was his devoted wife.
He was thought to be Lord Shiva’s demon child.
The King possessed great power, but his evil nature drove him to conquer all Gods and become the Asura King.
It was impossible to kill Jalandhar until Vrinda remained loyal to him.
As a result, other Gods asked Lord Vishnu to take Jalandhar’s appearance and meet Vrinda with the goal of defeating Jalandhar.
Vrinda spent the entire night with the disguised husband, unable to recognise him as Lord Vishnu.
As Vrinda was no longer able to protect Jalandhar, the Gods were able to defeat and kill him.
As a result, she was enraged by Lord Vishnu’s actions.
He wanted to apologise for his wrongdoings and bring justice to Vrida.
As a result, the Lord changed her soul into a Holy Basil plant.
To seek forgiveness for his wrongdoings, Vishnu Dev granted him the blessing of marrying Vrinda in her next incarnation.
Why You Should Perform Tulsi Vivah Puja?
The day of Tulsi Vivah is very auspicious and divine.
Performing puja on this day confers you with many benefits.
Here are just a few to mention:
- It removes obstacles from your life and protects you from misfortunes happening within your family.
- If you are facing a delay in marriage, performing Tulsi Vivah Puja can remove all your marriage difficulties.
- Childless couples who perform Tulsi’s kanyadaan, are blessed with children.
- It brings happiness, prosperity and wealth.
Closing Up
A home where the holy Tulsi is worshipped daily with full devotion can overcome the challenges and obstacles with ease.
Worshipping Tulsi can help you attain health, wealth, and long-term prosperity.
We wish you Happy Tulsi Vivah !
Tulsi Vivah
Tulsi Vivah is an auspicious occasion for the ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi plant (holy basil) to the holy stone Shaligram(personification of Lord Vishnu).
As per Hindu customs, this day is considered sacred by the worship of Goddess Lakshmi.
It occurs between Prabodhini Ekadashi and Kartik Purnima, which marks the beginning of the wedding season in India.
The day is observed on Dwadashi tithi, which falls in November this year.
TULSI VIVAH : DATE AND TIME
- Tulasi Vivah: Saturday, November 5,
- Dwadashi Tithi begins: 06:08 pm, November 04,
- Dwadashi Tithi ends: 05:06 pm, November 05,
TULSI VIVAH : SIGNIFICANCE
The season of weddings in India begins with Devutthana Ekadashi and tulsi vivah.
The day brings its significance from the writings of Hindu mythology where Lord Vishnu was cursed by Tulsi Mata who turned him into a black stone.
Further to get rid of that curse, Lord Vishnu, in the form of Shaligram, gets married to Mata Tulsi.
TULSI VIVAH : PUJA VIDHI
On this day, the tulsi plants are adored with saree and bindi.
The Tulsi plant is also decorated with a nose ring.
The groom, who is represented as a black holy stone which is a symbol of Lord Vishnu, is wrapped in a dhoti.
Both tulsi plant and black stone are offered garlands and tied up with sacred thread.
Later, the wedding is performed and mantras like Namo Namaste Tulsi and Papam Har Hari Priya are chanted.
Devotees also keep fast on this day.
Tulsi Vivah
As per the Hindu rituals and beliefs, Tulsi Vivah is an auspicious day to seek the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu.
Tulsi Vivah : Tulsi Vivah is celebrated every year on Shukla Paksha Ekadashi in the month of Kartik.
On this day, Tulsi with Lord Vishnu is married.
Tulsi Vivah, this year, will be celebrated on Saturday, November 5.
As per the Hindu rituals and beliefs, Tulsi Vivah is an auspicious day to seek the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu.
It is also believed that celebrating Tulsi Vivah and performing all the rituals will help you have a smooth marriage and bring happiness to married couples.
Tulsi Vivah : Muhurat
Tulsi Vivah Ekadashi starts at 6.08 pm on November 4 and will end at 5:06 pm on October 5.
How is it celebrated?
Many of you must be aware that Tulsi is the incarnation of Goddess Mahalakshmi and Shaligram is believed to be the form of Lord Vishnu.
On Tulsi Vivah day, the Tulsi is married to the Shaligram.
To celebrate the auspicious day, people must take a bath early in the morning and wear clean clothes.
Also, keep in mind that you are not wearing black clothes while performing puja on this day.
People offering prayers also observe fast on the day.
The Tulsi plant is placed either on the floor in the courtyard or the terrace or at the temple.
Then, sugarcane is sown in the soil of the Tulsi flower pot and it is decorated with a red stole (chunri).
Moving forward, the shaligram is also placed in Tulsi pot.
Both the Shaligram and Tulsi are decorated with turmeric paste and are worshipped after offering bhog.
Tulsi Vivah
One of the most significant religious festivals is the Tulsi Vivah, which is observed by followers of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Tulsi.
Shaligram, who is regarded as Lord Vishnu, gets married to Tulsi during this joyous occasion.
On the following day of Dev Uthani Ekadashi or Dwadashi Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik, Tulsi Vivah is observed.
This year, it falls on November 5.
Hindus consider it to be of immense importance, and they enthusiastically and fervently commemorate it.
This event is enormously celebrated by followers of Lord Vishnu.
Temples are embellished with flowers, lights, and Bhajan kirtans.
Some even organise Bhandara to provide food and water to all the impoverished and in needed individuals.
Food custom
Food served at Tulsi Vivah includes a range of specialities that are revered for their spiritual properties.
The Tulsi plant is regarded by Hindus as a manifestation of the goddess Mahalakshmi. On this day, the Tulsi plant is dressed as a bride, and a unique spread of food items is presented after liting up earthen lamps.
It’s a way of recognising the importance of the Tulsi plant or holy basil, which is also thought to have medical capabilities.
A highlight of this festival is Goan ojhe, or a load of sweets.
Married daughters receive it from their parents along with jodi.
Women prepare an array of pure vegetarian dishes.
At noon, Tulsi Vrindavan is offered a full spread of rice, moongachi gathi, puri, sweet potato kheer, and red pumpkin cooked with sugarcane bits, amla, and tamarind.
The main Tulsi Vivah ritual is performed in the evening or at sunset.
Lord Vishnu is worshipped by offering an assortment of poha delicacies.
Food items of significance
Throughout the Tulsi Vivah rite, sugarcane is regarded to be very auspicious.
It is advised to be utilised for the food preparations for this event.
Planting sugarcane in the four corners of the worship space is also customary.
