Inspired by His Holiness Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Come Let’s Celebrate

Tulsi Poojan Day

(25th December)

Tulsi (Basil) provides health benefits together with happiness, peace and prosperity

One who is incomparable is named “Tulsi” indicating how extremely beneficial it is. Worshipping, having darshan, consumption and planting of Tulsi destroys the three types of afflictions -Adhibhautika (Material), Adhidaivika (Astral), and Aadhyaatmika; and gives happiness and prosperity. Therefore all human beings of the world should take benefit of the wonderful qualities of Tulsi and lead a healthy, happy and respectful life, adopting the great perspective of Indian culture of beholding that Supreme Being alone even in plants and cultivate divine mental attitude. With this objective of public welfare, Pujya Bapuji, the well-wisher of all creatures, inspired the celebration of the Tulsi Poojan Day on 25th December 2014 and since then it has been celebrated in India and in many other countries across the world. Worship of Tulsi increases intellectual power, willpower, power of character, and the power of health. It protects the people from mental depression, suicidal
tendencies and the society gets the benefit from this subtle scientific knowledge of
Indian culture discovered by Rishis.

Tulsi has many Names

Tulsi juice is the best, so it is given the name “Sursa”. It is readily available everywhere hence it is also called as “Sulabha”. It is more prevalent in the villages hence it is also called “Gramyaa”. It relieves pain so it is also called “Shoolaghni”. Its botanical name is ocimum sanctum.

Tulsi a Wonder Drug

Pujya Bapuji says: “Tulsi gives longevity, health and vitality.” Simply by seeing a Tulsi plant, all accumulated sins are destroyed. Simply by touching Tulsi the body is purified. One who worships her after giving water becomes free from diseases and hellish afterlife.

Chewing 5-7 leaves of Tulsi followed by drinking water after holding it in the mouth and stirring it up will protect one from the doshas of Vata, Pitta and Kapha. It increases memory power and immunity of the body also. It prevents ascites and fistula in anus. Tulsi destroys cancer.

One who wears a rosary made of Tulsi beads around the neck or has a Tulsi plant near him (at the time of death) cannot be touched by the messengers of Yamaraj (the god of death). Wearing it around the neck charges the body with the bioelectric energy or the fire element which prevents the formation of tumours and, diseases caused by kapha like asthma, tuberculosis etc. It maintains vigour and ojas in the body, and boosts immunity.

Tulsi seeds are used in genitourinary diseases and mental diseases. The ethanol extract (90%) of the leaves showed hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol-induced liver damage. It has antiulcerogenic property. Aqueous suspension of the leaves showed immunostimulation of humoral
immunological response indicating the adaptogenic action of the plant. The essential oil of Tulsi is antibacterial and antifungal.

Tying the root or beads of Tulsi around the waist helps women, especially pregnant women. It reduces labour pains and facilitates normal delivery. There is a saying: “Whoever has Tulsi and Cow in their home is never visited by diseases.”

Why do Tulsi Poojan?

In the Skanda Purana it is said, “Wherever Tulsi is planted in the courtyard of a house (and worshipped everyday), the messenger of Death dare not enter that place.”

In the Padma Purana it is said, “In the Kaliyuga, worship, chanting, meditation, planting and wearing of Tulsi burns one’s sins and gives him heaven and moksha.”

In the Uttara Khanda of Padma Purana it is said, “One whose dead body is burnt in a fire, which has Tulsi wood as fuel, will attain the spiritual world, even if he is the most sinful of sinful persons, and the person who lights that fire will be freed from all sinful reactions. He cannot be caught by the messengers of Death.”

It is said in the Garuda Purana, “Planting, cultivating, watering, meditating, touching and praising Tulsi burns down sins accumulated in past lives.” 

(Dharma Kanda - Preta Kalpa: 38.11)

“One who drinks water with Tulsi leaves at the time of death is freed from all sins and goes to the abode of Lord Vishnu,” (Brahmavaivarta Purana, Prakriti Khanda: 21.43)

To eradicate poverty and get wealth

“One who wants to eradicate his poverty and attain happiness and wealth should circumambulate a Tulsi plant 108 times with pure bhava and devotion at the time of worshipping Tulsi.”   – Pujya Bapuji

* Keeping a Tulsi plant in the north-east corner gives prosperity.

Now Science has acknowledged importance of Tulsi

* Tulsi has a strong bioelectric field. That is why the air in the circle of 200 metres radius around Tulsi is clean and pure. In our Indian culture there is a custom of placing Tulsi leaves on foodstuffs during the period of eclipse as our sages knew that Tulsi has electric energy and hence it
protects the foodstuff from the harmful influence of the destructive gases and hazardous sun rays during the eclipse time. Tulsi leaves are also germicidal.

