Holy Basil is a Sacred plant which is respected and worshipped by hindus. In every house Tulsi plant is either placed in front of the home entrance or backyard, in balcony of an apartment building and worshiped her.
Tulsi is the wife of Lord Vishnu, It is also believed that ones house having tulasi plant will have a peace of mind, brings happiness, free from all disease, evil effects, removes negative energy from home and get rid of death like pain.
Basil is not only a sacred plant, it also have various healing properties. As per Vedic astrology, religious significance plucking the leaves of the holy basil plant can unknowingly invite poverty and misfortune.
Below Are The Tips and Care Before Plucking Tulsi leaves
1) Before plucking Tulsi leaves one should take bath and wear clean clothes.
2) One Should not use scissors or a knife to cut Basil leaves from the plant.
3) Always pluck leaves with your right hand while holding the branch in your left, take care not to break the branch.
4) Never Chew Tulsi leaves as chewing it is considered as a disrespectful act as per religious part and scientifically chewing Basil Leaves can harm our teeth and gums as they contain Mercury. Instead of chewing Tulsi leaves it should be gulped down (mingatam) with a glass of water.
5) One Should not worship shiva or shivling (shivalingam) with tulsi leaves, as puranas says Tulsi cursed Lord Shiva and denied him the rights to use Tulsi leaves.
6) There are restrictions for plucking Tulsi leaves on certain days.
7) Do not pluck Tulsi leaves on Ekadashi
8) Do not pluck Tulsi leaves on Sundays
9) Do not pluck Tulsi leaves on Solar Eclipse (Surya Grahanam)
10) Do not pluck Tulsi leaves on Lunar Eclipse (Chandra Grahanam)
11) Do not pluck Tulsi leaves in the evenings/night
12) Tulsi should be worshiped everyday. Its good to worship tulsi plant in morning and evening by keeping earthen lamp (Deepam)
Also read : Types of oil used in Deeparadhana
13) Never keep a dry tulsi plant in house. Keeping dry tulsi plant at home is considered inauspicious. The dry plant should be immersed in water (river, lake, pond).
14) One Should not worship Lord Ganesha with Tulsi leaves
15) Tulsi leaves should not be used in Lord Ganesha’s Prasad (prasadam)
16) Tulsi plant should not be kept inside the house.
17) One Should not sweep (broom) dried Tulsi leaves, instead collect those leaves and bury them.
18) Finally You should take permission from tulsi before plucking.
Please note that plucking tulsi leaves, eating or chewing basil leaves belongs to plant that is worshiped
