A Tulasi Vrindavana (Sanskrit: तुलसीवृंदावन, romanized: Tulasīvṛndāvana) is a small podium-like stone or cement altar present in front of traditional Hindu houses, housing the sacred tulasi plant.[1] Tulasi is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae, native throughout the tropics, and widespread as a cultivated plant and an escaped weed.[2]
A Tulasi Vrindavana (tulasi shrine) in courtyard, India.
The structure is also known as Tulasi Thara (Malayalam: തുളസിത്തറ), Tulasi Chaura or Tulasi Vrindavan (Odia: ତୁଳସୀ ଚଉରା), Tulasi Brindavanam (Tamil: துளசி பிருந்தாவனம்), and Tulasi Brundavanam (Telugu: తులసి బృందావనం) in Indian regional languages.
Hindu literature personifies the tulasi plant as the goddess Tulasi. According to a legend from the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Saraswati, Ganga, and Lakshmi were the three wives of the preserver deity, Vishnu. An argument once ensued between a resentful Saraswati and Ganga, with the latter being accused of trying to get too close to their common husband. Lakshmi attempted to pacify both of them, but in the ensuing quarrel, the three of them had cursed each other to be incarnated on earth: Saraswati and Ganga became rivers, while Lakshmi incarnated as the tulasi plant.[3]
In a different legend from the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Lakshmi incarnated herself as Tulasi, the daughter of King Dharmadhvaja. She married Shankacuda, a wicked asura who was the incarnation of Krishna's friend, Sudama. Shiva fought Shankacuda in a battle, but the latter proved to be an invincible opponent due to his wife's fidelity to him. Vishnu assumed the guise of Shankacuda, and made love to Tulasi, until she realised that he was an imposter. As she was about to curse him, Vishnu informed her of her true identity as his consort. Shiva was able to defeat the asura in the conflict. Liberated from earthly existence, Sudama returned to Goloka, while Tulasi transferred her earthly form to the tulasi plant, and rejoined Vishnu as Lakshmi in Vaikuntha.[4]
A ceremony known as Tulasi Vivaha is performed by Hindus between Prabodhini Ekadashi (the eleventh lunar day of the waxing moon of Kartika) to Kartik Purnima (full moon in Kartika), usually on the eleventh or the twelfth lunar day. It is the ceremonial wedding of the goddess Tulasi, represented by the tulasi plant, to Vishnu, in the form of the symbolic shaligrama, or an image of Krishna or Rama. Both the bride and the groom are ritually worshipped, and then married as per traditional Hindu wedding rituals. It marks the end of the four-month Chaturmasya period, which corresponds to the monsoon, considered inauspicious for weddings and other rituals. This day inaugurates the annual marriage season in India.[5][6]
Gallery
Tulasi Vrindavan in Kerala; also known as a tulasittara in Malayalam.
Tulasi Brundavanam or Tulasi Kota in a Telugu household.
Tulasi Mancha at Radhamadhab Temple in West Bengal.
Tulasi Vrindavan in a rural house.
A woman from Maharashtra watering tulasi in 1970s.
References
^www.wisdomlib.org (17 May 2018). "Tulasivrindavana, Tulasīvṛndāvana, Tulasi-vrindavana, Tulasivrimdavana: 7 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
^Staples, George; Michael S. Kristiansen (1999). Ethnic Culinary Herbs. University of Hawaii Press. p. 73. ISBN978-0-8248-2094-7.
^Varadpande, Manohar Laxman (2009). Mythology of Vishnu and His Incarnations. Gyan Publishing House. p. 25. ISBN978-81-212-1016-4.
^Books, Kausiki (24 October 2021). Narada Purana Part 1: English Translation only without Slokas. Kausiki Books. p. 115.
^Flood, Gavin D. (2001). The Blackwell companion to Hinduism. Wiley-Blackwell. p. 331. ISBN978-0-631-21535-6.
