TULSI
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Botanical name: Ocimum tenuiflorum
The Indian herbal plant Tulsi has a lot of significance in the Hindu religion. The term “Tulsi” is used in the context of one who is absolutely incomparable. Tulsi has a lot of reverence for the Hindus. Infact, people worship Tulsi everyday in the morning as well as evening time. This Indian basil basically grows in the warm and tropical regions.
There are two main varieties of this aromatic plant, namely Shyama tulsi and Rama tulsi. Well, out of the two, the former one is of greater medicinal value. Rama Tulsi, on the hand, is primarily used for worship.
Benefits
Tulsi plant has a lot of significance for mankind, due to the manifold medicinal benefits it provides. Tulsi leaves are widely used in the preparation of Ayurvedic medicines. It is known to promote the longevity of life. The extracts obtained from the plant are extensively brought to use for curing various diseases such as the common cold, inflammation, malaria, heart disease, headaches etc.
Cultural Importance
In India people grow Tulsi as the religious plant and worship it. Its leaves are used in temples for the worship purposes and also on the several occasions such as marriage. A Hindu house is considered incomplete without the Tulsi plant in the courtyard. Tulsi is belived to promote longevity and life long happiness. Tulsi is respected as a goddess in Hinduism.She is often referred to as Vishnupriya, the beloved of Lord Vishnu and also considered as a wife of Lord Vishnu. The festival of Tulsi Vivah is celebrated in many households of Goa and Maharashtra on the next day of Kartiki Akadashi (November).
Legend
There is a story about Krishna, in which the Lord was weighed in gold. Satyabhama, one of the wives of Lord Krishna gave away all her ornaments; even then they could not outweigh him. Seeing this, Rukmani, the consort of Lord Krishna, placed a single leaf of Tulsi plant on the weighing scale. This brought about a tilt in the scale.
