Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Tulsi Vivah/ Tulsi Kalyanam

Tulsi Vivah is an important ritual performed in Kartik month in traditional Hindu calendar. Tulsi Vivah festival is the wedding of Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu. Tulsi Vivah is performed by some communities on the Ekadasi day after Amavasi (new moon) in Kartik month and by some communities on the Dev Diwali day or the full moon day in Kartik Month.


It is performed by married women for wellbeing of their husbands and for marital bliss. Unmarried girls perform Tulsi pooja to get good husbands. Tulsi Vivah puja 2010 dates are – 17 or 18 or 21 November 2010.


Tulsi Vivah is an age-old tradition and is mentioned in the Padma Purana and other ancient scriptures. Tulsi, or the Holy Basil, is the sacred plant of the Hindus and symbolizes purity and is famous for its medicinal properties.

Legend has it that a king named Jalandhar got a boon that he will remain immortal as long as his wife Vrinda is chaste (Pati Vrat). This made King Jalandhar arrogant and he declared war on other kings, demi gods and started tormenting innocent people.

Finally, the task of annihilating King Jalandhar fell on Lord Vishnu.

Lord Vishnu in the guise of Jalandhar approached Vrinda and she mistook him for her husband. They lived like husband and wife. Soon Jalandhar was killed in a battle. This made Vrinda furious and she cursed Vishnu and made him turn to Shaligram.

Lord Vishnu did not let Vrinda suffer for no fault of her. She was turned into a Tulsi plant and gave her the boon that she will find a place in all houses and she will be worshiped. Tulsi Vivah is performed to establish this divine relationship between Lord Vishnu and Vrinda.

The festival of Tulsi Vivah is also the precursor to the annual marriage season in North India. Performing it is considered highly auspicious and good for couples. Popular belief is that performing the wedding ceremony of marrying Tulsi to Vishnu considering her as their daughter is equal to performing Kanyadan.

 
PROCEDURE
One can dress Her pot in a nice Red skirt.

One can adorn her branches with red bangles, red kum kum, and red bindhis.

As a mangal sutra one can use a fresh or dried Haldi (tumeric) root.

and garland her with red garlands.

If you have a Shaligram you can perform the Vivaha for them as you would for any yajuman who would undergo it.

Here we have a VERY simplified form of that.


Kanya Sampradanam - Giving of the bride:

The bride is given away by her father or guardian after reciting of her lineage and pedigree together with that of the groom.

Honouring of the groom. The groom is given a seat and is honoured

Tie the kankabandanam red thread to each of Them.(symbolically His right wrist Her left wrist)

Meditate upon anointing Their wrists with oils and chandan, and just touch it to Their bodies.


Mala Dharanam - exchange of garlands:

Place a nice garland on the Tulsi plant and the Swayamvyakta Shaligram. Exchange the garlands three times. Her's garlands Him and then His garlands Her, like that. Tulasi first to garland her lord, claiming her swayamvarya rite.


Sindhur Danam - anointing the bride with sindhur:

On His behalf mark her leaves and upper trunk with sindhur three times, His claiming her as His own.

OM SINDHUR IVA PRADHVANE SUGHANASO

VATA PRAMIYAH PATAYANTI YAHVAH

GHRTASYA DHARA ARUSO NAH VAJI

KASTHA BHINDAN URMIBHIH PINVAMANAH


Mangal Sutra Dharanam - Placing of the sacred Tali/mangalya charadu:

The sacred thread and ornament (mangal sutra) are sanctified and then tied around the bride's neck as a symbol of her marital status, the sister of the groom helps him with this and is given a present by the bride's family. A girdle symbolizing chastity is tied around her waist (can be tied around the pot or laid on the soil as if her waist.

mangal yatantunanena bhartr jiva ahetunaa


kanthe bandhnami subhage saa jiva saradah shatam


Vastra Bandhanam - Tying their cloth, making their bond strong:

Trying the upper clothes. Granthi banadhanam - binding their marriage bond. The Shaligram will need an angavaastra specially for this which can be tied to the upper part of the vaastra that Tulsi is wearing - keep these bound for seven nights from now.