The inclusion of tamarind and amla in the foods is also essential. In the course of the ritual, these plants are placed alongside the Tulsi.
Midday is when Tulsi Puja’s most lavish meal is served.
In Maharashtra, bits of coconut, fruit, groundnut, and sugarcane are given as prasad.
The food items presented as naivedya also include koshambari.
Sweet Potato Kheer
Ingredients
- 500 gram sweet potatoes
- 4 cup coconut scraped
- 3 cups coconut milk
- 250 gram jaggery
- 1/2 tbsp cardamom powder
- 2 tbsp sago
- 7-8 sliced almonds
- 4 cup water
Method
- Slice the sweet potatoes into very thin pieces
- Add the sago or tapioca pearls to boiling water and cook for a while
- Blend in the sweet potato slices and boil until they are tender
- In another pan, add the jaggery and let it melt
- Add the melted jaggery to the sweet potato and sago mix
- Blend in the coconut milk, whisk it thoroughly and boil the mixture for 5-8 minutes or until it thickens
- Sprinkle almond slices and cardamom powder
- Turn off the flame
Sweet potato kheer is ready!
The Story of Tulsi Vivah
The Tulsi plant is a variety of the spice we know as basil.
The story of Tulsi and the holiday known as Tusli Vivaha is wonderfully symbolic story that resonates even today.
Tulsi Vivaha, is the mythical marriage of the tulsi plant and Krishna, is celebrated on the11th day of the bright half of the lunar month of Kartika.
The festival is popular in all parts of India and particularly in the south.
In the Vedic tradition there is a rishi by the name of Narada who is the son of Brahma, the creator.
He takes the role of cosmic instigator.
He is always sneaking in and out of these stories, usually starting things off by making devious suggestions which his unsuspecting target eagerly agrees to.
Of course there are all sorts of interesting consequences and they are what make up the core of these stories.
During the time that Krishna was here on earth, the gods in heaven decided that he had been away long enough and that they missed him.
They wanted him to come back to heaven. So with Narada, they hatched a plan to get Krishna to return.
While here on earth, Krishna had 2 wives; Satyabhama and Rukmini.
Queen Satyabhaamaenquired of the Rishi Narada how she could ensure that she would have Krishna as her husband in her next life.
Narada told the Queen, and truthfully so, that you receive in the next life that which you giveaway in this life as charity (Daan in Sanskrit).
So Satyabhaama immediately gave Krishna away to Narada and they left immediately so that Krishna could go back to heaven.
But Krishna’s wives Rukmini and Satyabhama sorely missed their husband, and both requested Narada to bring Krishna back.
Narada said that they would have to give the gods something equal to the weight of Krishna if he was to return from heaven.
Proud of all the jewels and valuables that Krishna had given her, Satyabhama set up a large weighing balance scale.
Krishna came and sat on one side.
Satyabhama, who as befits a Queen, was rather arrogant and brought out all her jewels and gold and silver pots to weigh against Krishna.
But the more she piled onto the balance scale, the lighter her side became.
Krishna just became heavier and heavier. Reduced to angry tears, she finally gave up.
Satyabhama asked Rukmini to do what she could. Rukmini removed all the gold and gems from the scale and plucked a few leaves of the wild tulsi plant growing nearby.
She put them on the scale with all her love. The leaves proved to be far heavier than Krishna.
With a smile, Krishna returned to earth to be with his wives.
Since that time, a tulsi leaf is added to any auspicious gift.
A father also places a tulsi leaf in his daughter’s hand during the Kanaan – giving away of the daughter during a Hindu marriage ceremony.
On Tulsi Vivaha the yoga tradition is for the tulsi plant to be dressed up as if it were a murti.
The ceremony of Vishnu’s marriage is re-enacted in a uja called Kalyana Utsavam.
A dainty wedding pavilion(mandap) is made of sugarcane stalks and the tulsi plant is decorated with a yellow bridal sari, miniature jewellery and red kumkum powder.
Krishna wears a golden crown and the traditional bridegroom’s attire.
The wedding is conducted with complete wedding puja and homa rites.
The Tulsi plant is offered a feast of seasonal berries, new tamarind, turmeric, amla fruit and rice. Krishna is offered sweets made of milk.
You might ask why it was that Rukmini, who was really Lakshmi, offered the tulsi plant to Krishna in this story.
As is frequently the case in Vedic stories, it begins with a demon that has gained too much power and is troubling the gods.
Since the strength of the gods cannot always equal that of the demons, the gods have to win by some form of trickery.
Of course ultimately it backfires and the gods have make amends.
In this case, there was a demon who was a famous warrior by the name of Jalandhar. By constantly annoying, fighting and defeating the gods he madehis fellow demons happy and more and more of the universe came under their control.
Jalandhar had a wonderful wife by the name of Vrinda who was apure and spiritually dedicated soul and a powerful yogi in her own right.
Because of her purity and spiritual strength, Jalandhar became invincible in all three worlds.
Desperately, the gods tried to find some way to defeat Jalandhar.
Vishnu developed a plan and sent messengers to tell Vrinda that her husband had been killed in battle.
The severed head and body of two monkeys were put in front of her, and after reciting some mantras, Vishnu, through his magical powers made her believe it was her husband’s dead body and she was plunged into grief.
Then Vishnu snuck away and took the form of sadhu and seemingly innocent, walked by Vrinda.
Faking compassion, Vishnu recited some mantras and joined the head and the body together again.
Vishnu quickly took the form of Vrinda’s husband who thought that her husband Jalandhar stood there in front of her.
She embraced him with passion and relief.
But quickly she realized her mistake and discovered that it was in fact, Vishnu.
In that conservative era, she immediately lost her spiritual virtue and power for having touched the body of man who was not her husband.
She was distraught at having been tricked, but it was of no use.
AfterVrinda had lost her holiness and purity, Jalandhar lost the source of his power, and was killed in battle.
When Vrinda came to know the full truth of her husband’s death, she was wild with anger and cursed Vishnu saying, “Your wife will be taken away from you and you will have to ask help from monkeys to recover her.”
A rishi’s curse is powerful thing and not even the gods can escape intuit was after all, the result of Vishnu’s own actions coming back to him.
As we well know, this curse was realized when Vishnu took the form as Rama and Sita was taken from him only to be saved again by Hanuman, the monkey god.
After issuing her curse, Vrinda prepared the funeral pyre for her husband and jumped into the fire.
