Tulsi Vivah celebrated at Grayslake Temple

Geetha Patil

CHICAGO: The Hindu Mandir of Lake County, Grayslake, a Chicago suburb, celebrated the wedding ceremony of Tulsi (Vrinda, the holy basil) and Shri Krishna (the Shaligram avatar of Lord Vishnu) with enthusiasm and devotion on Sunday, 06 November 6, 2022.

Traditionally decked hundreds of devotees participated in the Tulsi wedding that signifies the end of the monsoon and the beginning of the wedding season in Hinduism.

Tulsi Vivah started with the sponsor Sankalpam of Lord Krishna and Ma Tulsi Vara-Kanya pakshas. The temple priests, Pt. Anil Joshi, Pt. Radhakrishna, and Pt. Balaji Gopal performed Lord Ganapati, Ma Tulsi and Lord Krishna Pujas. The Vara and Kanya Paksha sponsors performed later Kanya Daan Sankalpam following the Vastra and Alankar offerings to Ma Tulsi and Lord Krishna.

Next, the exchange of Jayamalas and the tying up of Mangalika Sutram were performed by chanting all the Vedic Mantras and following all the Vedic rituals. Sponsors of Lord Krishna and Ma Tulsi performed Agni Pradakshna by holding the idol of Lord Krishna and Ma Tulsi plant. Offering of Sindhoor was performed to complete the marriage ceremony.

Pt. Anil Joshi in his brief discourse highlighted that fact that Tulsi is a medicinal plant created by Lord Vishnu and gave her the blessing that people will worship her in the form of Lakshmi. Lord Krishna also said to her, ‘without Tulsi leaves presence in the Nevedyam, I will not accept that offering from the devotees.’ So, we follow the ritual of placing Tulsi leaves along with the Nevedyam to Lord Krishna. He further stated that we need to celebrate our God and Goddess’s birthdays and anniversaries with much devotion and fervor, preserve the Hindu rituals, and understand their significance in our lives.

Pt. Joshi blessed the main sponsors of Vara Paksha, Shammi and Sangeetha and Kanay Paksh, Jagan Bhai and Urmila Patel along with all other sponsors. He also blessed and thanked all the volunteers and devotees for their active participation and support to the temple