Why Parashurama broke Lord Ganesha’s tusk?

Parashurama was the son of Sage Jamadagni and Renuka. One day, the king of Haihaya named Kartavyaveer Arjuna arrived at the hermitage of Jamadagni. Sage Jamadagni treated the king with due honor and respect. He presented numerous gifts and food to the King and his army with the help of the wish fulfilling divine cow - Surabhi. Arjuna wanted nothing else but the Surabhi from Sage Jamadagni which he was unwilling to part away with. The revengeful Arjuna killed Jamadagni. At the time of this incident Parshurama was not present in the hermitage.

Parashurama promised to fulfill the wish of his mother Renuka, to take revenge on the entire clan of Kshatriya, along with the King Karthyaveer Arjuna, who killed his father Jamadagni. For this sake, he did penance to get power from Lord Siva. Lord Shiva gave the weapons to Parashurama, which were Parashu and Pasupathaasthra. Parashurama killed the entire clan of Kshatriya for 21 times.

When Parashurama's task was over, he made his way to Mount Kailash where Shiva lived, to return the axe and thank him. But at the mystic mountain, he found his path blocked by Ganesha. Lord Shiva had ordered his son to guard Mount Kailash against all visitors, since he was about to go into a long, deep trance and did not want to be disturbed.

Parashurama, a Shiva-bhakt, was so furious at being blocked by Ganesha that he threw the axe at him. Ganesha could have easily deflected the axe. But since it belonged to his father, he did not stop it, out of respect, and let it break his tusk. He gave one of his two tusks to the axe, “Gajadantha” for not wasting the effect of the weapon. From then onwards, Lord Ganesh became “Ekadantaay”.

Jaya and Vijaya

The residence of Vishnu (Vaikuntha) was guarded by two Dwarapalas (gate keepers) namely Jaya and Vijaya. According to the Bhagavata Purana, the Four Kumaras named as Sanandana, Sanaka, Sanatana, and Sanatkumara were Manasaputras of Lord Brahma. Manasaputras of Brahma means sons who were born from the mind power of Brahma. 

Once they planned to visit Lord Vishnu at Vaikuntha. Though they were quite old chronologically, they looked like small children, due to the power of their tapas (penance). Brahma had originally created the Four Kumaras so that they could assist him in creating the Universe. However, they refused to participate in the process of procreation and, instead, chose to take the path of Brahmacharya (celibacy). They requested their divine father to bestow upon them the boon that they would eternally remain five years old.

Thinking that they were a bunch of mischievous children, Vishnu's gatekeepers, Jaya and Vijaya, stopped them from entering the gates of Vaikuntha. They also told them that Lord Vishnu was resting and so, they would not be able to see him at that point of time. Angered by this, the Kumaras retorted that Lord Vishnu is always available to his devotees, at whatever time they call him.

They then cursed Jaya and Vijaya that “You have to give up your divine powers, be born as dying creatures and live life like normal human beings.

At that moment, Lord Vishnu appeared before them. Repenting their ignorance and arrogance, Jaya and Vijaya beseeched Lord Vishnu to free them of the curse. At the same time, Lord Vishnu felt pity towards them. Lord Vishnu was worried as they were cursed by the great Kumaras for the duty they were doing. He asked for forgiveness to the Kumaras. The Lord said he could not undo a curse, but could reduce its intensity. He gave them two options they could choose from. 

• The first option was to take seven births on Earth as devotees of Lord Vishnu.
• The second was to take three births as his enemies.

The Lord told them that after serving either of these two sentences, they would be able to come back to Vaikuntha and permanently reclaim their original position as his Dwarapalas (gate keepers).

Jaya and Vijaya could not even imagine being away from Lord Vishnu for seven whole lives on earth. Hence, they chose to be his enemies for three lives. That way, they thought they would also be able to attain moksha at the hands of their beloved Lord.  Lord Vishnu then changed his avatars and released them from each of their lives.

First Reincarnation: 

In their first life, Jaya and Vijaya were born as brothers, Hiranyakashipu (Vijaya) and Hiranyaksha (Jaya), during the Satya Yuga. These two were Asuras. Once Hiranyaksha took over the Earth to the bottom. Lord Vishnu took the form of a Boar and killed Hiranyaksha. It is also referred to as Varaha Avatar (Third incarnation of Lord Vishnu). He then jumped into the deep ocean to lift the Earth. Hiranyakashipu (Vijaya) was his elder brother. Hiranyakashipu was later killed by the lion-headed figure called Narasimha(fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu).

Second Reincarnation:

In their second birth, they were born as Ravana and Kumbhakarna during the Treta Yuga. Here too, they were brothers. As Ravana abducts Sita, Rama along with his entire Vanarasena (army of monkeys) waged a war against him. Ravana and Kumbhakarna were hence killed by Rama (Seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu).

Third Reincarnation

In their third birth, they were born as Dantavakra(Vijaya) and Shishupala (Jaya). Dantavakra was the son of Shrutadeva (Pruthudevi), who was the sister of Vasudeva, Krishna's father. Shishupala, his mother Shrutashrava was also the sister of Vasudeva. That made them Krishna's cousins.

Dantavakra and Shishupala, apart from being family, grew up to become close friends. Both their kingdoms, Karusha and Chedi respectively were under the sovereignty of Jarasandha, the Emperor of Magadha. The boys hence grew up under the tutelage of Jarasandha. Jarasandha hated Krishna because he could not subjugate him. As they were allies of Jarasandha hence they also disliked Krishna. 

Also Shishupala and Rukmini were about to get married, but Krishna abducts Rukmini(with her consent) as she didn't want to marry Shishupala. Hence his hatred towards Krishna increased.

As Shishupala abused Krishna publicly in spite of the latter's warning, he was killed at the hands of Krishna (Eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu).

It was too much for Dantavakra to take in the news of the death of his good friend, at the hands of his sworn enemy. He decided to avenge Shishupala's death and fought with Krishna. However he too was defeated easily by Krishna.

With the slaying of Dantavakra, the prophecy of Jaya-Vijaya had been fulfilled and their curse, broken. Now they were free to return to Vaikuntha and serve their Lord as his Dwarapalas for all time to come. Through their journey of three human lives, they had also learnt to give up their arrogance and ego and completely surrender themselves to their Lord.

Kartavirya Arjun

Kartavirya Arjuna was a great king. He was from the Haihaya dynasty, a branch of the Yadava dynasty. He ruled from Mahishmati on the banks of the Narmada river. Kartavirya Arjuna was also known as Sahasrabahu Arjuna.

King Kritavirya of Haihaya had many wives but he didn’t have even one son. He performed many penances but still didn’t obtain a son. One of his wives, Padmini, unable to bear the anguish of Kritavirya, went to Anasuya, the wife of Atri rishi, for assistance. Ansuya told her about the specific days that they should do penance to beget a son. Kritavirya and Padmini went to the forest and did penance on those days.