Vishnu, whose job it is to protect everyone in creation, was very sorry because as a result of his deceit the poor widow had committed suicide.
He remained sitting at the side of the pyre for many days, deep in depression.
Worried about him because he was neglecting his cosmic duties, the gods planted three medicinal trees in the cremation ground; Tulsi, Amala, and Jasmine.
Of these three trees the Tulsi was most dear to Vishnu and to this day is used in his worship rituals
Because Vrinda had for a while truly believed Vishnu to be her husband, when Vishnu appeared as Krishna, Vrinda came in the form of Rukmini and on the day which we celebrate as Tulsi Vivaha, they were married.
Importance: From this day the auspicious days begin.
It is said that, this marriage is the symbol of the perfect marriage in Indian culture.
Significance of Tulsi Vivah:
The belief is that those who perform Tulsi Vivah ceremony giving away Tulsi considering them to be one’s daughters get the credit of Kanyadan which is an auspicious act in Hindu religion.
Tulsi plant can help to vanish all the Architectural defects in a house. For Hindus, Tulsi is the most sacred plant.
Puja offerings are considered incomplete without the Tulsi leaf.
It also symbolizes Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu.
Women seek blessings for happy married life.
The Tulsi leaf has great medicinal value as it cures various ailments, including the common cold.
Performing one or four Parikramas of the plant removes the evil effects of the sins.
TULSI VIVAH – SIGNIFICANCE AND CELEBRATIONS
Tulsi Vivah is the solemn marriage of holy Tulsi (basil) plant and Lord Vishnu or his incarnation Lord Krishna.
According to the Panchang and Hindu Calendar, this ceremonious celebration is performed in the month of Kartik (Shukla Paksha).
The celebrations of Tulsi Marriage begin on the eleventh lunar day i.e.
Prabodhini Ekadashi and continue till the full moon night or Kartik Poornima.
However, in many parts of India, the festival is celebrated only on eleventh or till the twelfth lunar day.
As per the Indian calendar, this festival falls either in October or November.
What is the Significance of Tulsi Vivah?
Tulsi Vivah is considered as one of the most auspicious days in Hindu Calendar.
This day marks the beginning of Hindu wedding season in India.
Tulsi Vivah Vrat and Puja is done religiously by married women for marital bliss and well being of their husband and children while unmarried women perform it to get married to good husbands.
The holy plant of Tulsi is believed to be the incarnation of Devi Laxmi and this sacred plant is placed in every Hindu household.
As per the popular legend, Goddess Tulsi was born as a woman, Vrinda, who got married to an evil king named Jalandhar.
She was an ardent devotee of God Vishnu and ceaselessly prayed for her husband’s health and long life.
As a result, Jalandhar became invincible. Lord Shiva requested Lord Vishnu to weaken Jalandhar’s power.
So Lord Vishnu took the form of the evil king Jalandhar and deceived Vrinda.
Consequent to which Jalandhar became powerless and was killed by Lord Shiva.
Vrinda, on knowing the truth, cursed Lord Vishnu and drowned herself in the ocean.
Lord Vishnu and other gods placed her soul in the plant which later came to be known as Tulsi.
Also, Lord Vishnu married Tulsi in the next birth in the form of Shaligram (black stone) on the day of Prabodhini Ekadashi.
This is the reason why Tulsi Vivah is celebrated on this day with such exuberance.
TULSI VIVAH – RITUALS AND CELEBRATIONS
The rituals of Tulsi Marriage with Lord Vishnu resemble the traditions and customs of any Hindu wedding ceremony.
It can be performed at temples as well as in homes.
On this day, Tulsi Vivah Vrat is kept which can be broken only after ceremonies begin in the evening.
Similar to any Hindu marriage, a beautiful ‘Mandap’ bedecked with flowers and rangoli is created.
The beginning of the ceremony is marked with giving a bath to Tulsi plant as well as the idol of Lord Vishnu and adorning them with flowers or garlands.
During the ceremony, Tulsi is ornamented similar to a bride with a bright red sari, jewelry and bindi among others.
The brass idol of Lord Vishnu or even a Shaligram stone (Lord Vishnu’s symbol) is made to don a traditional dhoti.
The couple is then linked with a thread for the ceremony.
The marriage ceremony can be performed by a priest and also by women of all age groups.
The end of the ceremony is marked with devotees showering the couple with vermilion and rice.
After the ceremony, ‘Prasad’ or ‘bhog’ is distributed to all the devotees present.
This festival is quite lavishly celebrated in Saurashtra region’s two Rama temples.
The celebrations begin the day when an invitation card is sent by the bride’s temple to the groom’s temple.
On the day of the wedding, a grand baraat or a procession is taken from Lord Vishnu’s temple to Goddess Tulsi’s temple.
The baraat is gladly received by Tulsi’s villagers and the ceremony then concludes at the temple with bhajan recitals throughout the night and Lord Vishnu taking Tulsi home the next day.
In some places, Tulsi Aarti is also sung after the end of the marriage ceremony.
It is a tradition in some parts that the expenses of the Tulsi Vivah are borne by childless couples or couples without a daughter.
They even perform the ‘kanyadaan‘ ceremony on this day.
All the bridal offerings are then given to a priest.
It is also a common belief that couples who perform the kanyadaan of Goddess Tulsi are soon blessed with a child.
Tulsi Vivah – Why is it Celebrated?
Tulsi Vivah Importance
Participating in or getting Tulsi Vivah done is considered to be a blissful ritual.
There is a tradition of offering ‘Tulsi Dal’ (branch or leaf of holy basil plant) to Sri Hari Vishnu on the day of Devuthani Gyaras (Dev uthani Ekadashi ).
It has been told in mythology that on this day Shaligram (a kind of stone) in the form of Lord Vishnu is married to Tulsi (Holy Basil plant).
Whoever solemnises this marriage, Lord Vishnu showers immense blessings on him. Tulsi marriage is an act of virtue as much as getting a girl child married.
By getting the Tulsi Vivah done, it is believed that all the troubles and problems vanish away from the life of the person.
Along with this, those all who get Tulsi Ji married to Shaligram get marital happiness.
Worship Method for Tulsi Vivah
Tulsi Vivah should be performed according to the Vedic methods only.
For this, place a Tulsi plant on one post and Shaligram on the second.
An urn filled with water and covered with five mango leaves should be kept near these posts.
Put ocher (a kind of soil) in the pot of holy basil.
