Tulsi Vivah – The Legend Behind it!

Tulsi or the holy basil is the most sacred plant in Hinduism. Women always worship tulsi plant in their homes as it brings happiness, wealth, and keeps away negativity. Additionally, the plant’s leaves help to fight with a cold, sore throat, and other diseases by increasing the immunity.

Tulsi vivah is a significant festival that Hindus celebrate every year on the eleventh or twelfth lunar day in the Hindu month of Kartik. This year’s tulsi vivah will be celebrated on the 26th of November. Tulsi vivah is a marriage between the sacred plant and Lord Vishnu. Tulsi was an incarnation of Goddess Laxmi, hence it is also considered as the marriage of Vishnu and Laxmi.

The Legend of Tulsi Vivah

According to the mythology in Hinduism, it is believed that there was a woman named Brinda. She was one of the true devotees of Lord Vishnu. She was married to Jalandhara, the demon king and the demon son of Shiva. Once he went for a war against all the Gods and became the King of Asuras.

Brinda, his wife always serviced as his shield, and it was impossible to defeat the demon king because of her wife. That is where the Gods decide that Lord Vishnu will take the form of Jalandhar, her husband, and spend a night with her, that will break the virtue of Brinda. Since even Lord Shiva was unable to defeat the demon, it became mandatory for Vishnu to take the avatar of Brinda’s husband.

Lord Vishnu did as suggested in order to take the demon king down. He went in front of Brinda and she was not able to recognize Vishnu. When Vishnu touched Brinda, she immediately got to know, but this broke her chastity and killed her husband.

Vishnu appeared in his real form and decided to compensate for what he did. Brinda in all her rage cursed Vishnu to become a stone which we now know as Shaligram. After that, she sacrificed herself on her husband’s furnace.

Vishnu then transformed the soul of Brinda to a Tulsi plant and promised her to marry in the next lifetime. Since then tulsi vivah is a ritual in Hinduism that people do to keep the promise of Lord Vishnu and to respect the sacrifice of Brinda.

On the Day of Tulsi Vivah

On the day of Tulse vivah, the family members décor the Tulsi plant like a bride. They adorn it with a sugar cane pavilion and keep Shaligram beside. People decorate both Tulsi and Shaligram with flowers and garlands. They offer red saree, jewelry, green bangles, bindi, and a mangalsutra to the plant. They milk-bath the groom and offer a dhoti.

To link the couple, a thread is used, and people shower the couple with vermilion and rice. The marriage may also happen by the guidance of a Hindu priest. The ceremony ends with distributing the prasad among the family members and praying to the couple.

The vegetarian lunch is also prepared on the day. Most households make puris, red pumpkin, rice, dal, and sweet potato kheer as well. After the complete marriage ritual and the artis sung, this food is offered to the couple and distributed in the family as “Bhog.”

With the happening of Tulsi Vivah, the Hindu wedding season starts, and this also signifies the end of Monsoon.

Tulsi Vivah can be celebrated at home or a temple. But since the current situation is not very favorable, devotees can celebrate Tulsi Vivah in their homes with family members.

Women can also observe fast on this day and keep it till evening when the marriage ritual starts. On breaking the fast, the devotee should eat a tulsi leaf.

Significance of Tulsi Vivah

An unmarried woman too can perform Tulsi Vivah, and this way, they get a good husband.

Tulsi Vivah removes any obstacles that become the cause of delay in marriage.

Tulsi Vivah blesses the family with happiness and prosperity. The ritual ensures the well being of the family.

Read more on : https://www.astroved.com/astropedia/en/festivals/tulsi-vivah