Jalandhar, the demon king was born out of the flames which emanated from Lord Shiva's third eye, making him an extremely powerful warrior. Brahma had granted boons to Jalandhar that resulted in his enormous powers. Jalandhar marries Vrinda, daughter of Kalanemi & had a boon
1/n
1/n
that his powers will remain undiminished as long Vrinda is chaste. This made Jalandhar arrogant, he declared war on other kings, Gods & started tormenting them. Acc. to Puranas, devtas ran to Lord Shiv for help & a ferocious battle broke out between Lord Shiv and Jalandhar.
2/n
2/n
They both appeared equally with no one prepared to fall back. The battle wasn't like an ordinary battle between Gods and demons but it was clash b/w chastities of two virtuous women, Parvati and Vrinda. Lord Shiva knew it well that unless chastity of Vrinda is broken
3/n
3/n
Jalandhar couldn't be exterminated. But it was against the nature of Gods to spoil the chastity of a moral woman. Hence inspite of knowing everything Gods were powerless but for Jalandhar nothing was forbidden. So thinking that by breaking chastity of Parvati,
4/n
4/n
Jalandhar could overpower Lord Shiva. He reached Parvati in disguise of Shiva. Parvati immediately recognized him and was angry and upset. She ended his disguise and managed to immobilise him. Feeling hurt and violated, she approached to Lord Vishnu and told him that it was
5/n
5/n
the blot chastity of Jalandhar's and it won't be a sin. Vrinda was staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu approached Vrinda but Vrinda couldn't recognize Lord vishnu and thinking him to be Jalandhar, touched him. As a result her chastity was deflowered.
6/n
6/n
Lord Shiva destroyed Jalandhar as he lost his powers when Vrinda lost her chastity. When Vrinda found that she's tricked by her own Lord she cursed Lord Vishnu that his wife also would be deceitfully abducted and he'll wander in her search and cursed Lord to turn into
7/n
7/n
shapeless black stone. Vrinda embraced death by entering into fire. Lord Vishnu accepted the curse and turned into the Shaligram stone. He gave Vrinda a boon that from her ashes the plant of Tulsi would be born and it'd get married to Shaligram stone. This way her chastity
8/n
8/n
wouldn't be maligned and shed stay with Lord Vishnu forever. Vishnu also said that he'd never accept food without Tulsi and therefore Lord Vishnu's prasad is always offered with Tulsi leaf in it.
9/n
9/n