Once, while they were lost in meditation, a voice came from the sky saying, “Open your eyes”. They opened their eyes and were astonished to find Lord Dattatreya standing in front of him. “I will bless you with what you want,” Lord Dattatreya said, smiling. “O Lord, all we want is a son. A son that is unconquered and will rule the entire world. A son that can’t be defeated by anybody except you,” Kritavirya requested. Dattatreya nodded and disappeared.

Soon after, Kritavirya and Padmini had a son. He was named Kartavirya Arjuna. He was born with a 1000 arms, so he was also called Sahasrabahu Arjuna. Soon, Kritavirya had other sons with his other wives and a daughter named Bhanumati.

Soon, Kritavirya died and there was peril in the kingdom. The candidates for the throne were Kritavirya’s 3 brothers, his son-in-law Ahamyati, and his sons including Kartavirya Arjuna. The ministers and citizens discussed who should be the next king. Rishi Garga asserted that Kartavirya Arjuna should become the king. Soon, people realized that Rishi Garga was correct and that there was no good candidate except for Kartavirya Arjuna. It was decided that Arjuna would become the next king of Haihaya. 

But Kartavirya Arjuna didn’t want to be king. He didn’t want all the power and fame or the kingdom itself. “If I am unable to protect the subjects, I will go to hell. I cannot take this responsibility. I might fail in protecting the citizens. I might be defeated by another king or fail my duties. Pick someone else, not me,” Arjuna argued.

“No one can see the future. As long as you try your best, you are following your duties. Do not fear the future right now. Look at the present,” Rishi Garga argued back. “As long as I know I am not powerful enough, I will not accept kingship,” Arjuna replied firmly. “Well then go to Lord Dattatreya, the avatar of Lord Vishnu. He will make you realize your duties and make you powerful,” Rishi Garga replied.

Arjuna went to Dattatreya. He became a perfect disciple, observing all his duties with alertness and punctuality. He soon realized his duties. At the end of his training, Dattatreya told him to ask for six boons. Arjuna asked for these boons:

1.    Give me the power to protect my subjects

2.    Make me know the secret to anyone’s heart

3.    Make me invincible

4.    Make it so that my thousand arms don’t disable my body

5.    Make it so that even if I give away wealth, my wealth won’t decrease

Dattatreya was impressed with the boons Arjuna asked for. He requested Arjuna to ask for 2 more boons. For the two additional boons, Arjuna asked for:

1.   Make it so that I die at the hands of a great person after a glorious reign.

2.   Make it so that I never waver from the path of righteousness. Make it so that there are always people guiding me to the right path.

Dattatreya granted all eight boons to Arjuna. Dattatreya also gave him a flying chariot. Kartavirya Arjuna then came back to Mahishmati and accepted kingship.

Kartavirya Arjuna once went to bathe in the Narmada River with his wives. Meanwhile, Ravana, the king of Lanka, also came to the Narmada with his ministers. They were more upstream than Arjuna. “My Lord, you are very powerful. But I want to test your strength,” one of Arjuna’s wives said jokingly.

“What would you like me to do,” Arjuna asked. “Stop the flow of the river. If you can do this, you are truly the most powerful person alive,” his wife asked of him.

Arjuna sat in the middle of the river and raised his arms. He concentrated hard. Soon, the river flow completely stopped. With the flow of the river stopped, the water level rose and the water started going on to the shores. The small islands started getting submerged.

Upstream, Ravana was praying on the shore. Suddenly, strong waves of water started washing onto the shore. They ran along the shoreline to find out the cause of this. They saw Arjuna sitting in the middle of the river with his arms blocking all the water. Seeing a thousand arms on the king, the ministers were slightly scared. They went back to Ravana.

Ravana opened his eyes from his prayers and realized the water rising. He looked at his ministers and saw scared expressions on their faces. He realized that this was the work of someone powerful.

“Why are you just standing there, you fools. Tell me what happened!” Ravana barked at his ministers.

“Your majesty. A th…thousand-armed king has stopped the river,” his ministers replied, pointing down the river.

Ravana immediately knew that it was Kartavirya Arjuna. He picked up his mace and got on his Pushpaka Vimana. “Forward!” Ravana screamed, commanding the vehicle to go to Arjuna.

Ravana saw Arjuna drying himself and bellowed. “Just because you can stop a river doesn’t mean you are powerful. If you’re actually powerful, then fight me!” Ravana bellowed.

“Ravana! I will fight you. Get down from your chariot, or are you a coward?” Arjuna said, smiling.

Ravana jumped down from his Pushpaka Vimana with his mace in his hand. Arjuna instantly grabbed his mace and met Ravana’s blow. The two continued fighting for a long time. Arjuna’s queens and Ravana’s ministers watched, horrified. After a fierce fight, Arjuna managed to make Ravana unconscious. Arjuna captured Ravana and took him back to Mahishmati. Arjuna imprisoned Ravana.

A few days later, Sage Pulatsya (one of the mind-born sons of Brahma and Ravana’s grandfather) came to Mahishmati.

“Arjuna, I have heard that you defeated my grandson and you have him imprisoned here,” Pulatsya said. “I am sure that he has learned his lesson and will never pick a fight with you again. Please let him go.”

Arjuna willingly let Ravana go. Ravana went back to Lanka on his Pushpaka Vimana after receiving many gifts from Arjuna.

Once, the thirsty Surya deva begged Kartavirya Arjuna for alms. As alms, Kartavirya Arjuna gave Surya the seven continents of the earth. Thus, Surya started burning all the cities, towns, villages, and cowherd colonies. Blazing, Surya deva also started burning mountains and forests. When Surya was burning the seven continents, Sage Apava’s (a son of Varuna) ashram was also burned.

Rishi Apava was enraged. He knew that Kartavirya Arjuna was the cause of this. He cursed Arjuna that he would die at the hands of Parshuram. On learning that Kartavirya Arjuna wanted to die at the hands of a great person like Parshuram (one of his boons from Dattatreya), Rishi Apava decided to add to the curse.

“May your exploits and achievements be bettered by another Arjuna. You have burnt a whole forest. But this Arjuna will do the same much more. He will outshine your accomplishments!” Rishi Apava cursed.

As per Rishi Apava’s curse, during the Mahabharata, Arjuna-the Pandava was born. He burnt the Khandava forest and did much more which surpassed Kartavirya Arjuna.

Once, Kartavirya Arjuna was troubling Varuna . He asked, “I am strongest in the entire world. I have even beaten  Indra, the king of the devas. Is there anyone greater than me?” “Sage Jamadagni’s son Parshuram had defeated countless Kshatriyas. He is the only one who can defeat you,” Varuna replied.

Arjuna was enraged. He wanted to be the most powerful in the world. He immediately went to Jamadagni’s ashram. Arjuna was greeted kindly. Jamadagni served food to Arjuna and his entire army from the divine cow, Kamadhenu. Arjuna wanted the cow and told his minister Chandragupta to go ask for it.

“O King, unfortunately, I cannot give you this cow. I need it for religious ceremonies,” Jamadagni refused.

Soon, the two started furiously arguing over the cow. After some time, Kartavirya Arjuna lost his cool. He took out his sword and chopped off the head of Sage Jamadagni. Arjuna then seized Kamadhenu and took her back to Mahishmati.

