Tulsi
The holy basil plant kept in the courtyard of many Hindu homes.
Also: holy basil
Tulsi is a sacred basil, kept in a raised pot in the courtyard or at the doorstep of many Hindu homes and watered each morning, with a prayer and a circle walked around it. It is worshipped as a form of Lakshmi and is associated with Vishnu and Krishna. Its leaves are placed in offerings and prasad, and a marriage ceremony between Tulsi and Vishnu in the month of Kartik opens the wedding season. Many families use the leaves in tea, a tradition valued in home care. Tulsi plants are also grown at temples and, in the past, were placed at the death bed.
Region: South Asia