Sprinkle the bonded cloth with waster from the samanya arghya.

Laja Homa - Offering of Puffed Rice for the longevity of the husband, and fertility of wife:

This ritual is done to pray for the well-being of the bride and her future offspring as well as prosperity and happiness for all the family.

You may have to meditate upon this only.

OM IDAM ASMANAM AROHA

ASMEVA TVAM STHIRA BHAVA

DVISANTAM APAVADHASYA

MA CA TVAM DVISATAM ADHAH

"Mount this stone, and like a stone be steadfast in devotion at the feet of the Lord. Annihilate those who would dare harm you. May you never fall under their influence."


Saptapadi Grahanam - The symbolic taking of seven steps representing seven great sacrifices of Vivaha:

The couple take seven steps together symbolic of the journey of life which they are beginning and in which they will be inseparable companions. Each step is sanctified with a blessing.

1. OM EKAM ISE VISNUH TVA NAYATU

"One: May Lord Visnu lead you to strength."

2. OM DVE URJE VISNUH TVA NAYATU

"Two: May Lord Visnu lead you to power."

3. OM TRINI VRATAYA VISNUH TVA NYATU

"Three: May Lord Visnu lead you to uphold your vows."

4. OM CATVARI MAYOBHAVAYA VISNUH TVA NAYATU

"Four: May Lord Visnu lead you to happiness."

5. OM PANCA PASUBHYO VISNUH TVA NAYATU

"Five: May Lord Visnu lead you to plenty of cows."

6. OM SAD RAYAS POSAYA VISNUH TVA NAYATU

"Six: May Lord Visnu lead you to multiplying spiritual wealth."

7. OM SAPTA SAPRABHYO HOTRABHYO VISNUH TVA NAYATU

"Seven: May Lord Visnu lead you to maintain these seven sacrifices."


Pani Grahanam - Joining Them in wedlock:

Taking of the Hand. The groom formally accepts the bride and takes her hand while reciting ritual formulae.

Meditate upon Their holding hands and recite the following.

"For good fortune I join your hands so that you may attain old age in the company of your husband. The four Kumaras have given you to him for performance of household duties.

"Be gentle-eyed, protecting your husband. Be kind to the animals, be good minded, beautiful. Be the mother of heroes, mother of life, and dear to Lord Krsna, bringing the highest happiness. In this way be good to us all, both man and beast.

"May Vishnu generate progeny for you. May Lord Krsna keep you together until old age. Enter now your husband's house, with auspiciousness. In this way be good to us, both man and beast.

"Oh Vishnu, impregnate her, make fine, strong sons in her. Put ten sons in her, make eleven men in their house.

"Be the ruler of your husband's father. Be the ruler of your husband's mother. Be the ruler of your husband's sisters. Be the ruler of your husband's brothers.

"May your heart be fixed on life's higher goals. May your mind follow after that of your husband. With body and soul be devoted to his words. May Lord Visnu join you together."

Shower them with akshata (dry uncooked rice coloured with tumeric).

OM ASMIN VIVAHA KARMANI

ANGA HINAM KRIYAN HINAM VIDHI HINAM CA YAD BHAVET

ASTU TAT SARVA ACCHIDRAM KRSNA KARSNA PRASADATAH

YAT KINCIT CAIGUNYAM JATAM

TAD DOSA PRASAMANAYA

SRI VISNU SMARANAM KAROMI

"May all deficiencies in rules and activities of the vivaha ceremony be absolved by the mercy of Lord Sri Krsna and His devotees. I now remember that Supreme Lord Vishnu in order to nullify whatever faults there may be there in the proceedings."

 
Tulsi Prarthanai 


namah tulasi kalyaaNi namo vishhnu priye shubhe
namo moksha pradaayike devi namaH sampatpradaayike


Tulsi Namaskaram
Yanmule sarva thirthani yanmadye sarva devatha
yadagre sarva vedashcha Tulasi thvam namam mayham


Tulsi Dyanam

dyayescha tulasim devim shyamam kamala lochanam
prasannam panmakalhara varabhaya chaturbhuja
kiritahara keyura kundaladi vibushitam
dhavalankusha samyuktam nishedushim


Tulsi Ashhtottara Shatanamavali

om shrii tulasyai namaH

om nandinyai namaH

om devyai namaH

om shikhinyai namaH

om dhAriNyai namaH

om dhAtryai namaH

om sAvitryai namaH

om satyasandhAyai namaH

om kAlahAriNyai namaH

om gauryai namaH

om devagiitAyai namaH

om draviiyasyai namaH

om padminyai namaH

om siitAyai namaH

om rukmiNyai namaH

om priyabhuuShaNAyai namaH

om shreyasyai namaH

om shriimatyai namaH

om mAnyAyai namaH

om gauryai namaH

om gautamArchitAyai namaH

om tretAyai namaH

om tripathagAyai namaH

om tripAdAyai namaH

om traimuurtyai namaH

om jagatrayAyai namaH

om trAsinyai namaH

om gAtrAyai namaH

om gAtriyAyai namaH

om garbhavAriNyai namaH

om shobhanAyai namaH

om samAyai namaH

om dviradAyai namaH

om ArAdyai namaH

om yaGYavidyAyai namaH

om mahAvidyAyai namaH

om guhyavidyAyai namaH

om kAmAxyai namaH

om kulAyai namaH

om shriiyai namaH

om bhuumyai namaH

om bhavitryai namaH

om sAvitryai namaH

om saravedavidAmvarAyai namaH

om sha.nkhinyai namaH

om chakriNyai namaH

om chAriNyai namaH

om chapalexaNAyai namaH

om piitAmbarAyai namaH

om prota somAyai namaH

om saurasAyai namaH

om axiNyai namaH

om ambAyai namaH

om sarasvatyai namaH

om samshrayAyai namaH

om sarva devatyai namaH

om vishvAshrayAyai namaH

om sugandhinyai namaH

om suvAsanAyai namaH

om varadAyai namaH

om sushroNyai namaH

om chandrabhAgAyai namaH

om yamunaapriyAyai namaH

om kAveryai namaH

om maNikarNikAyai namaH

om archinyai namaH

om sthAyinyai namaH

om dAnapradAyai namaH

om dhanavatyai namaH

om sochyamAnasAyai namaH

om shuchinyai namaH

om shreyasyai namaH

om priitichintexaNyai namaH

om vibhuutyai namaH

om aakR^ityai namaH

om aavirbhuutyai namaH

om prabhAvinyai namaH

om gandhinyai namaH

om svarginyai namaH

om gadAyai namaH

om vedyAyai namaH

om prabhAyai namaH

om sArasyai namaH

om sarasivAsAyai namaH

om sarasvatyai namaH

om sharAvatyai namaH

om rasinyai namaH

om kALinyai namaH

om shreyovatyai namaH

om yAmAyai namaH

om brahmapriyAyai namaH

om shyAmasundarAyai namaH

om ratnaruupiNyai namaH

om shamanidhinyai namaH

om shatAnandAyai namaH

om shatadyutaye namaH

om shitikaNThAyai namaH

om prayAyai namaH

om dhAtryai namaH

om shrii vR^indAvanyai namaH

om kR^iShNAyai namaH

om bhaktavatsalAyai namaH

om gopikAkriiDAyai namaH

om harAyai namaH

om amR^itaruupiNyai namaH

om bhuumyai namaH

om shrii kR^iShNakAntAyai namaH

om shrii tulasyai namaH

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