The Tulsi plant is to be found growing in the courtyard many houses, worshipped every day. All Hindus, venerate it , even if they do not actually worship it. No gardener will cut or uproot it, but the leaves may be plucked by day (not after dark) for offerings.
The day set apart for its special worship is the day of, or following, the close of Vishnu's four months'
sleep, when he is married to the Tusli plant. Here is the legend of Brinda and Tulsi
~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Brinda, wife of Jalandhara, was renowned for her beauty and virtue, the latter being so great that it gave power to her husband, insomuch that Siva, who wished to kill him, could not obtain the mastery over him. Finding his only hope of overcoming the husband was to destroy the wife's virtue, Siva persuaded Vishnu to betray her, which he was only able to compass by going to her in the likeness of her husband.
When she found she had been deceived, Brinda built a pyre and immolated herself upon it. Jalandhara was also killed by Siva. But Vishnu had fallen in love with Vrinda, and was so much distressed at her death that he refused to be comforted until the gods planted a tulasi shrub, and summoned her spirit into it. Since then she is believed to come into the shrub every evening, for the night, leaving it in the morning. This is the reason why the leaves must not be plucked after sunset. On the day preceding that of the festival (which may be celebrated on any day between the eleventh and the fifteenth, though usually on the twelfth) the area where the plant is, is cleaned and painted and garlanded, while fruit and flowers and all things necessary for the ceremony are made ready. On the wedding day a fast is kept till evening, when, having bathed and assumed white garments, the priest brings some emblem of Vishnu to the plant. This may be an image of Vishnu, Balarama, or Krishna, but is frequently is the salagrama stone .
Both the emblem and the plant are washed with warm water and the five amrita (a mixture of milk,
curds, ghee, honey and water). Men's clothing, a sacred cord, and sandal paste are offered to Vishnu, and turmeric, red vermillion, the marriage neck-thread, to Brinda, with mantras. Then, as in actual marriages, a shawl is held between the two, the officiating priest repeats mantras, and, at a signal, the shawl is dropped and rice showered upon the pair.
The Vishnu emblem is made to touch the plant, a lamp is waved round them for luck, and the marriage is complete. The priest receives a wedding fee and a feast is held. This festival is observed chiefly, but not entirely, by women.
The salagrama is a black stone found in the river Gandaki in Nepal, sometimes pierced with holes, believed to be the work of a legendary worm known as Vajakita. Some say the real stone should be an ammonite, others that it may merely bear the impression of one.
It is sacred to Vishnu, as he is believed to live in it. It takes the place of a Vishriu image at the will of the worshipper, and is frequently used in the marriage with the tulasi plant .
Some say only Brinda's hair only which became that plant, her body became the river
Gandaki, which gives the connection between the plant and the stone.
No comments:
Post a Comment