Mahaabhaarat
Jalandhar Jalandhar is not a very well known Raakshas. Even his wife is also not at all known, but this story is Tulasee's background story, and why Tulasee is an essential part of Vishnu's food or Bhog. It shows why Vrindaa Van is called Vrindaa Van and why Tulasee is found abundantly. There was a Raakshas named Jalandhar. His wife Vrindaa was a very Pativrataa (loyal to husband) woman. Jalandhar knew this and on this basis he was doing many bad Karm. Devtaa wanted to kill him but he was not being killed because of his wife's Paativrat Dharm. Then Bhagvaan Vishnu Jee broke Vrindaa's Vrat by having her in the form of Jalandhar and killed him When Vrindaa came to know about this, she gave Shaap to Vishnu - "Go and become a stone. You have broken my Paativrat Dharm." Vishnu accepted her Shaap and immediately turned into a black stone. That black stone was called Shaaligraam. Then Vishnu said - "Your anger was appropriate so you gave me Shaap, but I give you a Var "You will become Tulasee (a holy plant whose leaves are a part of Bhagvaan's Bhog - Prasaad) and I will not accept any food without you. You will grow abundantly in a nearby Van of Mathuraa (UP), that is why it will be called Vrindaa Van based on your name and I will also be there for some time." It is said that the same Jalandhar became Raavan in his next life. About Tulasee Since then Bhagvaan's Bhog always contains a piece of Tulasee leaf. Nobody grows Tulasee from seed, because it is believed that if you grow Tulasee from seed, you should marry her. This marriage is performed like any other marriage performed in Hindu society. Her husband is Shaaligraam Jee. That is why people normally bring a small plant from somewhere (from somebody's house or temple) and plant it at their place. Tulasee, planted in this way, need not be married. Nobody refuses to give Tulasee plant to anyone. Besides, nobody plants Tulasee inside the house. It is normally planted in courtyards of houses, but is worshipped normally two times a day - morning and evening. In the Kaartik month it has a special importance. Family women get up early in the morning (an hour before sunrise), take bath and worship Tulasee Jee. They normally do it in groups. They tell some stories also sitting around Tulasee plant. |
Created
by Sushma Gupta
On 5/27/04
Contact: mahabhaarat@yahoo.com
Modified on 10/22/04