Tulasi - I

King Vrisadhvaja was from a very pious family. His ancestors had worshipped all the Gods and Goddesses and had performed the stipulated rituals according to custom. Vrisadhvaja, however, was devoted to Shiva alone. So fanatic was his devotion that he banned the worship of all other Gods and Goddesses. The demi-God Surya (Sun) could not bear this and he put a curse on the king that the latter would lose his wealth and kingdom.

Vrisadhvaja was attacked by his enemies. He lost and was forced into exile. He died in penury as did his son, Hamsadhvaja. Hamsadhvaja had two sons, Dharmadhvaja and Kusadhvaja. They propitiated Laxmi, the Goddess of Fortune and won back the kingdom and prosperity their grandfather had lost. Soon thereafter Madhavi, the wife of Dharmadhvaja, became pregnant. As her pregnancy progressed her body became radiant. In the night of a full moon she gave birth to a divine girl of incomparable beauty. The sages named her Tulasi.

Since the girl had been blessed by Laxmi, she bore the marks of the Goddess. The lotus flower was imprinted on her feet and her palms and her soles bore a reddish hue. Her skin had three folds above her deep navel. She grew up to be an extremely beautiful maiden; fair, voluptuous and svelte. It is said that her body was warm in the winter and cool in the summer and was lit up by a halo.

Tulasi wanted Lord Krishna to be her husband. At an early age she went to the Himalayas and undertook harsh penances. In the heat of the summers she surrounded herself with four fires and the sun overhead. In the winters she immersed herself in the ice-cold waters of the Ganga River. In the rainy season she exposed herself to the torrential downpours on the funeral grounds. She first lived on only fruits and water, then on dried leaves and finally on air alone. All this time she stood on only one leg.

Brahma, the Creator, approached Tulasi and told her that her desire would be ultimately and eternally fulfilled. But first she would have to marry a demon named Sankhachuda. It is only through this marriage that Krishna would come to her. Brahma advised her to continue her austerities and wait for destiny to unfold its plans.

The sage Kashyap was the father of the demi-Gods and demons. One of his wives, Danu, was the mother to a race of demons known as Danavas. Her son Viprachitti carried forward this clan. His son Dambha was a powerful demon. Dambha had no sons so he decided to perform austerities to please the Gods. During these a hot flame burst from his head and began to scorch the world. Vishnu then went to the demon and asked him what he desired. The demon first paid his obeisance to the God and said that he wanted a son. His wish was granted and Sankhachuda was born.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic