Tulasi Plant
Tulasi Plant is a most sacred plant on the earth. In Hindu culture
it has a greater importance than any other flower or plant. Every part of the
plant has beautiful fragrance in stem, seeds and leaves.
There are two types of Tulasi:
· Krishna Tulasi / Shyama Tulasi– Usually leaves
are darker in color
· Rama Tulasi – Has light green leaves and larger
in size.
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| Tulasi Plant |
In Purana’s (Sanskrit Scared Writings) it’s mentioned that every
household where there is a Tulasi Plant Evil spirits cannot enter, there will
be no suffering and no separation from the loved ones.
Hindus Worship Tulasi
Goddess for health and prosperity.
Hindus don’t touch Tulasi plant without
taking a bath. Garlands of Tulasi leaves are used in worship of Lord Krishna
and Lord Vishnu as they believe that it will please them the most and Lord
Hanuman is worshiped with Krishna / Shyama Tulasi. Hindus celebrate the Tulasi
Vivaha (Tulasi Marriage) every year in November which actually inaugurates the
marriage season in India.
Tulasi has been used in Ayurveda for its great Medicinal
qualities. It also acts as a Mosquitos and insect repellent. Tulasi is
considered to be balancing the various systems inside the body and helpful for
lowering the stress. Tulasi water (Tulasi
leaves mixed in water) is considered as pure as river Ganga (Ganga Jal). Hindus
pour 2-3 drops of Tulasi water in the
mouth of person who is dying in a hope that he will be freed from the cycle of
rebirth (Moksha / Mukti).
In India use of Tulasi leaves
in culinary preparations is prohibitated by Vaishnav communities( who worship
Lord Vishnu) , however Tulasi leaves or
Tulasi water offered to Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishan ( Prasad) can be eaten raw.
Beads made out of Tulasi Stem / roots are called Tulasi
Beads; it’s believed to improve your devotion towards the God. It’s worn around
the neck and wrist and also used as a Jap Mala.
