Avatar: Marriage of a Shaligram sila and Tulasi devi

Atheists typically do not understand the omnipresence of the Lord and his descent (Avatar). Others call a popular person as a avatar without the scriptural reference. Where does the truth lie?

The historical anecdote of marriage of Tulasi devi (Holy basil) and Shaligrama sila (from Gandaki river in Nepal where a insect bores a cakra inside the sila) is given below

On Kartika Purnima at a time marked with every auspicious sign, the wife of Dharmadhvaja, Madhavi, gave birth to a very beautiful daughter. She was decorated with all fortunate signs and grew to be an exquisitely beautiful young girl never aging beyond sixteen years. Her beauty stole the mind and heart of everyone, and being impossible to compare her with anyone else, She became known as Tulasi, (matchless). - Leaving home, Tulasi went to Badrivan where she performed severe penances with a desire in her mind that Lord Narayana himself become her husband. Pleased with her austerities, Brahmaji appeared before her and asked what boon she desired. Tulasi explained to him, "In my pervious birth, I was a gopi named Tulasi. By my wonderful good fortune, I was able to become the very dearly beloved maid servant of Lord Krishna. One day in the rasa-mandala, Radharani angrily cursed me to be born on the earth in human society. Thus leaving my divine body, I have taken my birth on the earth in this present form. Now I desire the boon of attaining Lord Narayana as my husband."

Lord Brahma replied, "There was one cowherd boy named Sudama who also received Radharani’s curse to be born on the earth. By that curse he has been born in the family of demons and is now famous on the earth as Sankhacuda. He has done extreme penance's to attain certain boons and to get you as his wife. Thus in this life he will become your husband for some time. Later by the influence of lila you will curse Lord Narayana, but accepting your curse, Lord Narayana will then become your husband. Lord Vishnu will love you more dearly than His own life, and without your presence all puja will be fruitless. By my boon, becoming the presiding deity of all the trees, you will freely enjoy unlimited happiness in the constant association of Lord Vishnu."

Sankhacuda, receiving his desired benedictions along with an all-auspicious protective shield (kavaca) from Lord Brahma came to Badrivan where he met Tulasi. As they were conversing with each other, Lord Brahma appeared on the spot and said, “Sankhacuda, please accept this young maiden as your wife." Turning to Tulasi he told her, "After the death of Sankhacuda, you will obtain Lord Vishnu as your husband." - The other boon that Sankhacuda received from Lord Brahma was that as long as the chastity of his wife was not violated, no one would be able to kill him. Thus becoming very arrogant, he began to terrorize all the demigods and human beings. Severely afflicted by his attacks, the demigods approached Lord Shiva and begged him to protect them. Then Lord Shankara went there and personally began to fight with Sankhacuda. - Meanwhile, Lord Vishnu made a plan to destroy the chastity of Tulasi. While Lord Shiva and Sankhacuda were ferociously fighting, Lord Hari in the form of a brahmana arrived on the battlefield. He said to Sankhacuda, "Please give your kavaca in charity to me, a brahmana." Then Sankhacuda immediately gave Him the kavaca in charity. That same Lord Hari, disguising Himself as Sankhacuda then went to see Tulasi.

Deceiving her in this way, He began to enjoy with her as if He were her husband and thus broke her chastity. - The Bhavisya Purana goes on for great length to point out that there was certainly no fault on Lord Vishnu's part. He wanted to maintain the benediction given by His devotee Lord Brahma to Sankhacuda, and at the same time He wanted to protect the demigods and devotees. For this purpose He created this particular pastime with the appearance of improper behavior. But since Tulasi is the plenary part of Lakshmidevi, she is actually the wife of Lord Vishnu. - At that very moment Lord Shiva killed Sankhacuda on the battlefield. When Tulasi understood all that had happened, she said, "By deceiving me, you have broken my chastity, and killed my husband. You're absolutely stone hearted! Thus I curse you to remain on earth as a stone!" - Lord Hari said, "For many years you underwent very difficult penance's to achieve Me. At the same time, Sankhacuda has also done severe penance's to get you. By the result of his austerity, he enjoyed you as his wife and has now gone to Goloka. Now you will get the fruit of your penances. Leaving this mortal body and taking a divine form, you will always remain with Me. Your present body shall turn into the river Gandaki, and from your hair will grow many trees famous as Tulasi. To fulfill your curse, I will become a stone (Saligrama-shila) and will always live on the banks of the Gandaki River. The millions of worms who live in that place will adorn those stones with the sign of My cakra by carving them with their sharp teeth." After this Lord Vishnu began do dwell perpetually in the waters of the Gandaki River in the form of stones.

According to the Gautamiya Tantra, "a stone from any place other than the Gandaki River in Nepal can never be a Saligrama Sila." In Sri Hari-bhakti-vilas it is stated, "merely by touching a genuine Saligrama Sila one becomes free from the sins of millions of births, so what to speak of worshiping Him. By puja of Saligrama Sila one gains the direct association of Lord Hari." The Skanda Purana states that, "a genuine Saligrama Sila is directly a manifestation of the Supreme

So dear atheists: hold your horses. Not everything can be perceived by the naked eye - some amount of purification of the soul is required to comprehend these matters. Om Tat Sat!