Tulasi The Sacred Plant

TULASI

The importance of the tulasi plant or the holy basil is seen in its scientific name itself - Ocimum sanctum. Each and every part of this extraordinary plant has medicinal purposes. Hindus worship the tulasi plant as Lord Vishnu's consort. The origin of the tulasi plant or the holy basil has been attributed to many sources in Hindu mythology. It has been said that when the gods and the demons (the Devas and the Asuras) churned the Ocean of Milk, to obtain nectar, the tulsi plant emerged from it. Another version says that Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, set his eyes a beautiful nymph. To escape from His amorous advances, she turned into a Tulasi plant.

Here is yet another interesting story. Once when the King of Gods, Indra, angered Lord Shiva. Shiva's anger fell as a tongue of fire into the sea, and changed into a demon. The King of the Seas, Lord Varuna, adopted this demon and named him Jalandharaa. Jalandharaa proved to be a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. And in due course, married Kalanemi's daughter Brinda. He was also granted a boon that whenever the moment Brinda ceased to be a chaste wife, Jalandharaa would meet his doom. Jalandharaa,true to his demoniac nature, started harassing the Gods.

None could vanquish him, except his Creator, Lord Shiva. One fine day they met on the battlefield and engaged in a fiery battle, but Jalandharaa proved to be very strong. To vanquish him, Lord Vishnu disguised as Jalandharaa, spent the night with Brinda. In this way, the Asura was destroyed.

Brinda was incensed at this deception; she cursed Vishnu that in a future incarnation, he would be cruelly separated from his wife and he would live on earth as a shapeless stone. Brinda immolated herself on her husband's funeral pyre and was reborn as a tulasi plant. Since she was a staunch devotee of Vishnu, it is said that she became his wife in this birth.

The tulasi plant is revered and glorified even in today's Hindu rituals. The Madhvas, a sub sect of Hindus, consider four months in the year as very holy. These four months which span the days of August to November are known as Chathur Masyam or the four months of fasting. It is during this time that the tulasi is specially worshipped.

Usually the courtyards of Hindu houses have a special structure to house the tulasi plant. It is called thetulasi maadam It is a small structure of mud or cement and is shaped like an eight-petalled lotus or"Ashtadhalam It also has a small hollow in its front to hold an oil lamp which is lit by the lady of the house every day at twilight.

On the "Utthaana Dwadasi day", the weddng of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Tulasi is celebrated with pomp and ceremony. On that day, auspicious items like turmeric, new clothes and lamps are arranged before the tulasi maadam. After a short pooja, 25 or 12 gooseberries are given as alms. A great feast is held and the festivities rival even a real wedding.

Hinduism is a unique religion that stays close with nature, and is full of gratitude for nature's bounties .It has elevated a potent medicinal plant to the status of the Goddess. Since Goddess Tulasi is beloved to Shree Hari she is also known as "Hari Priya. It is a rare coincidence that an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Shree Krishna was born in Vrindavan (Brindavan = The Tulsi Forest).

Here is a short sloka or invocation to the Goddess Thulsi.

"Namaste Tulasi Devi Sarvaabeeshta Palbradhae, Namaste Three Jagadh Vandhyae Namaste Loga Rashiyae".