1-Why Is the #Tulsi Plant Considered #Sacred and so central to #Sanatana Dharma?
Tulsi has been revered in India for as long as man has been around.
In every #Hindu home a Tulsi plant holds great importance (1/25)
#संस्कृतिबोध
#वैदिकआचार
Tulsi has been revered in India for as long as man has been around.
In every #Hindu home a Tulsi plant holds great importance (1/25)
#संस्कृतिबोध
#वैदिकआचार
2-In all those old, #Traditional houses the Tulsi plant used to be grown in the centre of the house,
..on an altar-like structure called tulsi chaura. (2/25)
#सनातनशुद्धरूपसेविज्ञान
#Sanatanaknowseverything
..on an altar-like structure called tulsi chaura. (2/25)
#सनातनशुद्धरूपसेविज्ञान
#Sanatanaknowseverything
3-Every #Hindu #Puja ceremony creates what they call #Panchamrita
..and Tulsi leaves are an essential ingredient of panchamrita
Some people say that even when Tulsi is once used in worship,
..it can be cleaned and reused in another puja because it purifies itself. (3/25)
..and Tulsi leaves are an essential ingredient of panchamrita
Some people say that even when Tulsi is once used in worship,
..it can be cleaned and reused in another puja because it purifies itself. (3/25)
4-A garland made solely of tulsi leaves
..is the first offering to the Lord during the daily alankaran ritual. (4/25)
#knowthegreatestreligion
..is the first offering to the Lord during the daily alankaran ritual. (4/25)
#knowthegreatestreligion
5-It is believed that all offerings to Lord Vishnu are incomplete
..without the tulsi leaf
..perhaps because the vibrations of a tulsi mala
.. are said to be in harmony with Lord Vishnu’s vibrations. (5/25)
..without the tulsi leaf
..perhaps because the vibrations of a tulsi mala
.. are said to be in harmony with Lord Vishnu’s vibrations. (5/25)
6-In #Vaishnava philosophy, tulsi leaves please Lord Vishnu the most.
Rosaries—tulsi malas—are made from the dried stems of the plant.
Vaishnavites always use tulsi mala
..particularly while reciting #Vishnu mantras. (6/25)
Rosaries—tulsi malas—are made from the dried stems of the plant.
Vaishnavites always use tulsi mala
..particularly while reciting #Vishnu mantras. (6/25)
7-According to folklore, once, Lord #Krishna
..held a tulabharam, a religious practice of weighing a person against coins, grain, vegitables, gold, etc.,
..in which he sat on one of the pans of the balance scale. (7/25)
..held a tulabharam, a religious practice of weighing a person against coins, grain, vegitables, gold, etc.,
..in which he sat on one of the pans of the balance scale. (7/25)
8-On the other pan of the balance, all the gold ornaments of his queen, Satyabhama, were placed.
Even then the weight of these ornaments could not outweigh Krishna! (8/25)
Even then the weight of these ornaments could not outweigh Krishna! (8/25)
9-However, a single tulsi leaf—placed on the other side by his second queen, Rukmini—tilted the balance.
The stort goes to show that even Lord Krishna regarded tulsi as superior to himself. (9/25)
The stort goes to show that even Lord Krishna regarded tulsi as superior to himself. (9/25)
10-Tulsi is the queen of all Indian herbs.
The herb symbolizes Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu.
Tulsi is worshipped in the Tulsi Manas Mandir at Varanasi. (10/25)
The herb symbolizes Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu.
Tulsi is worshipped in the Tulsi Manas Mandir at Varanasi. (10/25)
11-Hindus perform a special tulsi puja annually
..on the ekadashi of shukla paksha or the eleventh bright day of the month of #kartika.
On this day, the tulsi is ceremonially married to Lord Vishnu. (11/25)
..on the ekadashi of shukla paksha or the eleventh bright day of the month of #kartika.
On this day, the tulsi is ceremonially married to Lord Vishnu. (11/25)
12- Tulsi grown in an earthen pot,
..is decorated like a bride and Vishnu, in the form of a shaligrama, a black fossil found on the bed of the river Gandaki, in Nepal,
..is placed in the potted Tulsi to symbolize the marriage.