After this, bathe Tulsi and Shaligram with Gangajal (water from the holy river Ganga/Ganges).
In case Gangajal is not available, fresh pure water can also be used.
After this, apply roli and sandalwood tilak to both of them.
Prepare a sugarcane pavilion for this marriage and make both of them sit in it.
Along with this, Tulsi should also be covered with red chuniri symbolising a bride.
Wrap the Tulsi pot with a sari, put on bangles and other makeup like a bride.
After this, take seven rounds around Shaligram holding the Tulsi post in the hands.
Finally, perform aarti of both, and after the marriage is over, distribute Prasad.
Tulsi Vivah Story
In ancient times, there used to be a very mighty demon named Jalandhar.
He was married to a girl named Vrinda, one of the supreme devotees of Lord Vishnu. Jalandhar became invincible due to Vrinda’s virtuous religion.
Once, he also defeated Lord Shiva in a battle, and after that Jalandhar became proud of his invincibility and he constantly started harassing the celestial damsels (Apsaras) of heaven.
Lord Indra was also frightened by this act of Jalandhar.
Almost all the gods were petrified by the terror of Jalandhar.
With this problem, all the gods went to Lord Vishnu, requesting him to put an end to the horrors of Jalandhar.
Basis the request of the deities, Lord Vishnu, using illusion, took the form of Jalandhar and, by treachery, destroyed Vrinda’s husbandry religion.
As soon as Vrinda’s virtuous dharma was destroyed, Jalandhara’s power diminished, and he was killed in a battle.
When Vrinda came to know that her husband’s religion had been fraudulently corrupted by Lord Vishnu, Vrinda, in anger, cursed Lord Vishnu to become a stone.
All the deities were upset as Lord Vishnu turned into a stone.
They all pleaded with Vrinda to take back the curse.
Showing mercy, Vrinda withdrew her curse.
Though Lord Vishnu was feeling ashamed of his actions, therefore, to keep Vrinda’s curse alive, he manifested himself in form of a stone, which then came to be known as Shaligram.
After taking back the curse given to Lord Vishnu, Vrinda became sati along with Jalandhar from where a Tulsi plant grew out from her ashes.
In order to maintain the dignity and purity of Vrinda, the gods together got the Shaligram form of Lord Vishnu married to Tulsi.
Since then, every year on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, Tulsi is married with Shaligram to commemorate this event.
Tulsi Vivah Puja
Tulsi Vivah Puja involves the marriage between Lord Vishnu and Tulsi Devi.
Tulsi or basil plant is considered to be a very sacred plant by Hindus.
It helps in solving the problems related to marriage, childbirth, or any obstacles.
Puja marks the end of the rainy season and acts as an indicator of the Hindu Marriage season.
When To Perform Tulsi Vivah Puja?
Can perform the Puja from Prabodhini Ekadashi (11th day of Shukla Paksha) in Kartik month (October-November) to the full moon day of the month.
Usually, it is performed on the 11th or 12th of the lunar day.
The day varies from region to region.
Benefits Of Tulsi Vivah Puja:
- Performing Tulsi Vivah puja increases the chances of marriage for unmarried individuals.
- This puja blesses the couples with the gift to bear children.
- This puja helps one to overcome any obstacles and misfortunes arising in the family.
Tulsi Vivah
Tulsi (the Holy Basil), the sacred plant of the Hindus symbolizes purity and is famous for its medicinal properties and can be found in almost every Hindu house.
“Tulsi Vivah” festival is a traditional wedding (vivah) ceremony of the Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu.
It is celebrated on the day of “Dev Uthani Ekadashi, also known as Prabodhini Ekadashi” of Hindu month Kartik.
It is believed that Tulsi is an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, consort of Lord Vishnu. She is often referred to as “Vishnu Priya” literally meaning “the beloved of Vishnu”.
The Legend
The story of the “Tulsi Vivah“ is found in the Padma Purana.
There was a woman named Brinda.
She was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu.
She was a very pious woman and was devoted to her husband Jalandhar (the demon king).
Jalandhar was very powerful and he wanted to fight and defeat all the gods including the Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.
There was no way to kill Jalandhar as long as his wife Brinda remained faithful to him (Pativrata).
At the request of gods, Lord Vishnu decided to take the form of Jalandhar and went to meet Brinda.
Brinda was not able to recognize the disguise and spent a night with Lord Vishnu in her husband’s disguise.
The devotion and the chastity (Pativrata dharma) of Brinda was thus destroyed by this act of Lord Vishnu.
Brinda got extremely upset and angry to know what the Lord had done to her.
She cursed him that he would become black stone known as “Shaligram” since he had the heart of stone in destroying her chastity.
Even today we find that the “Shaligram” stone found only on the bed of river Gandak near Muktinath, Nepal, is used by devout Hindus (mainly the Vaishnavas) to worship Lord Vishnu, Jalandhar lost the battle with the gods and was eventually killed as his wife could no longer protect him. Brinda jumped into the funeral pyre of her husband.
Transformation to Tulsi Plant and Tulsi Vivah
Lord Vishnu wanted to compensate for what he had done to Brinda.
This is why he transformed her soul to the Tulsi plant.
Lord Vishnu also said that he would marry Brinda in her next birth to make up for the wrongful act that he did to Brinda. Vishnu in the form of the “Shaligram” stone got married to the Tulsi plant on the day of Prabodhini Ekadashi of Hindu month Kartik.
This is the day celebrated in the form of the Tulsi Vivah Festival by the Hindus.
Noteworthy
The Tulsi Vivah signifies the end of the monsoon and the beginning of the Hindu wedding season.
The spiritual significance of the marriage of Tulsi with Vishnu
Holy basil (Tulsi) is the symbol of spiritual purity (sattvika).
The marriage (Vivah) of Tulsi with Lord Vishnu means that God likes purity as a quality.
The meaning of the word marriage is the merging and oneness of the embodied soul (Jiva) and God .
Tulsi Vivah
The tulsi plant is held sacred by the Hindus as it is regarded as an incarnation of Mahalaxmi who was born as Vrinda.
The festival of Tulsi Vivah is celebrated in each and every household of Goa.
The one special feature of the festival is that of preparing various delicious sweet dishes at home. The women folk engage themselves in preparations well in advance.
A typical Goan ojhe (load of sweets) is sent to the daughter from her parental home along with jodi (cotton threads used to light lamp while performing aarti).
Tulsi was married to demon king Jalandhar.
