Who was Mata Tulasi ? Why does Mother Tulasi marry Lord Shalagram? Know the worship method of Tulasi Vivah?

Tulasi Mata (Mother) has always been considered venerable in Sanatan Dharma. There is never any dearth of happiness, prosperity and wealth in the house where Tulasi Mata resides in the courtyard. This festival begins on the Ekadashi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik, known as Dev Uthani Ekadashi, and is traditionally celebrated until Kartik Purnima. Since it is a five-day-long festival, some people also organize the Tulsi Vivah according to their customs on other days between Ekadashi and Purnima, in addition to these two main dates. According to the mythology, Tulasi is married to Lord Shalgram on this day. Shalgram refers to Lord Shri Vishnu. If we talk about the story, the story of Tulasi is described in Shivpuran and Brahmavaivarta Puran

Story of marriage of Tulasi and Shri Hari:

Tulasi was the daughter of King Dharmadhwaj. Tulasi's mother's name was Madhavi. According to Brahmavaivarta Purana, Tulasi was born on the full moon day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. Tulasi, who is the leader and religious among the devoted women of the world. She used to do penance in the forest to attain Lord Shri Hari. Shankhachuda, son of Dambha, had obtained Shri Krishna's armor by performing penance of Lord Brahma. That armor was going to provide auspiciousness among the auspicious and victory everywhere. With the permission of Lord Brahma, he married Tulasi as a Gandharva Vivah (A marriage performed with only three rounds in front of fire as witness is called Gandharv Vivah). Due to Tulasi's devotion and her religious behavior, he became immortal and invincible. He had snatched away the authority of all the Deities. Due to the curse, Sankhchud was definitely born in the form of a demon, but he was still a follower of religion. In his kingdom, humans, society, snakes, eunuchs, land animals, aquatic animals and all living beings were happy. He had snatched away the rights of the Deities only. All the Dieties, in despair, first went to Lord Brahma Ji, then to Lord Vishnu Ji and then to Lord Mahadev Ji, then Lord Shiv Ji said, you all go to Kailash. Rudra, a part of me, resides there, only he can find the solution to your problem. All the Deities went to Rudra Dev Ji. The Deities worshiped Lord Rudra and narrated their story. Then Rudra Dev made them fearless and said - You people should be relaxed and definitely understand the end of the arrogant Kumar Shankhachud. Hearing this, a wave of happiness spread among all the Deities. Rudra Dev ji sent his messenger Pushpadanta to Shankhachuda. Pushpadant reached the palace of Shankhchud and said to the proposal given by Rudra Dev Ji - O Danavendra! I am the messenger of Shiva and have a message for you. Lord Shankar has said that you should return the kingdom of the Deities otherwise Lord Shankar will definitely kill you. Shankhachuda told the messenger that he would not give back the kingdom of the Deities without fighting with Lord Shiva. After listening to Shankhchud, Pushpadant came back to Lord Shiva and told the words spoken by Shankhchud to Lord Shiva. Hearing Shankhachud's words, Rudradev's anger reached the seventh heaven and he ordered to get ready for the war. Commander Kartikye ji and Ganesh ji came to preparing for the war. After receiving the permission of Lord Shiva, Veerbhadra, Nandishwar, Mahakal, Subhadrak, Banasur, Balibhadra, Durjay, eight Bhairavs, eleven Rudras, eight Vasus, Indra etc. Deities, twelve Suns, Agni, Moon, Vishwakarma, Kuber, Yamraj, Jayant, Vayu, Varun, Mercury, Mars, Dharma, Shani, Ishaan and the majestic Kamadeva also arrived. Along with this, Mother Kali with hundred arms also came. Along with them, innumerable ghosts, ghosts, vampires , Kushmandas, Brahmarakshasas, Vetalas, Rakshasas, Yakshas and Kinnaras also came to assist them. Here Shankhachud went to his wife Tulasi and told the things related to the war. Tulasi felt immense pain after hearing about the war and tears started flowing from her eyes due to the fear of separation from her husband Shankhachud. Shankhchud was an advisor of Lord Shri Krishna. By his grace he remembered his previous birth. He told Tulasi about religion and truth. Shankhachuda said that all things in this world are perishable. The creator, sustainer and destroyer of this world is Lord Shri Hari. It is not right to cry for this mortal body of mine. The ultimate truth of this earth is that trees germinate on earth only by the grace of Lord Shri Hari. It grows with time and is laden with fruits and by the grace of Lord Shri Hari, it gets swallowed up by time and dries up. No one is strong on this earth, the most powerful is time which makes everyone powerless. All this is the play of Shri Hari. Now you should try to get them. Tulasi's face was filled with happiness at such words of Shankhachud. Then Shankhachuda wore his auspicious armor and set out to fight. On the other hand, Lord Shiva also moved towards the battlefield with his army. A fierce battle started between Lord Shankar's army and Shankhachuda. The war continued for many years but Shankhachud was not killed. Then Shiva got angry and picked up the trident given by Shri Vishnu. As soon as Lord Shiva picked up the trident to pierce the shankhachuda, a voice from the sky came out - O Mahadev! This trident is going to destroy all the three worlds, Shankhachud is very small in front of you and don't use trident. O Lord, it would be unfair for you to destroy the dignity of God. As long as Shankhachud has the ultimate protective shield of Shri Hari in his hands and the chastity of his devoted wife Tulasi is not broken, it is impossible for him to die. Hey Jagdish! Make this word of Lord Brahma true. After listening to the sky, Lord Shiva hand over this task to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu is the best in Mahamaya, the great Lord Vishnu took the form of an old Vipra and went near Shankhachuda and said – Danavendra! I have come to you to get alms, so please give me alms. Hearing Vipra's wish, Shankhachud asked Vipra to express his wish but Vipra said - Rajan! I will not reveal my wish now, I will tell you my wish when you accept to give me alms. After listening to the Brahmin, Shankhachud accepted the donation by saying Om. Then Vipra expressed his wish and said, O Danvendra! I want to get your protective shield. Hearing this, Shankhachuda was very surprised, but still Shankhachuda took off the armor that was as dear to him as his life and gave it to Vipra because Shankhachuda was a truthful, religious and people-loving king. After obtaining the armor of Shankhachuda, Lord Vishnu took the form of Shankhachuda and entered his palace. Tulasi was very happy to see Shankhachud and welcomed him. Lord Vishnu, while conversing in a sweet voice, loved Tulasi by deceit, due to which Tulasi's chastity was broken. After completing his task, Lord Vishnu told everything to Lord Shiva and inspired him to pick up the trident to kill Shankhachuda. Then Lord Shiva killed Shankhachuda with his trident which shone like the sun. When Tulasi came to know that Lord Vishnu had tricked her, she became very angry and in anger, she cursed Lord Vishnu to turn into a stone and started crying bitterly. At the same time Lord Shankar appeared there and while explaining to Tulasi he said – O Goddess! This is the result of the penance for which you did penance to achieve your desire . Now you leave this body and adopt a divine body and live with Shri Hari forever like Goddess Lakshmi. This body of yours, which you will leave, will be transformed into a river. That river will be famous in Bharat by the name of Punyarupa Gandaki. Mahadevi, after some time, due to the influence of my boon, you will get the best place in worship material etc. and you will become the best Tulasi tree among the trees. Lord Shri Hari will also take the form of a stone due to the curse and reside near the Gandaki river. The combination of Vishnu's Shalgram Shila and tree-like Tulasi will always be favorable and will increase virtues in many ways. Tulasi became happy after listening to Lord Shiva and left her body and went to Vaikuntha Dham with Kamalapati Vishnu.

