"Tulsi Vivah: The Sacred Union"

Tulsi Vivah" literally stands for "the divine ceremonial marriage" of Tulsi, the holy basil plant revered in Hinduism.

As per the Hindu Calendar, the propitious occasion of "Tulsi Vivah" is observed on the Dwadashi tithi (12th day) of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) during the month of Kartik.

As per many Hindu Shastras, "Tulsi Vivah" ceremony can take place from Prabodhini Ekadashi to Kartik Poornima. In some areas, it lasts for five days, concluding on the full moon day of the Kartik month.

According to the Gregorian Calendar, it lies in the month of either November or December.

This year, "Tulsi Vivah" is on 13th of November ‘24.

As per Drik Panchang, the "tithi" for "Tulsi Vivah" in the year ‘24 is as follows:

Tulsi Vivah on Wednesday, 13th of November ‘24

Dwadashi Tithi Begins - 16:04 on 12th of November ‘24

Dwadashi Tithi Ends - 13:01 on 13th of November ‘24

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Importance of Tulsi Vivah in Hinduism:

The blissful observance of "Tulsi Vivah" celebrates the divine union, i.e. marriage between the Tulsi plant (basil) & Lord Vishnu in the form of Shaligram or his Shri Krishna avatar. And "Tulsi Vivah" signifies the beginning of the Hindu wedding season and the end of a monsoon season. Hence, it becomes a very auspicious occasion for Hindus.

As per many Hindu Shastras, Tulsi plant (basil) is considered to be an incarnation of Maha Lakshmi (who's the divine consort of Lord Vishnu). Hence, Tulsi leaves are considered very essential in Lord Vishnu's Pujas along with all his avatars such as Ram, Krishna and even Hanuman and Balaram.

Tulsi was born on a full moon day in Kartik, making this month special for her worship. Offering Tulsi leaves to Lord Vishnu daily in Kartik brings immense blessings. In this month, people light earthen lamps every evening and worship the Tulsi plant with incense, kumkum, and sandal paste. Vaishnav households, in particular, observe this tradition. People chant Tulsi hymns and meditate on her during this time. Hence, Tulsi is also revered as "Tulsi Mata."

Tulsi is also believed to possess many spiritual vibrations. The Padma Purana emphasises that the Tulsi plant embodies the core of all worship and devotion. According to it, if you see a Tulsi plant thriving in a home or garden, it can wipe away all your bad deeds. Every part of Tulsi—leaves, roots, bark, branches, and flowers—is deeply connected to spirituality.

The Puranas also say that Lord Krishna is pleased to stay in a home where Tulsi Devi is present.

Lord Krishna is said to only accept offerings of flowers, food, or sandalwood paste when accompanied by Tulsi leaves. Those who worship Lord Krishna daily with Tulsi leaves gain the benefits of various religious practices, charity, and sacrifices. Such worshipers are believed to understand the essence of Shastras and fulfil their duties, ultimately freeing their ancestors from the cycle of birth and death.

A home that worships Tulsi Devi doesn't face tough times; it becomes as pure as a holy place. Just the smell of the tulsi plant is believed to make the surroundings pure.

The festival holds cultural significance, not only for its religious roots but also for its agricultural ties.

Tulsi plant has played a vital role in Ayurveda as well. Ayurvedic practitioners utilise Tulsi leaves and extracts from the plant to create numerous medicinal formulations, contributing to a wide array of health remedies.

Tulsi is highly revered for its medicinal properties and is considered a symbol of purity. Marriage is seen as a way to celebrate the earth's fertility and the upcoming winter season.

Due to all these divine reasons related to Mata Tulsi, her divine marriage with Lord Vishnu termed as "Tulsi Vivah" in Hindu Dharma becomes a more prominent celebration for the people.

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Legends related to Tulsi Vivah:

There are many interesting legends mentioned in Vedic Puranas & Shastras about the divine marriage of Tulsi & Lord Vishnu.

One of them mentions that:

Tulsi, a Gopi, was deeply in love with Lord Krishna. When Radha, Krishna's consort, learned about this, she placed a curse on the Gopi.?

Another legend says that:

Once, Krishna was being weighed in gold. Satyabhama, one of his wives, tried using all her gold to balance the scales, but it wasn't enough. Then, Rukmani, his other wife, placed a single Tulsi leaf on the gold, and miraculously, the scales tipped in Krishna's favour.

This tale underlines the spiritual importance of Tulsi leaves, suggesting that even a small offering of Tulsi holds great value and can outweigh material wealth in the eyes of the divine. It symbolises the notion that sincere devotion and simplicity are more valuable than extravagant material offerings in spiritual practice.

There's one more story mentioning about how this divine union occurred is as follows:

Click on the link below to read more :

https://www.ekohumm.com/article/-tulsi-vivah-the-sacred-union