Parshurama had been out at that time. When he returned, he saw his father’s head lying on the ground. He was shocked. His mother Renuka told him what happened. Parshurama decided to take revenge on Kartavirya Arjuna.

Parshurama marched to Mahishmati. The seventeen akshaunis of Kartavirya Arjuna came to meet him.

In the following battle, Parushurama massacred the entire army of Arjuna. Parshurama and Arjuna then had a fierce battle in which Parshurama finally killed Arjuna with the axe given to him by Shiva.

How was Lanka built?

Lanka was built on top of a mountain called Tri-kuta Giri.  This Tri-kuta was a piece of rock that broke from Mount Meru.  Long ago, there was some discussion between two Gandharvas.  One Gandharva said, "Vasuki is such a powerful strong snake, that when the Lord took incarnation as Matsya, he used Vasuki as a rope to tie the horn of that fish to the boat where Maharaja Satyavrata and the sapta-rishis were travelling.  In the dissolution water, this boat was kept safe due to Vasuki binding Matsya and the boat." 

The other Gandharva said, "Maybe he is strong, but do you think he could be as strong as Vayu, Varuna or Agni?"  The other said, "He must be stronger than them, otherwise why did the Lord select Vasuki?"  While they were discussing in this way, Vayu, the God of air, who is present everywhere, he couldn't tolerate this discussion.  He personally came in front of them and asked them, "What is this useless discussion?"  "Who are you?" they enquired. 

"I am Vayu," he replied.  "Is there anyone as strong as me?  Why do you even discuss these things?  Don't you know that I am everywhere and I am listening to these things?"  One Gandharva said, "Well, I have seen Vasuki.  I was the last one to creep into the water at that time.  I've seen how strong he is."  Vayu said, "Bring that Vasuki, and we can test." 

Then Vasuki was brought, and he challenged Vayu.  "What do you mean?  I am so strong!  Every time the Lord selects me, so there must be some reason."  Vayu said, "Then we can test our strength."  Vasuki said, "I will coil around the Meru three times, and you blow and see if you can open my coils."  But they never consulted Mount Meru whether they could do it.  All the planetary systems were going around it.

Vasuki coiled around Meru three times and started getting tighter and tighter.  And then Vayu started blowing against Mount Meru in full force.  Mount Meru started moving back and forth, because Vayu was using all his strength, and Vasuki was not going to give up.  So it was not just Vasuki, but Vayu had to work on both, the strength of Mount Meru and the strength of Vasuki.  And then Mount Meru started complaining and screaming.  "What is this?  There are three parties involved in this, but I was never consulted.  Why am I being given trouble like this?  I am going to turn upside down and create trouble.  All the planetary systems will fall." 

Brahma heard all this, and he appeared on the scene, telling Vayu and Vasuki, "You have your kind of strength, and he has his kind of strength.  You have strength in holding but you cannot strongly blow as Vayu does. So in that way he is strong."  When Vasuki uncoiled after the sports, one rock was broken from Mount Meru, and it fell in the salt ocean.  This rock had three peaks, so it was known as Tri-kuta.  It was on the salty ocean for a long time.  And then Vishvakarma, for the purpose of making a nice palace for the pastimes of the demigods, he made this Lanka city on top of Tri-kuta Mountain. 

Narada curses Manigreev and Nalkuber

Narada’s curse has always turned beneficial for the humanity. Srimadbhagvatam in the tenth chapter mentions about the curse of Narada to Manigreev and Nalkuber, two sons of Kuber.

They were once enjoying themselves in an inebriated condition at the banks of river Mandakini in the Kailash region in the company of ladies. They were inside the river when Narada spotted them. The apsaras (mythol.-a dancing beautiful girl at the court of Indra) put on their clothes but the two yaksha-brothers did not do so.

 Narada cursed them to be born as trees and told them that they would be emancipated after a hundred years of the gods in Dwapar-yuga when they would see Lord Krishna. It was because of this curse that Lord Krishna on being tied with an Ukhal (a mortar used for grinding grains etc.)

uprooted these two trees and emancipated the two brothers.

History of Ekadashi

In Satyuga there lived a demon called Murdanav. He terrorized all good people and devotees on the earth as well as he scared all the Devaas also. So Devaas left heaven and took refuge to Lord Vishnu. They prayed lord Vishnu to protect them. God’s mercy towards his devotees is limitless. So he took off immediately on His fastest vehicle “Garuda”. He fought continuously for 1000 years with Murdanav of unbelievable strength and still he was fighting with full energy and power. So Lord Vishnu decided to change his strategy.

Lord Vishnu acted as if He was exhausted by the battle and hid in a cave in Himalayas. He decided to take a nap in this huge cave. Lord Vishnu along with all his ten senses and the mind inside was taking a rest.

Murdanav reached to the cave by chasing Lord Vishnu. He saw him sleeping inside the cave and followed Him. He took his sword to kill him. As he was about to swing the sword, suddenly an extremely beautiful & luminous lady playing with a sword emerged from Lord Vishnu’s body.

Murdanav lured to her beauty & asked her to marry him. She said, “I would marry who can defeat me in battle” Murdanav agreed to her proposal. He started fighting with that divine lady. Eventually during the fight that divine lady defeated & slayed Murdanav.

Hearing the noise of fight, lord Vishnu woke up and saw that lady who killed Murdanav. Lord Vishnu called that lady, who emerged from Himself, by the name Ekadashi. That was the eleventh day of the waxing moon. Lord Vishnu pleased by her deed & said to ask a boon. The Ekadashi asked to Lord Vishnu that ‘as I evolved from your Ekadash Indriyas (eleven senses of the body) I shall be known as Ekadashi. I am filled with penance so I desire that people should observe Ekadashi Vrat and control their Ekadash Indriyas (Senses) on this day. On the day of my Vrat, no one should consume grains such as rice, wheat, beans etc.

Lord Vishnu agreed and ever since all Hindus perform Ekadashi Vrat by fasting or eating Falahari foods on the 11th day of bright half of the moon & dark half of the moon. Also Lord Vishnu said that devotees who observe the Ekadashi day with fasting and prayers would have his choicest blessings.

Trishanku

After sage Viswamitra was defeated by the power of penance of sage Vasistha , he was determined to achieve the status of a Brahmarshi and therefore started his long penance in the Himalayas. After about thousands of years of penance Brahma appeared to him and told him that he had acquired the status of a Rajarshi, but was still short of Brahmarshi status.

Sage Viswamitra was ashamed and he started his penance with redoubled vigour. At this time there was one king called Trishanku born in the Ikshaku dynasty. He wanted to go to heaven in his own body and therefore requested the Ikshaku clan priest Vasistha to perform a Yajna that would enable him to acquire such power. Sage Vasistha however declined. Then Trishanku went to the hundred sons of sage Vasistha who were also powerful Brahmins, to grant him the power of going to heaven in his body. But those sons refused to entertain him saying that if their father Vasistha had declined to provide him with such a privilege he should not have approached them.

