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Gauravm: Created page with "{{Write for us}} {{Likeboxes}} ==Tulsi plant in Indian culture== '''''Source: Wikipedia''''' {|class="wikitable" ! Discussed species | ''Ocimum tenuiflorum'' (Holy Basil) |- ! De..."

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==Tulsi plant in Indian culture==
'''''Source: Wikipedia'''''
{|class="wikitable"
! Discussed species
| ''Ocimum tenuiflorum'' (Holy Basil)
|-
! Description
| '''''Ocimum tenuiflorum''''', '''Holy Basil''' (also '''''tulsi''''', '''''tulasī'''''), is an aromatic plant in the family [[Lamiaceae]] which is native throughout the Old World tropics and widespread as a cultivated plant and an escaped weed.<ref name="Staples1999">{{cite book|last=Staples|first=George|coauthors=Michael S. Kristiansen|title=Ethnic Culinary Herbs|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|year=1999|isbn=9780824820947|page=73}}</ref>. ''Tulsi'' is cultivated for religious and medicinal purposes, and for its essential oil. It is widely known across South Asia as a medicinal plant and an herbal tea, commonly used in [[w:Ayurveda|Ayurveda]], and has an important role within the [[w:Vaishnavite| Vaishnavite ]] tradition of [[Hinduism]], in which devotees perform worship involving ''tulsi'' plants or leaves.
|}
==Use of Tulsi in Ayurveda==
[[File:Holy Basil flowers.jpg|thumb|140px|''Tulsi'' flowers]]
''Tulsi'' has been used for thousands of years in [[w:Ayurveda|Ayurveda]] for its diverse healing properties. It is mentioned in the [[w:Charaka Samhita| Charaka Samhita ]],<ref>{{cite book|last=NIIR Board, National Institute of Industrial Research (India)|title=Compendium of Medicinal Plants|publisher=National Institute of Industrial Research|series=2004|isbn=9788186623800|page=320|year=2004}}</ref> an ancient Ayurvedic text.'' Tulsi'' is considered to be an [[w:adaptogen|adaptogen]],<ref name=kuhn>{{cite book|last=Kuhn|first=Merrily|coauthors=David Winston|title=Winston & Kuhn's Herbal Therapy & Supplements: A Scientific and Traditional Approach|publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins|year=2007|isbn=9781582554624|page=260}}</ref> balancing different processes in the body, and helpful for adapting to stress.<ref>[http://www.botanicalpathways.com/pdfs/11.pdf Botanical Pathways article with clinical trials details]</ref> Marked by its strong aroma and [[w:astringent|astringent]] taste, it is regarded in Ayurveda as a kind of "elixir of life" and believed to promote longevity.<ref>{{cite book|last=Puri|first=Harbans Singh|title=Rasayana: Ayurvedic Herbs for Longevity and Rejuvenation|publisher=CRC Press|year=2002|pages=272–280|isbn=9780415284899}}</ref>

''Tulsi'' extracts are used in [[w:Ayurveda|ayurvedic]] remedies for common colds, headaches, stomach disorders, inflammation, heart disease, various forms of poisoning, and malaria. Traditionally, ''tulsi'' is taken in many forms: as herbal tea, dried powder, fresh leaf, or mixed with ''[[w:ghee|ghee]]''. Essential oil extracted from Karpoora ''tulsi'' is mostly used for medicinal purposes and in herbal cosmetics, and is widely used in skin preparations due to its antibacterial activity. For centuries, the dried leaves have been mixed with stored grains to repel insects.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Biswas|first=N. P.|coauthors=Biswas, A. K.|title= Evaluation of some leaf dusts as grain protectant against rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (Linn.) |journal=Environment and Ecology|volume=(Vol. 23) |issue=(No. 3) 2005|pages=pp. 485–488 }}</ref>

