Every year on the day of Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi, a special pooja is performed from house to house for four months after planting the holy basil (tulsi) plant. According to the Sanatan Vedic tradition, Tulsi is considered a symbol of Vishnu. Devotees start to flock to Narayan and Vishnu temples across the world in the morning on the occasion of Harishyani Ekadashi.
From this day till the day of Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, special worship of Tulsi is done. Lord Vishnu sleeps in the Milky Way for four months from Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi to Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, so this Ekadashi is called Harishyani Ekadashi. The four months in which Lord Vishnu sleeps are also called Chaturmasa.
Tulsi, which has been worshiped for four months, is married to Damodar on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, or Haribodhini Ekadashi. After the ritual marriage of Tulsi and Damodar, Havan is also performed for the observance of Chaturmasa Vrat by the method of Agnisthapana.
There are 24 Ekadashis in a year. Hindu devotees do fasting on Ekadashi by eating only fruits. Those who are unable to do so fast on all those 24 Ekadashis, do fasting on the eight Ekadashis which fall in the four months of Chaturmasa. Those who should be active in work and have not been able to eat fruit for four months, at least fasting on the days of Harishyani Ekadashi and Haribodhini Ekadashi. On the day of Ekadashi, especially dishes made from rice are not eaten, bread, dhindo, and other fruits are eaten.
Relation of Vishu with Tulsi (basil plant)
According to Vedic Literature, Demon Jalandhar was invincible due to the virginity of his wife Brinda. Therefore, in order to conquer Jalandhar by destroying the religion of Vrinda’s virginity, Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhar and had intercourse with Vrinda, and destroyed Vrinda’s virginity. As soon as that happened, Jalandhar, who was fighting with Shivaji, became weak and Shiva killed him.
When Vrinda found out that her husband had to die because Vishnu had broken her chastity by lying, Vrinda cursed Vishnu. She had cursed Vishnu that there should be weeds, there should be grass, there should be trees and there should be stones. So Vishnu has to become Peepal, Tulsi, Kush, and Shaligram and we have to worship him.
Importance of Tulsi
- Holy basil, which is also scientifically proven to be high in oxygen, is also used as a medicine for various ailments. The fact that pure air flows in the place where Tulsi is found has also been scientifically confirmed.
- It is also believed that poisonous germs that spread the disease do not come to the place where the basil is grown.
- It is also believed that placing basil in the place where there are architectural defects will bring positive results.
- It is said that herbs including basil also work to develop immunity in the human body to avoid CORONA.