Basil or Tulsi is such a pious plant for almost all the people of the world that it is worshipped like a goddess. In the Hindus, no food is sacred enough to be offered to any god unless it has a few leaves of Tulsi put on it. In fact, the sacred divine potion ‘Panchamrita’ has Tulsi as one of the basic ingredients. It is actually made of five ‘Amritas’ (nectars) milk, Ganga-water, honey, cow’s urine (some people prefer curd) and Tulsidal or leaves of basil.
Since it is full of the medicinal qualities, it is accorded this exalted status. In fact, all the religious rituals are borne out of some practical necessities. The ancients found basil to have great practical uses for health and hence they made it almost a divine plant.
Mythologically it is believed to have originated from the ‘Great Churning of the Sea’ performed by the Deemons and Deities. Lord Vishnu is believed to be the most beloved god of this plant whio is said to accept no offering of food unless some basil-leaves are part of it. Since Lord Krishna is believed to be the Incarnation of Lord Vishnu, he made basil widely grown in the Braj region.
Vrindavan was believed to be a dense forest of basil plants. In Sanskrit one of the names of basil is Vrinda and hence Vrindavan means a thick forest of basil. The Ayurvedic treatises speak in superlative terms for this plant. They say that its leaves regular consumption keeps palate, throat, teeth, gums, bronchal cord and lungs free of any sort of inferction. That is why every house of the traditional Hindus has this plant.
They say and invisible oil permeates itself from this plant in entire atmosphere and keeps it clean and free of germs. Even mere presence of basil is believed to have very salubrious effect on human body.
Another good quality of basil is its being antitoxic and hence anathema to all the poisonous insects and reptiles. If you have a Basil plant in your garden or terrace, no snake and scorpion will come near it. That is why it is a religious ritual to keep a basil plant in your house or in the adjoining area. Not only the plant but also the soil in which it is planted becomes a very good tonic for health. That is why each and every part of this plant is believed to be sacred, medicinally and spiritually alike.
Another scientifically proved quality of its being an insulatory material for electric jimpulses. It is believed that a house which has a basil plant cannot be subjected to the fall of lightning. This plant itself is full of electrical energy and its presence thus helps in the smooth circulation of blood.
It is, perhaps, because of this reason that people wear small laces made of basil stalks over their heart region, hands and around the neck. If you wear such a basil-lace around your waist you shall not be troubled by waist, liver, spleen or private parts’ afflictions. Many Englishmen also started using a piece of basil wood in the 19th Century in Calcutta to ward off such troubles.
Basil is not only sacred to the Hindus, even the Christians accord it an exalted status religiously. The Christian holy book say that this plant had sprouted up on its own over the grave of Christ. That is why the Churches of Eastern Europe worship these leaves still. Deeming them to be the gift of Christ and celebrate a Saint Basil’s day on which the Christian ladies plant this plant in their orchards amidst a religious pageantry.
In fact Basil has been found to be storehouse of virtues for the entire human system. Its leaves are very good medicines to cure a scores of disease, its blossom, rind and stalks keep your skin and muscles in good trim if used externally. Sometimes its blossom is dried and beads are made from it. They say if its dried blossom is rubbed over body, it provides an invisible effect to make body immune to all afflictions and illnesses.
Basil is a sacred plant almost all over the world. Whether you go to Israel or Mauritus or as far away as Indonesia, you would find its plant worshipped as though it is God.
The juice of basil is a recognised medicine in Homeopathic treatment. Not only Homeopaths, but physicians all over the world use it in one form or the other. Dr. Boerick of California opined in a science journal that basil juice was specially a good tonic for ladies. Its regular consumption protect them from all the feminine disorders.
The declaration was made in the Imperial Malarial Conference held a few decades ago that alone basil-leaves were capable of not only curing malaria but also in preventing its occurence. The oil ofbasil plant, when massaged over body cures even such dreadful diseases and affliction as paralysis or hcmillegia.
Basil has great preservative qualities. It is customary in far eastern islands to plant basil over their near and dears’ graves. Perhaps they took a cue from this plant’s emergence over Christ’s grave. The scientific reason ascribed to this phenomenon is that the presence of basil prevents decay and again, taking a cue from Christ’s Resurrection, as some Christians believe, the planters think that basil plant on the grave might revive the dead. Moreover, if there be any decay or purification of the body, the sweet smell ofbasil will overpower that foul smell.
Well, the mythological factors apart, basil plant has innumerable virtues even scientifically. Its leaves have a rich quality of sulphur and doused lead combination which has its nectareous effect on the body. Basil leaves keep the blood pressure on even keel, its consumptin neither makes the person lecherous nor impotent; it helps him keep his sexual urge well within control. It saves from all the respiratory and digestive troubles and keeps the blood clean. It provides strength to the bones yet keep them supple. It leaves’juice is the best tonic for the skin.
Basil’s actual growth period in North India is from mid-July to mid-Nov. The traditional belief based on a botanical fact is that basil plant cannot survive the extreme heat and cold as it is very delicate. Hence in the traditional Hindu households, the ‘marriage of basil’ is solemnised with Lord Krishna on the bright Ekadashi of the Kartik month (first week of Nov.) and then a red cotton cloth is covered over it, apparently to signify its marriedhood but inherently to preserve it from the extreme cold and extreme heat. Its plant grow about two to three feet high and remains verdant if properly looked after.