Pundit Balram Persad, Spiritual Leader, Om Shakti Mandali
The tulsi plant holds a place of significance in Hinduism, particularly during the auspicious period of Kaartik Snaan (November 1st – 29th 2020). Our ancestors brought the plant to our shores and Hindus usually keep at least one plant in their homes, where it is treasured and worshipped. Tulsi Maa is representative of sattvic prakriti or piety, truth, goodness and righteousness and her devotee develops such qualities. Furthermore, where Tulsi Maa resides, auspicious vibrations, peace and prosperity also dwell.
Tulsi worship must also be understood within the larger context of Sanatan Dharma. There are various paths, principles and practices that one can follow, based upon one’s preference, constitution and temperament, to experience the joy, peace and bliss of the Lord. Among the many paths is bhakti yoga, the path of devotion and unconditional love for the Divine. Such devotional worship can take many forms: the performance of rituals such as puja, offering flowers and prasad, lighting deeyas, devotional singing (kirtan), mantra jap (reciting the holy names of the Lord), upaasanaa (all forms of worship) and meditation. Other pathways include karma yoga (the path of action), gyaan yoga (the path of wisdom), mantra yoga (the path of mantra recitation) as well as ayurvedic yoga (the path of healing), which includes tulsi puja. Yoga means ‘union’ or ‘striving for self realisation’ but in order to reach that state, we must first purify our mind and body. Tulsi worship is one such means for achieving this goal.
In terms of Ayurvedic medicine, the tulsi plant is described as having tremendous medicinal properties including the ability to relieve the effects of 41 illnesses. The tulsi plant is also said to aid blood circulation in the human body. For this reason, some wear a tulsi mala around the wrist and neck. Its presence in the home is also considered a good defence against poisonous animals and insects. Morever, the tulsi plant plays an important role in religious rituals: it is used in puja as an offering; it is placed in prasad and panchaamrit and it is also significant in rituals related to death.
During the auspicious month of Kaartik, daily tulsi puja is recommended by the Devi Bhagwat Puraan. The puja may be performed at dawn, midday and dusk: Clean around your tulsi plant or keep it in a clean environment, if potted; offer sprinkled water on the plant five times; apply chandan (sandalwood paste); offer dhoop (incense and essence) and pushpam (flowers), light a ghee deeya and perform mantra jap reciting the dasakshar mantra:
Om Shreem Hreem Kleem Aim Vrindavanyai Swaha.
Another mantra states that all holy places reside at the root of the tulsi; the Devtas reside on its branches; and the leaves represent the various yagyas (sacrificial worship). It is said that in worshipping the tulsi, we derive the same merits as visiting the holy places and performing yagyas. Among the many benefits of tulsi puja are: alleviating obstacles and challenges, the fulfilment of legitimate desires as well as the achievement of the ultimate goals of spiritual transformation and self realisation.
(Extracted from a satsang.)
