Tulasi - Shaligram Vivaha:Monday, 2 Nov 2009

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

Lord Sri Krishna.Marriage of Shalagrama and Tulasi written by Sri Padmanabha Gosai.Shri Vasishthaji said that what I have heard in ancient times from LordBrahma about the marriage of Tulasi I will now describe according to what is

written in the Narada-pancaratra. First one should plant Tulasi either inthe 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 tothe full moon in the month of Magha, and when constellations that are

auspicious for marriage appear, especially the full moon day. - First oneshould 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 shouldcall 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 mandapaaccording to the Vaishnava rituals. Then one should establish an attractiveshalagrama-shila (Lakshmi-Narayana). After that one should perform home

sacrifice (griha-yajna), worship the sixteen goddesses, and do the shraddhaceremony. - When it is dusk one should install a golden Deity of Narayanaand a silver murti of Tulasi according to one's means. With vasa-shanta

mantra two cloths should be tied together, with yadavandha mantra themarriage bracelets (kangana) should be tied on the wrists, and with ko' datmantra 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 offersacrifice according to the Vaishnava rituals chanting, " Om namo bhagavate

keshavaya namah svaha. " - The host with his wife, friends, and relativesshould 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 conchand 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, andbed 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 worshipalong with Lord Vishnu. Whoever sees the marriage of Tulasi Devi will haveall of the accumulated sins of his life removed. Whoever with devotion

plants Tulasi, collects her leaves, or installs her along with Vishnu willachieve liberation, the abode of the Lord, all varieties of enjoyment, andwill 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 theleast important festival which falls on the 11th day of the bright half of

Kartik. This story from padma Puram revolves round Tulsi, the plant OcimumSanctum which in her former birth was Vrinda, the daughter of a giant namedNemi, and the faithful wife of demon Jalandhar. Being born in water

Jalandhar claims sovereignty over the ocean and demands the 14 treasureschurned out of the ocean in Vishnu's second incarnation. He declares warand 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 resortto 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 herimpeachable chastity and piety, he transfers her into the sacred Tulsi plantand 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 maybe attributed to their legend.As a consequence, all devout Hindu women worship the Tulsi plant withflowers and milk assuming Lord Krishna to be present on it on this

auspicious day. Literally a mock marriage is performed between the Tulsiand the Salagram. The belief is that one who performs this ceremony ofgiving away Tulsi considering them to be one's own daughters, gets the

credit as making a Kanyadan which is regarded as an extremely meritoriousact in pur religion. This sacred ceremonial day marks the auspiciousopening 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 forany 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 herlineage and pedigree together with that of the groom.Honouring of the groom. The groom is given a seat and is honouredTie 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 touchit 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 garlandsHer, like that. Tulasi first to garland her lord, claiming her swayamvaryarite.Sindhur Danam - anointing the bride with sindhur:

On His behalf mark her leaves and upper trunk with sindhur three times, Hisclaiming her as His own.OM SINDHUR IVA PRADHVANE SUGHANASOVATA PRAMIYAH PATAYANTI YAHVAHGHRTASYA DHARA ARUSO NAH VAJIKASTHA BHINDAN URMIBHIH PINVAMANAH

Mangal Sutra Dharanam - Placing of the sacred Tali:The sacred thread and ornament (mangal sutra) are sanctified and then tiedaround 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. Agirdle symbolizing chastity is tied around her waist (can be tied around thepot or laid on the soil as if her waist.mangal yatantunanena bhartr jiva ahetunaa

kanthe bandhnami subhage saa jiva saradah shatamVastra 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 boundfor 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 futureoffspring 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 BHAVADVISANTAM APAVADHASYAMA CA TVAM DVISATAM ADHAH " Mount this stone, and like a stone be steadfast in devotion at the feet ofthe Lord. Annihilate those who would dare harm you. May you never fall under

their influence. " Saptapadi Grahanam - The symbolic taking of seven steps representing sevengreat sacrifices of Vivaha:The couple take seven steps together symbolic of the journey of life whichthey 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 handwhile 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 thecompany of your husband. The four Kumaras have given you to him forperformance of household duties.

" Be gentle-eyed, protecting your husband. Be kind to the animals, be goodminded, beautiful. Be the mother of heroes, mother of life, and dear toLord 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 togetheruntil old age. Enter now your husband's house, with auspiciousness. Inthis way be good to us, both man and beast.

" Oh Vishnu, impregnate her, make fine, strong sons in her. Put ten sons inher, make eleven men in their house. " Be the ruler of your husband's father. Be the ruler of your husband'smother. 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 afterthat of your husband. With body and soul be devoted to his words. May LordVisnu join you together. "

Shower them with akshata (dry uncooked rice coloured with tumeric).OM ASMIN VIVAHA KARMANIANGA HINAM KRIYAN HINAM VIDHI HINAM CA YAD BHAVETASTU TAT SARVA ACCHIDRAM KRSNA KARSNA PRASADATAHYAT KINCIT CAIGUNYAM JATAM

TAD DOSA PRASAMANAYASRI VISNU SMARANAM KAROMI " May all deficiencies in rules and activities of the vivaha ceremony beabsolved by the mercy of Lord Sri Krsna and His devotees. I now rememberthat Supreme Lord Vishnu in order to nullify whatever faults there may be

there in the proceedings. " Sri Sriyuts Tulasi & Shaligram Vivaha ki jayaAt the present moment our minds are polluted with the dirt accumulated over millions and millions of lifetimes of sense gratification. Even though our original pure nature is eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss, due to our mental contamination we are presently suffering in the realm of temporality, ignorance, and misery. By the purificatory process of chanting the holy names of God we can revive our original, pure nature and thus relish the sweetest happiness at every minute.

Chant:Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare HareHare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare