Mantralaya-2067
(The significance of Tulasi and the Tulasi Vivaha)
Date : Nov 6, 2025
Dear Devotees : Namaskara.
| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
Background
The significance of Tulasi and the Tulasi Vivaha is described in Mantralaya (2067).
Meaning
We
all recently celebrated the sacred marriage of Goddess Tulasi. Let us
now explore the deeper significance of this divine ceremony and the
origin of Tulasi herself.
In the Madhwa Sampradaya, Tulasi, the
sacred basil plant, is revered not merely as a holy herb but as the
divine consort of Lord Vishnu. She embodies deep spiritual and
philosophical truths that lie at the heart of devotion.
The
annual Tulasi Vivaha (marriage ceremony) is celebrated on Kartika
Shukla Dwadashi, also known as Uttana Dwadashi. This sacred day marks
the end of Lord Vishnu’s four month Chaturmasya (divine rest) and His
awakening, greeted by the joyous chant, “Uttishta Uttishta Govinda.”
The
festival celebrates the eternal union of Tulasi and Vishnu, symbolised
through the ceremonial marriage of the Tulasi plant with Sri Hari.
Devotees perform the ritual with great love and reverence, treating
Tulasi as their own daughter and offering her in kanyadana. This act is
said to grant immense punya, spiritual merit, equal to that of
performing an Ashvamedha Yajna.
The narrative of Tulasi’s divine
marriage, drawn from Harikathamrutasara, Padma Purana and the
insightful commentaries of acharyas like Sri Sankarshana Odeyaru,
beautifully illustrates how divine love, surrender and righteousness
form the very essence of devotion in the Madhwa tradition.
Tulasi’s
divine origin begins with the Samudra Manthana, the great churning of
the ocean of milk. During this sacred event, Lord Vishnu appeared as
Dhanvantari, carrying the amrita, the nectar of immortality. Filled
with compassion for all living beings, a few drops of His tears fell
into the vessel of amrita. From these divine tears, Tulasi was born.
Goddess Lakshmi then sowed seeds from the nectar. One became the Dhatri
(amla) tree, and the other took form as the Tulasi plant, as described
in the Padma Purana Uttara Khanda.
On Earth, Tulasi took birth
as Vrinda, the radiant daughter of King Dharmadhvaja, a ruler devoted
to dharma. Vrinda embodied pativrata dharma, the highest ideal of
devotion and chastity. Thus, Tulasi is not merely a sacred plant but
the very divine seat(adhishthana) for the union of Lakshmi and
Narayana. Her material form (jada deha) houses a conscious jiva and a
radiant presiding deity(abhimani devata), making her worship a direct
act of reverence to the Divine Couple themselves.
Vrinda’s
earthly life was both divine and tragic, shaped by her prarabdha karma,
the results of past actions. She was born as the beautiful and virtuous
daughter of King Dharmadhvaja and later married Jalandhara, a powerful
asura born from Lord Shiva’s blazing energy mingled with the ocean’s
depths and sanctified by a tear of Brahma. Jalandhara was granted
invincibility as long as Vrinda’s chastity remained pure. Blinded by
pride, he began to wage war against the devas and even dared to desire
Goddess Parvati herself.
To restore balance and protect dharma,
Lord Vishnu, took on Jalandhara’s form and approached Vrinda, not out
of deceit but out of divine compassion, to bring an end to her
husband’s cruelty. The illusion momentarily broke her vow of fidelity,
dissolving Jalandhara’s boon and allowing Lord Shiva to destroy him
with his trident.
Realizing the divine play, Vrinda was overcome
with grief and anguish. Moved by her purity, the Lord declared that no
worship to Him would ever be complete without Tulasi and that devotees
offering even a single leaf with devotion would attain His grace.
Henceforth, Tulasi became His beloved, and their divine union,
symbolized through the Tulasi Vivaha, commemorates their eternal
embrace, reconciling her curse with compassion.
In the Madhwa
tradition, Tulasi is also identified with Jambavati, one of Lord
Krishna’s eight principal queens (Ashtamahishis), ranked sixth in
taratamya. Jambavati, herself born from the ocean’s churning, daily
worships Lord Vishnu through Tulasi leaves, which are believed to hold
the sannidhana (living presence) of Lakshmi Devi .
In the Madhwa
tradition, this divine leela highlights the eternal distinction between
jiva and Ishvara (bheda). Vrinda’s limited yet pure devotion is
rewarded with divine companionship as Jambavati, the sixth principal
queen of Lord Krishna. The annual Tulasi Vivaha is therefore not just a
ritual, but a sacred reminder of the inseparable union of Vishnu and
Lakshmi. It marks the beginning of the holy marriage season and grants
spiritual merit and liberation to devotees.
On the sacred day of
Tulasi Vivaha, Goddess Mahalakshmi herself manifests within the divine
Tulasi plant to unite in marriage with Lord Vishnu.
When we view
the Tulasi plant through both the modern scientific lens and the
Ayurvedic perspective, we discover the following remarkable qualities
and benefits.
The Tulasi plant, also known as Holy Basil (Ocimum
tenuiflorum), is not only sacred in Indian tradition but also highly
valued for its scientific and medicinal benefits. Modern research has
confirmed that Tulasi is rich in natural compounds that promote health,
strengthen immunity, and support emotional well being.
Tulasi
helps boost immunity through its powerful compounds like eugenol,
ursolic acid and rosmarinic acid, which fight bacteria, viruses, and
fungi. It reduces stress and anxiety by acting as a natural adaptogen
that balances stress hormones and promotes calmness and better sleep.
Tulasi also supports respiratory health by clearing mucus, reducing
inflammation and relieving conditions such as cold, cough and asthma.
It
is a strong antioxidant that protects the body from damage caused by
free radicals, slowing the aging process and keeping the skin healthy.
Tulasi also improves digestion and metabolism, helps regulate blood
sugar and cholesterol and supports a healthy heart. Its antimicrobial
and antiviral properties make it an effective natural remedy for
preventing infections, especially during seasonal changes.
Tulasi
further supports liver and kidney health by detoxifying the body and
protecting these organs from damage. It also promotes oral and skin
health by preventing infections, healing wounds, and clearing acne and
other skin problems.
Tulasi is an excellent natural air
purifier. What makes it truly special is its remarkable ability to
cleanse the surrounding air. It absorbs harmful gases such as carbon
dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide, while releasing beneficial
compounds that act as natural disinfectants, thereby enhancing air
quality and freshness.
Tulasi is a complete natural healer.
Ancient Ayurvedic texts and modern scientific studies both agree that
this sacred plant brings together spiritual purity and physical well
being, making it one of nature’s most valuable gifts to humankind.
In
every Indian household, the Tulasi Vrindavana is worshipped daily with
devotion, water is offered to the sacred plant and devotees perform
pradakshina (circumambulation) in reverence. Wherever the Tulasi plant
is present, Lord Sri Hari Himself resides there, blessing the home with
purity, peace, and divine presence.
The scriptures praise her thus
|| Yan mule sarva tirthani, yan madhye sarva devata,
yad agre sarva vedas cha, Tulasi tvam namamyaham.||
In her roots dwell all sacred waters, in her stem all the gods, and in her leaves all the Vedas.
The devotion towards
Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the ultimate truth and is the most simple
and effective way to reach Sri Hari - "NAMBI KETTAVARILLAVO EE
GURUGALA"! “Those who have complete faith in this Guru will never be
disappointed.”
|| BICHALI JAPADAKATTI SRI APPANACHARYA PRIYA MANTRALAYA
SRI RAGHAVENDRATEERTHA GURUBHYO NAMAHA||