* Tulsi leaves contain a greenish yellow volatile oil which spreads in the surrounding air. It fills the air with radiance, glow and energy. The air touching Tulsi leaves is good for health wherever it may go. This is because Tulsi leaves contain a chemical called eugenol methyl ether which is germicidal and mosquito repellent. 

* Tulsi plant emits ozone which is very energetic.

* In a research carried out with a Universal Scanner (an instrument for measuring the aura), a startling fact was revealed that the aura of a person increased by three meters in all directions by circumambulating a Tulsi plant nine times. The larger the aura of a person, the greater is his capacity to work, mental ability and health.

* According to a research carried out in the King George Medical college of Lucknow, Tulsi leaves are beneficial in peptic ulcer, cardiac disorders, hypertension, colitis and asthma. Tulsi is regarded as an anti-stress agent. A daily intake of Tulsi tea (sans milk) or a regular intake of Tulsi leaves by masticating reduces the intensity of daily mental stress.

Pujya Bapuji says: “Scientists say that consumption of Tulsi cures or prevents malaria, and prevents cancer but I say their perspective is very narrow. Tulsi is a gift of God. You think-‘Tulsi pleases Lord Vishnu the most. Tulsi arouses divine love in our heart. So she is our nourisher and protector.’ And then eat Tulsi. Malaria etc. will be cured. Our perspective is not only to get rid of diseases but to keep the mind cheerful and to be cured of the disease of Transmigration and arouse divine joy in our heart in this very life.”

Why celebrate Tulsi Worship Day
25th December?

(1) Nowadays, due to the blind imitation of Western culture there has been a steep rise in the incidences of alcoholism, suicide etc. at the time of New Year celebrations. It will prove to be a real boon to celebrate this festival during these days because Tulsi is an excellent antidepressant and it increases enthusiasm, vivacity and purity.

(2) All actions done with an expectation of fruits are prohibited in the month of Dhanurmaas but acts for divine love give special benefits and cheerfulness. The 25th December falls in the middle of this period.

Tulsi Worship Process

On the morning of 25th December keep the potted Tulsi plant in a clean place a little above the ground. Offer water to it and chant this mantra.

Mahaprasadjanani Sarvosoubhagyavarshini.

Aadhivyadhi Harirnityam Tulasi Tvaam Namo-ostu Te.

 “O mother of great mercy, the bestower of all good fortune, who always removes anxiety and torment; Tulsi, I offer obeisance unto you.”

Then apply tilak on your forehead while chanting the mantra-“Tulsyai Namah”.
Offer unbroken rice grains, flower, and clothes and some sweets. Perform aarti by lighting a lamp and circumambulate Tulsi plant 7,11,21,51 or 108 times. Be quiet in that sanctified environment and pray to God or chant the divine Name or mantra given by your Guru. Doing pranayama near Tulsi increases strength, intellect & vitality.

Add Tulsi leaves to the offerings of sweets to convert it into divine prasada and distribute among all. Keep vigil till 12.00 am near Tulsi. Get repose in God by doing worship, chanting, and meditation. Reading of Tulsi Namashtak is also a meritorious act. Worship of Tulsi can be done in the nearby Ashram, Tulsi grove or any feasible pure place.

Tulsi Namashtak

Vrindam Vrindavani Vishwapavani Vishwapoojitaam.

Pushpasaaraam Nandinim Cha Tulasim Krishnajeevanim.

Etannamashtakam Chaitatstotram Namarthsanyutam.

Yah Pathettam Cha Sampoojya Sooshwamedhphalam Labhet.

1. Vrindavani – one who first manifested in Vrindavan. 2. Vrinda – The goddess of all plants and trees (even if one Tulsi plant is present in a forest it can be called Vrindavan). 3. Visvapujita – one whom the whole universe worships. 4. Pushpasara – the topmost of all flowers, without whom Krishna does not like to look upon other flowers. 5. Nandini – seeing whom gives unlimited bliss to devotees. 6. Krishna-jivani – The life of Krishna. 7. Vishva-pawani – one who purifies the three worlds. 8. Tulsi – one who has no comparison.

Lord Vishnu says to Naradji, “Vrinda, Vrindavani, Vishvapawani, Vishwapujita, Pushpasara, Nandini, Tulsi and Krishana-jivani are the eight names of Goddess Tulsi. This meaningful list of names is prevalent in the form of hymn. Anyone, while worshipping Tulsi Devi chants these eight names, will get the same result as one who performs the Ashvamedha Yajna.”

(Brahmavaivarta Purana, Prakriti Khanda: 22.32-33)