Tulsi - Goddess Gifted by the GOD

TULSI THE MOST PRECIOUS BUT A FREE GIFT OF NATURE TO MANKIND

The sacred TULSI herbal plant known as OCIMUM BASILICUM or LAMIACEAE in the whole world particularly in our country is widely famous for its multi medicinal properties. It is a free gift from mother NATURE to the mankind and cheapest of all. Every one can afford to have it in his garden or orchid to use its leaves, seeds, roots for many ailments and for healthy upkeep of the body at no cost at all. It is worshipped in many homes in our country for its healing properties, fragrance, royal aroma and flavor. Tusi means not comparable. Its medicinal properties effectiveness cannot be described in words. It helps to nourish mind and inspire the spirit to the desired heights. It is the purest and most sublime plant which every house should have as its very presence keeps the insects and many ailments much away from the family. Hence in Hindu temples it is normally mixed in CHARNAMRIT .and the PRASAD etc.

TULSI or HOLY BASIL relieves flatulence. Its essential oil is very effective and contains vitamin A & C.

We all know that Tulsi leaves taken with black pepper check malaria and periodic fever and other ailments. Steam of its boiled leaves is used for fomentation of the affected parts. Its use after yogic Asanas and breath control exercises is very effective. It is very effective for poor digestion, lack of appetite, constipation, acidity, labour pains, snake bites (by using tulsi juice mixed with black pepper seeds), acne and ring worm. Tulsi seeds control urinary pain. Use it for gargle or mouth wash for thrush, as a herb for increased energy and as a eye wash for tired eyes. Its oil is used for massage and dried herb burned as an antiseptic incense in many homes.

To sum up in brief the following uses to which it is put have made this plant as elixir and in Greek the Basileus means the king..

• It reduces the intensity  and negative effect of stress, mental tension, emotional difficulties, poor life style habits, infection, pollution etc etc.
• Protect cells from damage and check excess oxidation.
• Its leaves are nerve tonic and sharpen memory.
• Remove phlegm from bronchial tube.
• Contains calcium, zinc, iron and chlorophyll
• Tea boiled with its leaves check fever in rainy season, malaria, and even dengue fever.
• Its leaves boiled with powdered cardamom with sugar and milk in half a liter water when taken brings down the temperature.
• Its leaves are used in Ayurvedic cough syrups. Check asthma and bronchitis.
• Chewing its leaves relieves cold and flu.
• Sore throat can be treated with boiled tulsi water and for gargles.
• It checks aging process.
• Influenza is controlled by having a decoction of leaves, cloves and common salt.
• Decoction of leaves, GINGER AND HONEY IS BEST FOR COUGH, Asthama, cold and influenza.
• Tulsi strengthen the kidneys.Juice of tulsi leaves and honey can check renal stone and even can expel the stone through urinary tract if used for 6 months daily..
• It reduces the level of blood cholesterol.
• For children ailments such as cough, cold fever, diarrhea, vomiting its juice is effective.
• Chew 12 leaves daily twice a day for a healthy life.
• It checks painful inflammation caused by arthritis and cancer.
• Mouth ulcer and infection are checked by its use by chewing the leaves.
• Tulsi juice is useful for skin disorders, ringworm and even for leucoderma etc.
• It checks teeth disorders. Dried leave after made powder be used for brushing teeth. The powder can be mixed with mustered oil to make a paste for teeth brushing and for checking bad breath/ massaging gums.
• Helps healthy liver functions and to check liver diseases.
• Decoction of leaves mixed with sandalwood paste be applied on forehead to check headaches.
• Tulsi juice is an effective remedy for sore eyes and night blindness caused by lack of vitamin A
• Its low toxicity provides no adverse reactions or other side effects.
• It purifies the blood and prevent negative physical and psychological effects of stress.
• Tulsi improves stamina, strength and endurance etc.

TULSI HAS MIRACULOUS MEDICINAL BENEFITS SUCH AS AN ADOPTAGEN, ANTI OXIDANT, ANTIBIOTIC PROTECTIVE, IMMUNO MODULATOR, HOLISTIC HEALTH PROMOTER AND A GOOD /CHEAP HEALER.

Lastly, in short each part of the PIOUS AND THE SACRED TULSI Plant is in it self a home doctor and its medical medicinal properties can help us to check our various ailments, provided we know how to make it useable in various situations and also make it a point to keep its PLANT in our houses, in every garden, offices and schools. The school  children  may  be given due information/ knowledge about its usefulness along with Yogic teachings etc so that the poorest  man  and the rich both in our country may get benefit of this holy herb in  all  in their day to day life .in  all situations to make our countrymen healthy ,wise and free from many ailments  which plague  us today.

Story of Tulsi

The story of Tulsi and the holiday known as Tusli Vivaha is a wonderfully symbolic story that resonates even today.

Tulsi Vivaha, is the mythical marriage of the tulsi plant and Krishna, is celebrated on the 11th day of the bright half of the lunar month of Kartika. The festival is popular in all parts of India and particularly in the south. 

In the Vedic tradition there is a rishi by the name of Narada who is the son of Brahma, the creator. He takes the role of cosmic instigator. He is always sneaking in and out of these stories, usually starting things off by making devious suggestions which his unsuspecting target eagerly agrees to. Of course there are all sorts of interesting consequences and they are what make up the core of these stories. 

