Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Nov 4: Tulasi Puja, which celebrates the existence of the plant, Tulasi (holy basil), falls on Tuesday November 4. Hindus celebrate Tulasi Puja in different ways, main crux of the festival being decoration, celebration, and bursting of crackers.
It is believed that Tulasi plant is the incarnation of Vrinda Devi, who was the wife of a demon named Jalandhara, who reportedly survived attempts on his life on account of his wife's total dedication and commitment towards him. To break this impasse, Lord Vishnu is said to have taken the form of Jalandhara when he was away at war, and cheated Vrinda Devi into believing him to be her husband. At that moment, Jalandhara loses the protective guard of his wife's unfailing loyalty, and gets killed, mythology says.
It is believed that Lord Vishnu and his incarnations do not accept any offerings without being coupled by a twig of Tulasi and a drop of water. Many celebrate Tulasi Puja as marriage between Tulasi and Lord Vishnu. For this purpose, branches of tamarind tree and Indian gooseberry are tied together and planted by the side of Tulasi plant.
Elaborate decoration of and around the platform in which Tulasi plant exists, with Rangoli, diyas of various forms, sizes, and shapes, flowers, leaves, sugarcanes, mango leaves etc in a spirit of competition between neighbours, is conducted by people celebrating this puja. On Tulasi Puja, which falls on Utthana Dwadashi day, people make Surnali (sweet dosa) in the morning, in addition to various other things including pattoli, a sweet dish steamed inside tamarind leaves.
Tulasi plant keeps mosquitoes away, spreads fragrance, purifies air, eating of its leaves is believed to bring great benefits, cough syrup made from tulasi cures cough and cold, and every part of this plant including its roots and stem are highly useful for health and happiness, besides being sacred. Let us grow Tulsi plants and contribute towards improvement of health, and celebrate the plant's existence on a daily basis.