TULSI (RAMA) LEAF[OCIMUM TENUIFLORUM SYNONYM OCIMUM SANCTUM]
Listing description
Ocimum tenuiflorum (synonym Ocimum sanctum),
commonly known as holy basil, tulasi (sometimes
spelled thulasi) or tulsi, is an
aromatic perennial plant in
the family Lamiaceae which is native to the Indian subcontinent and widespread as a cultivated plant
throughout the Southeast Asian tropics.
Detailed description
Tulasi is cultivated
for religious and medicinal purposes, and for its essential oil. It is widely known
across the Indian subcontinent as a medicinal plant and a herbal tea, commonly used
in Ayurveda, and has an important role within
the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism, in which devotees
perform worship involving holy basil plants or leaves. This plant is revered as
an elixir of life.
The variety of Ocimum tenuiflorum used
in Thai cuisine is referred to
as Thai holy basil (Thai: กะเพรา kaphrao);[2] it is not to
be confused with Thai basil, which is a variety
of Ocimum basilicum.
Ocimum is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial
herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae. Its best known species are the
cooking herb Cooking basil, O. basilicum and this medicinal herb Tulsi (holy
basil), O. tenuiflorum. Most culinary and ornamental basils are cultivars of
Ocimum basilicum.
Uses[edit]
In Hinduism[edit]
Main article: Tulsi in Hinduism
Tulsi leaves are an essential part in the worship
of Vishnu and his avatars, including Krishna and Ram, and other male Vaishnava deities such as Hanuman, Balarama, Garuda and many others. Tulsi is a
sacred plant for Hindus and is
worshipped as the avatar of Lakshmi.[7] It is believed
that water mixed with the petals given to the dying raises their departing
souls to heaven.[8] Tulsi,
which is Sanskritfor "the incomparable one",
is most often regarded as a consort of Krishna in the form
of Lakshmi.[9][10] According to
the Brahma Vaivarta
Purana, tulsi is an expression of Sita.[11][full citation needed] There are two types of tulsi worshipped
in Hinduism: "Rama tulsi" has light green leaves and is larger in size;
"Shyama tulsi" has dark green leaves
and is important for the worship of Hanuman.[12] Many Hindus have tulasi plants growing in front of or near their home,
often in special pots. Traditionally, tulsi is planted in the
centre of the central courtyard of Hindu
houses. It is also frequently grown next to Hanuman temples,
especially in Varanasi.
According to Vaishnavas, it is believed
in Puranas that during Samudra Manthana, when the gods win the
ocean-churning against the asuras, Dhanvantari comes up from the ocean
with Amrit in hand for the gods. Dhanvantari, the divine healer, sheds happy
tears, and when the first drop falls in the Amrit, it forms tulasi. In the
ceremony of Tulsi
Vivaha, tulsi is ceremonially married to Krishna annually on
the eleventh day of the waxing moon or twelfth of the month of Kartik in the lunar calendar. This day also
marks the end of the four-month Chaturmas, which is considered inauspicious
for weddings and other rituals, so the day inaugurates the annual marriage
season in India. The ritual
lighting of lamps each evening during Kartik includes the
worship of the tulsi plant, which is held to be auspicious for
the home. Vaishnavas especially follow the daily worship of tulsi during
Kartik.[14] In another
legend, Tulsi was a pious woman who sought a boon to marry Vishnu. Lakshmi, Vishnu's consort, cursed her to
become a plant in earth. However, Vishnu appeased her by giving her a boon that
she would grace him when he appears in the form of Shaligrama in temples.[15]
Vaishnavas traditionally
use Hindu prayer beads made
from tulsi stems or roots, which are an important symbol of initiation. Tulsi
rosaries are considered to be auspicious for the wearer, and believed to put
them under the protection of Hanuman. They have such a strong association with
Vaishnavas, that followers of Hanuman are known as "those who bear the
tulsi round the neck".
PRICE
$38.22/KG
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