Tulsi Mata & Tulsi Shaligram Vivah Katha
Vrinda Devi Temple, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
~Tulsi Mantra~
Om Tripuray Vidmahe Tulsi Patraye Dhimahi |
Tanno: Tulsi Prachodayat ||
Tulsi plant is regarded as a Goddess according to the Hindus. Tulsi Devi is very close to Lord Vishnu and no ritual is ever deemed complete without the presence of Tulsi leaves. The Tulsi plant also has great medicinal benefits. It is an important herb which is used in Ayurvedic treatment and is a cure for many diseases like cold, cough and other ailments. The plant is also said to purify the atmosphere and act as a mosquito repellent too.
Tulsi Shaligram Vivah Katha
Tulsi is known as Vrinda in Hindu scriptures. She was a beautiful princess of a demon king named Kaalnemi. She was married to Jalandhar who was a powerful part of Lord Shiva. Jalandhar had immense power because he was born out of fire from Lord Shiva's third eye. Jalandhar fell in love with Princess Vrinda who was an extremely chaste and a devoted lady.
Vrinda was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu whereas Jalandhar hated all the Gods. Yet, the two were destined to get married. It is said that after marrying Vrinda, Jalandhar became invincible because her chastity and devotion multiplied his strength. Even Lord Shiva could not defeat Jalandhar. His arrogance grew and he aimed to become the Supreme Power of the Universe by defeating Lord Shiva.
The Gods grew insecure of Jalandhar's growing powers. They went to Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu was in a dilemma because Vrinda was His ardent devotee and He could not do injustice to her. But, due to a threat posed by Jalandhar to all the deities, Lord Vishnu decided to play a trick.
While Jalandhar was busy in a battle with Lord Shiva, Vishnu came to Vrinda disguising as Jalandhar. Vrinda could not recognize Him at first and went to greet Him thinking that Jalandhar has returned. But as soon as she touched Lord Vishnu, she realized that He was not her husband. Her chastity was shattered and Jalandhar became vulnerable. Realizing her mistake, Vrinda asked Lord Vishnu to show His real form. She was shattered to see that she was tricked by her own Lord.
Seeing Lord Vishnu disguising as Jalandhar and tricking her to break her chastity, Vrinda cursed Lord Vishnu. She gave the curse that Lord Vishnu would turn into a stone. Lord Vishnu accepted the curse and He turned into the Shaligrama stone which is found near the Gandaka river. After this, Jalandhar was killed by Lord Shiva since he was not under the protection of his wife's chastity anymore. Vrinda was also heart broken and decided to end her life.
Before Vrinda died, Lord Vishnu blessed her with a boon that She would be known as Tulsi and She would be worshipped along with Lord Vishnu. His puja will never be deemed complete without the leaf of Tulsi. Hence, since then Tulsi forms an inseparable part of Hindu rituals. The unfortunate Goddess was finally blessed and turned into a plant who resides in almost every house to bless everyone with good health. Lord Vishnu doesn't accepts food or prasadam without Tulsi leaf.
Tulsi Devi is Very Dear to Sri Krishna
God has
specifically said that among plants, He is the Tulsi (DS chap. 7). Tulsi,
Yamuna River and Govardhana Hill are eternally present in the spiritual world.
They appear in this world to benefit the living entities by giving love of
Godhead. The goddess of fortune is sometimes envious of the Tulsi leaves which
are placed at the lotus feet of the Lord, for they remain fixed there and do
not move, whereas Laksmiji, although stationed by the chest of the Lord,
sometimes has to go to satisfy Her numerous devotees. But the Tulsi leaves
never forsake their position, and the Lord therefore appreciates the service of
Tulsi more than the service of Laksmi-devi.
