Dev Uthani Ekadashi 2024: Legend, Significance, and the Method of Performing Tulsi Vivah at Home, Written By-Rashmi Vajpayee ~ Indian Culture

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This year, Devuthani Ekadashi is falling on 11th November,2024. Devuthani Ekadashi has special importance in Hinduism because on this day Lord Vishnu wakes up from the sleep of Chaturmas and showers his devotees. The awakening of God indicates the restoration of positive energies in the Universe.

The tradition of Tulsi marriage on Devuthani Ekadashi is thousand years old. Shaligrama (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) and Tulsi, are married with full rituals on Ekadashi of Kartik Shukla Paksha i.e. Devuthani Ekadashi. It is believed that the person who performs the custom of Tulsi marriage gets as much prosperity as one gets from Kanya Daan. There is also a legend behind this, which has been told for years. Let's read this story-

Tulsi Marriage Story-

There was a mighty demon named Jalandhar, who was married to a girl named Vrinda. Vrinda was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu and “Pati Vrata" (utmost loyal to her husband)”. For this reason, Jalandhar became invincible. when Jalandhar was invincible, he started harassing the girls of heaven. All the Gods could not defeat Jalandhar; they went to the shelter of Lord Vishnu and started praying to end the terror of Jalandhar.

Lord Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhar and broke Vrinda’s chastity. This weakened the power of Jalandhar and he was killed in the war by Lord Shiva. When Vrinda came to know about the trick of Lord Vishnu, she cursed Lord Vishnu to become stone. On the prayers of the gods, Vrinda withdrew her curse. But Lord Vishnu was ashamed because He did injustice to Vrinda who was his ardent devotee, so to keep alive the curse of Vrinda, he manifested himself in a form of stone called Shaligrama.

After removing the curse given to Lord Vishnu, Vrinda became Sati with Jalandhar. The Tulsi (Basil) plant came out from the ashes of Vrinda. To maintain the dignity and purity of Vrinda, the Gods married the Shaligrama form of Lord Vishnu to Tulsi. Shaligrama is a Blackstone is obtained from the Gandaki River. To remember this incident, Tulsi is married to Shaligrama every year on the day of Kartik Shukla Ekadashi i.e. Dev Prabodhani Ekadashi.

Lord Vishnu does not accept the Bhog without Tulsi-

Lord Vishnu told Vrinda that you will appear in the next birth as Tulsi and will be dearer to me than Lakshmi. Your place will be on my head. I will not take food without you. This is the reason that Tulsi is kept in the offerings of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu does not accept the Bhog( offerings) made without Tulsi.

How to Perform Tulsi Vivah at Home?

According to religious texts, it is auspicious to conduct Tulsi Vivah on the day of Ekadashi. Performing Tulsi Vivah at home is very easy and it can be performed by following simple traditional rituals-

1) Decorate the Tulsi plant as a bride and make a Mandap (pavilion) with sugarcane sticks around it.

2) Decorate the Tulsi plant with a red-colored chunri.

3) Offer things of Shringaar (Makeup) to the Tulsi (basil) plant.

4) Worship Lord Ganesha and Shaligrama duly.

5) The rituals of Tulsi Vivah should be followed in the same way as wedding customs are done. Take the idol of Lord Shaligrama in hand and do seven rotations of Tulsi.

6)After the Aarti, the marriage ceremony is completed with the Mangalgeet sung in marriage.

Happy Devuthani Ekadashi and Happy Tulsi Vivah!!

About Rashmi Vajpayee

Hello friends I am DrRashmi Vajpayee,PhD Awardee,Assistant professor and founder of Rashmi Vajpayee's Confessions on Culture.Here I share everything about Indian Culture and Festivals.I hope you guys enjoy my content so keep reading!.