If you walk past many Indian homes, you’ll often see a small plant sitting proudly in a pot right at the entrance. That plant is Tulsi, simple, green, gentle, yet one of the most sacred beings in Hindu tradition. Outsiders may simply see a herb or a household plant, but Tulsi holds centuries of devotion, mythology, and divine love.
Even in Western dictionaries, Tulsi is identified as (Ocimum Sanctum) Holy Basil and its very name connects to the idea of royalty, sacredness, and something “king-like.” Across countries like France and Germany, basil was long believed to carry mystical, protective energies. Old European texts even mention strange superstitions and rituals around it. But none of them truly explain why Tulsi is worshipped in India the way she is. For that, we have to return to our scriptures specifically a powerful tale from Padma Purana, narrated by Narad Muni.
The story of birth of Jalandhar a long ago in hinduism, when Indra went searching for Shiva in Kailāsa, a misunderstanding and anger led to Shiva releasing a deadly bolt of lightning from his third eye. To prevent Indra from being killed, the lightning was diverted into the ocean, and from that union of lightning and sea, a radiant boy was born— Jalandhar. Brahma himself raised this child and blessed him that no one except Shiva could ever kill him.
Jalandhar grew into a mighty warrior and eventually married Vrinda, a woman known for her unwavering purity and devotion. With Jalandhar by her side, prosperity flourished everywhere, rain came on time, abundance blessed the land, and people knew no suffering. The only ones unhappy were the gods, for Jalandhar had become too powerful. Destiny then turned when provoked by Narad Muni’s clever words, Jalandhar developed envy toward Shiva and challenged him. Shiva fought bravely, but as long as Vrinda remained pure and devoted to her husband, Jalandhar was invincible. The gods then turned to Vishnu for help.
Vishnu knew the secret to Jalandhar’s strength, and to protect the balance of the universe, he took the form of Jalandhar and approached Vrinda. Believing her husband had returned, she embraced him until she discovered the truth. Heartbroken and betrayed, Vrinda cursed Vishnu, declaring that in one of his future incarnations, he too would lose his wife and would need the help of monkeys to find her. Her curse came true in the Ramayana.
Grief-stricken after Vrinda’s passing, Vishnu sat weeping in her ashes. To release him from this sorrow, Goddess Parvati planted three seeds in those ashes, and from them grew three plants: Tulsi, Āvali, and Mālti. Tulsi was Vrinda’s essence, her devotion, purity, and divine energy reborn. From that moment, Vishnu loved Tulsi forever as the living symbol of Vrinda’s soul.
The Fulfillment of Vrinda’s Curse: The Ramayana connection in Vishnu’s 7th incarnation as Rama, the two demons who once frightened Vrinda became Ravana and Kumbhakarna, who kidnapped Sita. And just as Vrinda foretold, Rama sought help from the monkeys, Hanuman and his vanar sena to rescue her. This is the powerful karmic thread connecting Tulsi’s story across lifetimes.
And this is why Tulsi is sacred in every Hindu home. She is not just a plant she is devotion incarnate.
Why Tulsi Is so loved by lord Vishnu? Tulsi is Vrinda, pure love, loyalty, and the divine feminine energy that once broke even the trance of Lord Vishnu. Worship without Tulsi feels incomplete, and even the Shaligram the symbol of Vishnu is always adorned with Tulsi leaves. The presence of a Tulsi plant is seen as a sign of deep faith in a Hindu home. In fact, a traditional Hindu household is often considered incomplete without Tulsi in the courtyard. Many families place the plant in a specially designed structure, featuring images of deities on all four sides and a small niche for an earthen oil lamp. Some homes even nurture several Tulsi plants together sometimes a dozen or more on the verandah or in the garden creating a beautiful Tulsi-van or Tulsi-Vrindavan, a small sacred basil grove right at home.
Every part of the Tulsi plant is honored as sacred even the soil around it is considered holy. The Padma Purana beautifully states that a person cremated with Tulsi twigs attains moksha and reaches Vishnu’s divine realm, Vaikuntha. Lighting a lamp for Vishnu using a Tulsi stick is believed to carry the merit of offering thousands of lamps. Creating a paste from Tulsi leaves, applying it to the body, and worshipping Vishnu is said to equal countless rituals and even lakhs of Godan (the sacred donation of cows).
Water infused with Tulsi leaves is traditionally given to those nearing death, as it is believed to uplift the soul and guide it toward heaven. Because Tulsi is so deeply revered, showing disrespect invites Vishnu’s displeasure. For this reason, people avoid any impure activity near the plant—such as urinating, throwing waste water, or damaging it. Uprooting or cutting its branches is forbidden. When a Tulsi plant naturally dries up, it is immersed respectfully in a water body, just like the ritual for retiring a deity’s broken image.
Although Tulsi leaves are essential in Hindu worship, there are specific rules: they must be plucked by reciting mantra as simple as Om Subhdraya Namah, only during daylight hours, and always with a prayer of forgiveness offered to Tulsi before taking her leaves.
A home that waters Tulsi is said to be blessed with:
- Good fortune
- Protection
- Harmony
- Divine grace
- Prosperity
- Purification of the mind and heart
She is the doorway where the earthly and the divine meet.
In Essence…
Tulsi is not just a herb.
She is Vrinda, Radha, devotion, purity, and the very heart of Vishnu’s love.
This is why she is worshipped.
This is why she is beloved.
This is why every Tulsi plant feels like a little shrine of divinity standing quietly at the doorway of a home.
What Aryuveda says about Tulsi? Tulsi has been cherished in Ayurveda for thousands of years for its wide range of healing benefits. It is even mentioned in the ancient Ayurvedic text Charaka Samhita. Known as a powerful adaptogen, Tulsi helps the body balance its internal systems and cope with stress more effectively. With its strong fragrance and slightly astringent taste, Ayurveda celebrates Tulsi as an “elixir of life,” believed to support vitality and longevity. Traditionally, people sprinkle Tulsi leaves into cooked food or drinking water especially during eclipses, as it is said to inhibit bacterial growth and keep the stored food pure. Tulsi has a pungent, sharp, slightly bitter taste and creates a warming effect in the body even after digestion. It helps balance kapha and vata doshas, though it may mildly increase pitta. The leaves are known for their light, dry qualities, while the seeds are just the opposite oily, cooling, and soothing. Tulsi is an aromatic stimulant herb and is widely used in Ayurveda for its ability to reduce fever and support overall wellness. Tulsi is packed with important nutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, and phosphorus. Vitamin A, in particular, plays a key role in maintaining strong eyesight. Tulsi also contains antioxidants like beta-carotene, which help protect the body from cellular damage.
Tulsi, or holy basil, is renowned worldwide for its healing and medicinal qualities. Its leaves are known to improve memory, support recovery from fever, and ease symptoms of the common cold. Tulsi also acts as a natural anti-stress herb and purifies the blood, which can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. In addition, basil leaves are effective in soothing mouth ulcers and fighting infections in the mouth, making them a valuable part of natural healing traditions.
If you would like to heal with Tulsi Rituals in combination with Sacred Geometry, I welcome you to book a session and I can reveal secrets that can help activate the abundance for you.