When Trishanku said that he would try other means, the hundred rishis were very angry with him and cursed him to become a chandala or outcaste. Trishanku was transformed into a chandala and his men abandoned him. Being very sad, Trishanku approached sage Viswamitra. Sage Viswamitra developed compassion by seeing his state and asked him that why he had come to him. Trishanku told the great sage that he had performed hundreds of yajnas and had led a virtuous life, and yet his desire of going to heaven in his body could not be fulfilled. He was therefore requesting sage Viswamitra to help him as his guru Vasistha had foresaken him.

Viswamitra took pity on him and told him that he would help him. He arranged for a great yajna and asked his sons to invite all the great rishis including the clan of Vasistha. All other rishis came, but Vasistha and his sons did not come stating that it was not possible for them to attend the yajna conducted by a Kshatriya on behalf of a chandala as gods would not partake the oblations in such a yajna. When sage Viswamitra heard this he was extremely angry and he cursed the sons of Vasistha to die and reborn as outcastes and hunters themselves, to be despised by all for seven lives of theirs. The sons of Vasistha thus died and sage Viswamitra started to make all preparations for the yajna.

He poured the oblations and invited the gods, but the gods did not appear. Sage Viswamitra was enraged and he told Trishanku that whatever merits he had acquired with that he would send Trishanku to heaven at that very moment, even though it was a most difficult task to go to heaven with one’s own body. Trishanku immediately went to heaven but on seeing him Indra said that since Trishanku was cursed by his Guru and did not listen to him, he was not fit to come to heaven. He should fall with his head downwards. Trishanku began to fell, crying for sage Viswamitra to help him. Viswamitra with his power of penance arrested his fall. Sage Viswamitra then with his remaining power of penance created another heaven with all celestial bodies and ordained Trishanku to reign there. He was in the process of creating other gods, when the gods became very anxious and approached him with request to refrain from creating a second heaven. Then sage Viswamitra told them that Trishanku should be in that created heaven with his own body and should enjoy all heavenly pleasures. The gods happily agreed and let Trishanku remain in that heavenly realm with those created celestial bodies following him, while Trishanku would be enjoying the heavenly bliss. Thus sage Viswamitra proved his superiority and power of penance as well as generosity.

Why Daksha Prajapati cursed Narada?

Once ten-thousand sons (named as Haryashrva) of Prajapati Daksha were engaged in Tapa with the objective of the expansion of the creatures by the order of their father, when Narada found them to be pure-hearted persons, who were deserving to realize the Truth and, therefore, he instructed them and diverted their attention towards God.

When Daksha came to know of it, he was very upset. He begot another thousand sons in the name of Shablashrva, who were again similarly instructed by Narada. This made Daksha very furious and he cursed Narada that he would not be able to stay at any place for more than two Ghari (a count of time). Narada accepted the curse happily taking it as the Divine will. He thus keeps on continuously wandering and preaching, showing the deserving candidates the path to the Lord. It is his singular aim to help all creatures in seeking the God.

He resides in the Himalayas and because of the curse of Daksha Prajapati he is not affected by the age, i.e. he is beyond the stages of childhood, youth and old age.

 

King Harishchandra

In the Ikshvaku dynasty there ruled a king named Harishchandra. Harishchandra had no son. One day two sages named Narada and Parvata came to visit Harishchandra and told him that he would go to hell if he did not have a son.

"How can I obtain a son?" asked Harishchandra.

"Go to the banks of the Goutami Ganga," advised the sages. "Pray to the god Varuna there. We are sure that Varuna will grant you a son."

Harishchandra pleased Varuna with his prayers and asked for a son.

"You will have a son," said Varuna. "But there is a condition attached. You will have to subsequently organise a yajna in my honor and you will have to sacrifice your son at this yajna. Tell me if this condition is acceptable to you."

"Yes indeed," replied Harishchandra.

In due course, Harishchandra had a son who was named Rohita.

Varuna came to Harishchandra and asked, "What about the yajna in my honor?"

"My son is still too young," replied Harishchandra. "Let him at least attain ten days of age. Till then, the baby is in any case impure and is not fit to be sacrificed."

After ten days Varuna came again and asked, "What about the yajna in my honor?

"Please let him grow his teeth," replied Harishchandra. "Animals are sacrificed at yajnas. And no one becomes an animal until he actually has teeth."

Varuna waited till the teeth grew and returned when Rohita was seven years of age. "What about the yajna in my honor?" he asked.

"These are only milk teeth," replied Harishchandra. "These do not characterise an animal. Please wait until his proper teeth have grown."

Varuna returned when the proper teeth grew and asked, "What about the yajna in my honor?"

"He is the son of kshatriya (the second of the four classes, a warrior class)," replied Harishchandra. "But his training in the art of fighting has not even begun. He cannot be called a kshatriya until he knows how to fight. Till that day he is an incomplete man. Do you really want such an incomplete man as a sacrifice?"

After some years had passed, Rohita became skilled in the art of fighting and was appointed the heir-apparent (yuvaraja) to the kingdom. He was then sixteen years of age.

Varuna appeared again and asked, "What about the yajna in my honor?"

This time the entire conversation took place in front of the prince and Rohita intervened before Harishchandra could say anything. "Father," he said, "I have already resolved to perform a yajna in Vishnu's honor. Grant me the permission to complete that first. After that, do what you will."

Rohita went off to the forest. Meanwhile, Varuna had enough and he afflicted Harishchandra with a painful stomach ailment. News of his father's illness was taken to Rohita in the forest. In the forest, Rohita met a sage named Ajigarta. The sage was very poor and, together with his wife and three sons, was starving.

"Will you sell one of your three sons to me?" asked Rohita. "The boy is needed for a sacrifice."

"I shall not sell my eldest son," said the sage. "My wife will not permit the youngest one to be sold. You can have the one in the middle. His name is Shunahshepa. The price will be one thousand cows, one thousand golden coins, one thousand pieces of clothing and a lot of wealth."

Rohita paid the price and brought Shunahshepa home to Harishchandra.

"We can't do this," said Harishchandra. "It is the duty of kings to protect the brahmanas. How can we sacrifice the son of a brahmana? It is better to die instead. Go and return Shunahshepa to his father."

Just then a divine voice was heard from heaven. The voice said, "There is no need for anyone to die. Take Shunahshepa to the banks of the Goutami Ganga and perform the yajna to Varuna there. Goutami Ganga is such a sacred river that no human sacrifices are needed if a yajna is performed there.

This is what Harishchandra did and Varuna was satisfied. As for Shunahshepa, he was adopted by the sage Vishvamitra as a son.

Nageshvara

There was a city named Pratishthana. A king named Shurasena ruled in that city. Shurasena did not have any sons. After a lot of effort, a son was born to him. But the son happened to be a snake. The king and the queen were mortified at this turn of events. But they brought up their son in great secrecy. Not even the king's ministers and priests knew that the prince was a snake.

When the prince grew slightly, he began to talk like a human, even though he was a snake. King Shurasena arranged for the prince's education. After the snake had become learned in the knowledge of the Vedas, he told his father, "Father, it is time for me to get married. If I do not have a son, I am certain to go to naraka."

