SRIMATI TULASI DEVI MAHARANI
OM Satya Sanatana Dharma Ki Jai! OM Shri Maha Lakshmyei Namah! OM Tulsayei Vidmahe, Vishnu Priyayei Dhimahi, Tanno Vrinda Prachodayat! OM Shukraaya Namaha! Planet Venus day: Fridays!
The Tulasi tree is a most important plant (The queen of herbs), and is often seen at numerous Hindu temples, especially those dedicated to Vishnu and Krishna. Tulasi is considered to be a pure devotee of the Lord who has taken the form of a tree.
Tulasi (Holy Basil) Tulasi (Holy Basil) is considered as Goddess Lakshmi's form. Tulasi is the most sacred plant. According to Skanda Puranam..."One's body becomes pure just by touching this holy plant. One who water's HER daily will never have the fear of Yama (YAM RAJ/ cosmic King of Death).
Tulasi leaves are believed to have medicinal values like curing skin diseases, cough, fever etc., One must do pooja to Tulasi only after taking bath.
Tulasi dalam should not be plucked during grahanam (eclipse), ekadasi, after sunset. Women are not eligible to pluck tulasi. Only men & children (Girl child below 10 years) are eligible. One must chant Lord Vishnu nama while plucking Tulasi, so, that tulasi won't get hurt & the pooja performed with such dalams give infinite punya.
Tulasi should always be plucked in pairs. Women are eligible to water Tulasi , offer pradakshinas, chant Tulasi stotrams & perform Tulasi vivah during karteeka masa with Gooseberry plant. They are not eligible to touch or perform prayers to Shaligrama.'
Tulasi dalams are used in the worship of: Lord Vishnu (all ten forms of Vishnu - Dasavatara), Shree Mahalakshmi, Lord Shiva (It's a tradition to worship Shiva with Tulasi leaves & Lord Vishnu with Bilva leaves during Kartheeka masa. One must never differentiate between Hari(Vishnu) & Hara (Shiva), hence the exchange of these Holy dalams. Tulasi dalams should not be offered to Lord Ganesha. Whosoever worship Ganesha with Tulasi will suffer with severe poverty. Lord Hanuman can be worshipped with Tulasi dalam. It's our Hindu tradition to take holy teertham after concluding daily prayers with a holy chant of blessings (vedic phrase of blessing).*(fresh water with few Tulasi leaves becomes holy theerth equivalent to Ganges).
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The Tulasi plant also possesses curative properties and is said to be an antidote to snake-venom. It destroys mosquitoes and other pests and purifies the air. It even is said to ward off the messengers of Yama, the ruler of the dead, who will not enter a house containing a sprig of Tulasi. This is also one of the reasons why devotees wear the Tulasi as neck beads. When death occurs, the funeral pyre should be constructed of Tulasi, palasha, and sandal-wood.
Tulsi- most worshipped plant in Hindu culture. It has a mythological background as tulsi is considered as lord Krishna's wife. Literal meaning of tulsi is incomparable so as the name suggest, it really has properties that are incomparable with any other herb. Every thing mentioned in Indian mythology has a scientific background. So as the culture of planting tulsi in center of court yard in Hindu homes. It is a strong belief that those who plant tulsi in there houses never get ill, as it is very lovable to lord Krishna and lord Krishna has blessed this herb with this property.
Scientific reason of this story is that tulsi contains such a chemical composition that no mosquitoes and flies can come near the plant because of it s peculiar odor. Thereby by planting tulsi in courtyard prevents entry of these creatures in house thus rendering home safe from any diseases caused by these organisms.
Root of Tulsi is powdered and kept overnight in water, if taken daily early morning proves to be very beneficial in diabetes.
--Tulsi juice drops are very effective in earache.
--Tulsi juice when mixed with ginger juice is very effective in abdominal disorder in children
--Powder of tulsi leaves added with saunth (dried ginger) and sugar when taken with hot water is a famous remedy for fever
--A Tulsi seed processed in castor oil is very effective remedy for hair lice problem.
--It is said that if one Tulsi leaf if swallowed daily, that person never suffers from cancer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAvzwnc16Ag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAvzwnc16Ag
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/tulasi_devi_the_sacred_tree.htm
http://www.vrindavan-dham.com/vrinda/worshiping-tulasi.php
http://www.sanskrit.org/www/Hindu%20Primer/tulasi.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_2JrDINBJA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es7C-qNM8_I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWD00mNTGEE