Why is Tulsi Sacred

In her previous birth. Tulsi as Vrunda was married to a demon named Jalandhar. To vanquish him. Vishnu tricked Vrunda and destroyed Jalandhar. She cursed Vishnu that he would turn into stone (Shaligram). In turn, Vishnu accepted the curse and blessed her that she would forever be near him, and would be offered worship along with him. Therefore Vishnu accepts only that offering on which a tulsi leaf is placed. Since then tulsi plants also grow on the bank of the river Kali Gandaki, where shaligram stones occur naturally.

·         Shri Hari adorns wreaths of tulsi leaves and also greatly adores its fragrance. Seeing this, flowers such as mandir, parijat, jasmine, champak, karavir, punnaga, nagkesar, bakul, lotus, though themselves fragrant, highly regard tulsi; that she performed greater penance (in her previous birth) than any of them’

·         A sanskrit shlok describes tulsi’s sanctity:

Yanmule sarvatirthani yannagre sarvadevataha,

Yanmadhye sarvavedacha tulasi tam namayaham

-  I bow to the tulsi, at whose base reside all tirths, at whose top reside all deities and in whose middle are all the Vedas.

·                                The Brahmavaivart Purana lauds tulsi’s glory:

Sudhaghatasahasrena sa tushtirna bhavedwarehe,

Ya cha tushtirbhanevenrunam tulasipatra danatah

-  He (Bhagwan) is not so pleased after bathing with a thousand pots of amrut, as he is when he is offered even a single tulsi leaf.

·         In vaishnavism, it is obligatory to place a tulsi leaf when offering bhog (food) and donation.

·         A special utsav – the Tulsi Vivah, is also observed in all Vaishnava mandirs, when Tulsi is married to Vishnu, with pomp and bhakti.

·         It is also ritual to place a tulsi leaf in the mouth of a person, as the first antyeshti rite at the time of death. This ensures his transmigration to Vishnu’s abode.

·         In Ayurveda, tulsi is considered a divya aushadhi divine herb. As such it is used to treat many ailments.