King Shurasena was very surprised to hear this. "How is that possible?" he asked. "Which princess will consent to marry a snake?"

"I don't know," replied the prince. "But I do know that I have to get married. Otherwise, I will commit suicide. There are many forms of marriage that are permissible. Perhaps a princess can be kidnapped and married to me."

Shurasena called his ministers and told them, "My son Nageshvara has now come of age. He has also been made the heir-apparent to the kingdom. There is no one equal to him in bravery on earth, in heaven or in the underworld. I am getting old. Please arrange for Nageshvara to get married. I shall then relinquish my kingdom and retire to the forest."

The king did not of course tell his ministers that Nageshvara was a snake.

Shurasena had an aged minister. This minister reported that there was a king named Vijaya who ruled in the eastern part of the country. King Vijaya had eight sons and one daughter. The daughter's name was Bhogavati and she was very beautiful. She would be the right match for Nageshvara.

The aged minister was sent as a messenger to Vijaya and the king agreed to the match. There was a custom amongst kshatriyas that the bride did not always have to be married to the bridegroom in person. She could also be married to the bridegroom's sword or some other weapon. The minister explained to King Vijaya that there were some private reasons which made it impossible for Nageshvara to come in person for the marriage. Bhogavati should be married off to Nageshvara's sword. Vijaya consented to this and the marriage ceremony was performed. The entire retinue then returned to the city of Pratishthana.

But what was to be done now that the marriage was over? Nageshvara's mother sent a maid to Bhogavati. The maid told Bhogavati that her husband was actually a snake and then observe her reaction.

The maid told Bhogavati, "Your husband is a god, but he has the form of a snake."

"That is my good fortune," replied Bhoavati. "Normally, women are married to men. I must have performed many good deeds in my earlier life to have been married to a god."

Bhogavati was then brought to Nageshvara and at the sight of Bhogavati, Nageshvara remembered his earlier life. He used to be a snake (naga) in his earlier life and was a companion of Shiva. His wife in the earlier life was Bhogavati.

There had been an occasion when Shiva had laughed at a joke of parvati's and Nageshvara had also laughed. This had annoyed Shiva and he had cursed Nageshvara that he would be born on earth as the son of a human, but in the form of a snake. When he went and bathed in Goutami Ganga, the period of the curse would be over. When Nageshvara recounted these incidents to Bhogavati, she also remembered her earlier life. The two went and bathed in the scared river and Nageshvara obtained a handsome and divine form. Nageshavara ruled after Shurasena's death. And when Nageshvara and Bhogavati died, they went back to Kailasa to live with Shiva.

On the banks of the Goutami Ganga, Nageshvara and Bhogavati built a temple to Shiva. This is a famous tirtha known as Nagatirtha.

Brahma's head

Years ago, there was a war between the Gods and the Demons and the Gods lost. The Gods came to Brahma for advice and Brahma asked them to pray to Shiva.

When Shiva appeared before them, the Gods said, "The demons have defeated us. Please kill them and save us."

Shiva went to fight with the demons. He drove the demons off from Mount Sumeru and out of heaven. He pursued them to the ends of the earth. All this exertion made Shiva sweat. And wherever the drops of sweat fell down on the ground, terrible ogresses named Matris were created. The matris also started to kill the demons and pursued them down to the underworld.

While the matris were killing the demons in the underworld, Brahma and the other devas waited on the banks of the river Goutami Ganga. This place came to be known as Pratishthana.

When the matris had killed all the demons, they returned to earth and began to live on the banks of the Goutami Ganga. This tirtha has come to be known as Matritirtha.

Brahma used to have five heads. The fifth head was in the shape of a donkey's head. When the demons were running away to the underworld, this donkey's head addressed the demons and said, "Why are you running away? Come back and fight with the Gods. I shall aid you in your fight."

The Gods were alarmed at this paradoxical situation. Brahma was helping them in their flight with the demons and Brahma's fifth head was trying to help the demons. They went to Vishnu and said, "Please cut off Brahma's fifth head. It is causing too much of confusion."

"I can do what you want," replied Vishnu, "but there is a problem. When the cut-off head falls on earth, it will destroy the earth. I think you should pray to Shiva to find a way out."

The gods prayed to Shiva and Shiva agreed to cut off the head. But what was to be done with the severed head? The earth refused to bear it and so did the ocean. Finally it was decided that Shiva himself would bear the head.

The place where Shiva cut off Brahma's fifth head is known as Rudratirtha. Ever since that day, Brahma has had four heads and is known as Chaturmukha (chatur connotes four and mukha connotes face). There is a temple to Brahma on the banks of the Goutami Ganga. This is a holy place known as Brahmatirtha. A killer of brahmanas is pardoned his sin if he visits this temple.

Why Indra killed Diti's children?

Devas and Asuras agreed to churn the ocean of milk as a joint endeavour. But when Amrita rose up to the surface, they began to quarrel over it. In the battle between Devas and Asuras for the possession of Amṛita, Diti’s sons were killed.

In her inconsolable grief at the death of her sons, Diti prayed to her husband Kaśyapa that she should be blessed with a brave and heroic son who would be capable of killing Indra.

"You shall certainly have that boon. However you must observe a holy ritual while you are carrying this child. If you fulfill the conditions of this ritual, you will bear a mighty son who shall be the slayer of Indra," said Kashyapa.

"What is this ritual?” enquired Diti. "No matter how difficult the conditions for this penance, I shall observe them diligently. The desire for revenge shall provide me with the strength to complete this undertaking".

"Listen carefully," said her husband. "You must perform this ritual for a whole year. During this time, you must not harm any creature. You may not curse anyone, or tell a lie. You must not trim either your nails or hair. You must not touch anything that is unclean. You must not bathe by immersing yourself in water. Anger should also be under complete control. You must not speak to unworthy persons. You must always wear clean clothes, and you should eat anything that has previously been eaten by someone else. Eating meat is entirely forbidden. You must not drink water by taking it up in your hand. You must not go out at dawn or dusk, or without your hair being dressed properly.

"You must not sleep with your head to either north or west. You may not sleep without washing your legs, nor are you allowed to sleep with wet legs. You must always sleep alone, and must not sleep at either dawn or dusk.

"You must worship the household cow, Brahmanas, and the Goddess Laxmi before you eat in the morning. You must also worship those women whose husbands are still alive. You must also worship me, your husband.

"If you observe this Vrata (ritual/fast/penance), known as Pumsvana for a whole year, the son born then shall be the slayer of Indra, and lead his brothers to victory."

The sage granted her the boon and told her that by worshipping the lord with a pure mind and body for a hundred years, she would bear a son who would be mighty enough to kill Indra.

Diti began observing the ritual starting from the same day. She obeyed her husband's directions diligently and in due course of time, she conceived the child that she wanted.

Meanwhile, Indra came to know of the plan of his step-mother. He disguised himself as a Brahmana boy, and became a servant in Diti's household. He patiently waited for an opportunity to disrupt her penance.

