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( Tulsi) Thulasi or basil –the
Story of the holy plant
Retold By P.R.Ramachander
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Thulasi (ocimum sanctum) is possibly the holiest plant for the Hindus. There
is a story in Devi Bhagavatam about her.
Long long ago Lord Vishnu had three wives viz Lakshmi, Saraswathi and
Ganga.(I have verified this in several sources) One day Ganga looked at Lord
Vishnu with lot of passion, when the other two were present. A big quarrel
erupted between them. When
Saraswathi attacked Ganga, Lakshmi tried to separate them. Saraswathi got
infuriated and cursed Lakshmi that she should be born as a plant in earth. Ganga
cursed Saraswathi, that she should become a river and Saraswathi in turn cursed
Ganga that she should become
an ever flowing river. Lakshmi, who was loved a lot by Lord Vishnu, told her,
“Please do
not worry. You would be first born as a daughter of a very pious soul called
Dharma
Dwaja and later marry an Asura called Shanka Chooda, who would be one of my
incarnations. Later you would come and join me in Vaikunta, after becoming the
holy
plant Thulasi.”
There was a great king called Rudra Savarni, in his clan was born a great king
called
Vrusha dwaja. Vrusha Dwaja was a very great devotee of Lord Shiva. Because of
this he
banned worship of all other Gods except Lord Shiva in his kingdom. Due to non
worship
of Goddess Lakshmi during the Kanya (October-November) month, there was a great
famine in his country. Apart from that Lord Surya, who was also not worshipped,
cursed
the king that he would become a wretch. This infuriated Lord Shiva. He sent his
Trident
against Lord Surya. Lord Surya, afraid of Shiva’s trident ran to his father
Kashyapa
Prajapathi for help. Since he was not in a position to help, both of them
approached Lord
Brahma. He also expressed his helplessness to protect Lord Surya and all of them
together went to meet Lord Vishnu. Lord Shiva also came there. Then Lord Vishnu
pointed out that since the time of Deva’s was very much different, thousands of
years
have passed in the earth and Vrusha Dwaja was no more. He requested Lord Shiva
to
take back his trident. Then Lord Vishnu told them that in the clan of Vrusha
Dwaja, two
kings viz Dharma Dwaja and, Kusa Dwaja were remaining and both of them were
doing
extreme penance to Goddess Lakshmi, so that she would bless their kingdom
.Goddess
Lakshmi appeared before them and blessed them saying that she would be born as
daughter to them and with this their country would become fertile and rich.
Kusa dwaja married a lady called Malawathi and a daughter Veda Vathi was born to
them. When Veda Vathi was doing Thapas (penance), Ravana tried to rape her. She
cursed Ravana that, if he touches any lady without their consent his head will
beak in to
thousand pieces. She then jumped in to the sacrificial fire and died. Ravana
took the
ashes of the fire, put them in a box and threw it in the sea. This box was swept
ashore in
the kingdom of Mithila and was fond by Janaka. Vedavathi was in side the box in
the
form of a girl child .She was called Sita, who later became the wife of Lord
Rama.Dharma dwaja married a lady called Madhawi and Goddess Lakshmi was born to them
as a girl child. Since she was an incomparable beauty, they called her Thulasi
(Incomparable one). Thulasi grew up in to lass as soon as she was born and left
her
kingdom and started doing Thapas in Bhadrinath with a wish to marry Lord Vishnu
.She
did Thapas in the middle of fire all round her in summer and under water in
winter. She
did Thapas for twenty four thousand years eating only fruits. Another thirty six
thousand
years eating only leaves, another forty four thousand years eating only air and
the last ten
thousand years without eating any thing. Lord Brahma, appeared before her and
asked
her what she wanted. She told him that she wanted to become the wife of Lord
Vishnu.
Lord Brahma told her, “Hey Thulasi, Lord Sudhama who was a part of Lord Krishna
is
now born as an Asura called Shanka Chooda. He is a part incarnation of Lord
Vishnu.
You would first become his wife. Later you would become the wife of Lord
Narayana.
While going back , a part of you would remain in this world as a holy plant
called
Thulasi. Any worship which does not include worship with the leaves of Thulasi,
would
be incomplete and would not be accepted by Gods.”
Shanka Chooda at that time had pleased Lord Brahma by his Thapas and was given a
Vishnu kavacha(armour) and a boon that unless the armour is removed from his
body
and till his wife looses her virtue(Pathivruthya) , no body can kill him, Shanka
Chooda
requested Thulasi to marry him and both were married. They lead an extremely
happy
life. This time Shanka Chooda started giving trouble to the Devas. Devas
accompanied
by Lord Shiva approached Lord Vishnu for a solution. Lord Vishnu gave his spear
to
Lord Shiva so that he can break the Vishnu Kavacha , which Shanka Chooda was
wearing, When Lord Shiva and Shanka Chooda were engaged in a fierce battle, and
Lord
Vishnu assumed the form of Shanka Chooda and went to Shanka Chooda’s palace.
When
they entered the bed room Thulasi started suspecting Lord Vishnu. Then Lord
Vishnu
took his real form and told her, “Lakshmi, you have been doing great penance to
marry
me. By Now Shanka Chooda would have been killed by Lord Shiva and it is time for
you
to leave this body and come as Lakshmi to Vaikunta and be with me. Your body
which
you leave here will become a great river called Gandaki and your hair would
transform
itself in to a holy plant Thulasi. This plant would become the holiest among
plants.”
Lord Vishnu and goddess Lakshmi returned to Vaikunta.
(
http://stotraratna.awardspace.com )
Benefits of Tulsi or Basil
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