Tulsi Vivah Celebration India

Tulsi Vivah Celebration India

Tulsi Vivah is a Hindu festival which is celebrated on the 11th day of the month of Kartik in Hindu calendar; Tulsi – a holy plant of basil. According to Hindu mythology Vrinda was wife of a demon king named as Jalandhar, because of his devotion to Lord Vishnu & pureness of Vrinda; Jalandhar became very powerful even the gods in heaven feared him. To win over Jalandhar Lord Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhar & broke Vrinda’s chastity; this resulted into the defeat of demon King Jalandhar. Feeling cheated, agitated Vrinda cursed Lord Vishnu to turn black & suffer the separation with his wife Goddess Laxmi; this curse turned Lord Vishnu into a black stone & this black form named as Shaligram. After cursing Lord Vishnu committed suicide by drowning herself in ocean; her soul was blessed by Lord Vishnu & turned into Tulsi plant. Later on Lord Vishnu married to Tulsi plant.

To celebrate Tulsi Vivah proper rituals of a Hindu marriage are carried on; Tulsi plant is the bride for the ceremony & Lord Vishnu in the form of Shaligram ji plays the groom for this auspicious wedding. This wedding ceremony is conducted in houses & temples. Regular households of Hindus conduct this marriage as an important festival. Generally, a chamber is built around the Tulsi plant; this chamber is decorated lavishly on the eve of Tulsi Vivah.

Tulsi Vivah Legend

According to the Hindu scriptures, a women named Vrinda was married to demon king Jalandhar. Jalandhar became very powerful because of his devotion to Lord Vishnu. God's are also don't able to destroy Jalandhar because he approched Lord Vishnu for help. In order to break Vrinda's chastity, Lord Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhar and tricked her. After that Jalandhar lost his all power and was killed by Lord Shiva. Vrinda got furious and cursed Vishnu that he will become black in color and would be separated from his wife. Her words became reality after he turned into the black Shaligram stone and got separated from his wife in his Rama avatar from Sita. Now Vrinda drowns herself and the gods transform her soul to Tulsi plant. Lord Vishnu blesses her that in her next birth she will marry him. Hence, to celebrate the event Tulsi Vivah is performed.

Tulsi Vivah Rituals

The rituals performed on the day is the same as of a Hindu wedding. The ceremony is performed at temples or at home. A mandap is installed around the courtyard where the tulsi Plant is planted. The Tulsi Vrindavan is decked up as a bride with red saree, jewellery and flowers. Some people even attach a paper face to the Tulsi plant. The groom is a brass idol or a picture of Lord Vishnu or Krishna. The idol or the picture is draped a dhoti and decorated with flowers. During the ceremony, Vishnu and Tulsi, are tied together with a cotton thread also called as mala.

In Maharashtra, Mangala Ashtaka, mantras are sung during the marriage ceremony, is recited by the priests by holding a white cloth between the bride and the groom. Akshada, rice coloured with vermilion, haldi and kumkum, are showered on the couple and later the white cloth is removed signifying the approval to the wedding. Devotees are offered sugar-care, fruits, and groundnuts. Tulsi is offered saree, vermilion and mangalsutra while Vishnu is offered men’s clothing, sacred thread and sandalwood.

Tulsi Vivah Timing: - 

Dwadashi tithi begins: October 31 at 6:55 PM

Dwadashi tithi ends: November 1 at 5:56 PM