Explainers
Tangled stories and trends that make headlines, but are sometimes hard to get a grasp on. Hop in to learn more about the world around us.

Tulsi Vivah: How to Celebrate Sacred Marriage of Goddess Tulsi, Lord Vishnu

© AP Photo / Mahesh Kumar AIndian Hindu devotees carry Tulsi or Tulasi plants (Ocimum tenuiflorum) through a religious procession during the holy month of Karthik in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012.
Indian Hindu devotees carry Tulsi or Tulasi plants (Ocimum tenuiflorum) through a religious procession during the holy month of Karthik in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. - Sputnik India, 1920, 23.11.2023
Subscribe
Hindu devotees across India are immersed in the grand celebration of Tulsi Vivah, a significant festival that celebrates the marriage of the sacred Tulsi plant and Lord Shaligram.
Temples all over India are beautifully adorned as devotees come together to celebrate the Tulsi Vivah festival by enacting the sacred wedding ceremony between the revered Tulsi plant, symbolizing the goddess Tulsi, and the divine Lord Shaligram, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu.
The Tulsi plant, which is worshipped widely as a form of the goddess Tulsi, is present in most Hindu homes and considered to be a symbol of purity with great medicinal properties.

Shubh Muhurat (Auspicious Time) for Tulsi Vivah Puja Ceremony

According to the Drik Panchang (Hindu calendar), the muhurat of Tulsi Vivah collides with Dwadashi tithi, which starts on Thursday, 23 November at 9:01 PM (IST) and ends on 24 November at 7:06 PM.
The auspicious time for Tulsi Vivah is from 6:50 AM to 12:07 PM on November 24.

Significance of Tulsi Vivah

The celebration of Tulsi Vivah is of immense importance, as devotees worship the deities in hopes of finding an ideal life partner and receiving blessings for those who have struggled to conceive.
Many weddings take place on this day, as the festival marks the beginning of the marriage season in Hindu culture and is considered highly auspicious.
According to tradition, the woman of the family, in the morning, waters the Tulsi plant in their home, and in the evening, lights a lamp (diya) and an incense stick.

Story Behind Tulsi Vivah

According to Hindu belief, the history of Tulsi Vivah is associated with a pious and religious woman, Vrinda, who was married to a demon king named Jalandhar.
Jalandhar, who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva, was blessed with a special power making him invincible as long as his wife remained faithful to him.
The demon king misused his powers and waged a war against the demigods.
Desperate to defeat Jalandhara, Lord Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhara and tricked Vrinda into breaking her chastity.
After learning the truth, the furious Vrinda cursed Vishnu and turned him into a stone (Shaligram).
In reverence to Vrinda's devotion, Lord Vishnu declared that he would marry her in her next birth, which prompted the Tulsi Vivah festival.
Tulsi Vivah is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm by devotees across India, especially in the states of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
Here are a few ways you can celebrate Tulsi Vivah:
1.
Plant Tulsi: Devotees plant a Tulsi sapling in their home or garden. Prior to the festival, devotees clean and decorate the area around the Tulsi plant with rangoli (colorful patterns created using coloured powders), flowers, and lights. The sacred plant is an essential part of every Hindu household, as it is considered an auspicious symbol of prosperity and spiritual well-being.
2.
Perform Rituals: On the day of Tulsi Vivah, devotees commemorate the marriage ceremony of the goddess Tulsi and Lord Shaligram. The Tulsi is adorned as a bride in a saree or dupatta, while the Shaligram or Lord Vishnu represents the groom.
The marriage rituals include exchanging garlands, applying vermilion (sindoor) on Tulsi's leaves, and tying a sacred thread (mangalsutra) around the plant.
Devotees offer prayers, light incense sticks, and sing devotional songs in praise of the deities.
Some organize kirtan and bhajans, recite vedic mantras, and chant the goddess Tulsi Aarti and Lord Vishnu Aarti.
Fasting: Many devotees observe a fast during Tulsi Vivah as a mark of devotion and purification. Some fast for the entire day, consuming only fruit and milk, while others follow a partial fast, abstaining from certain foods. Fasting on this day is believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and blessings from the divine couple.
Charity and Good Deeds: Tulsi Vivah is an ideal time to engage in acts of charity and benevolence. Devotees donate food, clothes, or money to the needy, reinforcing the importance of selflessness and caring for others. Additionally, volunteering at temples or organizing community activities fosters a sense of collective celebration and joy.
People buy utensils as they mark 'Dhanteras', a day considered auspicious to make new purchases ahead of Diwali festival in New Delhi, India, Saturday. Oct. 22, 2022. - Sputnik India, 1920, 08.11.2023
Explainers
Fascinating Stories Fueling Hindus' Dhanteras Festival
Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала