The Tulsi plant is venerated and is invariably grown in the courtyard of every house. After lighting up the lamp (deepa), the Tulsi plant is supposed to be cleaned and watered while reciting the following prayer:
Tulsi Devi Stuti
Thulasi shree sakhi shubhe, papa haarini punyade,
Namasthe Naradanuthe, Namo Narayana priye.
Oh, Holy Thulasi,
Bosom friend of Lakshmi,
Destroyer of sins,
Bestower of blessings,
Salutations to thee,
Who is praised by sage Narada,
And is the darling of Lord Narayana
Tulsi Gayatri Mantra
Om Tulsi devyai cha Vidhmahe
Vishnu priyayai cha Dheemahe
Thanno Brindah Prachodayath.
Om, Let me meditate on the Goddess of Ocimum, Oh, Goddess who is dear to Vishnu, give me higher intellect, And let Brindha[1] illuminate my mind.
Tulasi -
Spiritual significance and Medicinal benefits
During the churning of the Ocean of milk (ksheera sagara mathana), Sri Hari came up in the form of Dhanvantari carrying the kalasha of amruta. At that time some drops of Hari’s tears of joy fell into the amrutha kalasha. Tulasi was born out of those tears of joy. Having been born out of tears of joy, she herself gives joy.
She has Lakshmi devi’s amsha in herself. That is the reason for the celebration of marriage of Tulasi with Shri Krishna on every Karthika shuddha dwadashi day. Hari likes her very much. It is believed that Hari is present wherever Tulasi is present.
tuLasee kAnanam yatra | yatra padma vanAni cha |
vasanti vaiShNavA yatra | tatra sannihito hariH ||
There are two varieties of Tulasi plants viz. Sri Tulasi and Krishna Tulasi. Krishna Tulasi has blackish leaves. This is more suited for pooja in the brindavana. On the other hand Sri Tulasi which has green leaves is more suited for offering to Shri Hari.
Tulsi as a Deity
Tulsi is a prominent Indian basil that is considered to be very sacred.Thulasi (ocimum sanctum) is possibly the holiest plant for the Hindus. In the house of every Hindu family, you’ll find a Tulsi planted in the courtyard. In certain homes, Tulsi plant is kept in a specially constructed structure and is surrounded by images of Hindu Gods and Goddesses from all four sides. Some people establish a small basil forest, by planting dozens of Tulsi plants in their garden. Such kind of a miniature forest is called “Tulsivan” or “Tulsivrindavan”. Thus, Hindus worship Tulsi as a deity.
According to the Gandharv Tantra, the ideal place for worship is believed to be the one where there is an abundance of Tulsi plants. Tulsi plants sharpen the memory and enhance the concentration. There is a temple at Varanasi that was established in the dedication of Goddess Tulsi. Tulsi Manas Mandir is a very famous temple at Varanasi that draws huge crowds every year. Here, people come from different parts of the country to offer prayers to Tulsi Devi.
The devotees of Lord Vishnu, also known as Vaishnavites, worship the leaf of Tulsi, due to the fact that Tulsi was very dear to Lord Vishnu. Infact, as a part of devotion, there are many worshippers, who wear beaded necklaces made by using the stems of Tulsi. As per the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, Tulsi is known as Vrindadevi, which means the Goddess of ‘Vrindavan’. There are many interesting legends about Tulsi, which have given her a very high status in the eyes of people. Since, numerous mentions have been made about Tulsi in association with Lords like Krishna and Vishnu, it is worshipped as a Goddess.
There is a story in Devi Bhagavatam about her.
A big quarrel erupted between Goddess Sarawati & Ganga . Lakshmi tried to separate them. Saraswathi got infuriated and cursed Lakshmi that she should be born as a plant in earth. Ganga cursed Saraswathi, that she should become a river and Saraswathi in turn cursed Ganga that she should become an ever flowing river.Thus Goddess Lakshami incarnated on earth as the holy plant Tulsi.
