Tulsi or Tulasi is the holy basil plant that is worshipped daily by many Hindus, as it's regarded as an expansion of the Goddess Laxmi. The Tulsi Vivah festival is the symbolic marriage of Lord Vishnu in the form of a shaligram (stone) and Tulsi. This wedding is celebrated with great pomp in many parts of India and it takes place during the holy month of Kartik.
The Legend of Tulsi Vivah
Tulsi Vivah is an ancient tradition mentioned in the Padma Purana and other Vedic scriptures. According to the Padma Purana Tulsi was Vrinda, the daughter of a giant named Nemi in her previous life. She was also the loyal wife of demon Jalandhar who claimed sovereignty over the ocean and caused chaos by declaring war on the gods. Jalandhar was fearless due to a boon that he would be immortal, while his wife Vrinda was chaste.
Vishnu tricks Vrinda in betraying her husband by assuming her husband's form. When she discovers this, Vrinda angrily curses Vishnu and turns him into a black stone (shaligram). Vishnu retaliates by cursing her to become a plant, yet he admires her piety; he vows to marry her annually on this day of Kartik. He also makes Tulsi an integral part of his worship.
When to Perform Tulsi Vivah
Traditionally, Tulsi Vivah is a five-day festival and is performed exactly like a Hindu wedding with all pre-wedding rituals and paraphernalia. Generally, the wedding will take place between the Prabodini ekadasi in Kartik month to the full moon day in Kartik month. Most will perform Tulsi Vivah on ekadasi or on the day of the full moon (purnima).
Importance of The Festival of Tulsi Vivah
Hindus worship the sacred Tulsi plant with special attention on this day assuming Lord Krishna (Vishnu) to be present. A marriage ceremony is performed between the Tulsi and the shaligram and two families take the bride and groom's duties and present gifts to each other, sing wedding songs and the day marks the beginning of the auspicious Hindu marriage season. It is believed that anyone who performs the ceremony of giving away Tulsi as one of their daughters (kanyadaan) makes much spiritual progress.
Tulsi Vivah Festivities
On this day, Tulsi is dressed as a bride with a sari, bangles and bindi. The actual Tulsi vivah ceremony takes place in the evening. Various sweet dishes are offered to the married couple and then the prasad (sanctified food) is distributed among the devotees. In India a parcel of sweets called "Ojhe" and "Waati" (cotton wicks for lighting the ghee-lamps) is sent to Tulsi prior to the wedding. Some families will celebrate Tulsi Vivah with much pomp; giving out wedding invitation cards, using opulent decorations and gifting the "in-laws" with expensive presents.
As the marriage of God to the holy Tulsi, many devotees celebrate the occasion in style with the ceremony taking place just like a traditional Indian wedding. Tulsi Vivah is one of the key festivals that take place in the Hindu month of Kartik.
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Source:
Salagram.net. Tulasi Shaligram Vivaha (Accessed October 29, 2010).
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