Vṛndā and Tulasī (03/18/12)
Dear J____,
I guess we have a small misunderstanding here in what I was saying.
Tulasī is Vṛndā, Vṛndā is Tulasī, but there is no Tulasī plant per-se in Goloka, but there seems to be in Gokula, and of course, here in the material world.
Vṛndā Devī in Goloka becomes the Tulasī plant here in this world, and the pastime involves a previous birth as you have mentioned and finally cursing Viṣṇu, and Viṣṇu counter-cursing. But from beginning to end it is only līlā, not real cursing. The first curse, that was actually a blessing, was Rādhārāṇī cursing Vṛndā Devī in Goloka. That was so Vṛndā Devī as the Tulasī plant would be married to Kṛṣṇa as Viṣṇu in the form of Śalīgrāma-śilā. This marrage takes place in temples around India and Vṛndāvana every year.
I hope this somewhat clears the matter and does not complicate it.
Gaura Haribol,
Swami Narasingha
