Mangalore: ‘Tulsi Puja’ – Tuluvas’ Way of  Worshipping Nature

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Nov 18: The people of Tulunadu are celebrating the annual Tulsi Puja today, which is Utthana Dwadashi day as per Hindu calendar. Puja of the holy basil (Tulsi) is performed in the evening.

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For this purpose, the people paint the platform in which the plant is grown, clean the surroundings, and decorate the entire courtyard with flowers. Performing of Arati, singing of Bhajans, distribution of Prasadam, are all part of the Tulsi Puja. Tulsi Puja signifies decorating Tulsi plant like a bride and conducting its marriage to Lord Krishna, who is in the form of gooseberry plant.

On Ekadasi, the previous day, the people normally observe fast and eat sweet Dosa (Surnali) on the morning of Tulsi Puja. Tulsi is an integral part of all courtyards of the coastal Karnataka districts, as its twigs are used for every religious occasion.

As per mythology, Tulsi was the pious wife of a demon, Jalandhar. Because of her austerities, pure way of living and thoughts, and unflinching loyalty to her husband, the gods, who wanted to kill the demon because of his innumerable wrong deeds, could not annihilate Jaladhar, as he drew immense power from her noble ways. For the purpose of ending the evil, Lord Vishnu, at the request of the gods, appeared before Tulsi by taking the form of Jalandhar. Once Tulsi served him, duly believing that he was her husband, her loyalty to her husband got diluted, and Jalandhar, who became powerless, was easily killed, we are told.

Tulsi, after realizing her mistake, immolated herself by sitting on a pyre. Before losing life, she cursed Lord Vishnu, that he would suffer separation from his wife in future. This curse came true in Ramayana. Vishnu blessed Tulsi to take the form of noble and holy Tulsi plant. He took the form of Indian gooseberry plant and married Tulsi. Tulsi, having come into contact with Lord Vishnu once, had to take birth as Rukimini and marry the Lord’s incarnation, Krishna. This marriage occurred on the 12th day of the waxing moon half of Kartika month. People replicate this marriage by performing Tulsi Puja.

It is also believed that Lord Vishnu, who goes to sleep after having bath on Naraka Chaturdashi day, gets up on Utthana Dwadashi day.

Even if we forget the mythological importance of Tulsi, the existence of Tulsi plant needs to be celebrated by the mankind. The plant holds multifarious benefits for the people, not only in religious occasions, but also in treating several ailments like coughs, colds etc., besides acting as a repellant for mosquitoes. It has an important role in beauty treatments too.