Oppiliaappan sthala PurANam - chapter 2

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ShrIbHUmidevIsameta ShrinivAsaparabraHmaNe namaH

Chapter 2

Narada came up with a few more queries:

" Oh Brahma! Thou wert born in the lotus and have eyes like the

lotus itself and are seated on the lotus! I prostrate before thee

again and again. Why did Bhagavan appear in the auspicious and

superior MarkaNDeyakshetram? Why did BhUdevI appear there as well? Why

is the pushakaiNI is famous as AhoratrapushkarinI? Why did the

kshetram come to be known as MarkanDeyakshtram? Please tell us in

total detail"

Brahma spoke thus:

" Oh Narada! Listen to the amazing history of ShrIVAsudeva, which

removes all sins. It gives Vaikuntam to those who think of him at the

very instant of the thought. Even if we try for a thousand years, it

is not possible to completely cover His Vaibhavam. I will tell you a

little bit of it.

Once Tulasi Devi, who was born out of droplets of divine nectar,

praised ShrIHari with many stotrams and said " Lakshmi lives on your

chest and thus has the status of being above the best of the best. If

I am also equally dear to you, I, too, should be on your bosom, just

like her."

Rameshan said "Lakshmi attained this place in my heart because of her

severe penance. She is going to take the form of Bhooma Devi and be

the daughter of MarkenDeya Maharshi. You go there before her and take

the form of a plant and live there for some time. Lakshmi will

reincarnate below you in a few months. A few days later I will come

there to wed her and will live there with BhoomiDevi and Markendya

Rishi for thousands of years, according to the Rishi's wishes.

"If someone worships me with your leaves, I will give him everything

including wealth and grains, there is no doubt about this. Everyone

who lives in your forest including animals, people and birds will

attain a place in my abode, and there is no doubt about this either.

Ramaa who is also my consort like you, will emerge below your tree in

the form of a little girl. Hence you will also become distinguished,

and that forest will be henceforth be known by your name. Thinking,

seeing, and meditating on you will give VaikunTam to those that do so,

and this is certain.

"If anyone worships me in "TuLasIvanam" with your leaves he will get

the benefit of, thousand Ashavamedha Yagas for every leaf, and that is

certain as well. If someone does not worship me with your leaves, he

will always encounter difficulties in this world. If anyone worships

me with your Kavacham, I will grant him VaikunTam and there is no

doubt about that.

"This is TuLasIkavacham, I am considered the rishi for this kavacham,

the meter is Anushtup, and the devata is TuLasI herself. Let TuLasI

protect head, and let PankajadhAriNi( one who has the lotus) protect

my forehead. Let PadmanayaNaa (one who ahs eyes like the lotus) guard

my eyes, and let the friend of Lakshmi guard me ears. Let sweet

smelling TuLasi protect my nose, and beautiful TuLasI one who has a

face like the moon, protect my face; let my tongue be protected by

Her, who has a soft body and the cheeks be protected by TuLasI who is

the a form of vEda. Let my shoulders be protected by TuLasi who holds

the lotus, my arms be guarded by Her form that destroys sins; let my

hands be protected by TuLasi whose hands are like lotus and my heart

be protected by Her, who is dear to VishNu. Let the middle part of my

body be protected by TuLasi who gives PunYam, and my let my stomach be

protected by TuLasi who increases auspiciousness; let my waist be

protected by TuLasI who wears bracelets and my thighs be protected by

Her who is worshipped by Narada; let my feet be protected by Her who

is beloved to Shri NarAyana and let all parts of my body be protected

by TuLasI who protects everyone. Let TuLasI who destroys all sins

protect me in danger, difficulties, ups and downs, forts, fear, wind

and wars. This is the TuLasI Kavacham, which is top secret and is like

the divine nectar. It gives all the desired objects for those who

recite in the morning. I will grant VaikunTam to those who worship me

with your lives on Friday, Tuesday and Sunday and I live in your

forest. So, your forest will be known as the VikunTam of this earth

and there is no doubt about that. If someone does not worship me with

your leaves, he will be in hell for crore years. I have granted boons

to you, so be not angry, Oh MangaLe!"

TuLasI, who was addressed thus, took the form of a tree and lived in

the sacred forest, that was full of trees, creepers and birds, to the

east of KumbhakoNam. From then on this place has been known as

"TuLasIvanam".

ShrIbHUmidevIsameta ShrinivAsaparabraHmaNe namaH

 

Shubha and Venkatesan