Sri Tulasi devi is one of the most exalted devotees of the Sri Krishna. All scriptures stress on the importance of getting the mercy of Tulasi devi if one has to make progress in the path of devotion. In the Skanda Purana it is said: ‘Tulasi is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by remembering, simply by praying to, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about or simply by sowing this tree, there is always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in touch with the Tulasi tree in the above-mentioned ways lives eternally in the Vaikuntha world.”
Worship
Women are entitled to water the Tulasi plants and worship them.
Copper Pots are generaly used as copper is a good conducter of Energy.
Worshiping Tulsi Plant mainly by women has spiritual and Ayurvedic Significance.
Spirtual significance Women who worship Tulsi every day becomes Pavitra as tulsi.
{ Tulsi Dalam:- Eating five leaves of tulsi and drinking water in the early morning or water mixed with Tulsi leaves everday ,Tulsi Charnamrit prevents diseases like Cancer }
This Divine knowledge of our Ancient Rishis is boon to women specialy in the present time
Always apply the wet mud of the tulsi plant as tilak on the forehead after worship which helps in good luck fortune.
Tulsi Mula Mantra
Vrindaayai Thulasee Devyai,
Priyaayai KesavyasyaCha,
Kesavaarthe sinomi
Dhwaam Varadhaa bhava sarvatha
108 names (mantras) of Tulsi
OM shri tulasyai namah
OM nandinyai namah
OM devyai namah
OM shik hinyai namah
OM dharinyai namah
OM dhatryai namah
OM savitryai namah
OM satya sandhayai namah
OM kala harinyai namah
OM gauryai namah
OM deva gitayai namah
OM draviyasyai namah
OM padminyai namah
OM sitayai namah
OM rukminyai namah
OM priya bhuushan ayai namah
OM shreyasyai namah
OM shri matyai namah
OM man yayai namah
OM gauryai namah
OM gautam architayai namah
OM treta yai namah
OM tripatha gayai namah
OM tripad ayai namah
OM trai murtyai namah
OM jagat rayayai namah
OM tra sinyai namah
OM gat rayai namah
OM gatri yayai namah
OM garbha varinyai namah
OM shobhanayai namah
OM samayai namah
OM dvira dayai namah
OM aradyai namah
OM yagya vidyayai namah
OM maha vidyayai namah
OM guhya vidyayai namah
OM kamaxyai namah
OM kulayai namah
OM shriyai namah
OM bhuumyai namah
OM bhavitryai namah
OM savitryai namah
OM sarva veda vidam varayai namah
OM shankhinyai namah
OM chakrinyai namah
OM char inyai namah
OM chapal exanayai namah
OM pitam barayai namah
OM prota somayai namah
OM saurasayai namah
OM axinyai namah
OM ambayai namah
OM sarasvatyai namah
OM sam shrayayai namah
OM sarva devatyai namah
OM vishva shrayayai namah
OM sugandhinyai namah
OM suvas anayai namah
OM vara dayai namah
OM sush ronyai namah
OM chandra bhagayai namah
OM yamuna priyayai namah
OM kaveryai namah
OM manikar nikayai namah
OM archinyai namah
OM stha yinyai namah
OM dana pradayai namah
OM dhana vatyai namah
OM sochyam anasayai namah
OM shu chinyai namah
OM shreya syai namah
OM priti chin texanyai namah
OM vibhuutyai namah
OM akrityai namah
OM avir bhutyai namah
OM prabhavinyai namah
OM gandhinyai namah
OM svarginyai namah
OM gadayai namah
OM vedyayai namah
OM prabhayai namah
OM sarasyai namah
OM sara siva sayai namah
OM sarasvatyai namah
OM shara vatyai namah
OM rasinyai namah
OM kalinyai namah
OM shreyo vatyai namah
OM yamayai namah
OM brahma priyayai namah
OM shyama sundarayai namah
OM ratna ruupinyai namah
OM shama nidhinyai namah
OM shata nandayai namah
OM shata dyutaye namah
OM shiti kanthayai namah
OM prayayai namah
OM dhatryai namah
OM shri vrinda vanyai namah
OM krishnayai namah
OM bhakta vatsalayai namah
OM gopika kridayai namah
OM harayai namah
OM amrita rupinyai namah
OM bhuumyai namah
OM shri krishna kantayai namah
OM shri tulasyai namah