Vrinda Devi
Vrinda Devi Temple, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
“Krsna’s
attractive features are also described by Vrinda, the gopi after whom
Vrindavana was named. (NOD chap. 26) Vrinda-devi is an expansion of Srimati
Radharani and Her partial expansion is Tulsi in Vaikuntha. Vrinda-devi is a
very intimate associate and girlfriend of Srimati Radharani. Krsna expands as
Narayana to marry Tulsi in one of His pastimes.” (SVMP)
Vrnda-devi
has a beautiful complexion the color of molten gold. She wears blue garments
and is decorated with pearls and flowers. Her father is Candrabhanu and Her mother
is Phullara-devi. Her husband is Mahipala and Her sister is Manjari-devi. She
always remains in Vrindavana, immersed in love for Radha and Krsna and yearning
to both arrange for Their meeting and taste the nectar of assisting in Their
transcendental pastimes.
As the
embodiment of the lila-shakti (pastime potency) Vrinda-devi is the organizer of
all the transcendental pastimes of Sri Sri Radhika-Krsnacandra. Vrinda keeps
many storerooms throughout the forests of Vrindavana. She is always busy, along
with Her maidservant and forest goddesses, working to bring the pastimes of
Radha-Govinda to complete fulfillment.
“According
to the Goswamis, Vrinda-devi has a very unique and elevated position in Sri Sri
Radha-Krsna’s pastimes. She arranges the secret and intimate meetings and is a
very close associate of Srimati Radhika.” (SVMP) “There are twelve enchanting
sporting groves in Vrindavana. Under the instructions of Paurnamasi
(personified Yogamaya) Vrinda-devi makes all arrangements for the union of
Radha and Krsna, because She is in charge of the forest.”
Vrinda-devi
is responsible for waking up Radha and Krsna while they are resting in the
forest kunjas (groves). She hurries the Divine Couple to Their homes in
Nandgaon and Yavat before the sunrise and Their superiors detect Their absence.
On Radha’s behalf Vrinda-devi delivers love notes and hand-made gifts, flower
earrings and garlands to Sri Krsna. Vrinda arranges all the paraphernalia used
in Radha-Krsna’s pastime. She provides all the swings, musical instruments,
water-syringes and colour for squirting, clothing, ornaments and a variety of
food and drinks.
Together
with Her many maidservants, Vrinda-devi, using artistic craftsmanship,
tastefully decorates the groves and bowers where Radha and Krsna sport. She
engages two expert female parrots to act as spies on the path to alert of the
approach of the two spoil-sports, Jatila (Radha’s mother-in-law) and
Chandravali (Radha’s rival). When Radha reaches the rendezvous place, Vrinda
personally escorts Her to meet Shyamasundara.
During
the night rasa dance Vrinda-devi distributes a variety of percussion, stringed
and wind instruments to the gopis. Their expert playing creates a celestial
concert of scintillating sensations. To relieve the fatigue of the rasa performers
Vrinda presents pleasingly prepared plates of delicious forest fruits and
golden pots of refreshing honey-nectar.
“Filled
with a great flood of love and decorating the ever blossoming groves of
Vrindavana with many fragrant flowers, Vrinda-devi creates a festive atmosphere
for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna to engage in transcendental pastimes with Their dear
friends. Let me surrender to Vrinda-devi.” (VVS)
The Marriage of Vrinda
Devi by Radha Rani's Grace!
“Vrindavana
is the land of Vrinda-devi, for She is the queen of all the properties, the
proprietor of Vrindavana. In one pastime She offered all of Her kingdom of
Vrindavana to the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani. Hence, Sri Radha became
known as Vrindavanesvari (the queen of Vrindavana) and Lord Krsna is the actual
king.
Appreciating
Vrinda-devi’s kindness in making wonderful arrangements for Her loving pastimes
with Krsna, Srimati Radhika once summoned Lalita-sakhi and Visakha-sakhi and
made a plan to reciprocate with Vrinda-devi. Radha and Her friends fashioned a
beautiful throne big enough for two people to sit on. Visakha then sat Krsna
beside Vrinda-devi. Playing the role of a priest, Lalita-sakhi began chanting
the mantras for invoking marriage. Sri Radha personally exchanged the flower
garlands between Krsna and Vrinda-devi, and so this wonderful “wedding
ceremony” was performed.” (SVMP)
Comments
Post a Comment