But she prayed to Lord Vishnu that her demon husband would be protected, with the result that no god was able to harm him.
However on the request of the other gods, Lord Vishnu took the form of Jalandhar and stayed with the unsuspecting Tulsi.
When the truth emerged after Jalandhar’s death, Vrinda crused Vishnu and turned him to stone (Shaligram) and collapsed.
From her body emerged the tulsi plant.
That is why Vishnu pooja is considered incomplete without tulsi leaves.
Tulsi vivah is celebrated on the next day of Kartiki Akadashi.
On this day tulsi is married to Shaligram.
On this day tulsivrindavan is coloured and decorated as a bride.
Sugarcane and branches of tamarind and amla trees are planted along with the tulsi plant.
Only vegetarian food is cooked on this day.
At midday, a full meal consisting of rice, moongachi gathi, puri , sweet potato kheer , red pumpkin vegetable cooked with pieces of sugarcane, amla and tamarind is offered to Tulsi Vrindavan.
Tulsi vivah ceremony takes place in the late evening.
Various poha dishes are offered to Lord Vishnu.
Then prasad is distributed among family members and friends.
Tulsi Vivah
The auspicious wedding of Lalji Maharaj to Tulsibai was celebrated on Sunday 17th November with great joy and festivity.
When Bhagwan Narayan wakes from His Yognindra, the Devtas gather to greet Bhagwan and enjoy in the merriment by lighting lamps for five days.
Just as we mortals celebrate the festival of lights as Diwali, this festival is called DevDiwali.
On the culmination of Dev Diwali, Bhagwan Shree Vishnu marries Vrinda (Tulsi) on Kartik Sud Purnima.
This is called Tulsi Vivah.
Wise people refrain from undertaking marriages during Chaturmaas and wait once Bhagwan’s marriage is concluded before embarking on their own weddings.
The legend of Tulsi Vivah is first mentioned in Padma Puran.
In bygone eras, there was a mighty king called Jalandhar.
He was married to Vrunda, a daughter of Kushdhvaj. Due to Vrunda’s piety and faithfulness, her husband became invincible in three Loks.
Even Bhagwan Himself was unable to defeat him in a battle.
Only way to defeat him was if Vrunda deviates from her piety.
Who could deviate her?
Bhagwan Vishnu took the form of Jalandhar and went to his home while he was engaged in a battle.
When Vrunda saw Bhagwan in form of her husband, she welcomed Him warmly with an embrace.
As Bhagwan tightened His embrace, Vrunda suddenly realised that the person embracing her was not her husband but some imposter.
She furiously loosened herself from embraced and challenged Bhagwan.
Lord Vishnu appeared in His original form.
He tried to calm Vrunda, but she cursed Him to turn into a stone.
Bhagwan Vishnu became Shaligram.
On other hand, Jalandhar’ invincibility came to an end and he was killed in the battle. Bhagwan turned Vrunda in holy basil (Tulsi) plant and decreed that Tulsi leaves are mandatory for ritual of worship and gave her a seat at His feet.
Any rite related to Bhagwan is incomplete without the presence of Tulsi leaves.
Tulsi plant is considered so holy that we wear Kanthi and use Mala for Japa made of her wood.
Vrunda, in her previous birth has undertaken severe austerity was granted a boon that Bhagwan Vishnu will become her husband.
But as fate would have it, she was married off to Jalandhar.
To make this boon a reality and save Vrunda from being a widow for rest of her life, Bhagwan Vishnu agreed to marry her.
Since then, every year on Kartik Sud Purnima Bhagwan Vishnu in His Shalgram form marries Vrunda.
This marriage ceremony is conducted with full rituals and regalia.
Tulsi Vivah
Tulsi (the Holy Basil), the sacred plant of the Hindus symbolizes purity and is famous for its medicinal properties and can be found in almost every Hindu house.
“Tulsi Vivah” festival is a traditional wedding (vivah) ceremony of the Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu.
It is celebrated on the day of “Dev Uthani Ekadashi, also known as Prabodhini Ekadashi” of Hindu month Kartik.
It is believed that Tulsi is an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, consort of Lord Vishnu.
She is often referred to as “Vishnu Priya” literally meaning “the beloved of Vishnu”.
The Legend
The story of the “Tulsi Vivah” is found in the Padma Purana.
There was a woman named Brinda. She was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu.
She was a very pious woman and was devoted to her husband Jalandhar (the demon king).
Jalandhar was very powerful and he wanted to fight and defeat all the gods including the Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.
There was no way to kill Jalandhar as long as his wife Brinda remained faithful to him (Pativrata).
At the request of gods, Lord Vishnu decided to take the form of Jalandhar and went to meet Brinda.
Brinda was not able to recognize the disguise and spent a night with Lord Vishnu in her husband’s disguise.
The devotion and the chastity (Pativrata dharma) of Brinda was thus destroyed by this act of Lord Vishnu.
Brinda got extremely upset and angry to know what the Lord had done to her.
She cursed him that he would become black stone known as “Shaligram” since he had the heart of stone in destroying her chastity.
Even today we find that the “Shaligram” stone found only on the bed of river Gandak near Muktinath, Nepal, is used by devout Hindus (mainly the Vaishnavas) to worship Lord Vishnu, Jalandhar lost the battle with the gods and was eventually killed as his wife could no longer protect him.
Brinda jumped into the funeral pyre of her husband.
Transformation to Tulsi Plant and Tulsi Vivah
Lord Vishnu wanted to compensate for what he had done to Brinda.
This is why he transformed her soul to the Tulsi plant.
Lord Vishnu also said that he would marry Brinda in her next birth to make up for the wrongful act that he did to Brinda.
Vishnu in the form of the “Shaligram” stone got married to the Tulsi plant on the day of Prabodhini Ekadashi of Hindu month Kartik.
This is the day celebrated in the form of the Tulsi Vivah Festival by the Hindus.
Spiritual significance of the marriage of Tulsi with Vishnu
Holy basil (Tulsi) is the symbol of spiritual purity (sattvika).
The marriage (Vivah) of Tulsi with Lord Vishnu means that God likes purity as a quality.
The meaning of the word marriage is the merging and oneness of the embodied soul (Jiva) and God .
Tulsi: The Holy Basil
The ‘tulsi’ plant or Indian basil is an important symbol in the Hindu religious tradition. The name ‘tulsi’ connotes “the incomparable one”.
Tulsi is a venerated plant and Hindus worship it in the morning and evening.
