Tulsi Vivah: a small courtyard festival
In Tulsi Vivah the tulsi plant is given in a symbolic marriage to Vishnu (as Damodara, Krishna or Shaligrama). Dharmasindhu lists several possible days from Kartika Shukla Navami to Purnima, but says the custom is to do it on the day the Ekadashi fast is broken, together with the waking festival, in the first part of the night. It is a festival of devotion and of the family coming together.
The symbolic marriage of the tulsi plant to Shaligrama or Krishna; a small home-and-courtyard festival.
What Tulsi Vivah is
In Hindu homes the tulsi plant graces the courtyard or balcony and is the centre of daily worship. Around Dev Uthani Ekadashi this tulsi is dressed as a bride and given in a symbolic marriage to a form of Vishnu (Damodara, Krishna or Shaligrama).
It is especially popular in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. In some places it is a small puja for five people at home; in others a full neighbourhood celebration with a procession, canopy and feast. Tradition holds that the wedding season opens after it.
How the day is decided
Shastra (Dharmasindhu): Tulsi Vivah has several possible times: the three days from Kartika Shukla Navami, any day from Ekadashi to Purnima, or the marriage nakshatras of Kartika's bright fortnight.
Shastra (Dharmasindhu): even so, the custom is to do it on the parana day, together with the prabodhotsava (the festival of waking the Lord), and this marriage is held in the first part of the night. Those who want it apart from the waking festival may hold it at another time.
Our calendar shows it on the evening after the Smarta Dev Uthani Ekadashi (the parana day). Many families do it on the Ekadashi evening itself, some on Dvadashi, and some on a convenient day up to Kartika Purnima. All of these are in the tradition.
The story: tradition / Purana story
Tradition links tulsi to the story of Vrinda: a devoted wife and Vishnu devotee, whose husband was Jalandhara. The story says that, honouring her devotion, Vishnu granted that she would always stay near him as tulsi, and that he would marry her as Shaligrama. That is why tulsi leaves are so honoured in Vishnu's worship.
The story has many versions, and we did not find it in the texts in our library; we keep it as tradition. Its heart is devotion, respect and love of nature.
How families celebrate
The tulsi pot is decorated with rangoli, red ochre and flowers; a canopy of sugarcane goes up over it; the tulsi is dressed as a bride with a red veil, bangles and a bindi. A Shaligrama or a small image of Krishna stands as the groom. Wedding songs are sung, and in some places a proper procession arrives.
Shastra (Dharmasindhu): in the text's short rite, turmeric, kumkum and ornaments such as a neck-thread are offered to the tulsi; and where it is family custom, an image of Krishna is placed facing the tulsi, a cloth (antahpata) is held between them, the mangalashtaka verses are read, the cloth is removed and rice grains are showered.
Many families do this puja in the spirit of kanyadana. It is a rite of devotion; it carries no promise or condition about anyone's marriage.
A simple puja
- Clean the tulsi pot and draw a rangoli or square around it.
- A small canopy of four sugarcanes, a red veil on the tulsi, turmeric and kumkum.
- Set a Shaligrama or a small image or picture of Krishna/Vishnu in front.
- Light a lamp and remember Vishnu and tulsi; if you wish, hold a cloth between them for wedding songs, then remove it and shower rice.
- Aarti, walk around the tulsi, and share prasad (sugarcane, ber, water chestnut, sweets).
No paid puja is needed. Inviting a priest is the family's choice.
Health, the plant and safety
Some keep a fast until the wedding. People who are unwell, pregnant, diabetic or on medicine can take a lighter form (fruit, milk) or ask a doctor; for health, the doctor comes first.
Care for the plant: don't tie the tulsi's branches tightly for decoration, don't overwater, and don't pluck many leaves at once. After the puja, remove the veil and heavy decoration so the plant gets sun and air.
Lamps: keep lamps away from dry leaves, the veil and curtains, keep an adult near children, and keep a bucket of water or sand nearby.
In ePandit
In ePandit: our calendar shows the festival day with your city's sunrise and sunset. The day is decided once, for Ujjain; your city's times are shown separately. We don't compute muhurta yet, and we never call a festival good or bad for anyone.
Keep lamps away from curtains and clothes, keep an adult near children, and keep a bucket of water or sand nearby.
Frequently asked questions
Does the text give a single day?
Dharmasindhu lists several possible days (Navami to Purnima) but says the custom is the parana day, in the first part of the night.
What if there is no Shaligrama?
A small image or picture of Krishna or Vishnu is also used; Dharmasindhu itself describes the custom with an image of Krishna.
Does it bring an early marriage?
We make no such promise. Tradition sees it as a festival of devotion and family togetherness; it can give the mind some support, nothing more is claimed.
Can anyone do it?
Yes. Unmarried, married, elders: any family can do it as is convenient.
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Sources: Dharmasindhu, Tulasī-vivāha-kāla, Custom: on the parana day with the waking festival · Dharmasindhu, Tulasī-vivāha-kāla, Navami and two more days; Ekadashi to Purnima · Dharmasindhu, Tulasī-vivāha-kāla, In the first part of the night · Dharmasindhu, the Tulasī-vivāha rite, Turmeric, kumkum and a neck-thread for tulsi · Dharmasindhu, the Tulasī-vivāha rite (custom), Krishna's image facing tulsi, a cloth between · Dharmasindhu, the Tulasī-vivāha rite (custom), Mangalashtaka, then the cloth removed and rice showered · Tradition, The story of Vrinda and Jalandhara; the sugarcane canopy, veil, procession; the kanyadana spirit