The ritual is called tulsi vivaha. (12/25)
..is decorated like a bride and Vishnu, in the form of a shaligrama, a black fossil found on the bed of the river Gandaki, in Nepal,
..is placed in the potted Tulsi to symbolize the marriage.
The ritual is called tulsi vivaha. (12/25)
13-The day the ritual is performed inaugurates the marriage season, especially in north India. (13/25)
#संस्कृतिबोध
#वैदिकआचार
#संस्कृतिबोध
#वैदिकआचार
14-According to one legend, Tulsi was the devoted and pious wife of Shankhachuda,
..a celestial demon who had terrorized the gods.
..It was believed that the source of Shankhachuda’s strength was his chaste and devoted wife. (14/25)
..a celestial demon who had terrorized the gods.
..It was believed that the source of Shankhachuda’s strength was his chaste and devoted wife. (14/25)
15-To weaken the demon’s strength, Lord Vishnu tricked her into sinning.
When she realized the trick, she cursed Lord Vishnu to turn into a black stone—shaligrama. (15/25)
#सनातनशुद्धरूपसेविज्ञान
#Sanatanaknowseverything
When she realized the trick, she cursed Lord Vishnu to turn into a black stone—shaligrama. (15/25)
#सनातनशुद्धरूपसेविज्ञान
#Sanatanaknowseverything
16-Seeing her devotion and adherence to righteousness, Vishnu blessed her and said that she would continue to live on earth as a blessed plant
..worshipped and adorned on his head.
Thereafter, the tradition of tulsi vivaha began. (16/25)
#knowthegreatestreligion
..worshipped and adorned on his head.
Thereafter, the tradition of tulsi vivaha began. (16/25)
#knowthegreatestreligion
17-Vishnu also said that all offerings to him would be incomplete without the tulsi leaf.
Interestingly, tulsi leaves are never offered to Lord Ganesha.
A Sanskrit shloka describes the tulsi as ‘the incomparable one’ in its qualities. (17/25)
Interestingly, tulsi leaves are never offered to Lord Ganesha.
A Sanskrit shloka describes the tulsi as ‘the incomparable one’ in its qualities. (17/25)
18-Apart from its religious significance, the tulsi has great medicinal value too. (18/25)
19-Tulsi reduces stress, enhances stamina, relieves inflammation, lowers cholesterol
..eliminates toxins, protects against radiation, prevents gastric ulcers, lowers fevers,
..improves digestion, and provides a rich supply of antioxidants and other nutrients. (19/25)
..eliminates toxins, protects against radiation, prevents gastric ulcers, lowers fevers,
..improves digestion, and provides a rich supply of antioxidants and other nutrients. (19/25)
20-It is a rich antioxidant and is also known for its restorative qualities.
It is very effective in supporting the heart, blood vessels, liver and lungs, and also regulates blood pressure and blood sugar. (20/25)
It is very effective in supporting the heart, blood vessels, liver and lungs, and also regulates blood pressure and blood sugar. (20/25)
21-An essential oil extracted from karpoora tulsi—a variety of tulsi—is mostly used for medicinal purposes, though, of late, it is used even in the manufacture of herbal toiletries. (21/25)
22-Recently, organic tulsi has also been developed for the first time as a stress reliever and energizer. (22/25)
23-The tulsi is said to be a great mosquito repellent as well.
In a letter written to The Times, London, dated 2 May 1903, Dr George Birdwood, Professor of Anatomy, Grant Medical College, Bombay, said - (23/25)
In a letter written to The Times, London, dated 2 May 1903, Dr George Birdwood, Professor of Anatomy, Grant Medical College, Bombay, said - (23/25)
24-‘When the Victoria Gardens were established in Bombay,
..the men employed on those works were pestered by mosquitoes. (24/25)
..the men employed on those works were pestered by mosquitoes. (24/25)
25-At the recommendation of the Hindu managers,
..the whole boundary of the gardens was planted with holy basil, on which the plague of mosquitoes was at once abated, and fever altogether disappeared from among the resident gardeners. (25/25)
..the whole boundary of the gardens was planted with holy basil, on which the plague of mosquitoes was at once abated, and fever altogether disappeared from among the resident gardeners. (25/25)
