Tulsi plant is venerated by all Hindus, throughout the length and breadth of the world mainly in India, and Nepal. Its botanical name is Ocimum Sanctum, also commonly known as Basil in English. Other names of Tulsi are derived mostly from its qualities as Sulabhaa - easily available, Bahumanjiri - with many flowering stalks, soolaghni - destroyer of troubles, Vishnupriya - beloved of Lord Vishnu, surasa - full of good juices, sap , as also Gauri and Devadandoobhi.
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| Krishna Tulsi |
Commonly, Tulsi is of two types - the Krishna Tulsi - dark leaved and the Shwera tulsi light leaved. This is sometimes also known as Ram Tulsi. Occasionally one may have come across Tulsi which grows in the wild. This is known as Vana Tulsi.
While doing a prayer ceremony, the leaves and its flowers are given the foremost importance. It is believed that at the tip of the Tulsi leaf, Lord Brahma - Prajapathi - The lord of creation resides and Shri Krishna - Vishnu - Lord of Saviour resides in the middle and Lord Shiva - Lord of destroyer of evils resides in the base. Its body is the Rig Veda, Yajurveda is its neck and Atharvaveda is its prana - life force. Because of its sanctity, the Tulsi plant is associated with mankind, our ancestors and the devas. A Tulsi leaf is always placed in the mouth of a dead body before it is taken for cremation, thus ensuring the smooth onward journey of the departed soul. Almost every Hindu household therefore, has a Tulsi plant and the special pot in which it is planted is called Tulsi vrindavan.
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| Tulsi vrindavan decorated with kolam or patterns with rice flour |
Apart from its religious significance, Tulsi is a grat purifier of atmosphere and possess so many medicinal befits which we will be soon discussing in our Health link at http://healthbenefits-fruitsvegetables.blogspot.sg/.
The Tulsi festival is celebrated every year from the 12th day of the bright fortnight to the full moon day in the month of Karthik or Kaarthikai. This is about 10 days after Bhaiyya Dooj - the last day of Deepavali Celebrations.
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| Tulsi given the feminine form |
Every women in the family are cultured to go round the Tulsi vrindavan daily morning after the daily routines as a manner of saying pranams or respects and also garlanding her with cotton tied with turmeric and kumkum to make buds as shown in figure above. Ekadesi coming in the month of Vaikasi - probably in October is very auspicious to Tulsi and on that day make the Tulsi pooja so as to get all the desires fulfilled.
Jai Tulsi Ma
