Tusli, a herbaceous plant widely used in the Hindu religious tradition, symbolizes spiritual purity. All of its benefits derive from its role in devotional worship. Also known as holy basil and Ocimum sanctum, tulsi's use in religious offering stretches back for centuries and is recorded in Ayurvedic texts such as the "Charaka Samhita." Hindu mythology recognizes two varietals, dark and light tulsi. In Ayudevic medicine today, tulsi is prized as an adaptogen, or a substance that rejuvenates the body and increases vital energy, according to the University of Michigan Health System.
Promotes Longevity
Because tulsi is considered a cure-all, many Hindu adherents still grow tulsi in their gardens. Within the Ayurvedic tradition, tulsi acts as a health elixir by promoting health and dissolving many bodily issues. Its life-nurturing qualities make tulsi highly regarded, with a guaranteed role in many rituals, including births, weddings and funerals, according to a 2006 review of sacred plants in the Middle East published in the "Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine." Scientific research on tulsi has shown that the plant has anti-inflammatory effects and can lower cortisol levels, according to a 2007 article published in "Acupuncture Today."
Brings Clarity
Tulsi clears the air, literally and metaphorically. The sacred text "Padma Purana," as quoted by the Vedic encyclopedia "Simply Vedic," states that "Wherever the aroma of the Tulasi is carried by the wind, it purifies the atmosphere and frees men and animals from baser tendencies." During the British occupation of India, this cleansing property led the British to call tulsi "the mosquito plant" after observing that malaria outbreaks seemed not to occur wherever the plant was cultivated. The California Association of Ayuvedic Medicine confirms tulsi's mosquito-repellant properties. By cleansing the physical air, tulsi is thought to clear and purify the mind.
Renews Sacred Bonds
In Hindu sacred texts, tulsi plays the role of connecting humans with the heavenly realms through the metaphor of marriage and divine love. In one myth, tulsi symbolizes the incarnation of a princess who fell in love with Krishna. In another ritual, tulsi symbolizes the purity of the marriage bond between Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, according to the "Forum for Hindu Awakening." The marriage of tulsi to Vishnu is celebrated yearly as the beginning of the marriage season in India.
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