As fate would have it, Diti found herself excessively tired one evening. Without remembering the conditions specified by her husband, she fell asleep at dusk, without washing her legs and ritually cleaning herself.

With the help of his tantric power, Indra shrunk himself to a tiny size and entered her womb. With the help of his weapon Vajra, he began slicing up the golden-hued embryo being nourished there. As he sliced it up into seven pieces, all the pieces started crying in pain. He then called out, "Ma-Ruda!" (lit. "Don't cry!"), and sliced up each piece into seven pieces each.

By the grace of Vishnu, despite being split into forty nine pieces, the embryo did not die. When the time came, Diti was delivered of forty-nine children called the Maruts.

As Diti had failed to observe the Pumsvana ritual correctly, they did not kill Indra, and in a perverse turn of events (at least from Diti's perspective), they became the followers of Indra. Typically they are said to be fifty in number (for Indra is also included in the count).

The ritual known as Pumsvana, is to be observed by all women who desire powerful and virtuous offspring.

How Kubera became the God of wealth?

Kubera was the eldest son of the sage Vishrava. Vishrava had two wives. The fist wife gave birth to Kubera. The second wife was a rakshasa (demon) woman and gave birth to Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana. Kubera used to rule in Lanka and his relations with his cousins were extremely good. But Ravana's mother did not like idea of her sons mixing so much with Kubera.

She called her sons and said, "What are you up to? Why do you cause me so much of pain? You are demons and Kubera is a god. Is it proper that you should be so friendly with him? The relation between gods and demons is one of enmity. Consider Kubera's pomp and glory. Have you got anything like that to show for yourselves? Do something so as to improve your own statures." Thus instructed by their mother, Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana went off to the forest to perform tapasya. They pleased Brahma with their prayers and desired the boon that they might win over the kingdom of Lanka. Ravana also obtained the boon that he would become very strong.

Thus fortified with the boons, the demons attacked Kubera and defeated him. They drove Kubera out of Lanka. Kubera possessed a beautiful Vimana named pushpaka. This was also appropriated by Ravana. Ravana also made it known that whoever gave Kubera refuge would be killed by him. This meant that no one dared give refuge to Kubera.

Kubera sought the advice of his grandfather Pulastya. Pulastya told him to go to the banks of the Goutami Ganga and pray to Shiva there. Shiva appeared before Kubera and blessed him with the boon that Kubera would become the god of all wealth.

Lord Dattatreya

Dattatreya, born out of the holy trinity in the Hindu pantheon of gods, was a sage who attained enlightenment without a guru. Some scriptures also called him an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Legend has it that Lord Dattatreya was born to sage Atri and his wife Anasuya. She performed tapas to get a son with the qualities of the holy trinity. Seeing Anasuya perform such severe austerities, goddesses Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati became jealous and asked their respective husbands, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, to test her virtue.

The three appeared in front of her in the garb of ascetics and asked her to give them alms while naked. Anasuya uttered a mantra and sprinkled water on them, turning them into babies, whom she then breastfed while naked. When sage Atri returned, he transformed them into a single child with three heads and six arms.

When the goddesses learnt of the predicament of their husbands, they begged Anasuya for forgiveness and to return their husbands. Anasuya heard their pleas and the Trimurti appeared in their true form, blessing the sage and his virtuous wife with a son Dattatreya.

Story of Gayasura (Importance of Pind daan in Gaya) 

To know about Pada Gaya, we have to know the story of Gayasura. Gayasura was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. He worshiped Vishnu for a long time. Lord Vishnu appeared before him and asked to take the required boon. Gayasura asked to make his body so pious that everyone who sees him will attain Mukti (salvation) immediately. Vishnu accepted it and disappeared.

Gayasura started to grow his body to an enormous size with the help of Yoga shakti. It was hundreds of k.m height. His wish is to show himself to all so that everybody on the earth attains Mukti. This made Indra (the king on deities) fearful. If everybody attains Mukti who will be there to be ruled by him? He prąyed Trimurthis, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. He asked them to tell a solution. They laughed at Indra and disappeared.

They approached Gayasura in the form of three Brahmins. Gayasura welcomed them. They told Gayasura that they are going to do a very sacred Yagna and for that requested land from him. Gayasura happily accepted to give it. But they questioned him where will he give the land? Each and every place on earth has bad incidents in its history and so unfit for their sacred Yagna. Gayasura wondered. He asked them to tell the solution. They said that his body will be the best place. They supported their logic with the boon he got from Vishnu and his wish in giving salvation to everybody. And told that this can be considered as a challenge to him. He has to face the sins of all people before giving salvation. He has to face many Vighnas (obstacles) both physically and mentally to fullfil his desire. They said that the capabilities of Gayasura can be pre-tested in helping to this Yagna. Gayasura accepted. That Yagna will be conducted for seven days. He developed his body with his power and slept on the earth. His head was in Gaya of Bihar (Siro gaya), his Navel was in Jajpur of Orissa (Nabhi gaya) and his foot were in Pithapuram of Andhra pradesh state (Pada gaya).

The Brahmins started doing Yagna. Gayasura is bearing the fire on his body. He is counting the days with the help of crowing of cocks in the early morning. He is becoming frustrated day by day because of the fire but not moving his body for the word he gave. On the final day Lord Shiva took a form of the cock and crowed at midnight. Considering it as the sign of morning Gayasura woke up. The Yagna was destroyed. The Brahmins felt very sad. They asked him that if he couldn't control himself for just seven days how he is willing to bear the sins of entire humanity for unlimited time? Gayasura realized his mistake. He agreed his fault.

Gayasura then understood that the three Brahmins are none other than the Trimurtis and was happily agreed to meet his death in the hands of Trimurtis. The Trimurtis appeared before him and told that his body will be present as it is, and the entire land will become sacred because of him. This is the story of Gayasura and Kukkuteswara swamy.

There is a statue of Gayasura at Kukuteswara Swamy temple in Pithapuram. The word 'kukuta' means cock in local language. As Lord Shiva crowed like a cock in the mythological story, He is worshiped in the name of 'Kukuteswara' in this temple.

 

Jalandhara and Vrinda (The story of Tulsi)

The story of Tulsi, the medicinal plant, begins with Indra, the Lord of the Heavens.

Lord Indra was the king of the Devas. But he realized that people no longer looked up to him at the main God. This worried him a lot. He knew that people now looked up at Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva to guide them. Indra knew that he could not hope to confront Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. They were after all the Gods of Creation and of Preservation. But Indra could not understand why people liked Lord Shiva. He was after all the God of destruction.

Indra was thinking. I will go and prove to the world that I am better than the Lord of Destruction, then people will look up to me too...However Indra had misunderstood...Lord Shiva was the Lord of Destruction...he destroyed all evil things in the world...he was the destroyer of the ego...the uncontrollable impulses inside us....

Indra went straight to Kailash and there wanted to meet Lord Shiva. However, Lord Shiva using the power of his meditation, figured out that Indra was coming to meet him. Lord Shiva transformed himself to look like his gana and stood outside his door as a doorman. He stood there as Indra came.

