Tulsi Leaves (तुलसी दल)

Tulsi Leaves (तुलसी दल)          हिंदी ब्लॉग के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करें

A Tulsi Plant with flowers (मंजर)

                        It is one of the sacred (पवित्र) things in the Hindu religion, especially in the Vaishnava sect. Also known as Vrinda (वृन्दा), it is so much liked (प्रिय) by Vishnu (Narayana) that one can not imagine his worship to be complete without it. "Vrindavan" near Mathura where Krishna resided in his childhood means a "forest of Tulsi". Tulsi leaves are offered to the Vishnu idols. The leaves of Tulsi are to Vishu what Bilva-Patras (बेल-पत्र) are to Shiva. On every offering of eatables (प्रसाद) to God at least a leaf of Tulsi is put on it, then only He accepts it. You may have noticed it in "Satyanarayan Puja". Every Hindu family keeps a plant of Tulsi near their house. It is planted in the courtyard (आँगन) in a two to three feet high flower pot which is called Tulsi-pinda (तुलसी पिंडा). It is kept cleaned and decorated. Due to a blessing given by God Vishnu to Vrinda (वृन्दा) (There is a story behind it), He always resides beneath the Tulsi plant. Hindus keep a round small stone called "Shaligram" near the stem of the plant in Tulsi-pinda (तुलसी पिंडा). "Shaligram" represents God Vishnu. This round small stone called "Shaligram" is preferably taken from the "Narayani" river or "Kali Gandaki river" that flows in Nepal and North Bihar. Devote Hindus have a daily routine of offering water (जल) to Tulsi-plant and Sun God (सूर्य), and show lamp (दीप) to them. Those not having a courtyard or sufficient space, they too keep a plant of Tulsi in a flower pot (गमला) in their veranda or balcony. They prefer not to keep it under shade but in open as is the rule. The fallen leaves of Tulsi on the ground are picked by hand and put in the pot and care is taken not to touch these fallen leaves by feet or by broom.

नव तुलसिका - A small Tulsi Plant

         Tulsi plant is commonly known as 'Holy Basil' in English but its biological name is 'Ocimum Tenuiflorum'. Generally, two varieties of Tulsi are found- One green-leaved (Laxmi Tulsi, Sri Tulsi, Rama Tulsi) and the other purple-leaved (Shyam Tulsi, Krishna Tulsi). The bunch of very small flowers is called "Manjar"(मंजर) in Hindi, a term used for mango flowers.  These flowers are offered to God Shiva and 'Hanuman'. But Tulsi leaves are not offered to Devi or Bhagawati (Hindu Divine Mother). This plant is an aromatic herb and in addition to the above two many other varieties are found that are not considered as holy. Though holy basil grows well in the temperate zone and cannot withstand very cold weather but other variety grows in cold conditions too. One of the most important temples of Vishnu is the "Badrinath Dham" which is in the Himalayas and in winter it is covered with snow. A variety of basil grows on hills around the temple there as shrubs and it is used in offerings to God "Badrinath". So this variety is also holy basil (Tulsi).

                Beads made from Tulsi stem or root are used to make "Japa Mala"(A string of beads) which is used as a rosary or worn around the neck by 'Vaishnavas'. Visit the link जप कैसे करें ? to see my blog in Hindi to know "How to perform Japa". (Tulsi Mala is also available online at Amazon at this link) There are rules for plucking leaves from the Tulsi plant. Before plucking "Pranam" (with devotion) is said and requested to pardon for plucking the leaves. It is not plucked on Sundays. Hindu calendar days of 'Ekadashi' and 'Chaturdashi' in each fortnight is special for Vishnu, so on this day worship of the Tulsi plant is done. Tulsi Vivah is performed in the Hindu month of "Karthik" around "Prabodhini Ekadashi" in which the wedding of Tulsi with Vishnu is celebrated. After this day "Lagan"(लगन) starts after a long period of monsoon in which marriages are not performed in Hindu society. "Lagan"(लगन) are the days (तिथि) of Hindu calendar on which marriages are allowed.

New Tulsi Plant

                 Salvation or Moksha (मोक्ष) is the ultimate desire of most of the Hindu devotees for which they worship the Gods in many ways. Moksha (मोक्ष) means freedom from rebirth but it is not easy. a small amount of "Papkarma"  may put one in the cycle of rebirth. But it is said that if a dying person is given Tulsi with Gangajala (Holy Ganga-water) in his mouth kept in a copper vessel then he gets Moksha (मोक्ष).

              Tulsi plant is also full of medicinal properties. In 'Ayurveda' it is an important herb. In the home remedy of cold and cough tea of Tulsi leaves is given. To stop continuous coughing Tulsi leaves and a few black peppers are chewed slowly. The green tea of Tulsi leaves which is known as "Kaadha" is beneficial for health. Due to this tea companies have brought many products related to Tulsi. Different types of Tulsi tea are available online at this link - Amazon Tea.

               Each and every part of Tulsi is Sacred. Creator God Brahma resides in its branches. In the roots are all the pilgrimage, in the middle are all the Gods while at the top are all the Vedas. This fact is also stated in the "Sloka" below which is recited while saying "Namaskar" to Tulsi.

              So for your prosperity and salvation, plant a Tulsi-plant near your residence and serve it. Following is the Mantra which should be recited daily while offering Jala (जल -water) to Tulsi:--

श्रीप्रिये   श्रीवसे                   नित्यम्   श्रीधर वल्लभे 

भक्त्या दत्ताम मया अर्घ्यम् हि तुलसी प्रतिगृह्यताम।

( SriPriye    SriVase       Nityam    SriDhar     Vallabhe

Bhktya Dattam Maya Arghyam hi Tulsi Pratigruhyatam)

After Jala (जल -water) show "Dhoop-Deepa" (धूप -दीप) and say namaskar by reciting the following "Mantras":--  

यन्मूले सर्व तीर्थानि     यन्मध्ये सर्व देवता

  यदाग्रे सर्व वेदेभ्यो तुलसी त्वाम नमाम्यहं ।

तुलसी श्री शक्ति शुभे पाप हारिणी पुण्यदे

    नमस्ते   नरदनुते   नारायण   मनः   प्रिये।

 (Yanmoole sarva  tirthani    yanmadhe sarva devata

 yadagre sarva vedebhyo tulsi twam namamyaham

 
Tulsi Srishakti Shubhe papharini punyade

 Namaste Nardanute Narayan manah priye.)