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Read the story of how the demon Jalandhara transformed himself into Mayashiva to deceive Parvati, only to be outsmarted by Vishnu, leading to his ultimate downfall.
Characters in the story:
Jalandhra: Jalandhara is a demon king who is known for his strength and bravery, and is often depicted as a formidable foe of the gods.
Goddess Parvati: Goddess Parvati is a major deity in Hinduism, known as the goddess of fertility, love, and devotion, and is the wife of Lord Shiva, the destroyer and transformer in the Hindu trinity.
Lord Shiva: Lord Shiva is a major deity in Hinduism, known as the destroyer of evil and the transformer of the universe. He is often depicted as a meditating ascetic or as the lord of dance, with a third eye, a serpent around his neck, and a trident in his hand.
Lord Vishnu: Lord Vishnu is one of the three major deities in Hinduism, known as the preserver of the universe and the protector of dharma (righteousness). He is often depicted with four arms holding a conch shell, a discus, a mace, and a lotus flower.
In the Padma Purana, there’s a story about the demon Jalandhara and his deceptive attempt to insult the goddess Parvati and weaken Shiva. Here’s how it goes:
During a fierce battle between Jalandhara’s demon army and the demigods, the demons had the upper hand, and the demigods were on the verge of losing. Just then, Shiva and his troops joined the fight, turning the tide and forcing the demons into a tough defense.
Realizing that he was close to defeat, Jalandhara came up with a deceitful plan. He left his ally, the demon Sumbha, in the battlefield disguised as him and snuck away with another demon, Durvarana, to a cave. There, Jalandhara transformed into a false version of Shiva, called “Mayashiva,” and Durvarana turned into Nandi, Shiva’s loyal bull.
Disguised as Shiva and Nandi, Mayashiva and Maya Nandi arrived at Mount Kailash, Shiva’s home, where Parvati resided. Mayashiva was injured and bleeding, holding what appeared to be the severed heads of Shiva’s sons, Ganesh and Kartik, claiming they had died in battle. Despite the grim display, Parvati didn’t believe him. Still, she pretended to cry. When Mayashiva tried to console her with an embrace, Parvati cleverly stepped away.
Feigning grief, Parvati left for Akashganga to meditate, leaving instructions with her maid, Jaya. She asked Jaya to put on her clothes and return to Kailash. Parvati explained, “If he tries to embrace you, he’s an imposter. But if he asks about your well-being, he’s truly Shiva.”
As Jaya returned, Mayashiva immediately tried to embrace her. Breaking free, Jaya reported this to Parvati, confirming her suspicion that he was indeed a demon in disguise.
Meanwhile, Vishnu had also discovered Jalandhara’s deceit. Jalandhara’s power came from the purity and loyalty of his wife, Vrinda. By violating his own principles and attempting to deceive Parvati, Jalandhara had broken the sacred rules of battle. To counter him, Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhara and approached Vrinda, creating confusion and ultimately weakening Jalandhara’s power.
When Vrinda learned what had happened, she felt betrayed and cursed Vishnu, turning him into a Shaligram stone. To honor her and atone, Vishnu transformed Vrinda into a Tulsi plant, blessing her with a place in every home and a day of worship. This bond is celebrated in the Tulsi Vivah ceremony, symbolizing the divine relationship between Vishnu and Vrinda.
In the end, Jalandhara’s deceit leads to his downfall, while Vrinda’s purity is honored as she transforms into the sacred Tulsi plant. This story highlights the triumph of divine justice and the lasting power of virtue.
