Vrishadhvaja, an ardent devotee of Shiva worships no other God. Not even Lakshmi or Saraswati. So, Surya curses him saying that his wealth and prosperity will desert him. When Shiva hears this, He is furious and chases Surya with his trishula to Vaikunta. Vishnu pacifies Shiva and says, “O Shiva, I know you loved Vrishadhvaha as your own son. But several yugas have passed on the earth by now.
Fortune did desert Vrishadhwaja, his son and two grandsons – Kusadhwaja and Dharmadhwaja too due to Surya’s curse. But Kusadhwaja and Dharmadhwaja performed an austere penance to please Mahalakshmi. Lakshmi Devi will be born in a twin avatar as Kusadhwaja’s and Dharmadhwaja’s daughters soon. After that, they will regain their former glory.” Shiva is appeased by Vishnu’s words.
Kusadhwaja’s daughter
Lakshmi as Vedavati in Krita Yug
Kusadhwaja’s wife gives birth to an exceptional girl. Her parents name her Vedavati because she starts singing the Vaidik mantras as soon as she is born. But Vedavati goes off to the forest to perform a tapasya the minute she is born.
One day she hears a heavenly voice which says, “In your next life Narayana himself become your husband.” Vedavati is overjoyed to hear this and goes off to another forest to perform an even more austere penance.
When Ravan arrives at that spot, Vedavati treats him respectfully like a guest. But Ravan is so besotted by Vedavati’s radiance that he ravishes her. A furious Vedavati uses her tapasya shakti to paralyse Ravana.
But Ravan knows Vedavati is an amsa of Devi Bhagawati herself. So he starts singing hymns in praise of Devi Bhagawati. Devi Bhagawati manifests before Ravan and says, “In your next life you will have a lot of punya.”
But Vedavati, the mortal woman curses him saying, “O Ravan, you and your family will perish for this crime.” Vedavati then abandons her soiled body and disappears as a spirit. Ravana sets Vedavati’s body afloat in the Ganga and returns to Lanka.
Lakshmi as Chaya Sita in Treta Yug
In her next life, Vedavati is reborn as Sita and marries Rama, an avatar of Narayana. Agni Deva appears in Rama’s dream just before Ravan abducts her and says, “Let me take Sita away with me for a year. I will create a shadow, Chaya Sita who is a replica of the original Sita in her place. That way I can protect Sita from the danger of getting abducted or molested by the sorcerer Ravan. I will deliver the true Sita back to you after you slay Ravan.”
Rama agrees with Agni in his dream. And in being entirely mortal, Rama and Chaya Sita continue with their lives as usual. Agni Deva keeps his promise to Rama. He delivers the true Sita back to Rama when she is taking the Agni Pariksha.
Now a distraught Chaya Sita comes before Rama and Agni and says, “O lords, what will become of me now that I have served your purpose.” Rama and Agni say, “Perform a tapasya in Pushkar and in time you will regain your place in Vaikunta as Swarga Lakshmi.”
Laskhsmi as Draupadi in Dwapara Yug
Chaya Sita, a virgin, yearns for a husband. So she performs a tapasya to Shiva in Pushkar. When Shiva appears before her, she says, “Lord, please give me a husband.” In her eagerness to experience womanhood, she repeats this statement five times. So Shiva blesses her with five husbands in the Dwapara yug. Draupadi manifests from Drupada’s yagna kund and goes on to marry the Pandavas.
Dharmadhwaja’s daughter
Laskhmi as Tulasi in Kali Yuga
Dharmadhwaja’s wife too gives birth to a luminous daughter who grows into a splendid woman instantly. They name her Tulasi. She wants none other than Narayana as her husband. So Tulasi too goes off to a forest to perform a tapasya.
When Brahma appears before her she says, “O Pitamah, I was Viraja, a gopi in Goloka. When Radha saw me with Krishna she cursed me saying I would be born as a mortal woman. I was so terrified of Radha’s wrath that I flowed out of Goloka as a river. But before I flowed out of Goloka Krishna said, “O Tulasi, perform a tapasya when you are born as a mortal. When Brahma manifests before you say you want none other than Vishnu as your husband – for Vishnu is also my amsa.” I have followed Krishna’s words. I wish to be lord Vishnu’s wife alone. Please fulfil my wish.”
Brahma says, “O Tulasi, Sudama too lived in Goloka with you. One day when Sudama tried to force his love upon you, Radha appeared there out of nowhere and cursed him saying, “Vile gopa. May you be born as a Danava.”
Tulasi, you will have to live through your mortal life, marry Shankhachuda who is none other than Sudama, who is also an amsa of Krishna. Then you will find a place with Vishnu forever.”
Brahma witnesses Tulasi’s and Shankhachuda’s Gandharva Vivah and says, “O Shankhachuda, Tulasi’s chastity will make you invincible.” In time, Shankhachuda becomes so powerful that he conquers Swarga, Bhoomi and Patala too.
When Vishnu knows it is time for Sudama to return to Goloka and make Tulasi his own, He seeks Shiva’s help to do the inevitable. Vishnu manifests as Shankhachuda and dupes Tulasi into breaking her chastity. But when Tulasi realizes the truth, she curses Vishnu saying, “O ruthless Vishnu, you will turn into a stone that is as hard as your heart for this crime.”
Shiva appears before Tulasi and says, “Grieve not O Tulasi. You have cleared your past karma and belong to Hari now.” Vishnu then says, “O Tulasi, the love that we shared was sacred. So, your hair will be revered as the most sacred plant of all creation. My devotees can please me by offering me just a small sprig of Tulasi in their rituals. And you will bless all earthly creatures by flowing as Gandaki on Bhuloka.
And I will expiate for the sin of deceiving you by transforming into a mountain beside your waters. Countless insects will carve slow rings of torture on my flesh of stone with their teeth. People of all ages will revere the pieces of rock that fall off this mountain, call them Saligramas and worship it as the holiest of stones.”
The following morning Shiva kills Shankhachuda. Before breathing his last Shakhachuda has a vision of Tulasi in Vishnu’s arms, recollects he is Sudama, knows both Viraja and he has lived through Radha’s curse and returns happily to Goloka. With Shiva’s blessings, Shankhachuda’s skeleton falls into an ocean.
We believe:
*The conch shells that we use to offer water to any deity (except Shiva) are made of Shankhachuda’s bones.
*Touching a conch shell is akin to touching Krishna’s own body – for Sudama was an amsa of Krishna.
*Lakshmi Devi shuts her ears in anger whenever a woman blows on a conch.
Through her four avatars, Lakshmi Devi says, “O manavas, I dwell in the soul of every woman. A woman, any woman, will stand by you through thick and thin. But if you abuse her physically like Vedavati, shun her like Sita and Chaya Sita, malign her character and strip her of her dignity like Draupadi or cheat her to get what you want like Tulasi – you will find it tough to deal with the consequences of her fury.” Let’s reflect on Lakshmi Devi’s message and treat women with the respect they deserve.
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