The Hindu Temple v2.c11.s8.64

v2.c11.s8.64

The Tulasī is sacred to Viṣṇu and the Bilva is Śiva's tree. Once when all the gods and sages (ṛṣi) had assembled at the Tīrtha of Prabhāsa, Devī, Śiva's Śakti, wanted to worship Viṣṇu and Lakṣmī, who is Viṣṇu's Śakti, wanted to worship Śiva. Deeply touched, their eyes welled over with tears of joy. Where the tears fell to the ground, Āmalaka trees grew up "since they were born from tears and all the gods and sages saw Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva in the Āmalaka tree’’. (‘Bṛhaddharma Purāṇa’, XII. 1-35).