Was Vishnu immoral to violate the chastity of Tulsi?
The story of Tulsi is often presented only in part, which can lead to misunderstandings. However, when we explore various Puranas and consider the broader context, a deeper picture emerges.
Tulsi was a virtuous and deeply devoted devotee of Vishnu. In her early youth, she received a boon that her chastity would grant invincibility to her husband—as long as she remained chaste to him.
A powerful demon named Jalandhar came to know of this and cunningly exploited it. He pressured, tempted, and deceived Tulsi’s father into giving her in marriage to him. Tulsi, being a noble and dharmic woman, remained completely faithful to Jalandhar. This chastity of hers effectively became Jalandhar’s armor—granting him near-immortality.
Empowered by this, Jalandhar began unleashing terror across the universe. He killed innocents and waged war against the Devatas. His tyranny grew unbearable, and the cosmic balance was under threat.
In order to stop him, Vishnu assumed the form of Jalandhar and approached Tulsi. The moment he united with her, her chastity was broken—and with it, Jalandhar’s invincibility. At that very moment, Jalandhar, who had been mocking the Devatas in battle, suddenly became vulnerable. The arrows that had been powerless until then now struck him fatally.
Now, if we isolate the act of Vishnu disguising himself and uniting with Tulsi, it might appear morally questionable—even scandalous. However, viewed in the full context, it was an act to protect the world from a merciless tyrant who had weaponized a woman’s virtue to serve his brutality.
The deeper question here lies within the concept of Dharma—which is not always black and white. Dharma is multi-layered. On one hand, preserving a woman’s chastity and the sanctity of marriage is undoubtedly Dharma. On the other hand, protecting the universe from a demonic oppressor is also Dharma—and in this case, it was the higher Dharma.
Often in Puranic literature, the conflict is not between Dharma and Adharma, but between competing Dharmas. Choosing the higher Dharma in such situations requires both wisdom and courage. It does not negate the importance of the lower Dharma, but prioritizes a greater good.
When Tulsi realized what had happened, she was shocked and heartbroken. Even though she knew her husband was a demon who tormented others, he was still her husband. Feeling betrayed, she cursed Vishnu, saying, “You tricked me—you were stone-hearted. So now, become a stone.”
Vishnu accepted the curse, but reassured her with love. He acknowledged her devotion and said, “You were trapped in an abusive marriage, and while you may feel what I did was wrong, it was not only for the good of the world—it was also for your good.”
He blessed her, saying that she would eternally remain with him—thus, Vishnu became Shalagram, and she became Tulsi, eternally worshipped together.
This story is not about Vishnu seeking selfish pleasure or acting out of lust. Rather, it reflects the difficult decisions sometimes required to uphold the greater good. The action is questionable, yes—but to call it simply wrong would be an oversimplification.
When one Dharma must be set aside for a higher Dharma, it is not a denial of value but an act of discernment.
That’s a broad overview of the story. I’ll share a link where I explain it in more detail, and we can definitely discuss it further when we connect next.