The ceremonial festival is performed anytime between Prabodhini Ekadashi and Karthik Poornima (the full moon of the month).
Story: Tulsi is venerated as a goddess in Hinduism and is sometimes considered as a wife of Vishnu,“Vishnupriya”, “the beloved of Vishnu”.
According to the Hindu scripture’s, the Tulsi plant was a woman named “Vrinda". She was married to the Asura king Jalandhar, who due to her devotion to Vishnu, became invincible. Even Shiva could not defeat Jalandhar, so he requested Vishnu - the preserver in the Trinity - to find a solution. Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhar and tricked Vrinda.
Her chastity destroyed, Jalandhar lost his power and was killed by Shiva. Vrinda cursed Vishnu to become black in colour and to be separated from his wife, Lakshmi. This was later fulfilled when he was transformed into the black Shaligram stone, and in his Rama avatar, was separated from his wife Sita, who was kidnapped by the asura king Ravana. Vrinda then drowned herself in the ocean, and the gods transferred her soul to a plant, which was henceforth called Tulsi.
As per a blessing by Vishnu to marry Vrinda in her next birth, Vishnu – in form of Shaligram - married Tulsi on Prabodhini Ekadashi. To commemorate this event, the ceremony of Tulsi Vivah is performed.
Another Story narrates that Lakshmi slew a demon on this day and remained on earth as the Tulsi plant.
How to worship Srimati Tulasi Devi
Tulasi-puja is relatively simple, consisting of only three articles: incense, a ghee lamp, and flowers.
Before the arati, offer obeisances to Tulasi Devi while chanting the Sri Tulasi pranama 3 times.
While one devotee offers the puja articles, another may sing the Sri Tulasi kirtana.
Achaman (purification)
Take the spoon from the achaman cup and purify both hands by sprinkling water onto them. This is the process:
Sprinkle a spoon full into your right palm, chant om keshavaya namah, and sip.
Sprinkle a spoon full into your right palm, chant om narayanaya namah, and sip.
Sprinkle a spoon full into your right palm, chant om madhavaya namah, and sip.
Offering incense
Purify (sprinkle with a spoon full of water) the bell and the incense holder.
Light the incense.
Pick up the bell in the left hand; ring the bell throughout the puja.
Pick up the incense holder in the right hand and offer the incense to Tulasi with seven circles around her whole form.
Offering the ghee lamp
Purify the ghee lamp (sprinkle with a spoon full of water) and then light it.
Offer it to Tulasi with four circles around the base, two around the middle, three around the top, and seven around her whole form.
Offering flowers
Purify the flowers (sprinkle with a spoon full of water).
Offer them to Tulasi with seven circles around her whole form.
Place one at Tulsi base (optional).
While chanting the Sri Tulasi pradakshina mantra, devotees may then circumambulate Tulasi Devi at least four times.
Mantra
yani kani ca papani
brahma-hatyadikani ca
tani tani pranasyanti
pradakshinah pade pade
You can now serve the Tulsi by purifying your hands before you water Tulasi Devi. Sprinkle a little water from the achaman cup onto the your right hand and water Tulasi Devi's roots with water from another cup. Please note that water is only offered in the morning, not evening.
You may end the puja by once again offering obeisances while chanting the Sri Tulasi pranama.
Planting, watering, protecting, caring for, circumambulating, seeing, bowing down to, praying to, and glorifying are all ways of serving and worshipping Srimati Tulasi Devi.
