Utthana Dwadasi or Ksheerabdhi Dwadasi (Tulasi Vivaha)

Submitted by lakshmiraghu on Fri, 11/13/2009 - 22:03
Lord Vishnu, after a long war, killed demon Shankasura and went to sleep in his ocean of milk on Ashadha Sukla Ekadasi day. While the Protector was asleep, the world and humans were vulnerable to destruction by evil powers. On Kartika Sukla Dwadasi day, Vishnu woke up (Utthana means getting up) to perform His duty. It was on this day that the lord married Tulasi (born by churning of the ocean of milk). To celebrate the day, Hindu families keep a basil platform (vrindavan) on the right side of the house. The tulasi plant is watered and decorated with rangoli, haldi (turmeric), kumkum, flowers and gooseberry branches (nellikaai) and arathi, Lamps (jyothi) are lit around the vrindavan. An idol of Lord Krishna is traditionally kept near the plant and worshipped with flowers, milk and sweets like payasam made of beaten rice (avalakki), jaggery and coconut burfi. Prayers are offered for wealth, peace and prosperity and bhajans on Krishna and Tulasi are sung. Bursting of crackers is also common on this day. I was inspired by mOhanaji's padi kolam,so I drew the same kolam that day in front of Thulasi brindhavanam.thanks to mOhanaji.
brindhanagesh
Lakshmi, THe Tulsi maadam is looking very divine, as if i have entered in a temple. I didn't know about Tulsi vivaha till i read your posting. Thank you for sharing these type of things in ikolam so that people like me can know more about our tradition. Mohanaji's kolam has come alive through your hands. Looking very pretty with the deepams. Thank you once again Lakshmi for sharing.
Sat, 11/14/2009 - 05:47 Permalink
jayamohan
Divine it is!
Sat, 11/14/2009 - 05:56 Permalink
jkmrao

Thanks lakshmIjI for remembering me :-) The brindAvana looks really beautiful and divine. Yes we too have the custom of celebrating this festival. in fact, We used to save some of the dIpAvaLi crackers too and fire them during this festival. Regards! - mOhana
Sat, 11/14/2009 - 09:11 Permalink
sjnt
I have seen gooseberrry branches with a few gooseberries sold in the market sometime 2 weeks back. I was wondering what it was for. Thanks Lakshmi for sharing the details with us. First I thought that the kolam is done with stencil. So neat and divine. With the lighting effect, both pictures on top are looking very different though they are the same.
Sat, 11/14/2009 - 10:58 Permalink
rajamma_2

Lakshmi, your write up is very interesting with so many informations. Yor Thulsi and the Brindhavan are lucky to have such wonderful decorations. rajamma
Sat, 11/14/2009 - 17:37 Permalink
kameswari
Lakshmiji! I also did the pooja and lighted lamps. Along with diyas we alos light the lamps by keeping the battis on gooseberries. But your decoration looks so divine next year I will try to do in the manner you did.
Sat, 11/14/2009 - 19:20 Permalink