‘TULSI’

Basil and religion have a rich and long history together. The Hindus have been growing and using basil in temples for around 3000 years. The Rig Veda, probably written in 1500 BC, mentions the holy basil. The Puranas celebrate it for its holiness. Highly regarded in Ayurvedic’s system of medicine, it is noted in medical texts like Charaka Samhita, which was written somewhere between 200 BC and 200 AD. Basil, in South Asia, is tied to folklore and myth. It is said to represent Vishnupriya or Beloved of Vishnu, the embodiment of the goddess Lakshmi. It has been cultivated from ancient times throughout India. It is linked closely with the spiritual world. No Hindu household is without it and a ‘tulasi madam’ , a specially built structure, which has images of deities installed on all four sides, and an alcove for a small earthen oil lamp. Often some households can even have up to a dozen tulsi plants on the verandah or in the garden forming a “tulsi-van” or “tulsivrindavan” – a miniature basil forest.

The Tulsi is the most sacred of all plants. It is associated with many Hindu Gods and Goddesses. It is a very important symbol in Hindu religious traditions. In Sanskrit, tulanaa naasti athaiva tulasi – that which is incomparable (in its qualities) is the Tulasi. In fact, it is known to be the only thing used in worship, which, once used, can be washed and reused in pooja – as it is regarded as self-purifying.

It is worshiped in the morning and evening. It grows wild in the tropics. The two main varieties of basil are Shyama, or dark tulsi, and Rama, or light tulsi. The Krishna or Shyama tulsi is the type more commonly used in worship and is thought to hold more medicinal value. Tulsi can be found today growing in great quantities around Hindu temples. It comes in both green and red varieties and appears more clove-like than the ordinary basil that has long been used in cooking. Today, Holy Basil is used to treating a wide variety of medical conditions. Some of these include fevers, colds, sore throats, kidney stones, insect bites, and headaches. Tulsi is also considered to be very useful in reducing stress-related disorders.

Tulsi, along with all other species of basil, possesses remarkable physical and spiritual healing properties. Aside from its religious merits, Tulsi has been praised in Indian scriptures and lore since the time of the early Vedas as an herb that cures blood and skin disease and arthritis, a preventative for mosquito and insect bites, and a purifier of polluted air. Tulsi is used as medicinal teas and poultices. Tulsi’s widespread contemporary use in India as an aid to internal and external organs suggests these traditions are based upon practical efficacy. “one finds descriptions of basil’s health benefits in any of the books on herbs and Ayurveda readily available today.

Tulsi is also extensively used to maintain ritual purity, to purity if polluted, and to ward off evil. A leaf is kept in the mouth of the dying to ensure passage to heavenly realms. During an eclipse, leaves are ingested and also placed in cooked food and stored water to ward off psychic pollution. Funeral pyres often contain tulsi wood to protect the spirit of the dead—as Bhutagni, destroyer of demons, tulsi leaves and sprigs are hung in the entryways of homes to keep away troublesome spirits, and the mere presence of the Tulsi shrine is said to keep the entire home pure, peaceful and harmonious.

DIVINITY IN TULSI: Basil or tulsi became a symbol of love, eternal life, purification, and protection in India. It is regarded not merely as a mere utilitarian God-send, as most sacred plants are viewed to be, but as an incarnation of Goddess herself. Thus when one bows before tulsi, one bow to the goddess herself. Of course, denominations differ in their approach. Generally, worshippers of Vishnu will envision Tulsi as Lakshi or Vrinda; devotees of Rama view Tulsi as Sita; while Krishna bhaktas revere Her as Vrinda, Radha, or Rkumani.

TULASI SYMBOLISES:

1) Kalyani – Normally poisonous snakes and mosquitos do not come close to it due to some smell that it emits, That explains why it is a must in every house. The leaves as well roots are a cure for several diseases like malaria, cold, fever. The wood of this plant is used for Mala, ie a rosary for the worship of Lord Vishnu and when worn on the neck it prevents diseases of the throat.

2) Visnu Priye – Tulsi has been described as the beloved of Lord Vishnu since he is the creator and Tulsi helps the health of human beings and animals prevent soil erosion.

3) Mo Moshiriksa –  By keeping the body healthy, it keeps the mind healthy and free of worries enabling us to concentrate on the worship of the Ultimate Reality in comfort.

PURANAS: A plethora of Puranic Legends and village stories relate to how Tulsi came to grow and be worshiped on Earth. The classic Hindu myth, Samudramathana, the “Churning of the Cosmic Ocean,” explains that Vishnu spawned Tulsi from the turbulent seas as a vital aid for all mankind. More common are legends that describe how the Goddess Herself came to reside on Earth as Tulsi. A complex legend in Orissa views the plant as the fourth incarnation of the Goddess who appeared as Tulsi at the beginning of our present age, the Kali-yuga. The tale continues with intrigue and deception among the Gods, typical of the Puranic Stories, culminating in Vishnu’s transforming the Goddess Tulsi into a basil bush to be worshiped morning and evening by men and women in every household in the world.

Impressed by her devotion and adherence to righteousness, Tulasi the wife of a celestial being was blessed by Lord Krishna that she would be worshipped by all, offerings would be incomplete without the offering of Tulasi. Those who wish for a righteous life also worship Tulasi.

She also symbolizes Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu. Tulasi is married to the Lord in a ceremony flushed with pomp and ceremony. This is because according to another legend, the Lord blessed her to be His consort. Satyabhama once weighed Lord Krishna against all her legendary wealth. The scales did not balance till Rukmini placed a single Tulasi leaf along with the wealth on the scale with devotion. Thus the Tulasi played the vital role of demonstrating to the world that even a small object offered with devotion means more to the Lord than all the wealth in the world. “I bow down to the Tulasi, at whose base are all the holy places, at whose top reside all the deities, and in whose middle are all the Vedas”.

Yanmule sarvatirhaani

Yannagre sarvadevataa

Yanmadhye sarvavedaascha

Tulasi taam namaamyaham

BRAHMA PURANA

“dhatri phalani tulasi hy antakale bhaved yadi

mukhe caiva sirasya ange patakam nasti tasya vai”

Meaning: “If one has amalaki fruits or Tulasi leaves in one’s mouth or on one’s head or body when one dies, one is guaranteed not to suffer in hell.”

SKANDAPURANA

“Every home with a Tulasi plant is a place of pilgrimage, and no diseases, messengers of Yama, the God of Death, can enter it.” Glories of the thulasi is seen in this mantra:

SHRI TULASI PRADAKSINA MANTRA

yani kani ca papani

brahma-hatyadikani

catani tani pranasyanti

pradaksinah pade pade

Meaning: “By the circumambulation of Srimati Tulasi Devi all the sins that one may have committed are destroyed at every step, even the sin of killing a brahmana.”

SHRI TULASI PRANAMA

vrndayai tulasi-devyai

priyayai kesavasya ca

visnu-bhakti-prade devi

satyavatyai namo namah

Meaning: “I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vrnda, Srimati Tulasi Devi, who is very dear to Lord Kesava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord Krishna and possess the highest truth.”

Om