In this way, the person who gets Tulasi married to Shri Hari on the Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month gets the desired result.

Method of worship:

First of all, clean the place of worship and purify it by sprinkling Ganga water. Decorate the pavilion with sugarcane. Decorate the pot containing the Tulasi plant with saffron and flowers. In the evening, spread a red cloth on a wooden stool. Install Tulasi on one seat and Shalagram ji on the other seat. Install an urn on the right side of the pedestal. Bathe Tulasi and Shalagram ji with Ganga water. Apply sandalwood tilak to Lord Shalagram and offer yellow flowers, fruits and clothes. Apply tilak to Tulasi ji with red sandalwood and offer fruits, flowers, red chunari, bindi and adornment items. Light incense sticks and ghee lamp. Pick up Shalgram ji in your hands and revolve 7 times around Tulasi ji. Now perform the aarti of Tulasi ji and Shalgram ji with full devotion. Offer kheer and sweets. If you wish, you can recite Vishnusahastranam on this occasion or you can also recite Tulasi Chalisa. In the end it is very important to apologize for your mistake.

Importance:

This fast is going to fulfill all the wishes. The person who do Tulasi and Shalgram ji marriage on this auspicious occasion, all his troubles are destroyed. The blessings of Tulasi ji and Lord Shri Hari always remain with him. Apart from this, the importance of Tulasi marriage is described in Shiv Purana. It is said that, the one who consumes the fallen leaves of Tulasi on this day attains great virtue, the one who offers Tulasi leaves in Shaligram on this day never faces the pain of separation from his wife. He is always dear to Shri Hari.

Writer :- Kuldeep Singh