Tulasi Shaligram Vivaha

[Guest guest]

Tulasi - Shaligram Vivaha:

This is the celebration of the marriage ceremony of Srimati Tulsi Devi and Lord

Sri Krishna. The incident is to be found in the story of Tulsi at the link

below. For those enthusiastic to perform the ceremony on Srimati Tulsi Devi and

Her Lord (to be performed upon the Shaligram Shila) one can follow the following

simple proceedure(s). Marriage of Shalagrama and Tulasi written by Sri

Padmanabha Gosai: Tulsi Vivah - A Hindu perspective: Tulasi Shalagram vivaha

prayog

Marriage of Shalagrama and Tulasi written by Sri Padmanabha Gosai. Shri

Vasishthaji said that what I have heard in ancient times from Lord Brahma about

the marriage of Tulasi I will now describe according to what is written in the

Narada-pancaratra. First one should plant Tulasi either in the house or the

forest, and after three years one may perform her marriage. The auspicious

times when one may perform the marriage of Shalagrama and Tulasi are described

as follows. When the sun is moving in the north, Jupiter and Venus are rising,

in the month of Kartika, from the Ekadashi to the full moon in the month of

Magha, and when constellations that are auspicious for marriage appear,

especially the full moon day. - First one should arrange a place for sacrifice

(yajna-kunda) under a canopy (mandapa). Then after performing shanti-vidhana,

one should install sixteen goddesses, and do the shraddha ceremony for his

female maternal ancestors. One should call four brahmanas learned in the Veda,

and appoint one to be the Brahma, one to be the acarya, one to be the rishi,

and one to be the priest. One should establish an auspicious waterpot

(mangala-ghat) under that mandapa according to the Vaishnava rituals. Then one

should establish an attractive shalagrama-shila (Lakshmi-Narayana). After that

one should perform home sacrifice (griha-yajna), worship the sixteen goddesses,

and do the shraddha ceremony. - When it is dusk one should install a golden

Deity of Narayana and a silver murti of Tulasi according to one's means. With

vasa-shanta mantra two cloths should be tied together, with yadavandha mantra

the marriage bracelets (kangana) should be tied on the wrists, and with ko' dat

mantra the marriage should be consecrated. Then the host along with the acarya,

rishi, and others should make nine offerings in the yajna-kunda. After these

marriage rites have been done, the wise gurudeva should offer sacrifice

according to the Vaishnava rituals chanting, "Om namo bhagavate keshavaya namah

svaha." - The host with his wife, friends, and relatives should then do

parikrama of Tulasi four times with shalagrama-shila. Everyone should then

recite the following prayers in front of the yajna-kunda: shatkumbha-sukta,

pavamani-sukta, shakti-kadhyaya, nava-sukta, jiva-sukta, and vaishava-samhita.

After this the ladies should blow conch and other similar instruments, sing

auspicious songs, and recite mangalacarana. Following this the final sacrifice

should be done (purnahuti) and then abhisheka. An ox is to be given to the

Brahma, a cow, cloth, and bed to the acarya, and cloth to the rishi. Dakshina

should be given to all. - In this way installing Tulasi Devi one should begin

her regular worship along with Lord Vishnu. Whoever sees the marriage of Tulasi

Devi will have all of the accumulated sins of his life removed. Whoever with

devotion plants Tulasi, collects her leaves, or installs her along with Vishnu

will achieve liberation, the abode of the Lord, all varieties of enjoyment, and

will enjoy along with Shri Hari. *The author is a well-known Vaishnava Acharya

and a Head Priest of the famous Radharaman Mandir in Vrindavana, India.

A Hindu perspective: Tulsi Vivah or Marriage: This is perhaps the most

sentimental but not the least important festival which falls on the 11th day of

the bright half of Kartik. This story from padma Puram revolves round Tulsi,

the plant Ocimum Sanctum which in her former birth was Vrinda, the daughter of

a giant named Nemi, and the faithful wife of demon Jalandhar. Being born in

water Jalandhar claims sovereignty over the ocean and demands the 14 treasures

churned out of the ocean in Vishnu's second incarnation. He declares war and

becomes a cause of danger to the gods. More so because of a boon that he would

be free drom death till his wife Vrinda was chaste. As a last resort to kill

Jalandhar, Vishnu beguiles Vrinda by assuming her husband's form. Vrinda in her

wrath cruses and turns Lord Vishnu into a Black stone (Salagram) for his deceit.

Vishnu too retaliates but in admiration of her impeachable chastity and piety,

he transfers her into the sacred Tulsi plant and promises to marry her annually

on this day of Kartik. The origin of the ammonite black stone or Salagram found

on the bed of the river Gandaki may be attributed to their legend. As a

consequence, all devout Hindu women worship the Tulsi plant with flowers and

milk assuming Lord Krishna to be present on it on this auspicious day.

Literally a mock marriage is performed between the Tulsi and the Salagram. The

belief is that one who performs this ceremony of giving away Tulsi considering

them to be one's own daughters, gets the credit as making a Kanyadan which is

regarded as an extremely meritorious act in pur religion. This sacred

ceremonial day marks the auspicious opening of the annual marriage season of

the Hindus.

Simple Vivaha Prayog: 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: 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." Sri Sriyuts Tulasi & Shaligram Vivaha ki jaya

The Story of Tulasi Tulasi & Shaligram Jala Dana The Benefits of rendering

service to Tulasi The Story of Shaligram Shilas Blessings of the Shaligram from

the story of Tulasi Vrinda Devi page Sri Shaligram Tirtha Pradarshini pages

Attachment: (image/gif) backtotop.gif [not stored]

Attachment: (image/gif) backani2moving.gif [not stored]