Tulsi grows wild in the tropics and warm regions.
Dark or Shyama tulsi and light or Rama tulsi are the two main varieties of basil, the former possessing greater medicinal value.
Of the many varieties, the Krishna or Shyama tulsi is commonly used for worship.
Tulsi As A Deity
The presence of tulsi plant symbolizes the religious bent of a Hindu family.
A Hindu household is considered incomplete if it doesn’t have a tulsi plant in the courtyard.
Many families have the tulsi planted in a specially built structure, which has images of deities installed on all four sides, and an alcove for a small earthen oil lamp.
Some households can even have up to a dozen tulsi plants on the verandah or in the garden forming a “tulsi-van” or “tulsivrindavan” – a miniature basil forest.
The Holy Herb
Places that tend to inspire concentration and places ideal for worship, according to the ‘Gandharv Tantra,’ include “grounds overgrown with tulsi plants”.
The Tulsi Manas Mandir at Varanasi is one such famous temple, where tulsi is worshiped along with other Hindu gods and goddesses.
Vaishnavites or believers of Lord Vishnu worship the tulsi leaf because it’s the one that pleases Lord Vishnu the most.
They also wear beaded necklaces made of tulsi stems.
The manufacture of these tulsi necklaces is a cottage industry in pilgrimages and temple towns.
Tulsi As An Elixir
Apart from its religious significance it is of great medicinal significance, and is a prime herb in Ayurvedic treatment.
Marked by its strong aroma and a stringent taste, tusli is a kind of “the elixir of life” as it promotes longevity.
The plant’s extracts can be used to prevent and cure many illnesses and common ailments like common cold, headaches, stomach disorders, inflammation, heart disease, various forms of poisoning and malaria.
Essential oil extracted from karpoora tulsi is mostly used for medicinal purposes though of late it is used in the manufacture of herbal toiletry.
A Herbal Remedy
According to Jeevan Kulkarni, author of ‘Historical Truths & Untruths Exposed,’ when Hindu women worship tulsi, they in effect pray for “less and less carbonic acid and more and more oxygen – a perfect object lesson in sanitation, art and religion”.
The tulsi plant is even known to purify or de-pollute the atmosphere and also works as a repellent to mosquitoes, flies and other harmful insects.
Tulsi used to be a universal remedy in cases of malarial fever.
Tulsi in History
Tulsi In Legends
Quite a few myths and legends found in the Puranas or ancient scriptures point to the origin of importance of tulsi in religious rituals.
Although tulsi is regarded as feminine, in no folklore is she described as the consort the Lord. Y
et a garland solely made of tulsi leaves is the first offering to the Lord as part of the daily ritual.
The plant is accorded the sixth place among the eight objects of worship in the ritual of the consecration of the Kalasha, the container of holy water.
According to one legend, Tulsi was the incarnation of a princess who fell in love with Lord Krishna, and so had a curse laid on her by his consort Radha.
Tulsi is also mentioned in the stories of Meera and of Radha immortalised in Jayadev’s Gita Govinda.
The story of Lord Krishna has it that when Krishna was weighed in gold, not even all the ornaments of Satyabhama could outweigh him.
But a single tulsi leaf placed by Rukmani on the pan tilted the scale.
In the Hindu mythology, tulsi is very dear to Lord Vishnu.
Tulsi is ceremonially married to Lord Vishnu annually on the 11th bright day of the month of Karttika in the lunar calendar.
This festival continues for five days and concludes on the full moon day, which falls in mid October.
This ritual, called the ‘Tulsi Vivaha’ inaugurates the annual marriage season in India.
Tulsi Vivah
Tulsi Vivah is a Hindu festival in which a ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi with God Shaligram or Amla branch is held.
The Tulsi wedding signifies the end of the monsoon and the beginning of the wedding season in Hinduism.
The ceremonial festival is performed anytime between Prabodhini Ekadashi and Kartik Poornima, and Sundarkand Path is also a part of the ceremony.
Tulsi Vivah and the Wedding Season
Tulsi Vivah is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the marriage of the holy plant Tulsi with Lord Vishnu during the Hindu month of Kartik.
The festival marks the beginning of the wedding season in India and is believed to bring benefits for newlyweds, such as strengthening their bond and bringing good luck and prosperity.
Tulsi is revered as a goddess in Hinduism and is sometimes considered a wife of Vishnu, with the epithet, “Vishnupriya,” “the beloved of Vishnu”.
The legend behind Tulsi Vivah and its rites are told in Padma Purana’s scripture.
According to Hindu scripture, the Tulsi plant was a woman named “Vrinda”.
She was married to the Asura king Jalandhar, who became invincible due to her piety and devotion to Vishnu.
Even the Devtas could not defeat Jalandhar, so they requested Vishnu – the preserver in the Trinity – to find a solution.
When leaving for war, Vrinda promised Jalandhar to do Sankalpa for his victory till he returned, but Lord Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhar, and she saw him; she left her Sankalpa and touched his feet.
With her Sankalpa destroyed, Jalandhar lost his power and was killed by Shiva, and his head fell in Vrinda’s palace.
For families with marriageable children, performing Tulsi Vivah is a way to pray for suitable life partners for their children.
The festival involves a traditional wedding ceremony where the Tulsi plant is decorated with flowers, and the bride and groom are united in a sacred bond.
As per a blessing by Vishnu to marry Vrinda in her next birth, Vishnu – in form of Shaligram – married Tulsi on Prabodhini Ekadashi.
To commemorate this event, the ceremony of Tulsi Vivah is performed.
Tulsi Vivah Subh Muhurat
Tulsi Vivah is often observed from Prabodhi Ekadashi to Kartik Purnima at any time. Per the Hindu calendar, Tulsi Vivah will be observed in on Kartik month’s bright fortnight’s twelfth day.
- Shubh Muhurat – November 24,
- Day – Friday
- Shubh Muhurat Starting Time – 11:43 AM, November 24,
- Shubh Muhurat Ending Time – 12:26 PM, November 24,
- Dwadashi Tithi Starting Time – 09:01 PM on November 23,
- Dwadashi Tithi Ending Time – 07:06 PM on November 24,
Significance of Tulsi Vivah in Hindu Religion
On the day of Devuthani Gyaras or tulsi Ekadashi (Devuthani Ekadashi ), there is a tradition where devotees offer Sri Hari Vishnu ‘Tulsi Dal’ (branch or leaf of holy basil plants).
