The state of Gujarat was ruled by a King named Pandey. He had only one daughter, Silabai who was very intelligent from a very young age. So, as soon as she turned five, Pandey employed a teacher named Mahinda who was skilled in all the arts and handed over the child to him. The master took Silabai with him to his Gurukul along with the wealth the ruler had given her for her care. There he taught her everything a princesses should know with great care.
The teacher was a devotee of Sri Hari Vishnu, and everyday he took food only after performing worshipping the Saligrama and Tulsi plates and offering sixteen kinds of rituals with incense lamps. Sila was eager to perform such pujas.
She approached the Master and said, “By the grace of Swami, I have learnt the importance of family management and how women should behave. By your grace, I have also learned about devotion to God. Isn’t it your duty to grow it further? so you should give me a Saligrama and teach me how to worship.”
Hearing this, Mahinda gave her a Saligrama and taught her the ways of worship and said, “Amma, if you worship it sincerely, you will get all the benefits and your desires will be fulfilled.”
When she got the Saligrama, Silabai put it in a box and worshipped it every day. After her education was completed, she returned to the palace. Her parents were amazed at her beauty, wisdom and piety. They decided it was time for her marriage and sought the horoscopes and pictures of the royal sons of many kingdoms through the Brahmins.
They selected the best among them and scheduled the marriage. The wedding was a grand affair. The king advised Silabai how to behave in her in-laws’ place. Later, her parents sent the couple off after the completion of a large number of ceremonies.
When a creek came in the course of their journey, everybody wanted to get down and rest there for a while. While all the others enjoyed themselves, went down to the river and swam and played, Silabai got down, took a bath, opened the pooja box and began to worship.
Her husband came at the place where Silabai was performing the puja. He was very angry at the sight of Silabai doing puja devotedly. When she saw her husband, she got up, bowed, and went to the place where her in-laws were sitting. In the meantime, her husband opened the chest and threw all the utensils into the river, burned it, and put the box in its former place. As soon as everyone had finished their meal and left, she picked up her pooja box and climbed into the coach.
Everyone reached the city. The next day, as usual, Silabai bathed and opened the puja box, but there was nothing in it. She was stunned. Not knowing who to ask or what to do, she prayed to Sri Hari and said, “Bhaktavatsala, how can I eat without completing my pooja and without worshipping you.” Seeing this, her mother-in-law consoled her.
Silabai was determined that she would not eat without doing the puja. Thus, five days passed. Seeing her determination, Bhagwan Vishnu Himself came in the form of a Brahmin in his dream and gave her the pooja box.
Silabai, who was fast asleep, suddenly woke up with a start. Beside her stood a cupboard. Her face lit up and beamed with joy, for she felt that it was none other than Bhagwan who had come. She immediately folded her hands in reverence and praise. Then a thought struck her—alas, they had not performed the pooja for the past four or five days. Thinking this, she at once went to bathe, dressed herself properly, and prepared herself for the pooja.
She informed her mother-in-law of everything and personally lit the stove to prepare a delicious sweet (Prasad). She arranged the flowers, lit the lamps, and gathered incense sticks, camphor, betel nuts, and all kinds of fruits. She remembered the teaching that one must first worship one’s husband and then worship Bhagwan. But she thought to herself, If I go to worship my husband first and he becomes angry and says something harsh, what will I do? With this thought in mind, she sat down to begin the pooja.
A few minutes after she had seated herself, her husband came there. The sight before him was magnificent—the beautiful flower decorations, the glowing lamps, and the divine fragrance that filled the place. Mesmerized by the scent, he came closer and stood still, astonished by what he saw.
The very same Saligrama and the same pooja vessels that he had thrown away were there. How could these have returned here when they were burning and had been cast into the river? he wondered. His heart overflowed with joy as he realized that this was nothing but the grace of Sri Hari Vishnu.
Silabai said, “You are a true devotee. Do not grieve. I am the one who has hurt you.” He wished to wipe her tears with his Uttar ( dupatta-like cloth worn over kurta), but he stood silently before her, unable to speak, overcome with shame. When Silabai opened her eyes and saw her husband standing there, she rose with a blush on her face, bowed to him respectfully, seated him on a couch, and then continued her pooja.
He felt immense pride in her virtues and beauty, and he was completely captivated, seeing how her devotion made her radiance shine even more brightly. The couple remained devoted to Bhagwan Vishnu for a long time thereafter. They managed their household with harmony and righteousness and ruled the kingdom wisely and well.
