THULASI–FORWARD BY R. GOPALAKRISHNAN ON 2-6-2021 *Thulasi- The Holy Plant* Retold By P. R. Ramachander
Thulasi (ocimum sanctum) is possiblythe holiest plant for the Hindus. There is a story in Devi Bhagavatam about her. Longlong ago Lord Vishnu had three wives viz., Lakshmi, Saraswathi and Ganga. (I have verified thisin several sources.) One day Ganga looked at Lord Vishnuwith lot of passion when the other two were present. A big quarrel eruptedbetween them. When Saraswathi attacked Ganga, Lakshmi tried to separate them. Saraswathi got infuriated andcursed Lakshmi that she should be born as a plant in earth. Gangacursed Saraswathi, that she should become a river and Saraswathi in turn cursedGanga that she should become an ever flowing river. Lakshmi, who was loved a lot by LordVishnu, told her, Please do not worry. You would be first born as a daughter ofa very pious soul called DharmaDwaja and later marry an Asura called Shanka Chooda, who would be one of myincarnations. Lateryou 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 verygreat devotee of Lord Shiva. Because of this he banned worship of all otherGods except Lord Shiva in his kingdom. Dueto 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 notworshipped, cursed the kingthat he would become a wretch. This infuriated Lord Shiva. He sent hisTrident against Lord Surya. LordSurya, afraid of Shivas trident ran to his father Kashyapa Prajapathi for help. Since he was not in a position tohelp, both of them approached Lord Brahma. He also expressed his helplessnessto protect Lord Surya and allof them together went to meet Lord Vishnu. Lord Shiva also came there. Then Lord Vishnu pointed out that sincethe time of Devas was very much different, thousands of years have passed inthe earth and Vrusha Dwaja was no more. He requested Lord Shiva to take backhis trident. Then Lord Vishnu told them that in the clan of Vrusha Dwaja, twokings viz., Dharma Dwajaand, Kusa Dwaja were remaining and both of them were doing extreme penance toGoddess Lakshmi so that she would bless their kingdom. Goddess Lakshmi appeared before them andblessed them saying that she would be born as daughter to them and with thistheir country would become fertile and rich. Kusa dwaja married a lady called Malawathi and a daughterVeda 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 withouttheir consent his head will beak in to thousand pieces. She then jumped in tothe sacrificial fire and died. Ravana took the ashes of the fire, putthem in a box and threw it in the sea. This box was swept ashore in the kingdomof Mithila and was found by Janaka. Vedavathiwas inside the box in the form of a girl child. She was called Sita, who later becamethe wife of Lord Rama. Dharma dwaja married a lady calledMadhawi and Goddess Lakshmi was born to them as a girl child. Sinceshe was an incomparable beauty, they called her Thula Si (Incomparable one). Thulasigrew up in to lady as soon as she was born and left her kingdom and started doingThapas in Bhadrinath with awish to marry Lord Vishnu. She did Thapas in the middle of fire allround her in summer and under water in winter. She did Thapas for twenty four thousandyears eating only fruits. Another thirty six thousand years eating only leaves,another forty four thousand years eating only air and the last ten thousandyears without eating anything. Lord Brahma, appeared before her and asked her what she wanted. She told him that she wanted to becomethe wife of Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma told her, Hey Thulasi, Lord Sudhama who was a part of Lord Krishnais now born as an Asura called Shanka Chooda. He is a part incarnationof Lord Vishnu. You would first become his wife. Later you would become thewife of Lord Narayana. While going back, a partof you would remain in this world as a holy plant called Thulasi. Anyworship which does not include worship with the leaves of Thulasi, would beincomplete and would not be accepted by Gods. ShankaChooda at that time had pleased Lord Brahma by his Thapas and was given aVishnu kavacha (armour) and a boon that unless the armour is removed from hisbody and till his wife looses her virtue (Pathivruthya), no body can kill him. Shanka Chooda requested Thulasi to marry him andboth were married. They lead an extremely happy life.This time Shanka Chooda started giving trouble to the Devas. Devasaccompanied by Lord Shiva approached Lord Vishnu for a solution. LordVishnu 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 engagedin a fierce battle and LordVishnu assumed the form of Shanka Chooda and went to Shanka Choodas palace. When they entered the bed room Thulasi startedsuspecting 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 byLord Shiva and it is time for you to leave this body and come as Lakshmi toVaikunta and be with me. Yourbody which you leave here will become a great river called Gandakiand yourhair would transform itself in to a holy plant Thulasi. This plantwould become the holiest among plants. Lord Vishnu and goddess Lakshmireturned to Vaikunta -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/2119333795.2048860.1622623732433%40mail.yahoo.com.
