Tulasi plant is venerated by Hindus while the meaning of the name Tulasi being the incomparable one. It is said that the house of every Hindu must have a Tulasi plant. This plant needs a little sunlight and water to survive. It has many types such as Rama Tulasi, Krishna Tulasi, and Vishnu Tulasi.
It is believed in the Hindu culture that Lord Vishnu gets pleased if worshipped by Tulasi or a garland made out of Tulasi leaves. Keeping this plant at home can invite good luck and prosperity. The story goes that it all started with a quarrel between Lord Shiva and Indra, the god of the heavens. In order to annihilate Indra, Lord Shiva’s anger manifested as a ball of fire. Indra, realizing his folly, fell at Lord Shiva’s feet in abject surrender. And Shiva, as was his wont, forgave him, directing the ball of fire into the ocean. Therein it transformed itself into a child, stronger and more potent than any known creature on earth. Christened as Jalandhara, he grew to be a mighty youth. Jalandhar penanced and got a boon that he will live till eternity until he loses his Krishna kavach (his armor) and his wife loses her chastity. But arrogance soon got the better of him and he decided he would challenge the gods themselves.
In the meantime, he decided he would do well to enhance his status through marriage. And his eyes fell on the family of the great demon, Ravana, whose cousin, Kalanemi had a beautiful daughter, Vrinda. Like many families of demons who often had devout offsprings, Vrinda too was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. She sincerely believed that Vishnu had sent Jalandhara to her doorstep and immediately acquiesced to his proposal. The marriage was duly solemnized.
Vrinda loved her husband and constantly prayed for his welfare. It is believed that prayers become one’s protection and Vrinda’s prayer certainly became Jalandhara’s armour. With a vengeance he went against the gods, challenging and defeating them now. Until, he finally reached Lord Shiva. Not realizing that Shiva was, in reality, his father, not caring for the consequences of his action, Jalandhara attacked the almighty Mahadeva. And such was the power of Vrinda’s prayers, that even Shiva found it utterly impossible to destroy Jalandhara.
It was then that Lord Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhara and appeared before Vrinda. Vrinda greeted the illusory Jalandhara who breached her chastity.
It was all the time Shiva needed. This broke the boon he was given and Jalandhara got killed. Shiva’s trident pierced Jalandhara and he lay dead before him.
But the story did not end there. Vrinda realized that she had been tricked. In legitimate fury, she turned on Lord Vishnu, “For this deception, I curse you,” she cried, “You will now be a black God, and be turned to stone. You will also take human birth and know the pangs of separation.” That’s why, legend has it that Lord Vishnu is the dark God, worshipped as the Shaligrama stone and suffered the loss of his wife as Rama avatar.
But Lord Vishnu would have the last word. He pointed out, “Vrinda, that you were loyal to your husband is most praise worthy. But did you pause to find out the nature of his activities? To support evil – is that not evil too? And that is why I say, since you had lost your discrimination, you will be reborn as the Tulsi, but a mere plant, nonetheless. But because you have been a firm and faithful devotee, I will grant you the status of my wife.” And so Vrinda died, to be reborn as Tulsi.
Lord Vishnu got turned into Saligrama and the curse of being away from wife got into reality during Ramavatar. Vishnu in the form of Saligrama got married to Tulasi on Prabodhini Ekadasi which is commemorated as the day of Tulasi Vivah. Later, Tulasi attained a divine status and was blessed to be the dearest of Lord Vishnu. Hence Lord Vishnu is always worshipped with Tulasi leaves.