Introduction
Jalandhara is an Asura king, in the Puranic tradition described in the Padma Purana as born from a burst of energy released from Shiva's third eye, or in the Shiva Purana, born of the ocean, and the husband of Vrinda, the woman later transformed into the tulsi plant.
This article follows the Puranic tradition. Where a detail differs between texts, the article says so.
Family
- Wife: Vrinda
Rise to power
Jalandhara grew immensely powerful and, in some versions, waged war on the gods, eventually attacking even Shiva. As long as his wife Vrinda's unbroken chastity and devotion protected him, he could not be defeated.
Vishnu's deception
To end the threat, Vishnu took on the exact appearance of Jalandhara and went to Vrinda, and she, believing him to be her husband, broke her vow unknowingly. With her protection lost, Jalandhara was killed in the ensuing battle, generally by Shiva.
Vrinda's curse and the tulsi
On discovering the deception, Vrinda was devastated and cursed Vishnu, in the best-known version, to be turned to stone, giving rise to the worship of the Shaligrama stone as a form of Vishnu. Vrinda herself then entered fire, and from her ashes, or by Vishnu's grace, the tulsi (holy basil) plant grew, which is worshipped alongside Vishnu ever after.
Meaning
The story is a difficult one within Vaishnava tradition itself, since Vishnu's deception of a devoted wife is not easily reconciled with his usual role as protector of virtue, and it is generally read together with the honour paid to Vrinda afterward, through the permanent place given to tulsi in Vishnu's worship.