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Friday, January 21, 2011

Why do we worship the tulasi?

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JAY SHREE POOJYASHREE SHREE AMMA
JAY MAHAN BRAHMASHREE GOPALAVALLIDASAR
JAY SHREE RADHEKRISHNA SATHSANG

Dear Readers,

Radhekrishna once again! In this years first post, we began with the question on Why do we worship the tulasi?

We concluded the post promising a story from the Hindu scriptures on the tulasi plant. Let us know about the same.

As one story goes, Tulasi was the devoted wife of Shankhachuda, a celestial being. She believed that Lord Krishna tricked her into sinning. So she cursed Him to become a stone (shaaligraama). Seeing her devotion and adhered to righteousness, the Lord blessed her saying that she would become the worshipped plant, tulasi that would adorn His head.

Also that all offerings would be incomplete without the tulasi leaf - hence the worship of tulasi.

She also symbolises Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu. Those who wish to be righteous and have a happy family life worship the tulasi. Thus it is no surprise that we can see a tulasi plant in every household!

Tulasi is married to the Lord with all pomp and show as in any wedding.

We will know more about tulasi in our next post. We will tell you yet another story signifying the importance of tulasi, also a part of innumerable Krishna leela’s.

…to be continued

Section II: Information about Indian herbs

In this post let us know about the herb isabgol or isapghul, called as Spogel or Fleaseed in English and Plantago Ispagula in Latin.

  1. They are small seeds which turn into a mucilage when soaked in water
  2. The husk also has the same properties
  3. Its used extensively for curing constipation and dysentery
  4. It is also useful in cough and asthma
  5. Paste of fleaseeds soaked in water is particularly helpful in dealing with whitlow

That concludes our post for the fortnight. Till the next post on 6th Feb, Radhekrishna!

Sarvam Guruvaarpanam

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Why do we worship the tulasi?

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JAY SHREE POOJYASHREE SHREE AMMA
JAY MAHAN BRAHMASHREE GOPALAVALLIDASAR
JAY SHREE RADHEKRISHNA SATHSANG

Dear Readers,

Radhekrishna! Wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year from Radhekrishna Sathsangam!

In this post, let us take a new question; Why do we worship tulasi?

Tulasi is a plant which is seen in front of every Indian household. Nowadays every alternate new product that comes in the market; be it a cosmetic like shampoo or soap, medicine or a consumable like tea, the advertisement emphasizes that the product contains tulasi. The reason is that Tulasi plant is a remedy to several ailments.

Hindus have known tulasi plant for ages now; though the same cannot be said about the rest of the world.

The plant is also mentioned in several Hindu scriptures.

In Sanskrit, tulanaa naasti athaiva tulasi - that which is incomparable (in its qualities) is the tulasi

For Indians it is one of the most sacred plants. In fact it is known to be the only thing used in worship, which, once used, can be washed and reused in pooja - as it is regarded so self purifying.

There is a story which tells us about the origin of this plant.

We will know about that story in the next post.

Section II: Information about Indian herbs

In this post, let us know about the plant named Harad, also called as Chebulic Myrobalan in English and Terminalia Chebula in Latin.

  1. It is a fruit of a large tree
  2. It is one among the three myrobalans. The other two are Bahera and Amla which form triphala
  3. Triphala is a well known remedy for many diseases, which is being used in India for many centuries
  4. If taken regularly over a long time, it prevents hair from turning grey
  5. It gives tone to the intestines and is a remedy for piles

That concludes our post for this fortnight. Till our next post on 22nd, keep chanting the Radhekrishna namam and attain divine bliss

Sarvam Guruvaarpanam
 

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