==Tulsi in Hinduism==
[[File:Ocimum tenuiflorum.jpg|thumb|left|140px|An altar with ''tulsi'' for daily worship in a courtyard in India]]
''Tulsi'' or ''tulasi'' is a sacred plant for Hindus and is worshipped by Hindus as the avatar of goddess [[w:Lakshmi|Lakshmi]]. Water mixed with the petals is given to the dying to raise their departing souls to heaven.<ref>[http://www.hindunet.org/faq/fom-serv/cache/19.html Hindu FAQ: Why do we consider Tulsi sacred?]</ref> ''Tulsi'', which is [[w:Sanskrit|Sanskrit]] for "the incomparable one", is most often regarded as a consort of [[w:Krishna|Krishna]] in the form of [[w:Lakshmi|Lakshmi]].<ref name="Claus">{{cite book|last=Claus|first=Peter J.|coauthors=Sarah Diamond, Margaret Ann Mills|title=South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2003|page=619|isbn=9780415939195|url=http://books.google.com/?id=au_Vk2VYyrkC&pg=PA619}}</ref><ref name="Simoons">{{cite book|last=Simoons|first=Frederick J.|title=Plants of life, plants of death|publisher=Univ of Wisconsin Press|year=1998|pages=7–40|isbn=9780299159047|url=http://books.google.com/?id=KEUAbrBoeBAC&pg=PA14}}</ref> According to the ''[[w:Brahma Vaivarta Purana| Brahma Vaivarta Purana ]]'', ''tulsi'' is an expression of [[w:Sita|Sita]].<ref>Brahma vaivarta Purana 4.67.65</ref> 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 [[w:Hanuman|Hanuman]].<ref name="Chatterjee">{{cite book|last=Chatterjee|first=Gautam|title=Sacred Hindu Symbols|publisher=Abhinav Publications|year=2001|pages=93|isbn=9788170173977|url=http://books.google.com/?id=NQ0XQHEkuIcC&pg=RA1-PA93}}</ref> Many Hindus have tulsi plants growing in front of or near their home, often in special pots. Traditionally, '' tulsi'' is planted in the center of the central courtyard of Hindu houses. It is also frequently grown next to Hanuman temples, especially in [[w:Varanasi|Varanasi]].<ref>Simoons, pp. 17-18.</ref>

In the ceremony of [[w:Tulsi Vivah|Tulsi Vivah]], ''tulsi'' is ceremonially married to Krishna annually on the [[w:Prabodhini Ekadashi|eleventh day of the waxing moon]] or twelfth of the month of ''[[w:Kartika (month)|Kartika]]'' in the [[w:lunar calendar|lunar calendar]]. This day also marks the end of the four-month ''[[w:Chaturmas|Cāturmāsya]]'' period, 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 ''Kartika'' includes the worship of the ''tulsi'' plant, which is held to be auspicious for the home. [[w:Vaishnava|Vaishnava]]s especially follow the daily worship of ''tuls''i during ''Kartika''.<ref name="Flood2003">{{cite book|last=Flood|first=Gavin D.|title=The Blackwell companion to Hinduism|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|year=2001|pages=331|isbn=9780631215356|url=http://books.google.com/?id=qSfneQ0YYY8C&pg=PA331}}</ref>

Vaishnavas traditionally use [[w:Hindu prayer beads|''japa malas'']] made from ''tulsi'' stems or roots, which are an important symbol of initiation. ''Tulsi malas'' 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 tulasi round the neck".<ref name="Simoons" />

==References==
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{{Article semantics
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| author=Gaurav Moghe
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 {|class="wikitable"
 ! How to do a Tulsi Vivah || <videoflash>PZtXQY5mL6o</videoflash>
 ! An (amateur) enthusiast's video ||  <videoflash>i042xliL6j0</videoflash>
 |}
 ==References==
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Tulsi plant in Indian culture - Revision history

Gauravm: /* Additional Media */

Gauravm at 00:42, 15 February 2012

Gauravm: Created page with "{{Write for us}} {{Likeboxes}} ==Tulsi plant in Indian culture== '''''Source: Wikipedia''''' {|class="wikitable" ! Discussed species | ''Ocimum tenuiflorum'' (Holy Basil) |- ! De..."