TULSI VIVAH
Story of
Tulsi Vivah is described in Padma Purana.
According to Hindu mythology,
the Tulsi plant was a woman named Vrinda (Brinda), a synonym of Tulsi. She was
married to the demon-king Jalandhar.
Due to her piety and devotion to Vishnu, her husband became invincible. Even
god Shiva, the destroyer in
the Hindu Trinity could not
defeat Jalandhar. So Shiva requested Vishnu - the preserver in the Trinity - to
find a solution. Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhar and violated Vrinda. Her
chastity destroyed, Jalandhar was killed by Shiva. Vrinda cursed Vishnu to
become black in colour and he would be separated from his wife. Thus, he was
transformed into the black Shaligram stone
and in his Rama avatar, his
wife Sita was kidnapped by a
demon-king and thus separated from him. Vrinda then burnt herself on her
husband's funeral pyre or immolated herself due to the shame. The gods or
Vishnu transferred her soul to a plant, henceforth which was called as Tulsi.
As per a blessing by Vishnu to marry Vrinda in her next birth, Vishnu in form
of Shaligram - married Tulsi on Prabodhini Ekadashi ( Kartik
Poornima ). To commemorate this event, the
ceremony of Tulsi Vivah is performed. This day also signifies the start of subh
mahoorats for hindu marriage.
Here at this note I would like to share aarati
for tulsi ji which is used to pray to Tulsi ji, every evening after sunset, by
my mom all throughout Kartik month followed by performing the
marriage ceremony of Tulsi ji on Kartik Poornima.
