Tulsi is an aromatic member of the basil family (ocinum tenuiflorum or ocimum sanctum.)Sanskrit meaning of tulsai is the 'incomparable one'.It is regarded as Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and the consort of Lord Vishnu. As per the Hindu calendar, the month of Kartik (October-November) is the best month to worship Tulsi as this month is loved by her. Tulsi is ceremonially married to Lord Vishnu annually on the 11th bright day of the month of Karttika in the lunar calendar. This ritual, called the 'Tulsi Vivaha' inaugurates the annual marriage season in India. Tulsi is worshiped in Hinduism.
Tulsi is known as the queen of herbs because there has been no herb which offers enormous healthy benefits as Tulsi. In Ayurveda Tulsi is considered as a tonic which retain youth and avoids ageing. The Hindi name for Basil is Tulsi. It is rich in phyto-nutrients. Tulsi contains minerals like vitamin A, beta carotene, potassium, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium. It is a stress buster and a mood elevator. Helps to reduce tension and anxiety. Tulsi is a tonic to heart. Tulsi has world's best anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-biotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-allergic, anti -disease properties. Intake of Tulsi helps to fight more than 200 diseases like flu, dengue, fever, cough, cold, blood pressure, joint pain, allergy, swollen lungs, tiredness, vomiting, loss of appetite, etc. Everyone should eat Tulsi leaves and drink Tulsi tea everyday for a good health.
Types of Basil
There are various types of basil found all over the world. They are categorized into two groups- Holy Basil and Mediterranean Basil.
A. HOLY BASIL
It is also known as Tulsi and the most revered houseplant in India. It is associated with Ayurveda and Hindu religion as goddess of wealth, health and prosperity. The plants have strong medicinal properties compared to second group of species. This small herb is found all over India and is cultivated, worshiped in temples and houses of Hindus. There are 5 popular species of Holy Basil :-
Krishna Tulsi
It is said that Krishna Tulsi got its name because of the purple leaves as Lord Krishna’s skin color is dark according to the Vedas. Krishna Tulsi is also famous for its crispy and peppery taste.Purple Leaf Tulsi is also used to treat throat infections, respiratory system, nasal lesions, earache and skin diseases.
Rama Tulsi
It is also known as 'Rama Tulsi', Sri or Lakshmi Tulasi, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Ocimum sanctum. The Green Leaf Tulsi is known for its cooling, mellower taste. This variety of Tulsi is found in China, Brazil, Eastern Nepal, as well as in Bengal, Bihar, Chatgaon and the southern states of India.All the parts of the plant emit a strong aroma. Ram Tulsi has a characteristic fragrance. Crushing its leaves between the palms releases a stronger fragrance than other varieties of Tulsi.
Vana Tulsi
It is native to India, Sri Lanka, Java and the northern and eastern parts of Africa. The scientific name of Vana Tulsi is Ocimum gratissimum. It can grow up to 2m high with highly aromatic and slightly hairy green leaves. The strong antioxidant activity of Vana Tulsi slows down the ageing process. Vana Tulsi is also known as African tulsi.
Kapoor Tulsi
This type of tulsi has garnished its name due to the sweet fragrance that can keep insects and mosquitoes at bay. Kapoor tulsi is short in terms of heights and gets the most number of flowers among all different types of the tulsi plant. It is also called heavily flowered basil.
Amrita Tulsi
Amrita means “immortality” in Sanskrit, and is sometimes translated as “nectar”- thus “nectar of immortality.”Amrita Tulsi also known as a tea basil, holy basil, or tulasi, is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae which is native to the Indian subcontinent and widespread as a cultivated plant throughout the Southeast Asian tropics.Commonly used to make teas with a very pleasing aroma and taste.
B.MEDITERRANEAN BASIL
It is known as sweet basil and is the most popular variety of basil found all over the world including Asia, Europe, America and Africa. It is the most consumed herb worldwide . It is used in culinary preparations. Some of the Mediterranean basil are Sweet basil, Thai basil, Purple basil, American basil, lemon basil, African blue basil, Greek basil, Summer long basil, etc.
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