The Legend of Tulsi Vivah – Significance and Story

On the day of Dev Uthani Ekadashi, people perform Tulsi Vivah. Tradition holds that those who perform Tulsi Vivah and its rituals at home receive fame in this world and the next. Lord Vishnu bestows special blessings upon them. Reading the story of Tulsi Vivah on Dev Uthani Ekadashi also grants merit.

The Story of Tulsi’s Origin

Lord Shiva once cast his divine energy into the ocean. A radiant child emerged from it. They named him Jalandhar. Jalandhar received education from the demon guru Shukracharya. He later became a mighty demon king. Jalandhar conquered heaven and other realms. He married Vrinda, daughter of the demon king Kalnemi. Once, Jalandhar desired Goddess Lakshmi and waged war. The ocean intervened. Since Jalandhar was born of the ocean, Goddess Lakshmi accepted him as her brother.

Jalandhar’s Wife is Tulsi

Jalandhar took Lord Shiva’s form and approached Goddess Parvati. But Parvati recognized him instantly through her yogic powers and disappeared. Jalandhar then fought Lord Shiva. Goddess Parvati narrated the whole incident to Lord Vishnu. Jalandhar’s wife, Vrinda, was extremely devoted. Her chastity protected Jalandhar from death and defeat. To destroy Jalandhar, it was essential to break Vrinda’s chastity.

Then, Lord Vishnu used his illusion to place Jalandhar’s head back on his body and entered that form himself. Vrinda did not know that it was Lord Vishnu in Jalandhar’s form. She treated him with the same devotion, unknowingly breaking her chastity. At that moment, her husband Jalandhar lost the battle on Mount Kailash.

Tulsi Cursed Vishnu

When Vrinda found out, she angrily cursed Lord Vishnu to become a lifeless stone. Lord Vishnu accepted the curse and turned into a Shaligram stone. The cosmos fell into imbalance as the preserver of the universe became a stone. All deities requested Vrinda to lift the curse. Vrinda lifted the curse but immolated herself. From the ashes of Vrinda, a Tulsi plant grew.

Lord Vishnu said, “O Vrinda, your chastity has made you dearer to me than even Lakshmi. Now, you will always remain with me in the form of Tulsi.” Since then, people celebrate Tulsi Vivah every year on Dev Uthani Ekadashi in the Kartik month.

Lord Vishnu granted a boon that whoever performs the marriage of Tulsi with his Shaligram form will attain great fame in this life and the next. Tulsi also received a boon that the house where Tulsi resides will remain protected from premature death by Yama’s messengers. Those who die with Tulsi leaves and Ganga water in their mouth attain salvation and reach Vaikunth Dham. Those who perform ancestor rituals in the shade of Tulsi and Amla trees grant their ancestors liberation.