Ksheerabdhi Dwadasi
One of the most famous stories of Hinduism is that of the Great Churning of the Ocean by the Devas and Asuras (Gods and Demons) in the quest for the Nectar of Immortality. This tale has deeper dimensions, capturing insights into the nature of existence that the ancient Rishis (sages) discovered in deep meditation. All of the great tales of the Vedas and Puranas have a multiplicity of insights which can be learnt by those who are willing to scratch beyond the surface. The symbolism of the story is quite profound, displaying how “good” and “evil” are both necessary for progress to the greater existence. The Devas are eternal consciousness forces of goodness, truth and beauty; the Asuras are negative consciousness forces of darkness, associated with lower impulses. These include ego, jealousy and uncontrolled desire that lead to chaos and the negative aspects of existence.
It is Ksheerabdhi Dwadasi today and let us see why we celebrate it and how we have celebrated it.
Ksheerabdhi dwadasi/ Tulasi Damodara dwadasi is observed on the 12th day of Karthika maasa Shukla paksham. (growing moon , 12th day in karthikka lunar month).
According to the puranas, while the devas and asuras were churning the cosmic ocean for nectar of immortality, Goddess Lakshmi appeared today and Lord Vishnu woke up from his sleep on the Utthana Ekadasi day to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. So symbolically to represent the same, amla plant represents Lord Vishnu and thulasi represents Goddess Lakshmi, the two plants are placed together in a common pot and decorated with flowers. Ghee lit lamps are placed in front of this union and Sri Tulasi Stotram is chanted to invoke the divine couple blessings.
॥ श्री तुलसी स्तोत्रम् ॥
जगद्धात्रि नमस्तुभ्यं विष्णोश्च प्रियवल्लभे ।
यतो ब्रह्मादयो देवाः सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणः ॥१॥
नमस्तुलसि कल्याणि नमो विष्णुप्रिये शुभे ।
नमो मोक्षप्रदे देवि नमः सम्पत्प्रदायिके ॥२॥
तुलसी पातु मां नित्यं सर्वापद्भ्योऽपि सर्वदा ।
कीर्तितापि स्मृता वापि पवित्रयति मानवम् ॥३॥
नमामि शिरसा देवीं तुलसीं विलसत्तनुम् ।
यां दृष्ट्वा पापिनो मर्त्या मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषात् ॥४॥
तुलस्या रक्षितं सर्वं जगदेतच्चराचरम् ।
या विनिहन्ति पापानि दृष्ट्वा वा पापिभिर्नरैः ॥५॥
नमस्तुलस्यतितरां यस्यै बद्ध्वाञ्जलिं कलौ ।
कलयन्ति सुखं सर्वं स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथाऽपरे ॥६॥
तुलस्या नापरं किञ्चिद् दैवतं जगतीतले ।
यथा पवित्रितो लोको विष्णुसङ्गेन वैष्णवः ॥७॥
तुलस्याः पल्लवं विष्णोः शिरस्यारोपितं कलौ ।
आरोपयति सर्वाणि श्रेयांसि वरमस्तके ॥८॥
तुलस्यां सकला देवा वसन्ति सततं यतः ।
अतस्तामर्चयेल्लोके सर्वान् देवान् समर्चयन् ॥९॥
नमस्तुलसि सर्वज्ञे पुरुषोत्तमवल्लभे ।
पाहि मां सर्वपापेभ्यः सर्वसम्पत्प्रदायिके ॥१०॥
इति स्तोत्रं पुरा गीतं पुण्डरीकेण धीमता ।
विष्णुमर्चयता नित्यं शोभनैस्तुलसीदलैः ॥११॥
तुलसी श्रीर्महालक्ष्मीर्विद्याविद्या यशस्विनी ।
धर्म्या धर्मानना देवी देवीदेवमनःप्रिया ॥२॥
लक्ष्मीप्रियसखी देवी द्यौर्भूमिरचला चला ।
षोडशैतानि नामानि तुलस्याः कीर्तयन्नरः ॥१३॥
लभते सुतरां भक्तिमन्ते विष्णुपदं लभेत् ।
तुलसी भूर्महालक्ष्मीः पद्मिनी श्रीर्हरिप्रिया ॥१४॥
तुलसि श्रीसखि शुभे पापहारिणि पुण्यदे ।
नमस्ते नारदनुते नारायणमनःप्रिये ॥१५॥
It is a popular practice in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. They call it as thulasi pooja commonly.
