Tulsi & Lord Ganesh

by Mantra & shlokas on Friday, June 3, 2011 at 2:52pm

This is a story that I have heard from my grandmother and closely matches to the one found on the internet ( I don't remember which site, but I am roughly reproducing the content below. There might be other versions too.)

Tulsi, the daughter of Dharmaraja, the God of righteousness, was roaming about in the world in ecstatic devotion to Lord Narayana, in her youthful days and came upon the banks of the sacred river Ganga. There she wandered into a serene ashram full of fragrant flowers and plants swaying in cool breeze. She saw Lord Ganesha, who was in the prime of his youth, beautifully dressed in yellow silks, and lost in deep contemplation on Lord Krishna.

Captivated by the beauty of Lord Ganesha, she entreated him to marry her. Lord Ganesha turned down the proposal, saying that he was least interested in married life. Tulsi became angry and cursed Him saying : "You shall surely marry !", whereupon He also pronounced a countercurse on her : "You too shall get married, but to an Asura, and thereafter you shall be cursed to be born as a plant by the wise men".

Realising her mistake, Tulsi pleaded for mercy, and extolled Lord Ganesha with divine hymns. Lord Ganesha relented and said: "Though you shall be born as a plant, you will inherit the essence of all fragrance. All the gods will be happy with your fragrance, and Lord Hari will be specially glad to receive worship with your leaves. But you shall not be acceptable in the worship offered to me, except on Chathurthi days". So saying, Lord Ganesha left that place and went to Badrikashram.

That might be the reason why Tulsi is not offered to Lord Ganesh with the exception of Chathurthi.

I believe goddess tulasi like goddess earth is vishnu's wife, so shouldn't "offer" tulasi leaves to Shiva. Any other leaves which are not traced back to Vishnu (as being wedded to him) can be offered to Shiva(specifically bilva patris). Here there is a difference between 'Offering' the leaves to god 'Shiva' and using the leaves for pooja vidhanam (like in putting them in the theertham, or in the water that is sprinkled on devotees, tulasi has lot of medicinal benefits)

Srimati Tulasi Nilayam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

During Vinayaka chavithi we offer all kinds of fruits and certain number (21)of leaves and Tulasi leaves is in them.

1,machipatram
2.bruhati patram
3.bilwa patram
4.garika
5.ummetta
6.rEgu
7.apamarga
8.tulasi
9.maamidi
10.ganneru
11.vishnukranta
12.danimma
13.devadAru
14.maruvam
15.sindhu vaara
16.jaaji
17.ganDaki
18.jammi
19.raavi
20 maddi
21 jilleDu