'Let me in... doorman,' Indra said contemptuously at the doorman, without realizing who he was. 'I want to talk to Lord Shiva....and settle a matter once and for all...'

The doorman looked at Indra with amused eyes, 'What do you want to settle once and for all, Lord Indra?'

Indra looked loftily at the doorman, 'I want to prove that I am more powerful than Lord Shiva.' Indra said brandishing his Vajra angrily.

The doorman if anything looked even more amused. 'I am supposed to guard Lord Shiva...Why don't you first show your powers before me...If you win...You can meet Lord Shiva...'

Indra was angry. But then you could refuse to fight when somebody openly challenged you. He accepted.

Indra and the doorman fought. The doorman fought brilliantly. Indra watched as the doorman became more and more angry. The doorman finally pushed him back with a great deal of force...Indra was about to get up when he had a sudden flash. No ordinary doorman could just push him away...This doorman...Indra realized with fear that the doorman could be none other than Lord Shiva himself. The doorman was eying him with sharp eyes, as Indra slowly got up on his feet. Indra realized that he had already tired himself and Lord Shiva looked like he had not even started fighting...Indra knew that he could not hope to match with a power like that. He slowly went towards the doorman and fell at his feet. 'Lord Shiva! I am sorry! I did not realize how powerful you are...You have destroyed my pride...'

The doorman looked at Indra angrily for some time. The doorman closed his eyes and Indra saw as the doorman curbed his anger with great difficulty. Indra saw something fly out of the doorman - something fierce, red and burning. Once the thing emerged from the doorman, Lord Shiva appeared before Indra in his normal form. Indra looked at the beautiful face of Lord Shiva and once again bowed to him, 'I am sorry my Lord!'

Lord Shiva smiled at Indra, 'Indra! You had made me very angry...I was actually tempted to open my third eye and burn you to ashes...' Indra shivered as he realized how close to death, he had come...

'...But then when you fell at my feet, asking for forgiveness...I could not just hold any grudge against you...' Lord Shiva said as he shook his head. 'But my anger was quiet another thing...'

Indra looked at Shiva and asked wonderingly, 'What was the thing that came out of you, my Lord?'

Lord Shiva looked at Indra wondering whether he would understand, 'That was a personification of my anger...Because I was not willing to use it against you...my anger was dragged away from me...It is now inside the ocean...'

Lord Indra once again asked Lord Shiva for forgiveness and went back to his palace a wiser man...However that was just the beginning of the problems of Indra...

Lord Shiva being a very powerful person, his anger was very potent, when all his anger was deposited in the ocean waves, the anger immediately transformed into a young baby! The baby wailed and wailed...Lord Brahma the God of creations, heard the cries of the baby and came there. He picked up the baby in his arms. The baby he found was extraordinarily heavy.

As Lord Brahma picked up the baby, he felt the tiny hands of the baby pluck at his beard. The force with which the baby tugged at his beard was great, that Lord Brahma nearly cried out! Wiping the tears from his face, Lord Brahma looked at the child and said, 'You are very strong...You have brought 'jala' [water] in my eyes, by your strength...For this I name you Jalandhara [One who brings water].

As Jalandhara grew up, he became more and more proud of his strength. He realized that he could defeat anyone with his strength. The Gods hoped that Jalandhara would join them, and they could make use of his strength. However, Jalandhara had other ideas. He wanted to become the leader of the Asuras.

When he came of a marriageable age, Jalandhara went to a very powerful asura by name Kalanemi. Kalanemi was Ravana's [the nemesis of Rama – the hero of Ramayana] uncle. Kalanemi had a beautiful daughter by name Vrinda. Vrinda was extremely intelligent, and she was a very great devotee of Lord Vishnu.

Impressed with Jalandhara's strength, Vrinda agreed to marry him. So, Vrinda and Jalandhara were married a few days later.

Because of her devotion to Lord Vishnu, Vrinda had enormous number of yogic powers. Vrinda loved her husband with all her heart and because of her, Jalandhara became powerful and invincible.

Shukracharya, the Guru of the Asuras, realized how powerful Jalandhara had become after his marriage to Vrinda. He decided to crown Jalandhara, the king of the Asuras. The Asuras also willingly followed the powerful Jalandhara. Soon Jalandhara ruled over the whole earth. All the kings on earth were defeated by the powerful Jalandhara.

Soon Jalandhara set eyes on Indra's heaven. Up in the heavens, Indra and the other Devas, were totally unaware of Jalandhara's plans. With an element of surprise, Jalandhara attacked the Devas. The Devas unable to protect themselves, were routed.

The Devas did not know what to do. Even Indra's Vajra, which was the most powerful weapon they had...they could not even hurt Jalandhara. All the Devas went to Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma looked at Devas and spoke to them. He told them all about the birth of Jalandhara and finished by telling them, 'Jalandhara was born out of the anger of Lord Shiva, so he can be defeated only by Lord Shiva...'

Indra said, 'If we go and ask Lord Shiva and talk to Jalandhara...do you think it will work...'

Lord Brahma looked doubtful, but he nodded his head, 'We will have to ask him, but Jalandhara has become so arrogant, I doubt whether Lord Shiva can make him see sense.'

Agreeing to the requests of the Devas, Lord Shiva went to talk to Jalandhara. However, Jalandhara was so arrogant that he openly insulted Lord Shiva!

Jalandhara yelled as Lord Shiva, 'You call yourself an ascetic...How dare you? If you are an ascetic, why do you need a wife...Send Goddess Parvathi away...You don't need a wife and claim to be yogi at the same time...'

With great difficulty Lord Shiva curbed his anger and tried to talk sense to Jalandhara. However, Jalandhara became more and more haughty and turned down Lord Shiva's offer for peace.

Lord Shiva went back to Kailash and told the Devas all that had happened between him and Jalandhara. Lord Shiva finished by saying, 'I am afraid, we need to destroy Jalandhara...he had become too arrogant...I will lead you to battle.

The Devas cheered. If Lord Shiva himself lead them to battle, they were assured of victory.

However, the next day, Lord Shiva found that Jalandhara was very powerful. He had both physical strength and he also had the power of illusion.... Lord Shiva found Jalandhara to be a very strong...

Jalandhara used all his powers and created a powerful illusion to trap Lord Shiva, his gana and the Devas. Not expecting the attack, Lord Shiva and the others were stunned as they were struck inside the illusion.

Seeing Lord Shiva and the others struck inside the illusion, Jalandhara went to Kailash, where he saw Goddess Parvathi....Jalandhara smiled slyly as he used his powers and changed his form like Lord Shiva.

Jalandhara went to meet Goddess Parvathi looking like Lord Shiva, 'Parvathi! I have come back victorious...I have defeated Jalandhara...'

Goddess Parvathi looked at Lord Shiva and frowned at him. She felt something was wrong.... She closed her eyes and used her powers to sense who was before her...

When Parvathi opened her eyes...she was angry...'Jalandhara! You dare come here in my husband's form...' She walked up and picked up her sword and pointed it at him.

Jalandhara knew that Goddess Parvathi was a very strong warrior, as good as her husband. He was already weak from his powers of illusion and his fight with Lord Shiva. He knew he could not fight Goddess Parvathi now...He ran from there...

