Tulsi in Ancient Indian Scripture

A number of passages in the ancient Indian scriptures of the Puranas and Vedas, refer to the importance of Tulsi and spirituality. Tulsi is regarded as a hindu goddess (Lakshmi) and a consort of Vishnu. A garland of Tulsi leaves is the first offering as part of the daily ritual in Hinduism. According to one story, Tulsi fell in love with Krishna and so had a curse laid on her by his consort Radha. 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 tilted the scale.

Tulsi Ceremony

To celebrate the ancient Tulsi history, it is ceremonially married to Vishnu annually on the eleventh bright day of the month of Kaartika in the luni solar 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.

Tulsi - Symbolic of Home

Followers of Hindu traditions often keep a Tulsi plant in front of their house or in a courtyard. On a specific day each year known as 'Kartik Shukla Dwadashi' (usually about two weeks after Diwali) there is a tradition wherein Tulsi plants will be 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.