Tulsi --"The Incomparable One", "The Mother Medicine of Nature", and "The Queen of Herbs".

 

Holy Basil

In India, the herb Tulsi also called holy basil (sometimes spelled "Tulasi") has been widely known for its health promoting and medicinal value for thousands of years. Commonly called sacred or holy basil, it is a principal herb of Ayurveda, the ancient traditional holistic health system of India. holy basil is known as "The Incomparable One", "The Mother Medicine of Nature", and "The Queen of Herbs".
Ayurveda, in Sanskrit , means "knowledge of life". Herbs lie at the very heart of Ayurvedic practice. Ayurvedic knowledge was born from the wisdom of the ancient rishis (sages and healers) and yogis (ascetics practicing yoga) of India, and was first passed on from healer to healer as an oral tradition for untold generations before the earliest known texts were written around 5000 BC. The Rigveda is the first documented scientific record of Ayurveda (Griffith, 1963). Rig means "in verses" and veda means "book of infinite knowledge". The Rigveda emphasizes the great importance of herbs for optimal health and well-being. The main verse ( sloka ) of this book states:
"The sun should be a giver of happiness, the sky should be a giver of happiness, all trees and plants should be givers of happiness. All these should give us peace of mind ( shanti ) and even the peace should give us peace".
The Ayurvedic approach is highly respectful towards all creation and sees the whole universe as one divine unity. Hinduism is generally viewed in the West as the main religion of India. However, it is not a religion in the ordinary sense; it is rather known as dharma , which in Sanskrit means "way of life". Hinduism is a way of being which respects the delicate balance between all forces of nature, especially the coexistence of humans and nature, and Ayurveda is the practical expression of this dharma. Ayurveda has evolved since its early beginnings into one of the most comprehensive and respected holistic approaches to health and well-being.
The knowledge of Ayurveda, first written down in the ancient Vedas, was further described 2000 years later (2700 to 600 BC ) in the Ayurvedic samhitas (textbooks). Especially important are those by Carak ( Carak Samhita , 1949) and Susrut ( Susrut Samhita , 1938) who documented the medical knowledge of their time with the help of their disciples.The Carak Samhita is primarily a book on medical therapeutics, describing herbal health tonics and rejuvenators for longevity and prevention of disease, as well as daily regimens for better living, including diet which varies for different body types and different diseases. The text integrates the art and science of living. It is impressive to see how much knowledge currently taught in modern sciences, such as botany, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology (including the circulation of blood and lymph), is described in detail in the Carak Samhita .
In reading these ancient scriptures, we become aware of the utmost importance of herbal medicine for maintaining well-being, preventing disease, restoring health and prolonging life. In such scriptures as
Vagbhata (Godbole et al., 1966), Nighantu Adarsha ( Vaidya, 1985), Agnipurana (Vedavyasa, 1966), Vishnupurana (Garg, 1982), Padmapurana ( Vedvyasa, 1960), Garudapurana (Vedavyasa, 1964; Shastri, 1968) and Tulsi Kavacham (Dymock et al ., 1893), written between 500 BC and 1200 AD, the plant Tulsi is continuously mentioned as one of the main pillars of herbal medicine. Early references describing Ayurvedic, Unani and folklore uses of Tulsi are noted by Dymock et al., (1893); Nadkarni, (1908-revised, 1982); Kirtikar and Basu, (1935); Varier, (1996); Sharma, (1999) and Chopra et al., (1996).

