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Tulsi
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Ocimum tenuiflorum (also known as Ocimum sanctum, Tulsi, Tulasi in Sanskrit and Hindi, (?????) in Malayalam, in Tamil, in Kannada, Maduruthala in Sinhalese) is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is an erect, much branched subshrub 30-60cm tall, with simple opposite green or purple leaves that are strongly scented, and hairy stems. Leaves have petioles, and are ovate, up to 5cm long, usually somewhat toothed.
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Encyclopedia
Ocimum tenuiflorum (also known as Ocimum sanctum, Tulsi, Tulasi in Sanskrit and Hindi, (?????) in Malayalam, in Tamil, in Kannada, Maduruthala in Sinhalese) is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is an erect, much branched subshrub 30-60cm tall, with simple opposite green or purple leaves that are strongly scented, and hairy stems. Leaves have petioles, and are ovate, up to 5cm long, usually somewhat toothed. Flowers are purplish in elongate racemes in close whorls. Tulsi is native throughout the Old World tropics and widespread as a cultivated plant and an escaped weed. It is cultivated for religious and medicinal purposes, and for its essential oil. There are two main morphotypes cultivated in India—green-leaved (Sri or Lakshmi tulsi) and purple-leaved (Krishna tulsi).
It is known across South Asia as a medicinal plant, commonly used in Ayurveda, and has an important role within the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism, in which devotees perform worship involving Tulsi plants or leaves.
There is also a variety of Ocimum tenuiflorum which is used in Thai cuisine, and is referred to as "Thai holy basil", or kha phrao—not be confused with "Thai Basil", which is a variety of Ocimum basilicum.
As an Ayurvedic medicine
Tulsi has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda for its diverse healing properties. It is mentioned by Charaka in the Charaka Samhita, an ancient Ayurvedic text. Tulsi is considered to be an adaptogen, balancing different processes in the body, and helpful for adapting to stress. Marked by its strong aroma and astringent taste, it is regarded in Ayurveda as a kind of "elixir of life" and believed to promote longevity.
Tulsi’s extracts are used in 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 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 anti-bacterial activity. For centuries, the dried leaves of Tulsi have been mixed with stored grains to repel insects.
Recent studies suggest that Tulsi may be a COX-2 inhibitor, like many modern painkillers, due to its high concentration of eugenol (1-hydroxy-2-methoxy-4-allylbenzene). One study showed Tulsi to be an effective treatment for diabetes by reducing blood glucose levels. The same study showed significant reduction in total cholesterol levels with Tulsi. Another study showed that Tulsi's beneficial effect on blood glucose levels is due to its antioxidant properties. Tulsi also shows some promise for protection from radiation poisoning and cataracts.
Constituents
- Oleanolic acid
- Ursolic acid
- Rosmarinic acid
- Eugenol
- Carvacrol
- Linalool
- ß-caryophyllene
Thai cuisine
Holy basil, known as kha phrao in the Thai language is commonly used in Thai food. Thai holy basil (Thai: krapao / ??????) should not be confused with horapa , which is normally known as Thai basil, or with Thai lemon basil .
The most well known dish made with this herb is Pad kaphrao —beef, pork or chicken stir fried with Thai holy basil.
In Hinduism
Scripture
Tulsi is an important symbol in many Hindu religious traditions which link the plant with the Goddess figure described in the Puranas. The name "Tulsi" in Sanskrit means "the incomparable one". The Tulsi plant is known in India in two forms—dark or Shyama (Krishna) Tulsi and light or Rama Tulsi. Rama Tulsi is commonly used for worship.
Tulsi is regarded as a goddess (an avatar of Lakshmi) and a consort of Vishnu. A garland of tulsi leaves is the first offering to the Lord as part of the daily ritual. Tulsi is accorded the sixth place among the eight objects of worship in the ritual of the consecration of the kalasha, the container of holy water.
According to one story, Tulsi was a gopi who fell in love with Krishna and so had a curse laid on her by His consort Radha. She is very dear to Vishnu. Tulsi is also mentioned in the stories of Mira and Radha immortalised in Jayadeva's Gita Govinda. One story has it that when Krishna was weighed in gold, not even all the ornaments of His consort Satyabhama could outweigh Him. But a single tulsi leaf placed on one side by his consort Rukmini tilted the scale.
Tulsi is ceremonially married to Vishnu annually on the eleventh bright day of the month of Kaartika in the lunisolar calendar. This festival continues for five days and concludes on the full moon day, which falls in mid-October. This ritual, called the "Tulsi Vivaha", inaugurates the annual marriage season in India.
As a deity
The presence of a Tulsi plant symbolizes the religious bent of a Hindu family. In many traditions (i.e Vaishnavism), a household is considered incomplete if it doesn't have a Tulsi plant. Many families have the Tulsi planted in a specially built structure, which has images of deities installed on all four sides, and an alcove for a small earthen oil lamp. Some households have up to a dozen Tulsi plants on the verandah or in the garden forming a "Tulsi-van" or "Tulsivrindavan"—a miniature basil forest.
Places that tend to inspire concentration and places ideal for worship, according to the Gandharva tantra, include "grounds overgrown with Tulsi plants". The Tulsi Manas Mandir at Varanasi is one such famous temple, where Tulsi is worshipped along with other devas (demi-gods/goddesses). Vaishnavites, or followers of Vishnu, revere the Tulsi leaf because it pleases Vishnu and thus is an inherent part of offerings of naivedya. They also wear beaded necklaces made of Tulsi stems. The manufacture of these Tulsi necklaces is a cottage industry in places of pilgrimage and temple towns. Another name for Tulsi within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition is Vrindadevi, meaning 'the goddess of Vrindavan'.
Puja
Followers of Hindu traditions often keep a Tulsi plant in front of their house. On a specific day each year known as 'Kartik Shukla Dwadashi' (usually about two weeks after Diwali) the Tulsi plants are beautifully decorated with structures made of sugarcane, mango leaves and flowers and then a puja (form of worship) is offered.
As with Diwali celebrations there are usually clay lamps lit around the Tulsi plant and the house. In some parts of India people will also have fireworks displays to mark the occasion. In northern India and in Gaudiya Vaishnava communities it is called the 'Tulsi vivah' or the wedding day of Tulsi with Krishna in his Sila form. There is another celebration called Tulsi Ekadashi where Tulsi is worshipped on the Ekadasi day.
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