Tulsi Vivah: Myth, Significance, Rituals Observed In This Hindu Festival

Tulsi Vivah 2019, one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar, marks the marriage of newly planted tulsi sapling with lord Vishu in the form of Shaligram stone to kickstart the winter wedding season. This year the day will be observed on November 9 after puja for Dev Uthani Ekadashi is performed.  The Tulsi plant is said to be an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. 

The marriage has to be celebrated Day 12 of the lunar cycle or Dwadashi during the Shukla Paksha in the month of Karthik -- right after Ekadashi (Day 11 of the lunar cycle) in November

Married women celebrate Tulsi Vivah for long and happy married life while unmarried women can also fast and do offerings to Lord Vishnu and Tulsi to get good husbands.

What is the legend behind Tulsi Vivah?

There’s a folklore behind Tulsi Vivah that is heard on the day during the fast. A demon king named Jalandhar, notorious for evil acts used to remain undefeated for his pious wife Brinda’s virtuous character. Brinda was also a devotee of Lord Vishnu and prayed constantly for her huband’s well-being. 

To stop Jalandhar torture on people and his evil doings, Vishnu took the form of Jalandhar and took away Brinda’s celibacy. Soon after, the real Jalandhar lost in a war and died. When Brinda got to know of what Vishnu did, she cursed him to turn into the Shaligram stone and then immolated herself on her husband Jalandhar’s pyre. Lord Vishnu turned Brinda’s soul into a Tulsi plant with the promise to marry her.

The Tulsi plant is said to be a form of Goddess Lakshmi, and Brinda is one of her incarnations. In the next birth, on the day of Prabodhini Ekadashi, Lord Vishnu in the form of Shaligram married Tulsi. Thus, the Tulsi Vivah ritual includes the marriage of a Shaligram stone to a Tulsi plant.

Tulsi Vivah puja timings

The shubh muhurat for Tulsi Vivah 2019 celebrations is during the following time span:Sunrise: November 09, 2019 6:40 amSunset: November 09, 2019 5:40 pmDwadashi Tithi begins: November 08, 2019 12:24 pmDwadashi Tithi ends: November 09, 2019 2:39 pm

How is Tulsi Vivah celebrated?

Tulsi Vivah can be celebrated either in temples or at home. The ceremony begins with bathing a Tulsi plant and a Vishnu idol and decorating both with garlands and flowers. The Tulsi plant is decorated like a bride with a red sari, jewellery and bindi. The Vishnu idol is dressed in dhoti. A thread is then tied to link the couple. Devotees present at the wedding shower vermilion and rice on the couple. Later weddings are scheduled from this day onwards. Prasad is distributed among the devotees to break their fast.