Puja Vidhi
Tulsi vivah is celebrated on the next day of Karthik Ekadashi. On this day Tulsi is married to Saaligram.
The tulsi plant is held sacred by the Hindus as it is regarded to be an incarnation of Mahalaxmi who was born as Vrinda. Tulsi was married to demon king Jalandhar. She prayed to Shri Vishnu that her demon husband should be protected, with the result no God was able to harm him. However on the request of the other Gods, Shri Vishnu took the form of Jalandhar and stayed with the unsuspecting Tulsi. When the truth emerged after Jalandhar’s death, Vrinda cursed Shri Vishnu and turned him to stone (Saaligram) and collapsed. From her body emerged the tulsi plant. That is why Vishnu puia is considered incomplete without tulsi leaves.
The very name Tulsi, that which cannot be compared, the "incomparable one", has spiritually uplifting qualities. Tulsi has been found to possess extraordinary powers of healing.
Preparations for the Puja
- Tulsi pot
- Bright coloured odni forTulsi plant
- Sugar cane
- Moli, deepak
- Food rice, puri, sweetpotato, kheer, red pumpkin, aanvla, tamarind
- Suhaag pitari containingsaree, blouse, mahendi, kaazal (kohl), sindoor, bangles, bindi etc.
- Dishes
Vidhi / Method of Performing the Puja
Tulsi pot / Vrinda devi is coloured and decorated as a bride. Four pieces of sugarcane are tied around the Tulsi pot with moli and bright coloured odni is draped on the Tulsi plant.
At midday, a full meal consisting of rice, puri, sweet potato kheer, red pumpkin vegetable cooked with pieces of sugarcane, amla and tamarind is offered to Tulsi Vrindavan.
Tulsi Vivah ceremony takes place in the late evening. The Pundit and housewives performs the ceremony. Tulsi Devi takes the sacred phera with Saaligram. The Punditji brings the Saaligraam with him. In a basket- saree, blouse, mehendi, kaajal, sindoor, bangles, etc. i.e. suhaag related things are kept. This suhaag pilari is offered to Tulsi Devi and later given to a Brahmini.
Various poha dishes are offered to Shri Vishnu.
Then Prasad is distributed among family members and friends.
