Tulsi Vivah

Tulsi vivah is celebrated on the day of Karthik Ekadashi. On this day Tulsi is married to Saaligram.

The Tulsi plant is considered as a most sacred plant by the Hindus as it is regarded to be an incarnation of Mahalaxmi who was born as Vrinda.

The very name Tulsi, that which cannot be compared, the "incomparable one", has spiritually uplifting qualities. Tulsi has been found to possess extraordinary powers of healing.

Legends

Tulsi is known to be an incarnation of Mahalaxmi who was born as Vrinda.

Tulsi was married to demon king Jalandhar. She prayed to Shri Vishnu that her demon husband should be protected, with the result no God was able to harm him. However on the request of the other Gods, Shri Vishnu took the form of Jalandhar and stayed with the unsuspecting Tulsi.

When the truth emerged after Jalandhar’s death, Vrinda cursed Shri Vishnu and turned him to stone (Saaligram) and collapsed. From her body emerged the Tulsi plant. That is why Vishnu puja is considered incomplete without Tulsi leaves.

Puja Vidhi

Tulsi vivah is celebrated on the next day of Karthik Ekadashi. On this day Tulsi is married to Saaligram.

The tulsi plant is held sacred by the Hindus as it is regarded to be an incarnation of Mahalaxmi who was born as Vrinda. Tulsi was married to demon king Jalandhar. She prayed to Shri Vishnu that her demon husband should be protected, with the result no God was able to harm him. However on the request of the other Gods, Shri Vishnu took the form of Jalandhar and stayed with the unsuspecting Tulsi. When the truth emerged after Jalandhar’s death, Vrinda cursed Shri Vishnu and turned him to stone (Saaligram) and collapsed. From her body emerged the tulsi plant. That is why Vishnu puia is considered incomplete without tulsi leaves.

The very name Tulsi, that which cannot be compared, the "incomparable one", has spiritually uplifting qualities. Tulsi has been found to possess extraordinary powers of healing.

Preparations for the Puja

• Tulsi pot
• Bright coloured odni forTulsi plant
• Sugar cane
• Moli, deepak
• Food rice, puri, sweetpotato, kheer, red pumpkin, aanvla, tamarind
• Suhaag pitari containingsaree, blouse, mahendi, kaazal (kohl), sindoor, bangles, bindi etc.
• Dishes

Vidhi / Method of Performing the Puja

Tulsi pot / Vrinda devi is coloured and decorated as a bride. Four pieces of sugarcane are tied around the Tulsi pot with moli and bright coloured odni is draped on the Tulsi plant.

At midday, a full meal consisting of rice, 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. The Pundit and housewives performs the ceremony. Tulsi Devi takes the sacred phera with Saaligram. The Punditji brings the Saaligraam with him. In a basket- saree, blouse, mehendi, kaajal, sindoor, bangles, etc. i.e. suhaag related things are kept. This suhaag pilari is offered to Tulsi Devi and later given to a Brahmini.

Various poha dishes are offered to Shri Vishnu.

Then Prasad is distributed among family members and friends.

Vivaah Rituals

Marriage of Shalagrama and Tulasi

• One must plant the Tulsi plant at home or forest and after three years one may perform her marriage.
• The Auspicious time to perform her marriage according to the Hindu tradition is:
• When the sun is moving in the north, Jupiter and Venus are rising, in the month of Kartika, from the Ekadashi to the full moon in the month of Magha, and when constellations that are auspicious for marriage appear, especially the full moon day.
• One should first arrange a place for sacrifice (yajna-kunda) under a canopy (mandapa)
• Then after performing shanti-vidhana, one should install sixteen goddesses, and do the shraddha ceremony for his female maternal ancestors
• For the Vivah, one must call four Brahmins well read in Vedas, and appoint one of them as priest, one as Brahma, one as rishi and the fourth one as Acharya.
• One should establish an auspicious water pot (mangala-ghat) under that mandapa according to the Vaishnava rituals followed by establishment of an attractive shalagrama-shila (Lakshmi-Narayana).
• During dusk one should install a golden deity of Narayan and a silver idol of Tulsi.
• With vasa-shanta mantra two cloths should be tied together, with yadavandha mantra the marriage bracelets (kangana) should be tied on the wrists, and with ko' dat mantra the marriage should be consecrated
• Finally the host along with the acarya, rishi, and others should make nine offerings in the yajna-kunda.
• After all the marriage rites and rituals have been successfully performed, the host along with wife and relatives should take a Parikrama around the Tulsi plant and offer food to Brahmins and other relatives.

Significance

Tulsi Vivah is conducted on the day after Kartik Ekadashi (the eleventh bright day of the new moon, Amavasya). According to Hindu mythology, Tulsi is ceremonially married to Lord Vishnu on this day. The festival continues for five days and concludes on the full moon day.

Tulsi Vivah is considered very auspicious especially among Hindus. This day is considered to be the beginning of the marriage season in India. That is the long awaited season of marriages in Hindu community starts from the day of Tulsi Vivah, and thus is not only sacred but long awaited as well.

The festival of Tulsi Vivah is celebrated in each and every household of Goa. There is a custom associated with Tulsi Vivah according to which, womenfolk engage themselves in preparation of Exquisite sweet dishes and these collection of sweets is sent to the daughters home, along with the Puja ingredients from the parental house.

Along with Tulsi, the plants of amla, sugarcane and tamarind are planted

Celebrations

Tulsi Vivah is considered highly sacred and auspicious in Hindu Tradition. The plant of Tulsi is considered to be incarnation of Mahalakshmi who was born as Vrinda.

Tulsi Vivah is celebrated on the next day of kartik Ekadashi. It is on this day that Tulsi is married to Shilgram.

Traditional celebrations on the day of Tulsi Vivah include:

• Women folk engage themselves in various preparations, including preparation of wide variety of dishes 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)
• As it is Tulsi’s Vivah, Tulsi Vrindavan is decorated like a bride on this day.
• Sugarcane and branches of tamarind and amla trees are planted along with the Tulsi plant
• The food preparation includes only vegetarian food.
• 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
• It is during dusk or evening that the actual ritual of Tulsi Vivah is performed.
• Different Poha dishes are offered to Lord Vishnu.
• The Prasad after the Vivah puja is distributed among al friends and relatives.

Tulsi Vivah Date

Tulsi Vivah refers to an ages old ritual of marrying Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu. According to the traditional Hindu calendar, it is celebrated in the Kartik month.

Tulsi Vivah is performed by some communities on the Ekadasi day after Amavasi (new moon) in Kartik month and by some communities on the Dev Diwali day or the full moon day in Kartik Month.

The ritual of Tulsi Vivah is performed and celebrated with immense glory and joy across different temples and households. This ritual is mentioned in age old Puranas and scriptures.

The festival of Tulsi Vivah marks the beginning of the Marriage season in India, especially in the Hindu tradition.