Why are the holy leaves of Tulsi not offered to Lord Ganesha? What curse did Goddess Tulsi and Lord Ganesha give each other?

The Curse of Tulsi by Ganesha.

This is a tale from the ancient age of Brahma. The young and wonderful Tulsi Devi, glowing with divine charm, wandered among sacred pilgrimage sites while remembering Lord Narayana. During her travels, she arrived at the most sacred bank of the purifying river Ganga.

There, astonished, she beheld a divine and supernatural figure — Lord Ganesha, who appeared like a treasure-lord (Nidhapati) meditating upon the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, clothed in pure yellow garments and glowing with youthful beauty. His entire body was smeared with sandal paste, and he was adorned with precious gems and ornaments. Seeing the detached and self-controlled son of Parvati, Tulsi Devi's mind was involuntarily drawn to him.

With a playful tone, she addressed the lord of yoga, the crescent-moon crowned one:

“O Elephant-faced one! O Large-eared one! O Single-tusked! O Pot-bellied!

What a wonder! All the marvels of creation have gathered in your divine form.

What penance have you performed to attain this form?”

With a calm voice, Ekadanta (Ganesha) replied:

“Dear one, who are you, and whose daughter?

For what purpose have you come here?

But O Mother! It is not proper to interrupt someone engaged in penance.

Such an act leads to inauspiciousness. May the all-auspicious Lord bless you.”

Dropping her teasing tone, Tulsi Devi responded sweetly:

“I am the youthful daughter of Dharma, and I have undertaken penance to attain a husband of my choice.

Please accept me as your wife.”

Startled, Lambodara (Ganesha) replied:

“Mother, marriage brings great sorrow.

True happiness cannot arise from it.

Marriage destroys the essence of self-knowledge and is the source of doubt and suffering.

Please forgive me, and turn your mind away from me. Seek another as your husband.”

Angered by his rejection, Tulsi Devi cursed him:

“You shall certainly be married!”

In return, Ganesha also cursed her:

“Devi! You shall marry a demon.

And by the curse of great sages, you shall eventually be transformed into a tree.”

 

Frightened by Parvati's son’s irreversible curse, Tulsi Devi began to praise Heramba (another name for Ganesha), the most worshipped of all gods.

Pleased by her prayer, the mouse-mounted, ever-compassionate Ganesha said:

“Devi, you shall become the essence of all flowers and beloved to Lord Narayana through his divine aspect.

All gods shall be pleased by you, but you shall hold a special place in the heart of Lord Vishnu.

Through your worship, humans shall attain liberation.

However, you shall always be unacceptable to me.”

Saying this, Ganesha departed for Badrinath to resume his penance.

In Hindi Roman 

गणेश का तुलसी को शाप":

Ganesh ka Tulsi ko Shaap

Brahmakalp ki baat hai. Navayauvansampanna param laavanyavati Tulsi Devi Bhagwan Narayan ka smaran karti hui teerthon mein bhraman kar rahi thin. Is prakar ve patit-pavani Shri Ganga ji ke pavanatam tat par pahunchin.

Wahaan unhone dekha – “Atyant adbhut aur alaukik roop hai aapka!” Wahaan Tulsi Devi ne atyant sundar aur shuddh pitambar dhaaran kiye, navayauvan se yukt, paramsundar Krishna padabj ka dhyan karte hue Nidhapati Ganesh ko dekha. Unke sampoorn sharir par chandan ki khor lagi thi aur ve ratnaabharanon se vibhushit the. Sarvatha nishkaam evam jitendriya Parvati-nandan ko dekhkar Tulsi Devi ka man unki aur barbas aakarshit ho gaya.

Vinod ke swar mein unhone Yogadhip Khandendu-shekh se kaha –
“Gajvaktra! Shurpakarna! Ekadanta! Ghatodara! Yeh sab aashcharya aapke hi shubh vigrah mein ekatr ho gaye hain. Kis tapasya ka phal hai yeh?”

“Vatsay! Tum kaun ho aur kiski putri ho? Yahaan kis hetu se aayi ho?” Uma-nandan Ekadanta ne shaant swar mein kaha –
“Mata! Tapascharya mein vighn daalna uchit nahi. Yah sarvatha akalyan ka hetu hota hai. Mangalmay Prabhu tumhara mangal karein.”

“Main Dharmatmaj ki navayuvati putri hoon,” Tulsi Devi ne uphaas chhodkar madhur vani mein param jitendriya Shambhu-kumar se nivedan kiya –
“Main manonukul pati ki prapti ke liye tap mein lagni hoon. Aap mujhe patni ke roop mein sviakar kar lijiye.”

“Mata! Vivaah bada dukhdaayi hota hai,” ghabraate hue Lambodar ne uttar diya –
“Usse sukh sambhav nahi. Vivaah tattvagyaan ka uchchedak aur sanshayon ka udgam sthal hai. Tum meri or se apna man hataakar kisi anya purush ko pati roop mein varan kar lo. Mujhe kshama karo.”

“Tumhara vivaah avashya hoga!” – kupit hokar Tulsi Devi ne Lambodar ko shaap de diya.

“Devi! Tumhein bhi asur pati prapt hoga.” – Ekadan Ganesh ne bhi turant Tulsi ko shaap diya –
“Uske anantar mahapurushon ke shaap se tum vriksh ho jaaogi.”

Parvati-nandan ke amogh shaap ke bhay se Tulsi Devi sarvagra-poojya Heramb ka stavan karne lagi.

“Devi! Tum pushpon ki saarbhuta evam kalansh se Narayan-priya banogi.”

Bhakta-sulabh Mooshak-vahan ne Tulsi ki stuti se prasann hokar unse kaha –
“Yoon to sabhi devta tumse santusht honge, kintu Shri Hari ke liye tum vishesh priya rahogi. Tumhare dwara Vishnu ki archana karke manushya mukti prapt karenge. Lekin tum hamesha mere liye tyaajya rahogi.” Itna kehkar Ganesh tap ke liye Badrinath chale gaye.