Goddess Parvathi was sitting there furious, when Lord Vishnu came there. 'Parvathi! What is wrong...?

Goddess Parvathi told Lord Vishnu everything. 'How can Jalandhara be so powerful...?'

Lord Vishnu said, 'Jalandhara was already powerful...He has now married Vrinda...She is my greatest devotee...Every time Jalandhara goes to war, she prays to me. She gets a lot of powers by her prayers. It is because of her that Jalandhara is becoming invincible...'

Goddess Parvathi looked at Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu looked at Goddess Parvathi, with troubled eyes. He knew what he had to do...But could he do such a thing to his own devotee.... Lord Vishnu unhappily walked out of there and went back to Vaikunta. He knew he had no choice but to do what he had to do....

The next morning, as Vrinda knew that her husband would begin his battle with Lord Shiva, she started her prayers for his welfare. As she was deep in her meditation, she saw someone enter her room. She opened her eyes and was startled to find her husband before her. She blinked as Jalandhara came before her and told her with pride, 'I have done it.... I have defeated Lord Shiva...Now there is no one as strong as me....' He said with pride as Vrinda thanked Lord Vishnu. She stopped her prayers to prepare for the celebrations for her husband's victory.

It was at that minute at the battlefield between Lord Shiva and the real Jalandhara that Lord Shiva stabbed Jalandhara straight in the chest with his trishul. Without her wife's prayer to protect him, the weapon pierced into his body, killing Jalandhara then and there.

Back in Jalandhara's palace, Vrinda felt something wrong as she looked at her husband...She had felt something bad happen to her husband...But her husband was standing before her...How was that possible....

She looked at the Jalandhara before her and said, 'Who are you? You are not my husband.... Where is he?' Vrinda looked around her palace with tears, 'I stopped my prayers...My husband...What happened to him...?'

Jalandhara vanished from there and in his place stood Lord Vishnu...But Lord Vishnu was looking at Vrinda with unhappy eyes and sad face...

Vrinda looked at Lord Vishnu and glared at him and whispered, 'What have you done? How is my husband...?'

Lord Vishnu spoke quietly, 'Jalandhara is dead, Vrinda' Vrinda let out a wail as Lord Vishnu continued, 'Your husband was becoming invincible because of your prayers, Vrinda...As long as you were praying for him, nothing could defeat him...'

Vrinda shouted at Lord Vishnu, 'I believed you and you let me down...I loved my husband, and you cheated me...You stood like a stone, while my husband was dying in the battle...for this I curse you...' Vrinda said in an angry voice, 'I curse you that you will be trapped in a stone...'

Lord Vishnu nodded his head in a melancholy manner. 'I accept your curse, Vrinda...But remember, it was also your duty to stop your husband, when he did anything wrong...Your husband was behaving arrogantly and hurting others...He went to the extent of going to asking Lord Shiva to give up Goddess Parvathi...'

Vrinda looked at Lord Vishnu with wide fearful eyes as Lord Vishnu continued, '...Still nothing happened to him, because your prayers protected him...'

Vrinda looked heartbroken as she fell down. Vrinda breathed her last...Lord Vishnu was beside her looking at the dead face of his greatest devotee...

Lord Shiva and the Devas came and found Lord Vishnu sitting heartbroken beside a dead Vrinda. Lord Shiva came and told Lord Vishnu, 'Please do not grieve for her. She will be reborn as Tulsi...one of the greatest medicinal plants in the world...None of your prayers shall ever be complete without worshiping you with Tulsi leaves...'

Due to the curse, it is believed that the spirit of Lord Vishnu was captured in the stones near the river Gomti called as 'Saligram'. These stones are considered as sacred because they are representations of Lord Vishnu.

How was Thar Desert created?

According to the legend mentioned in Ramayana, Lord Rama, during his exile to the forest, created the Thar Desert. In his search for his spouse Sita, Rama had to cross the ocean from today’s Rameshwaram to reach Lanka (Sri Lanka). He prayed to the ocean deity for a couple of days so that the ocean water could subside and pave a way for Rama and his army to march on towards Lanka.

However, when the ocean failed to heed Rama’s humble prayers, the latter helplessly summoned one of his divine weapons to dry up the ocean! Anticipating his end was near, the ocean deity presented himself before Rama and pleaded for mercy. He suggested the right course to solve Rama’s problem, and since the divine weapon could not go in vain once summoned, the ocean requested Rama to release the weapon towards his north where a place called Drumatulya is located. He reasoned that a vicious gang of robbers live in that region where they drink of the waters. Rama did as suggested and the weapon hit the region, where today lies the Thar Desert. After some time, the water of the place dried up, but Rama blessed the region saying that it would be conducive to cattle rearing, and will also produce good, clarified butter, milk, fruits and roots as well as useful herbs.

As a result, the Thar Desert region produces herbaceous plants like cactus, neem, khejri, acacia nilotica among others. All these plants can accommodate themselves to high or low temperatures and difficult climatic conditions.

Revati: The Time-Traveller

Revati was the only daughter of Kakudmi. Feeling that no human could prove to be good enough to marry his lovely and talented daughter, Kakudmi took Revati with him to Brahmaloka—abode of Brahma.

When they arrived, Brahma was listening to a musical performance by the Gandharva’s, so they waited patiently until the performance was finished. Then, Kakudmi bowed humbly, made his request and presented his shortlist of candidates. Brahma laughed, and explained that time runs differently on different planes of existence and that during the short time they had waited in Brahmaloka to see him, 27 chatur-yugas had passed on Earth and all the candidates had died long ago. Brahma added that Kakudmi was now alone as his friends, ministers, servants, wives, kinsmen, armies and treasures had now vanished from Earth and he should soon bestow his daughter to a husband as Kali Yuga was near.

Kakudmi was overcome with astonishment and alarm at this news. However, Brahma comforted him and added that Vishnu the Preserver was currently on Earth in the forms of Krishna and Balarama and he recommended Balarama as a worthy husband for Revati.

Kakudmi and Revati then returned to earth, which they regarded as having left only just a short while ago. They were shocked by the changes that had taken place. Not only had the landscape and environment changed, but over the intervening 27 Chatur-yugas, in the cycles of human spiritual and cultural evolution, mankind was at a lower level of development than in their own time. The Bhagavata Purana describes that they found the race of men had become "dwindled in stature, reduced in vigour, and enfeebled in intellect." The king's capital of Kushasthali had been renamed Dvaraka.

Kakudmi and Revati found Balarama, and proposed the marriage. Because she was from an earlier yuga, Revati was far taller and larger than her husband-to-be, but Balarama, tapped his plough (his characteristic weapon) on her shoulder, and she shrunk to the normal height of people in Balarama's age. The marriage was then celebrated.

Revati bore her husband two sons, Nishatha and Ulmuka. Nishatha and Ulmuka were killed in the Yadu fratricidal war, after which Balarama also ended his earthly incarnation in meditation by the sea.

Revati ascended the funeral pyre of her husband.