Tulsi Vivah is a Hindu festival, celebrated to mark the ceremonial marriage of Tulsi plant with Lord Vishnu’s eight avatar Lord Krishna. This ceremonial marriage is commenced at any time between the Prabodhini Ekadashi and the 11th lunar day of the bright fortnight in the month of Karti of the Hindu calendar i.e. on Karti Purnima. It is an important ritual that is performed by the Hindus and the day of celebration differs from place to place and is generally celebrated on the 11th or 12th lunar day. With the festival of Tulsi Vivah starts the Hindu wedding season.
Myths related to Tulsi Vivah
The festival of Tulsi Vivah is celebrated with great gesture to mark the auspicious marriage of the sacred Tulsi plant and Lord Krishna. Hindu mythology provides chronicles in relation to the celebration of Tulsi Vivah. Padma Purana provides the rituals and the story behind this festival. According to Hindu mythology, Tulsi was born with the name of Virnda, who married a demon by the name of Jalandhar. She was extraordinarily gorgeous, who maintained her dharma as a wid. Jalandhar got his name as he of being born in water (jala). He in the beginning ruled over the oceans as he was born from the sweat of Lord Shiva, which he had thrown from his brow into the ocean, when he perspired after being affronted by Lord Indra. This caused him to insist the fourteen treasures churned out from the ocean by Indra as part of his legacy and going by Indra’s nature, he did not obligate. To take revenge fom Indra, Jalandhar worshipped Brahma and endured unusual reparation and being delighted by his hardwork, Brahma granted him the boon that he would remain free from death as long as his wife remained honest and unblemished. She did remain the way she was expected and she prayed to Lord Vishnu for protection of he demon husband Jalandhra that he won’t be killed and as a result 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 gullible Vrinda. When the truth was unveiled by her after Jalandhar's death, Vrinda crused Vishnu and turned him to stone, which came to be known as Shaligram and collapsed and from her body emerged the sacred Tulsi plant. Tulsi being considered as an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, who is the wife of Lord Vishnu and thus, Vishnu puja is considered to be incomplete without the leaves of Tulsi plant.
Significance and celebration of Tulsi Vivah
The festival of Tulsi Vivah is celebrated since time immemorial and marks the auspicious marriage of the God and Goddess. This auspicious festival marks the beginning of harvest season as well as the season of marriage. This sacred festival is celebrated for five days and ends on the full moon day of the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar. There is several customs associated with Tulsi Vivah that varies from place to place and one common custom that is being followed everywhere, according to which, womenfolk prepares tasteful sweet dishes and these dishes along with ingredients for puja are sent to the houses of married daughters. On this day tulsivrindavan is tinted and decorated like a bride to mark the auspicious ceremonial marriage festival. On this auspicious occasion, people plant Tulsi plants on the courtyard and people worship the tulsi plant. Along with it sugarcane and tamarind are planted on the fields. This festival is celebrated with huge zest and zeal in every household of Goa.
Myths related to Tulsi Vivah
The festival of Tulsi Vivah is celebrated with great gesture to mark the auspicious marriage of the sacred Tulsi plant and Lord Krishna. Hindu mythology provides chronicles in relation to the celebration of Tulsi Vivah. Padma Purana provides the rituals and the story behind this festival. According to Hindu mythology, Tulsi was born with the name of Virnda, who married a demon by the name of Jalandhar. She was extraordinarily gorgeous, who maintained her dharma as a wid. Jalandhar got his name as he of being born in water (jala). He in the beginning ruled over the oceans as he was born from the sweat of Lord Shiva, which he had thrown from his brow into the ocean, when he perspired after being affronted by Lord Indra. This caused him to insist the fourteen treasures churned out from the ocean by Indra as part of his legacy and going by Indra’s nature, he did not obligate. To take revenge fom Indra, Jalandhar worshipped Brahma and endured unusual reparation and being delighted by his hardwork, Brahma granted him the boon that he would remain free from death as long as his wife remained honest and unblemished. She did remain the way she was expected and she prayed to Lord Vishnu for protection of he demon husband Jalandhra that he won’t be killed and as a result 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 gullible Vrinda. When the truth was unveiled by her after Jalandhar's death, Vrinda crused Vishnu and turned him to stone, which came to be known as Shaligram and collapsed and from her body emerged the sacred Tulsi plant. Tulsi being considered as an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, who is the wife of Lord Vishnu and thus, Vishnu puja is considered to be incomplete without the leaves of Tulsi plant.
Significance and celebration of Tulsi Vivah
The festival of Tulsi Vivah is celebrated since time immemorial and marks the auspicious marriage of the God and Goddess. This auspicious festival marks the beginning of harvest season as well as the season of marriage. This sacred festival is celebrated for five days and ends on the full moon day of the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar. There is several customs associated with Tulsi Vivah that varies from place to place and one common custom that is being followed everywhere, according to which, womenfolk prepares tasteful sweet dishes and these dishes along with ingredients for puja are sent to the houses of married daughters. On this day tulsivrindavan is tinted and decorated like a bride to mark the auspicious ceremonial marriage festival. On this auspicious occasion, people plant Tulsi plants on the courtyard and people worship the tulsi plant. Along with it sugarcane and tamarind are planted on the fields. This festival is celebrated with huge zest and zeal in every household of Goa.