Significance of Tulsi for Pooja

Almost all Hindu houses have a Tulsi plant. Apart from featuring a horde of herbal qualities and medicinal properties, the plant is also known for its religious significance. It is widely used for almost any Hindu pooja or sacred ritual. Tulsi leaves are also known as holy basil leaves.

Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu and the goddess of wealth, is believed to be an earthly manifestation of the Tulsi plant. The deity is associated with various qualities such as virtuousness, dedication, and love. Paying obeisance to the plant can help the worshipper please Lord Vishnu, who is always represented with a garland of Tulsi leaves around His neck.

It is believed that when one worships Tulsi or uses Tulsi for any pooja with utmost devotion, he/she will not be affected by or suffer from any incurable disease. It is also believed that a poor devotee who pays obeisance to Tulsi wholeheartedly will be blessed with abundant wealth.

Another significance of using Tulsi for pooja is that doing so helps to get the blessings of the Trimurti. This is because Lord Vishnu, the Preserver is believed to reside in the middle of a Tulsi leaf. On the other hand, Lord Brahma, the Creator resides at the top, whereas Lord Shiva, the Destroyer resides at the bottom.

One important aspect of Tulsi is that it is not affected by Yadayaama dosha. Yadayaama refers to a state of staleness. Because of this unique property of this wonderful plant, Tulsi can be used for pooja even if it is slightly withered because it was plucked a day before.

If the plant is worshipped twice a day in the morning and evening, negative energies around the devotee get destroyed and the atmosphere is purified, with the surroundings getting cleaned in the process as a result of the dispersal of negative energies. This brings prosperity and peace to the household and gets rid of any Vastu dosha.

When a Tulsi leaf is offered along with the naivedya to the god/goddess, it absorbs the subtle frequencies produced from the food. The deity, in turn, absorbs the frequencies from the Tulsi leaf.

The naivedya and the atmosphere have some amount of tama and raja gunas in them, while the Tulsi leaf is enriched with frequencies from the sattvik guna. Hence, when a Tulsi leaf is placed on top of the food, the saatvik frequencies from the leaf alleviate the raja and tama gunas to a considerable extent. Moreover, this also results in the purification of the atmosphere around the naivedya. Hence, the naivedya contains the saatvik guna for a long time.

The Tulsi leaves have gained a special place in the hearts of spiritual seekers. This is because these leaves are capable of helping in meditation and enhancing the spiritual growth of an individual. A Tulsi plant is also known to symbolise or represent a sense of detachment.

The smell from Tulsi leaves are believed to have a therapeutic effect. When it is used for a pooja, the person offering the leaves is blessed with mental clarity and a calm environment. His/her anxiety and stress also get reduced.

The cleansing properties of Tulsi leaves help to wash off the past negativity and/or crime in a person. They pave the way for a fresh start and open the door to inner peace.

Keeping a Tulsi Plant in the Garden  

It is recommended that the Tulsi plant is not planted directly on the ground. In most households, a decorated masonry structure is used for this purpose. It is usually kept in the central courtyard or front of the house. Usually, the north-east corner of the house is preferred to keep the structure. Alternatively, the north direction of the house can also be chosen for the plant.

The decorations on the pot are usually intricate designs, auspicious symbols, and images of deities. The decorative pot is typically made of materials such as wood, metal, or clay.

Hindus express their devotion and love to the plant by watering the plant and lighting a lamp near it.

Benefits of Tulsi Pooja

Performing a Tulsi pooja with utmost sincerity has many benefits. A few of them are listed below.

·       Tulsi pooja can keep the performer hale and healthy without being affected by any infection or disease. The individual’s overall well-being is improved and his/her immunity becomes better.

·       Marital relationships prosper and the couple is blessed with a happy married life.

·       The home and the surroundings are filled with positive vibrations that, in turn, deliver many positive benefits. Evil spirits are kept at bay and everyone at home is protected spiritually. It also ushers in wealth and prosperity in the household.

·       Family relationships improve and communication among the family members becomes better than before.

·       Doing a Tulsi pooja helps the person doing the same to be blessed with good luck and happiness.

How to Pluck Tulsi Leaves

One must pluck Tulsi leaves for pooja only after he/she has had a bath and with a devout mind. They should not be plucked as single leaves and must always be plucked in pairs.

When the leaves are plucked, they must be held at the tip and the plant should not be shaken in the process.

The manjiri (inflorescence) of the leaves should not be plucked by themselves. They should always be plucked along with the leaves.

The leaves must not be plucked after sunset, as it is considered inauspicious to do so. The best time to pluck the leaves is during the daytime.

In a nutshell, using Tulsi for a pooja can soothe a troubled mind. Offering leaves from a Tulsi plant helps a person take a step ahead towards spiritual progress by bringing him/her closer to the deity. This helps to foster divine connections through divine energies. It is said that an individual who waters and cares for a Tulsi plant daily wins the divine grace of Lord Vishnu and gains moksha or salvation.