During the time that Krishna was here on earth, the gods in heaven decided that he had been away long enough and that they missed him. They wanted him to come back to heaven. So with Narada, they hatched a plan to get Krishna to return. 

While here on earth, Krishna had 2 wives; Satyabhama and Rukmini. Queen Satyabhaama enquired of the Rishi Narada how she could ensure that she would have Krishna as her husband in her next life. Narada told the Queen, and truthfully so, that you receive in the next life that which you give away in this life as charity (Daan in sanskrit). So Satyabhaama immediately gave Krishna away to Narada and they left immediately so that Krishna could go back to heaven.
But Krishna's wives Rukmini and Satyabhama sorely missed their husband, and both requested Narada to bring Krishna back. Narada said that they would have to give the gods something equal to the weight of Krishna if he was to return from heaven. Proud of all the jewels and valuables that Krishna had given her, Satyabhama set up a large weighing balance scale. Krishna came and sat on one side. Satyabhama, who as befits a Queen, was rather arrogant and brought out all her jewels and gold and silver pots to weigh against Krishna. But the more she piled onto the balance scale, the lighter her side became. Krishna just became heavier and heavier. Reduced to angry tears, she finally gave up. 

Satyabhama asked Rukmini to do what she could. Rukmini removed all the gold and gems from the scale and plucked a few leaves of the wild tulsi plant growing nearby. She put them on the scale with all her love. The leaves proved to be far heavier than Krishna. With a smile, Krishna returned to earth to be with his wives. 

Since that time, a tulsi leaf is added to any auspicious gift. A father also places a tulsi leaf in his daughter's hand during the Kanyadaan - giving away of the daughter during a Hindu marriage ceremony. 

On Tulsi Vivaha the yagya tradition is for the tulsi plant to be dressed up as if it were a murti. The ceremony of Vishnu’s marriage is reenacted in a uja called Kalyana Utsavam. A dainty wedding pavilion (mandap) is made of sugarcane stalks and the tulsi plant is decorated with a yellow bridal sari, miniature jewellery and red kumkum powder. Krishna wears a golden crown and the traditional bridegroom's attire. The wedding is conducted with complete wedding puja and homa rites. The Tulsi plant is offered a feast of seasonal berries, new tamarind, turmeric, amla fruit and rice. Krishna is offered sweets made of milk. 

You might ask why it was that Rukmini, who was really Lakshmi, offered the tulsi plant to Krishna in this story. As is frequently the case in Vedic stories, it begins with a demon who has gained too much power and is troubling the gods. Since the strength of the gods can not always equal that of the demons, the gods have to win by some form of trickery. Of course ultimately it backfires and the gods have make amends. 

In this case, there was a demon who was a famous warrior by the name of Jalandhar. By constantly annoying, fighting and defeating the gods he made his fellow demons happy and more and more of the universe came under their control. Jalandhar had a wonderful wife by the name of Vrinda who was a pure and spiritually dedicated soul and a powerful yogi in her own right. Because of her purity and spiritual strength, Jalandhar became invincible in all three worlds. 

Desperately, the gods tried to find some way to defeat Jalandhar. Vishnu developed a plan and sent messengers to tell Vrinda that her husband had been killed in battle. The severed head and body of two monkeys were put in front of her, and after reciting some mantras, Vishnu, through his magical powers made her believe it was her husband’s dead body and she was plunged into grief. 

Then Vishnu snuck away and took the form of a sadhu and seemingly innocent, walked by Vrinda. Faking compassion, Vishnu recited some mantras and joined the head and the body together again. Vishnu quickly took the form of Vrinda’s husband who thought that her husband Jalandhar stood there in front of her. She embraced him with passion and relief. But quickly she realized her mistake and discovered that it was in fact, Vishnu. In that conservative era, she immediately lost her spiritual virtue and power for having touched the body of man who was not her husband. She was distraught at having been tricked, but it was of no use. After Vrinda had lost her holiness and purity, Jalandhar lost the source of his power, and was killed in battle.
When Vrinda came to know the full truth of her husband’s death, she was wild with anger and cursed Vishnu saying, “Your wife will be taken away from you and you will have to ask help from monkeys to recover her.” A rishi’s curse is a powerful thing and not even the gods can escape it. It was after all, the result of Vishnu’s own actions coming back to him. 

As we well know, this curse was realized when Vishnu took the form as Rama and Sita was taken from him only to be saved again by Hanuman, the monkey god. 

After issuing her curse, Vrinda prepared the funeral pyre for her husband and jumped into the fire. Vishnu, whose job it is to protect everyone in creation, was very sorry because as a result of his deceit the poor widow had committed suicide. He remained sitting at the side of the pyre for many days, deep in depression. Worried about him because he was neglecting his cosmic duties, the gods planted three medicinal trees in the cremation ground; Tulsi, Amala, and Jasmine. Of these three trees the Tulsi was most dear to Vishnu and to this day is used in his worship rituals Because Vrinda had for a while truly believed Vishnu to be her husband, when Vishnu appeared as Krishna, Vrinda came in the form of Rukmini and on the day which we celebrate as Tulsi Vivaha, they were married. 

Thanks to KrishnaBaghvan group and puja.net