^"Tulsi Vivah". Sanatan Sanstha. 18 October 2000. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
May 05, 2023
tulasi, vrindavana, sanskrit, लस, वन, romanized, tulasīvṛndāvana, small, podium, like, stone, cement, altar, present, front, traditional, hindu, houses, housing, sacred, tulasi, plant, tulasi, aromatic, plant, family, lamiaceae, native, throughout, tropics, wi. A Tulasi Vrindavana Sanskrit त लस व द वन romanized Tulasivṛndavana is a small podium like stone or cement altar present in front of traditional Hindu houses housing the sacred tulasi plant 1 Tulasi is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae native throughout the tropics and widespread as a cultivated plant and an escaped weed 2 A Tulasi Vrindavana tulasi shrine in courtyard India The structure is also known as Tulasi Thara Malayalam ത ളസ ത തറ Tulasi Chaura or Tulasi Vrindavan Odia ତ ଳସ ଚଉର Tulasi Brindavanam Tamil த ளச ப ர ந த வனம and Tulasi Brundavanam Telugu త లస బ ద వన in Indian regional languages Contents 1 Significance 1 1 Tulasi Vivaha 2 Gallery 3 ReferencesSignificance EditMain article Tulasi in Hinduism Hindu literature personifies the tulasi plant as the goddess Tulasi According to a legend from the Brahma Vaivarta Purana Saraswati Ganga and Lakshmi were the three wives of the preserver deity Vishnu An argument once ensued between a resentful Saraswati and Ganga with the latter being accused of trying to get too close to their common husband Lakshmi attempted to pacify both of them but in the ensuing quarrel the three of them had cursed each other to be incarnated on earth Saraswati and Ganga became rivers while Lakshmi incarnated as the tulasi plant 3 In a different legend from the Devi Bhagavata Purana Lakshmi incarnated herself as Tulasi the daughter of King Dharmadhvaja She married Shankacuda a wicked asura who was the incarnation of Krishna s friend Sudama Shiva fought Shankacuda in a battle but the latter proved to be an invincible opponent due to his wife s fidelity to him Vishnu assumed the guise of Shankacuda and made love to Tulasi until she realised that he was an imposter As she was about to curse him Vishnu informed her of her true identity as his consort Shiva was able to defeat the asura in the conflict Liberated from earthly existence Sudama returned to Goloka while Tulasi transferred her earthly form to the tulasi plant and rejoined Vishnu as Lakshmi in Vaikuntha 4 Tulasi Vivaha Edit Main article Tulasi Vivaha A ceremony known as Tulasi Vivaha is performed by Hindus between Prabodhini Ekadashi the eleventh lunar day of the waxing moon of Kartika to Kartik Purnima full moon in Kartika usually on the eleventh or the twelfth lunar day It is the ceremonial wedding of the goddess Tulasi represented by the tulasi plant to Vishnu in the form of the symbolic shaligrama or an image of Krishna or Rama Both the bride and the groom are ritually worshipped and then married as per traditional Hindu wedding rituals It marks the end of the four month Chaturmasya period which corresponds to the monsoon considered inauspicious for weddings and other rituals This day inaugurates the annual marriage season in India 5 6 Gallery Edit Tulasi Vrindavan in Kerala also known as a tulasittara in Malayalam Tulasi Brundavanam or Tulasi Kota in a Telugu household Tulasi Vrindavan in Kerala Tulasi Mancha at Radhamadhab Temple in West Bengal Tulasi Vrindavan in a rural house A woman from Maharashtra watering tulasi in 1970s References Edit www wisdomlib org 17 May 2018 Tulasivrindavana Tulasivṛndavana Tulasi vrindavana Tulasivrimdavana 7 definitions www wisdomlib org Retrieved 2 December 2022 Staples George Michael S Kristiansen 1999 Ethnic Culinary Herbs University of Hawaii Press p 73 ISBN 978 0 8248 2094 7 Varadpande Manohar Laxman 2009 Mythology of Vishnu and His Incarnations Gyan Publishing House p 25 ISBN 978 81 212 1016 4 Books Kausiki 24 October 2021 Narada Purana Part 1 English Translation only without Slokas Kausiki Books p 115 Flood Gavin D 2001 The Blackwell companion to Hinduism Wiley Blackwell p 331 ISBN 978 0 631 21535 6 Tulsi Vivah Sanatan Sanstha 18 October 2000 Retrieved 30 June 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tulasi Vrindavana amp oldid 1133234189, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
