Story of Bhagwati Tulsi

Once Devraj Indra along with Devguru Brihaspati went to Kailash to see Lord Shiva. Mahadev wanted to test both of them, hence he changed his form and became Avadhoot. There were no clothes on his body.

His body was blazing like burning fire and he looked extremely fierce. Avadhoot stood in the way of both of them. Indra was startled when he saw a strange man standing on the road.

Indra started becoming proud of being the king of gods. He asked that terrible man who are you? Lord Shiva is currently sitting on Kailash or is on a tour somewhere. I have come to see him.

Indra asked many questions but remained silent like male yogis. Indra felt that an ordinary creature was insulting him. Arrogance of being the king of gods arose in his mind which turned into anger.

Indra said that despite my repeated requests, you are insulting me by not saying anything. I will punish you now. Saying this, Indra lifted the thunderbolt. Lord Shiva made the thunderbolt immobile at that very moment.

Indra’s arm became stiff. Lord Avadhoot turned red with anger. Seeing the flame of anger on his face, Brihaspati understood that no one other than Mahadev could have such a fierce form.

Brihaspati started singing Shiva praises. He also made Indra lie at the feet of Mahadev and said, Lord Indra is lying at your feet, surrendered before you. The fire emerging from your forehead is increasing to burn them. Let us protect the refugees. Brihaspati requested Lord, may you always shower your blessings on your devotees. You are a devoted devotee and omnipotent. Please place this light somewhere else so that Indra’s life is protected.

Lord Rudra said Brihaspati, I am very happy with you. Because of giving life to Indra, you will also be named Jeeva. The gods cannot bear the heat of this fire manifested from my third eye. So I would leave it far away.

Mahadev held that glory in his hand and threw it into the sea. As soon as he was thrown there, the glory of Lord Shiva immediately transformed into the form of a child. Due to its origin from Sindhu, its name Sindhuputra Jalandhar became famous.

Jalandhar, also named Shankhachud, was born from the glory of Shiva and hence was endowed with supreme powers. He was more powerful than the gods. He was born from the light that was supposed to destroy Indra, so the demons made him their king. After performing this leela in Avadhuta form, Mahadev disappeared. Indra’s pride was also destroyed and God was seen.

A story related to Tulsi is very popular. The divine story of his incarnation has also been created in Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana. Once Shiva had thrown his glory into the sea. A very brilliant child was born from him. This child later became a mighty demon king by the name of Jalandhar. The name of its capital was Jalandhar city.

Daityaraj Kalanemi’s daughter Vrinda was married to Jalandhar. Jalandhar was a great demon. Intoxicated with his power, he fought with the desire to gain access to Goddess Lakshmi, but since he was born from the sea, Goddess Lakshmi accepted him as her brother. Defeated from there, he went to Mount Kailash with the desire to find Goddess Parvati.

Lord Devadhidev took the form of Shiva and went near Mother Parvati, but the mother immediately recognized him with her power of yoga and disappeared from there.

Goddess Parvati got angry and narrated the entire story to Lord Vishnu. Jalandhar’s wife Vrinda was a very devoted woman. Due to the power of his Pativrata Dharma, Jalandhar was neither killed nor defeated. That is why to destroy Jalandhar, it was very important to break Vrinda’s vow to remain married.

For this reason, Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a sage and went to the forest, where Vrinda was traveling alone. There were two elusive demons along with the Lord, seeing whom Vrinda became frightened. The sage incinerated both of them in a moment in front of Vrinda. Seeing his power, Vrinda asked about her husband Jalandhar who was fighting with Mahadev on Mount Kailash.

The sage revealed two monkeys from his web of illusion. One monkey had Jalandhar’s head in his hand and the other had his torso. Seeing this condition of her husband, Vrinda fell unconscious. After regaining consciousness, she requested God in the form of a sage to bring her husband back to life.

God again attached Jalandhar’s head to his body with his illusion, but he himself also entered the same body. Vrinda was not at all aware of this deceit. Vrinda started behaving chastely with Lord Jalandhar, due to which her chastity was broken. As soon as this happened, Vrinda’s husband was defeated in the Jalandhar war.

When Vanda came to know about all this leela, she got angry and cursed Lord Vishnu to turn into a stone and committed sati herself. Where Vrinda was burnt to ashes, the Tulsi plant grew. Lord Vishnu said to Vrinda, ‘O Vrinda. Because of your chastity you have become more dear to me than Lakshmi. Now you will always be with me in the form of Tulsi. Whoever marries Tulsi with my Shaligram form will get immense fame in this world and the next world.

Even the messengers of Yama cannot enter the house where Tulsi is present. Bathing in the waters of Ganga and Narmada and worshiping Tulsi are considered equivalent. No matter how sinful a person may be, at the time of death, the one who dies with the holy basil and Ganga water in his mouth, becomes free from sins and attains Vaikuntha Dham. The person who performs Shraddha of his ancestors under the shade of Tulsi and gooseberry, his ancestors attain salvation.

This land of the same demon Jalandhar is famous by the name Jalandhar. The temple of Sati Vrinda is situated in Mohalla Kot Kishanchand. It is said that there was an ancient cave at this place, which led directly to Haridwar.