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu- goddess tulsi’s husband, takes the form of the stone Shaligram (a kind of stone) on this day and marries the Holy Basil plant (Tulsi Mata).
Tulsi Vivah is a blissful ritual for those who undertake or participate in it.
The Tulsi marriage is an act of virtue as much as an unmarried girl getting married.
Beliefs say that Lord Vishnu showers immense blessings on the one who solemnizes the marriage with proper devotion & Aastha.
Spiritual Benefits of Celebrating Tulsi Vivah
- Tulsi Vivah is believed to hold spiritual significance as it is considered to bring good luck, prosperity, and happiness to the newlyweds who celebrate it.
- It is a way to seek blessings from Lord Vishnu and Tulsi, who are revered in Hindu mythology for their purity and devotion.
- The festival is a means of expressing gratitude and seeking blessings for a prosperous and happy married life.
The Role of Tulsi In Hindu Rituals And Ayurveda
- Tulsi is believed to have a purifying effect on the body, mind, and soul.
- Ayurvedic medicine considers Tulsi as a natural remedy for a range of health issues such as cough, cold, fever, and respiratory problems.
- Tulsi is used in various religious ceremonies and rituals as it is believed to enhance spiritual purity and protect against negative energies.
- In Hindu mythology, Tulsi is considered to be the embodiment of the goddess Lakshmi and is highly revered for its purity and devotion.
- Tulsi leaves are offered to deities during worship and used to make traditional medicines, teas, and foods.
How Temples And Community Organisations Celebrate Tulsi Vivah?
- Tulsi Vivah is a festival celebrated in India to mark the marriage of Lord Vishnu and Tulsi, a sacred plant.
- The festival is usually celebrated with a traditional wedding ceremony where Tulsi is decorated with flowers, and the bride and groom are united in a sacred bond.
- Devotees chant Tulsi Vivah mantras and hymns, make offerings of sweets and fruits to the deities, and participate in cultural programs and feasts.
- The festival is celebrated in temples and community organisations, organising various events and festivities.
- In some parts of India, Tulsi parikrama is organised, where devotees take a holy procession around the Tulsi plant.
- The festival provides an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the auspicious occasion with joy and devotion.
Tulsi Vivah Ritual
These are the rituals associated with Tulsi Vivah.
- During this day, all the family members must wake up early and take holy baths before wearing new clothes.
- The Tulsi Vivah Pooja & rituals can be performed by the priest or any house woman near the vishnu tulsi plant, irrespective of age.
- A person who intends to perform Kanyadaan should fast on this day until the wedding commences.
- Temple or home is the ideal place for Puja.
- The area surrounding the Tulsi plant is decorated exquisitely with flowers and rangoli. Similar to Hindu marriage, the Mandap is beautifully created & embellished with flowers & sugarcane is planted right inside the Tulsi pot.
- Goddess Tulsi is bathed and covered with a red cloth adorned with ornaments similar to a bride & a paper face is attached to it.
- Lord Vishnu’s idol is symbolized as a groom wrapped in a dhoti.
- Shaligraam stone is also used in this ritual which is kept inside the Tulsi pot.
- A sacred yellow thread is tied between the idol & Tulsi plant. Throughout the vivah, mantras are chanted.
- Following the completion of the marriage rites, rice mixed with vermillion is showered on the newlyweds.
- Immediately after the Puja, Tulsi aarti is sung.
- After the aarti, Satvik Bhojan is served to the newlywed couples & then between the family members.
Samagri For Tulsi Vivah Puja
Here’s the list of Samagri required for Tulsi Pooja Vidhanam
One pot with Tulsi plant An idol of Lord Ganesh Supari Saree & bindi White dhoti Water
Photo or idol of Lord Vishnu along with Shaligram stone Bunch of flowers Four sugarcanes Mehendi, Bangles & necklace Incense sticks & camphor Naivedya
Two wooden chowkis Durva grass, coconut with husk & paan leaves Banana shoots Red fabric chunni for Tulsi Mata Mango leaves Two varmalas
A Kalash One Mauli Thamboolam Cotton wicks Colors for Rangoli Paan
Two pieces of red cloth Janeu One packet of haldi, kumkum & roli Wooden lamps Rice Elaichi
One piece of yellow cloth along with yellow thread Five types of fruits & dry fruits Akshat One bottle of perfume Diya Dakshina
One pot with Tulsi plant
Photo or idol of Lord Vishnu along with Shaligram stone
Two wooden chowkis
A Kalash
Two pieces of red cloth
One piece of yellow cloth along with yellow thread
An idol of Lord Ganesh
Bunch of flowers
Durva grass, coconut with husk & paan leaves
One Mauli
Janeu
Five types of fruits & dry fruits
Supari
Four sugarcanes
Banana shoots
Thamboolam
One packet of haldi, kumkum & roli
Akshat
Saree & bindi
Mehendi, Bangles & necklace
Red fabric chunni for Tulsi Mata
Cotton wicks
Wooden lamps
One bottle of perfume
White dhoti
Incense sticks & camphor
Mango leaves
Colors for Rangoli
Rice
Diya
Water
Naivedya
Two varmalas
Paan
Elaichi
Here’s a full list of commonly used essential puja samagri or pooja items for Tulsi Vivah Puja :
- Tulsi Plant and Lord Vishnu Idol or Photo.
- Kalash (A small pot or a container for planting the Tulsi plant)
- Soil and water for planting the tulsi plant.
- Agarbatti (Incense Sticks) and Agarbatti Stand.
- Haldi ki Gaanth (Turmeric Root)
- Ganga Jal (Holy Water)
- Kale Til ka beej (Black Sesame Seed)
- Chandan Paste (Sandalwood)
- Amla (Gooseberry)
- Singhaada (Water Chestnut)
- Shaligram.
- Shrringaar ka Saamaan (Make Up Accessories)
- Paan ke patte aur Supari (Betel leaves and nuts)
- Kapur (Camphor) and Dhoop (Aromatic smoke) for aarti and offering.
- Fresh Flowers such as marigolds, roses and jasmine for offerings and decoration.
- Fruits such as bananas, apples and pomegranates for offering.
- Rice grains and Daal (Lentils) for offering.
- Red Chunri (A red cloth to cover the Tulsi plant)
- A aarti or puja thali.
- Havan Samagri.
- Ghee (Clarified butter) for offering in the Diya (Oil Lamp) and for abhishek (Ritual bath)
- Milk and milk products such as curd, butter and cheese for abhishek and offerings.
- Shahad (Honey)
- Tulsi Leaves (Basil Leaves)
- Kumkum (Vermilion) and Haldi Powder (Turmeric Powder) for applying on the tulsi plant and for offering.
- Scriptures such as Tulsi Puja Vidhi or Vishnu Sahasranamam for recitation and reading during the puja.
- Money or gold/silver coins for offering to the Deity and for distribution among the family members as a sign of prosperity and good luck.
Tulsi Vivah Celebrations Across India
Regional Variations In Tulsi Vivah Customs And Traditions
Tulsi Vivah is celebrated differently across various states of India.
In Maharashtra, the festival is celebrated for five days as “Prabodhini Ekadashi,” Devotees fast for four days before the wedding ceremony on the fifth day.
- In Karnataka, the festival is celebrated on the eleventh day of the Hindu month of Karthika, and the Tulsi plant is adorned with new clothes and jewellery during the wedding ceremony.
- In Gujarat, the festival is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik, and the wedding ceremony is performed with great pomp and show. Devotees offer lamps and flowers to Lord Vishnu and Tulsi on this day.
Unique Ways Of Celebrating Tulsi Vivah In Different Indian States
Tulsi Vivah is celebrated differently in various regions of India.
In Uttar Pradesh, the festival involves marrying the Tulsi plant to the Amla tree.
Rajasthan celebrates the festival with traditional rituals, and the Tulsi plant is decorated with jewellery, new clothes, and flowers.
In West Bengal, devotees fast on the wedding ceremony day and light lamps to celebrate Tulsi Vivah.
Each state has its unique way of celebrating the festival with great enthusiasm and devotion.
Popular Temples And Locations For Tulsi Vivah Festivities
- Tulsi Manas Mandir in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Tulsi Ghat in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Tulsi Peeth in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
- Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Tulsi Baug in Pune, Maharashtra
- Tulsi Mandir in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan
How to Find Pandit for Tulsi Vivah With SmartPuja?
The Hindu religion deems Tulsi Vivah Puja highly promising when performed through proper Vedic rituals.
But in today’s modern era, finding qualified & experienced pandits or purohits who can perform Tulsi Vivah Puja in moral Vedic tradition is quite arduous.
Furthermore, it becomes very tough for devotees to find the Shaligram Tulsi (stone) & other samagris that are required for this Puja.
Hence, if you are the one who is facing all these issues or cannot find a skilled and knowledgeable pandit in your region who can perform Tulsi Vivah as per Vedic ritual,
Tulsi Vivah Tulsi Puja
- Helps devotees in achieving Moksh.
- To induce peace & prosperity in personal and professional life.
- Eliminates Vaastu Dosh.
- Wards off evil eyes, evil spirits, and negative energy.
- Grants a child to couples trying to start a family.
- Works as a medicinal herb for common cold, cough and boosting the immune system.
Tulsi Puja, otherwise known as Tulsi Vivah, is a ceremonial Hindu festival/ occasion in which the marriage of Tulsi (Holy Basil) is held with God Shaligram or God Vishnu. The ceremony signifies the end of the monsoon and the beginning of the wedding season in Hindu religion.
This festival is performed anytime between Prabodhini Ekadashi (the 11th or 12th lunar day of the bright fortnight of Hindu month of Kartik) and Kartik Purnima (the full moon of the month).
The day can vary regionally.
The marriage of Tulsi and Vishnu is similar to a traditional Hindu wedding; where it is usually conducted in either homes or temples.
A fast is observed on this day till the evening when the ceremony begins.
A mandap (marriage stage) is built in the courtyard of the house/ temple where Tulsi is generally planted in the centre of the courtyard, in a brick plaster called Tulsi Vrindavan.
It is believed that the soul of Vrinda resides in the Tulsi plant at night and leaves in the morning.
For the ceremony, the bride Tulsi is clothed with a sari and jewelry including earrings and necklaces.
A human paper face may be attached to the plant with a bindi and nose- ring (nath).
The groom is a brass image or idol of Vishnu/ Krishna/ Balaram/ Shaligram, clothed in a dhoti.
Both Tulsi and Vishnu are bathed and decorated with garlands and flowers before the wedding.
Then they are linked together with a cotton thread (mala) in the ceremony.
Legend Behind the Tulsi Puja
Tulsi is also referred to as the wife of Vishnu, i.e. Vishnupriya, meaning the beloved of Vishnu in the early scriptures of Padma Puran.
In the scriptures, the legend and rites of Tulsi Vivah are described in details.
According to such scriptures, Tulsi plant was once a woman named Vrinda/ Brinda.
She was married to the demon king Jalandhar, and was very pious and devoted to Vishnu.
As a result of her piety, her husband Jalandhar became invincible, even the Gods couldn’t defeat him.
Hence, they went together to the abode of Vishnu, seeking his help to find a solution.
Vishnu, being the Preserver of Creation in the Trinity, promised them that the problem would be taken care of.
Meanwhile, Jalandhar was leaving for war and asked Vrinda to pray for his victory. Vrinda, in turn, promised him that she would do a Sankalp till he returns victorious. Jalandhar left for the war.
Seeing this, Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhar and after some time passed, went inside the palace.
Vrinda, upon seeing Jalandhar return from war, left her Sankalp to touch his feet.
With the vow of her Sankalp destroyed, Jalandhar lost his power while engaging in a fierce battle with Shiva.
Noticing the immediate difference, Shiva instantly beheaded Jalandhar with such force that his head fell in Vrinda’s lap in her palace.
She realized the trickery played on her as it became clear that the person in front of her was not her husband Jalandhar, but Vishnu himself.
In her grief, Vrinda cursed Vishnu to become Shaligram and be separated from his wife, Lakshmi.
This was fulfilled when Vishnu was transformed into the black Shaligram stone (a fossil), and in his Ram avatar, he was separated from his wife Sita.
She was kidnapped by the demon king, Ravan.
Even after rescuing her, they were forced to separate due to their obligations.
Saying thus, Vrinda drowned herself in the ocean, from where the Gods and Vishnu himself collected her soul to a plant, which was henceforth called Tulsi.
Vishnu blessed her with a vow that in her next birth, she will be married to Vishnu and this came true when Vishnu, in the form of Shaligram, married Tulsi on Prabodhini Ekadashi.
To celebrate this event, the ceremony of Tulsi Vivah is performed.