Tulsi Marriage: Tulsi birth story and why Vishnu Puja is incomplete without Tulsi
Mahatmya of Tulsi Puja in Kartik month is described in the Puranas. By this, it can be understood that worshiping Tulsi in this month becomes a proof of purity. Karthik month is considered as one of the best months in the scriptures, its glory has been stated in Skanda Purana.
Tulsi is a symbol of faith and reverence. It is full of medicinal properties. Offering water to Tulsi and lighting a lamp under Tulsi in the evening is considered very good. Tulsi is considered to be Goddess Lakshmi’s abode. So it is believed that the one who lights a lamp in the Kartik month near Tulsi is blessed with Lakshmi.
Importance of Tulsi Vivah ritual
Worshiping Tulsi in Kartik month eliminates sins. It is believed that the one who lights a lamp in the Kartik month near Tulsi is blessed with all the happiness in the world. The Tulsi plant has miraculous properties. The presence of Tulsi remains in every spiritual work. Tulsi marriage and Tulsi worship are considered to be the main festivals amongst all the Vaishnava rituals.
In Kartik month, after bathing in the morning and finishing off all the chores, water should be filled in a copper urn and should be poured onto the basil plant. In the evening, lamps are lit at the feet of Tulsi. This sequence goes on for the whole month of Karthik. The full moon day of Kartik month marks the end of the Deepdan.
Tulsi wedding is also organized on the auspicious occasion of Devauthani Ekadashi of Kartik month when Lord Shri Vishnu wakes up after four months of sleep. This occasion is celebrated with great pomp. On this auspicious occasion, the marriage of Goddess Tulsi is done with Shri Vishnu. Tulsi is very dear to Lord Vishnu. Srihari can be appeased only by offering Tulsi Dal. A devotee who carries out Tulsi Vivah is blessed with marital bliss and happiness in life.
Tulsi marriage story
The story of Tulsi’s marriage is also very supernatural and mythological. According to mythological stories, Tulsi’s former name was Vrinda. According to the blessings given to Vrinda, Lord Vishnu was born in the incarnation of Shaligram and married her. That is why even today, on the day of Ekadashi of Kartik month, Tulsi is married to Shaligram, Lord Vishnu’s incarnation.
The Tulsi story goes like this – there was a girl named Vrinda. Vrinda was married to a great mighty demon named Jalandhar. Jalandhar is said to have originated from the glory of Lord Shiva. Jalandhar was so powerful that he had conquered all the other demons as well. He took away the authority of the Devas and established a kingdom of demons.
The power of Jalandhar increased further after his marriage to Vrinda. The reason for this was that Vrinda was a very dedicated wife and a devotee of Lord Vishnu. He was already powerful and after his marriage to conquering Jalandhar became impossible. No one was able to defeat Jalandhar. Finally, the Devas seek shelter under Lord Vishnu. They ask Lord Vishnu to destroy Jalandhar in some way.
No one had the ability to break Vrinda’s commitment to her husband. Once when Jalandhar goes out for war, Lord Shri Vishnu assumes the form of Jalandhar. He goes to Vrinda, seeing her husband’s form, Vrinda does not recognize Shri Vishnu. This leads to the end of Vrinda’s purity as Jalandar’s wife. The power of Jalandhar also ends as soon as the sanctity of his beloved woman Vrinda is destroyed.
As Jalandar’s power weakens, Lord Shiva slaughters Jalandar. This is how Jalandhar meets his end. When Vrinda learns about the death of her husband Jalandhar and the illusion of Shri Vishnu she becomes extremely angry. She curses Lord Vishnu to turn into a stone. At that moment Lord Vishnu turns into a stone which is Shaligram.
On seeing Shri Vishnu turn into a stone, all the Gods and Goddesses get frightened. Goddess Lakshmi, seeing this form of Shri Vishnu, asks Vrinda for forgiveness. On Lakshmi ji’s request, Vrinda frees God from the curse and becomes Sati.
On being freed from the curse, Shri Vishnu names Vrinda as Tulsi. Sati Vrinda receives the form of Tulsi. Tulsi plant emerges from Vrinda Shri Vishnu places his stone form i.e. Shaligram along with Tulsi and gives a boon to Tulsi that from now on that Vishnu Puja would be considered incomplete without Tulsi. I will not accept Puja until I am presented with Tulsidal. My form Shaligram will be married to Tulsi, so in Kartik month Tulsi ji is also married to Shaligram.
Importance of Tulsi Vivah
Tulsi and Shaligram are born on the day of Ekadashi of Kartik month hence this date is considered very auspicious. Also worshipping Tulsi and Shaligram is very important in this month. Many mythological stories are found about the birth of Tulsi. The story of Jalandhar and Vrinda is mentioned in the Padmapuran. Later Vrinda takes birth in the form of Tulsi.
Tulsi is so holy that even Lord Vishnu worships her. According to many opinions, in ancient times there were Tulsi forests in Vrindavan. Among all the names of Tulsi, Vrinda and Vishnupriya are considered more special. Lord Vishnu lives in the form of Shaligram at the feet of Tulsi ji. Tulsidal is offered on the head of Lord Vishnu.