Tulsi- The Measure Of Purity

It’s the purity of Vrinda; her sacrifice for humanity is been associated with medicinal, healing properties of tulsi. There are definitely many other versions of this story.

Tulsi’ according to Indian tradition has been considered the holiest plant. In ancient times, the whole village would have at least one small garden of ‘Tulsi’ called ‘Vrindavan’. There are many stories associated with tulsi as sacred. According to some stories, ‘Vrinda’ who was devoted to Lord Vishnu asked from her god that she wishes to be chaste her whole life. Her purity will protect her husband until she is chaste. Lord Vishnu gave her this boon.

But soon her husband started creating havoc as he was a demon. But nobody could kill him until Vrinda was chaste. All gods and humans were frightened. They wanted to get rid of that demon and protect humanity and themselves. So the God who gave her this boon had to do something. Lord Vishnu made up his mind against his will and wish. He disguised himself as Vrinda’s husband and then entered her chambers. In this way, he broke her chastity. But it was a big blow to the devotion of Vrinda and even the relation and trust that she had in him. When later Vrinda came to know it, she could not believe that the god to whom she devoted herself, broke her trust.

Her god knew that Vrinda from her soul was purest. He had to do this to save the world. Vrinda is a rage tries to kill herself. That’s the time when the lord appears and tells his reasons to do so. He never meant to break his so beloved devotee’s trust. Vrinda somehow tries to understand but she couldn’t regain her purity. She could not live with this impure identity. She could not accept herself as well as her god anymore. That’s when lord Vishnu gave her a boon that she will never lose her purity. Her sacrifice will not go waste and neither her devotion. Every year she will be married to him on a sacred occasion in the form of a plant. Vrinda gets transformed into the purest plant of tulsi. It’s the purity of Vrinda; her sacrifice for humanity is been associated with the medicinal, healing properties of tulsi. There are definitely many other versions of this story.

But I like this one!

So many times we fear and question the sacrifices we make to god. We forget that the pain, sacrifices, and struggles we go through make us who we are! Towards better human being!