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Kartik Dwadashi, the day after Kartik Ekadashi, is the celebration
of the marriage of Rukmmi or Lakshmi with Krishna. This goddess
is represented by the sacred plant, Tulsi. On the evening of this
day, the markets are full of sugarcane, berries, tamarind, amlas
as well as festive bridal clothes and gold paper headgear for the
bride and groom.
A mandap is made around the plant with sugarcane pillars and the
plant decorated with a yellow 'sari', jewellery, vermillion and
the bridal paper crown of gold. An idol of Krishna is decorated
similarly. A complete marriage ceremony is conducted with sweets
distributed at the end. Tuisi Vivaha or the wedding of Tuisi, is
the official start of the winter wedding season in India.
The temple of Vitthala in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, added a new dimension
to the social and indigenous life of the state. Dnyaneshwar, a great
13th century poet-saint, started a movement here emphasising that
love and devotion bind all human beings together irrespective of
caste and creed. Each year millions of pilgrims express love and
tenderness to the deity who is portrayed as waiting for his devotees
with arms akimbo.
[Above] Though a wild plant, the Tuisi is considered holy and is
planted in a special planter called the Vrindavan. Its leaves are
fragrant and cool. Its flowers bear seeds which fly with the wind
to germinate everywhere. The Tuisi leaf completes a gift given with
love and purifies all food and water.
[Opposite page] The famous Golden Temple in Arnritsar is a shrine
visited by millions of devotees each year. It has been beautifully
built with a golden dome. Under the dome in the sanctum is kept
the Granth Sahib, venerated by all visitors. Pilgrims also take
a dip in the holy tank around the temple.
The myth which is associated with this divine marriage is fascinating
and most relevant to modern life. It is said that Krishna, after
completing his work of establishing dharma continued to live in
Dwarka with his wives Rukmini and Satyabhama. But in heaven there
was chaos. The gods therefore wanted him back. So they hatched a
plan and kidnapped him. The two queens were anguished at their husband's
sudden disappearance. Narada, the celestial messenger, brought them
news of Krishna's kidnapping. He told them that the gods would return
him only on one condition. They would put Krishna on one pan of
a weighing scale {tula) and the queens would have to outweigh him
by putting heavier treasures on the other pan.
The scale was set up. Satyabhama, the arrogant queen, brought out
all her jewels, gold and silver pots to weigh against him. The more
she piled onto the pan, the lighter her side became. Reduced to
angry tears, she finally gave up. Rukmini cleared the scale of all
valuables. She plucked a sprig of Tulsi from a nearby bush and put
it in the scale saying, "With all my love, I weigh this leaf against
you". Rukmini's devotion won. The pan dropped and Krishna came back
to the queens. Since then, Tulsiis considered to be a symbol of
love. Each year on Kartik Dwadashi day, she is married ceremonially
to Krishna
