Thulasi
Thulasi - Holy Plant
Retold By P. R. Ramachander
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 found by Janaka.
Vedavathi was inside 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 Thula Si
(Incomparable one). Thulasi grew up in to lady 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
anything. 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.