Tulsi Vivah: Know why Tulsi and Shaligram’s marriage ceremony is so significant 
Key Highlights
- Tulsi Vivah is the marriage ceremony of the holy plant Tulsi and Lord Vishnu’s Shaligram form or Shri Krishna Avatar
- It is celebrated on the Ekadashi Tithi of Kartik Shukla Paksha. However, some sects celebrate Tulsi Vivah on the Dwadashi Tithi
- Tulsi was a woman named Vrinda in her previous birth
Among the myriad festivals that are celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik, the Tulsi Vivah finds a special mention. As the name suggests, the festival is about the marriage ceremony of the sacred Tulsi plant.
This unique festival is celebrated on the eleventh day, i.e. on the Ekadashi Tithi, after Diwali. It becomes even more significant because it concurs with the most important day associated with Lord Vishnu. However, some sects celebrate it on the Dwadashi Tithi.
Significance of Tulsi Vivah
Interestingly, Tulsi Vivah celebrates the marriage of Tulsi and the Shaligram or the Shri Krishna avatar of Lord Vishnu. Therefore, on this day, devotees perform the marriage ceremony and recreate the wedding of the two deities by dressing them as a bride and a groom respectively. Read on to know the legend of Tulsi Vivah to understand its significance.
Legend of Tulsi Vivah
There is a legend associated with Tulsi Vivah that explains why this festival is significant. During her previous birth, Tulsi was a woman named Vrinda (Brinda), who was married to a demon named Jalandhar (a great devotee of Lord Vishnu). But he had grown so greedy and vengeful that he waged wars and created ruckus in the Devaloka. Even Lord Shiva wondered how Jalandhar could be eliminated. Once, Vrinda promised her husband that she would do pray for his victory until he would return home. However, she was oblivious about the plan of the Gods. Out of exasperation, Lord Vishnu visited Vrinda’s abode in the disguise of Jalandhar. Soon after seeing him, Vrinda touched his feet to take his blessings, and as a result, her Sankalpa (pledge) broke. Jalandhar lost all his powers on the battlefield, and Lord Shiva severed his head to bring an end to his tyranny.
However, when Vrinda learnt about the truth, her anger knew no bounds. She cursed Lord Vishnu by saying that he would turn into a stone and also get separated from his wife. Hence, Lord Vishnu appeared as a stone in his Shaligram avatar and got separated from his consort, Sita in the Rama Avatar. After cursing the Lord, Vrinda drowned in the ocean, but since he blessed her, her soul was established in a Tulsi plant. Moreover, she was blessed with the boon of becoming the wife of Lord Vishnu in her next birth. Hence, the significance of the Tulsi Vivah.