Tulsi Vivah at home: a simple vidhi for the wedding of Tulsi and Shali घर पर तुलसी विवाह: तुलसी और शालिग्राम के विवाह की सरल विधि

The article

Tulsi Vivah is the wedding of the Tulsi plant to Vishnu, who comes as Shaligram, a smooth black stone from the Gandaki river, or as a small image of Krishna. It follows the waking of the Lord on Dev Uthani Ekadashi. The DharmikVibes calendar confirms Saturday 21 November for the Vaishnava Ekadashi. Families then choose their day by custom: some on the Ekadashi evening, many on the Dvadashi, some on any day up to Kartik Purnima. Please check your own panchang for the day and the evening hours.

## What the Puranas say

Tulsi is worshipped through the whole of Kartik. The Padma Purana's Kartik chapters speak of watering Tulsi, lighting a lamp beside her and offering her leaves to Vishnu. The Brahmavaivarta Purana tells how Tulsi became dear to Vishnu and how he is present in the Shaligram. The stories differ between the Puranas, and families tell them in their own ways. What all of them share is that no worship of Vishnu is complete without a Tulsi leaf.

## What you need

- Your Tulsi plant, cleaned, and the pot washed and decorated with rangoli or geru - Four or more sugarcane stalks for the mandap - For Tulsi's shringar: a red chunari, a few bangles, bindi, sindoor, a small mirror and comb if you like - Shaligram, or a small Vishnu or Krishna image, on a little stool - Haldi, roli, akshat, flowers, a lamp, incense, a kalash of water - Seasonal offerings: water chestnut, sweet potato, amla, ber, and some sweets

## The steps

1. **Prepare the place.** Bathe, clean the courtyard or balcony, and draw a rangoli. Tie the sugarcane stalks over the Tulsi pot to make a mandap. 2. **Dress Tulsi as a bride.** Drape the red chunari, put on the bangles and bindi, and apply a little sindoor to the pot. 3. **Bring the groom.** Place Shaligram or the image on the stool beside Tulsi. Bathe him with a little water, apply sandal and offer a Tulsi leaf. 4. **Haldi and the knot.** Touch a little haldi to both, and tie a thread or a cloth between them, as at a wedding. 5. **Kanyadaan.** In many homes the couple of the house act as Tulsi's parents and give her in marriage, pouring a little water with flowers and rice. 6. **The seven rounds.** One person carries Shaligram around the Tulsi plant seven times while the family sings wedding songs. Where there is no Shaligram, a lamp is carried round. 7. **Aarti and prasad.** Do the aarti of Vishnu and of Tulsi, offer the seasonal things and sweets, and share them with everyone present.

## A few gentle notes

- Do not pluck Tulsi leaves after sunset; pick what you need in the morning. - If you do not have a Shaligram, a Krishna image is just as welcome in most homes. - Children love to dress Tulsi and carry the lamp. Let them.

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