The life story of Tulasi Devi is not just a mythological tale; it is the spiritual journey of a woman’s soul rising from human suffering to divine devotion. The story begins with Vrinda, a woman known for her unmatched purity, devotion, and steadfast adherence to dharma. For Vrinda, her husband was her god, and loyalty was her strength. Her husband Jalandhara, though an asura king, became invincible solely because of Vrinda’s pativrata dharma. No god or demon could defeat him, and gradually his power turned into arrogance, threatening the balance of the world. When adharma began to dominate, the gods approached Lord Vishnu for protection.
Bound by the duty of preserving dharma, Vishnu made a difficult decision. He took the form of Jalandhara and approached Vrinda. In that moment, Vrinda’s pativrata was unknowingly broken. When she realized the truth, her heart shattered—not out of anger, but out of deep pain. Feeling that her purity had been destroyed, she cursed Vishnu to turn into stone. As a result of her curse, Vishnu became the Shalagrama shila. Unable to bear the grief and humiliation, Vrinda gave up her mortal body. Witnessing her sacrifice and purity, Vishnu was moved with compassion. He blessed her saying, “You shall be born on Earth as Tulasi. Without you, my worship will never be complete.” Thus, Vrinda was reborn as Tulasi Devi.
After her divine incarnation, Tulasi Devi became eternally devoted to Lord Vishnu. From then on, Tulasi was worshipped in every Hindu household as a sacred presence. It was believed that a home with Tulasi is purified, protected from negative energies, and blessed with peace and prosperity. The Tulasi–Shalagrama marriage performed during the month of Kartika symbolizes the eternal union of Lakshmi and Vishnu.
After becoming Tulasi Devi, another important episode took place—her encounter with Lord Ganesha. Aware of her spiritual power and purity, Tulasi once desired Ganesha as her husband. Ganesha, who had vowed to remain a brahmachari, gently refused. Hurt by the rejection, Tulasi cursed him, declaring that she would never be part of his worship. Ganesha accepted the curse calmly and blessed her in return, saying, “You will be most dear to Lord Vishnu. His worship will never be complete without you.” From that moment onward, Tulasi is never offered to Ganesha, and durva grass became his sacred offering instead.
These two stories are not contradictory. They represent two stages of the same soul’s journey. As Vrinda, she upheld dharma at the human level. As Tulasi Devi, she embodied devotion at the divine level. Though the births are different, the soul remains the same. This is why the stories are connected, not separate.
This understanding leads to a deeper cultural symbolism. On Earth, women are often compared to the Tulasi plant—not to diminish them, but to honor them. Tulasi grows quietly, yet protects the entire household. Without demanding attention, it purifies the environment, heals through its medicinal qualities, and brings spiritual balance. Similarly, women traditionally sustain families through silent strength, sacrifice, love, and resilience. The comparison signifies inner power, not weakness.
Thus, Tulasi Devi’s life teaches that true strength does not need noise or dominance. Like Tulasi, a woman may appear gentle, but within her resides immense spiritual and emotional power. That is the true message of Tulasi Devi’s life and why women are compared to her on Earth.
