Ksheerabdi Dwadasi Vrat is Performed on the twelfth day of the Shukla Paksha in the hindu lunar month of Kartika. This year, Ksheerabdi Dwadasi is on Sunday, 25th November 2012. In some areas this is also known as Damodara Dwadashi. If this day is missed you can perform your rituals on the full moon day which will be the third day from Dwadasi called Karthika Pournima or Poornima
This is also called as Ksheerabdi Dwadasi as it is said that The Mighty Milk /Ksheera Samudra/Ocean was churned on this particular day. It is believed that Lord Vishnu had married Goddess Lakshmi on this day and hence people celebrate this as the Ksheerabdi Dwadasi.
All devotees worship Tulasi plant and and place even a stem of Amla in their rituals. People lit 360 or 720 wicks in a holder made from Rice flour or Mud plates/lamp holders called Prameda in temples, to secure escape reaching hell after death.The 720 wicks symbolizes the 360 days and nights . In Varanasi, the ghats come alive with thousands of diyas (brightly-lit earthern lamps). The lamps are kept throughout the night in houses and Shiva temples. This day is also known as "Kartik Diparatna" - the jewel of lamps in Kartik. Lights are also observed floating ion plaintain stems in rivers/ponds . Lights are placed near Tulsi, and Amla tress. The lights in the water and under trees are believed to help fishes, insects and birds who saw the light to attain salvation.
People plant a Amla Stem during the pooja or rituals because it is considered to be the sacred next to Tulasi as it is believed that it helps devotees to protect from demons and Death
There is a Promising Story that prompts the importance of Tulasi Vivah on this day :
Once there lived a demon king by the name of Jalandhar. Vrinda his wife is a Pativrata (one who is only devoted to her husband).
Jalandhar waged wars against Angels and Gods, but they were unable to kill Jalandhar. They all approached Lord Vishnu to help them. Lord Vishnu realized that it was only because of the devotion of Vrinda towards her husband that Jalandhar was powerful to be defeated by Gods . To kill Jalandhar the only way was to some how break the Pativrata Dharma of Vrinda. As per the Pativrata dharma, the women should never be or even think of any other man other than her husband.
Lord Vishnu transformed himself into Jalandhar and stayed with Vrinda for few days. Vrindas Pativrata Dharma was broken and the demon Jalandhar was killed in the war.
But in time Vrinda identifies that her husband , who is with her is some one else . She realizes that it is Lord Vishnu and curses him to become a stone. Lord Vishnu transforms into a stone known and worshiped as Shaligramam and due to his sin in this avatar, in his Rama avatar, his wife Sita was kidnapped by a demon-king and thus separated from him.
Vrinda then burnt herself on her husband's funeral pyre or immolated herself due to the shame. Lord Vishnu transferred her soul to a sacred plant,and named as Tulsi. Lord Vishnu understanding the pain of Vrinda gave Vrinda a boon that she would be a plant that will be in the every house and that He would stay in the house only if there is a Tulasi plant in the house. He has gave the boon that His Pooja is never complete without worshiping Tualsi. He also told her that from then onward his abode would be called as Vrindavan or Brindavan. Lord Vishnu promised Vrinda to marry Tulasi in her next birth, Vishnu in form of Shaligram - married Tulsi on Prabodhini Ekadashi. To commemorate this event, the ceremony of Tulsi Vivah is performed.
Vrinda then burnt herself on her husband's funeral pyre or immolated herself due to the shame. Lord Vishnu transferred her soul to a sacred plant,and named as Tulsi. Lord Vishnu understanding the pain of Vrinda gave Vrinda a boon that she would be a plant that will be in the every house and that He would stay in the house only if there is a Tulasi plant in the house. He has gave the boon that His Pooja is never complete without worshiping Tualsi. He also told her that from then onward his abode would be called as Vrindavan or Brindavan. Lord Vishnu promised Vrinda to marry Tulasi in her next birth, Vishnu in form of Shaligram - married Tulsi on Prabodhini Ekadashi. To commemorate this event, the ceremony of Tulsi Vivah is performed.
To remember divine relationship of Vrinda and Lord Vishnu Tulasi Vivah is performed by the devotees. Tulasi Vivah also marks the start of the marriage season in North India.
Tulasi Vivah is performed on the Ksheerabdi Dwadashi or the Karthika Dweadashi. It is the twelevth day of the Karthika Month of the lunar calendar.
On Ksheerabdi Dwadashi by performing the Tulasi Vivah believing Tualsi as ones daughter would fetch the virtue equivalent to performing a Kanya Daan.
Tulasi Vivah is performed by married women for a long and happy married life, where as unmarried women perform Tulasi Vivah to get good husbands.
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