The Tulsi wedding signifies the end of the monsoon and the beginning of the wedding season in Hinduism. The ceremonial festival is performed anytime between Prabodhini Ekadashi (the eleventh or twelfth lunar day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Kartik) and Kartik Poornima (the full moon of the month)
Tulsi Vivah celebrates the marriage of Tulsi and the Shaligram or Shri Krishna avatar of Lord Vishnu. Therefore, on this day, devotees perform the marriage ceremony and recreate the wedding of the two deities.
Significance of Tulsi Vivah
Interestingly, Tulsi Vivah celebrates the marriage of Tulsi and the Shaligram or the Shri Krishna avatar of Lord Vishnu. Therefore, on this day, devotees perform the marriage ceremony and recreate the wedding of the two deities by dressing them as a bride and a groom respectively. Read on to know the legend of Tulsi Vivah to understand its significance.
Legend of Tulsi Vivah
There is a legend associated with Tulsi Vivah that explains why this festival is significant. During her previous birth, Tulsi was a woman named Vrinda (Brinda), who was married to a demon named Jalandhar (a great devotee of Lord Vishnu). But he had grown so greedy and vengeful that he waged wars and created ruckus in the Devaloka. Even Lord Shiva wondered how Jalandhar could be eliminated. Once, Vrinda promised her husband that she would do pray for his victory until he would return home. However, she was oblivious about the plan of the Gods. Out of exasperation, Lord Vishnu visited Vrinda’s abode in the disguise of Jalandhar. Soon after seeing him, Vrinda touched his feet to take his blessings, and as a result, her Sankalpa (pledge) broke. Jalandhar lost all his powers on the battlefield, and Lord Shiva severed his head to bring an end to his tyranny.
Seeing this she realized it was not her husband but Lord Vishnu.Vrinda cursed Lord Vishnu to become Shaligram and to be separated from his wife, Lakshmi. This was later fulfilled when he was transformed into the black Shaligram stone (actually a fossil), and in his Rama avatar, was separated from his wife Sita, who was kidnapped by the asura king Ravana. Vrinda then drowned herself in the ocean, and the gods (or Vishnu himself) transferred her soul to a plant, which was henceforth called Tulsi.
As per a blessing by Vishnu to marry Vrinda in her next birth, Vishnu – in form of Shaligram – married Tulsi on Prabodhini Ekadashi. To commemorate this event, the ceremony of Tulsi Vivah is performed.
Conclusion:
In my childhood I enjoyed Tulsi Vivah as a last day of Diwali . We used to keep some leftover fireworks from main Diwali for this occasion . Also, we had lot of excitement for building marriage mandap and painting the stairs from our home temple to Tulsi plant .There was so much excitement as entire family used to come together to celebrate festivals .Surely we didn’t had TV, Cell phone and depend on traditional game outside our home .We all surely miss those golden days
Very interesting