Tulsi use in daily life and worship

In the ancient scriptures, Tulsi holds the supreme place among the various medicinal herbs. The Padma purana and the Tulsi Kavacham describe Tulsi as a protector of life, accompanying the human being from birth up till death (Dymock et al , 1893). The Pauranic mythology calls Tulsi Vishnu Priya , "Beloved of Lord Vishnu" . In the Bhagavata and Mahabharata (ancient holy epics and scriptures), it is described how Tulsi, a goddess and devotee of Lord Vishnu, was ultimately re-incarnated as the plant Tulsi. It is said that in order to express her devotion to her beloved Lord, she took this form as a herb which would be offered in worship and service to Him (Garg, 1982).
The ancient rishis insured the integration of Tulsi into daily life by incorporating it in religious rituals. Hindus perform pujas (religious rituals) several times a month on auspicious occasions. The rishis included leaves of the primary three varieties of Tulsi (Rama, Krishna and Vana Tulsi) in the Charanamrita of the puja . In this way people at all levels of society routinely consumed Tulsi to their health benefit during worship in their temples and households. As a sacred plant and goddess, Tulsi is worshipped and venerated daily by traditional Hindus, and is part of all such households today. It is typically grown in an earthen pot in the family home or garden.

A mythological example from the scriptures

Various passages of the Padmapurana reveal the importance of Tulsi in Indian mythology. Lord Shiva described the power of Tulsi to the rishi Narada (the omnipresent and eternal rishi and devotee of Lord Vishnu) , saying:
" Oh, Narada! Every house, every village, every forest, wherever the plant of Tulsi is grown, there misery, fear, disease and poverty do not exist. Tulsi in all aspects and places is holier than holy. Where the breeze blows through Tulsi plants, it spreads Tulsi's fragrance making the surrounding area pious and pure. Lord Vishnu and other gods shower their blessings on the people who worship and grow Tulsi. Through the worship of Tulsi, the souls of all our ancestors are pleased and our path to the heavens is opened. Oh Narada! The three gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra reside in the roots, middle parts of the plant and in the flowering tops respectively. This is why the plant of Tulsi is the most holy plant of the earth. Those who plant and nurture Tulsi in the Shiva temple or in any other place of worship, such as Naimisharayana and Prayag, are twice blessed by the gods. The offering of Tulsi leaves to Lord Vishnu/ Krishna should be considered the best way of worshipping Him. "

Introducing Tulsi

After this, rishi Narada requested Lord Shiva to tell him about the Triratri Vrata (three nights fast) Tulsi Vrata ( Tulsi fast). Lord Shiva described then the details of this vrata to rishi Narada in several holy mantras. He said:
" Oh, Narada! You have to keep awake for three nights, worshipping Vishnu and Laxmi with flowers, fruits, Ganga water and Tulsi leaves. This vrata helps one to learn the art and science of music and dance if those are practiced during this period of fast. "
The Padmapurana states:
Leaves, flowers, fruits, root, branches and the main stem and everything about Tulsi is sacred; even the soil under the Tulsi plant is holy. ( Padmapurana 24/2)
Even one plant of Tulsi put into the fire of the funeral pyre is capable of providing salvation ( moksha) to an individual. ( Padmapurana 24/2)
In Sanskrit Tulsi is known by many names, including Surasah, Ajaka, Parnasa, Manjari, Haripriya (the beloved of Lord Vishnu) and Bhutagni (the dstroyer of demon). Hindu denominations defer in how they regard the Tulsi plants as the Goddess. Generally worshipers of Lord Vishnu revere Tulsi as Lakshmi or Vrinda, devotees of Lord Rama honor Tulsi as Sita , while followers of Lord Krishna vernerate Tulsi as Vrinda, Radha and Rukmani . There are many other different names of Tulsi in the various languages and dialect of India.
Sanskrit is considered the oldest recorded language.
The Vedas are the most ancient scriptures of the Hindus.
Vishnu is one of the three supreme gods of Hindus. Brahma represents the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer.  
Literally, "Nectar from the feet of God". When the devotee forgets his ego and touches the feet of God, he receives the blessings in the form of the Charanamrita . It traditionally consists of cow's milk, yogurt, honey, Ganga water and Tulsi leaves, and is offered by the worshipper to the deity, blessed during the ritual and, returned afterwards by the Hindu priest. This prasad (offering) is later consumed by the devotee.
Rudra is the destructive aspect of Lord Shiva.
Naimisharayana is a holy place near Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, where many revered rishis resided, such as Vedavyash, the writer of the Mahabharata , which contains the Bhagvad Geeta .
Prayag is the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.