CHICAGO: Tulsi Vivah, a ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi plant (holy basil) to the Hindu god Vishnu, is celebrated across the Hindu world and Chicgoland could not be an exception with scores of temples organizing special programs to celebrate this festival on Kartiki Purnina that fell on November 16 this year.
Keeping up its traditions for many years, the Swaminarayan Temple in Itasca celebrated the festival in a unique way with two prominent Indian families coming forward to officiate as the parents of Lord Krishna and Mata Tulsi, and conducting the elaborate marriage ceremony lasting for three days beginning Thursday November 14 with Mehndi Rasam followed by Garbas next day. It culminated on Saturday with priests chanting Mantra at the wedding in the presence of hundreds of guests, friends and devotees of Lord Swaminaryan.
Hemal Rao and Mitul Rao with their wives Shital and Nisha took up the side of Mata Tulsi while Brahmbhat family – Vivek and Akasha – along with Lav and Rupa Desai picking up Lord Krishna’s side. A ritualistic symbolic wedding ceremony of Mata Tulsi with Lord Krishna being officiated by priests chanting Vedic Mantras the children of Harish- Daksha Rao on one side those of Ramesh Brahmbhatt on the other turned out to be the biggest attraction and highlight of the newly four hours function.
Tulsi is venerated as a goddess in Hinduism and considered a wife of god Vishnu. According to Hindu scriptures, Tulsi, is known as Vrinda (Brinda). She was married to the demon-king Jalandhar. Due to her piety and devotion to Vishnu, her husband became invincible.
Even god Shiva, the destroyer in the Hindu Trinity could not defeat Jalandhar. So at the request of Shiva, Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhar and violated the sanctity of Vrinda. Her chastity destroyed, Jalandhar was killed by Shiva. Vrinda cursed Vishnu to become black in color and be separated from his wife. Thus, the Tulsi Vivah, a popular Hindu ritual was celebrated at the Swami Narayana Temple in Roselle, transformed into the black Shaligram stone and in his Rama avtar his wife Sita was kidnapped by a demon king and thus separated from him.
The God transferred her soul to a plant which henceforth was called Tulsi. As per the blessing by Lord Vishnu, Tulsi was married to him on Prabodhini Ekadeshi. To commemorate the ceremony, the Tulsi Vivah is performed across India and in other countries like UK, Australia, New Zealand and Caribbean where Hindus have migrated and settled in course of time.
Well over seven hundred people joined the festivities at the Itasca Swaminarayan Mandir which ended with Mangal Arati followed by distribution of Mahaprasad.
Surendra Ullal & Ramesh Soparawala
