Tulasi

[Guest guest]

Namaskar Ivan,

 

Dear learned friend, its wonderful to hear you've read those 3

Tantras and decided to used the mantra Hrim Namah Shivaya when

planting rudraksha seeds as well as performing acamana, kara and anga

nyasa, chant Om Namah Shivaya 108 times, then pray to Lord Ganesha as

well. The method you're using sounds great even though there is no

Shastric evidence or guidance. It is your upaguru guiding you and

its definitely a good way to do things.

 

Thank you for the very detailed information about Tulasi. I shall

send them to my good friend and his wife. They will be utmost

excited and grateful to have the full instructions and guidance!

Your message will help them a lot and I shall forward as soon as

possible.

 

Shall also save your message in the Files section of this forum so

other friends can read it when they are seeking information.

 

I'm sure the subject of Tulasi will interest many of our friends here

so if you have free time, please send details about worship, mantra,

shlokas, namavalihs, etc.

 

Again, many thanks!

 

Om Hari Hara

 

 

 

, " Sixth Axsis "

<sixthaxsis wrote:

>

> Namaskar Narasimhaye,

>

> Thank you so much for nice words.

>

> The idea of chanting mantras when planting seeds came several years

ago when I read Shiva Svarodaya Tantra , Mahanirvana Tantra and

Damaru Tantra.

>

> Usually I use shiva pancakshara mantra preceded with shiva and

shakti bijas †" hrim shrim namah shivaya †" which is united power

of Lord Shiva with His shakti Shri Devi. In case with rudraksha seeds

I decided to use hrim namah shivaya as this is the mantra one usually

use when wearing rudraksha. When planting seeds I do acamana, kara

and anga nyasa, etc. and chant om namah shivaya at least 108 times.

Then I perform simple puja to Lord Ganapati asking Him for removing

the obstacles. After that I plant the seeds while chanting hrim shrim

namah shivaya and pour some water left from abhishekam of Shivalingam

and yantras. Please note that there is not any shastric evidence

about this (or at least I don't know).

>

>

>

> Regarding Tulasi:

>

>

>

> " Of all flowers, Tulasi is the best. She is worshipable and

beautiful, and burns up the fuel of sins like a flame of fire. Of all

the goddesses, she is the most sacred. Because no one can compare to

her, she is called Tulasi. I worship this goddess who is entreated by

all. She is placed on the heads of all, desired by all, and makes the

universe holy. She bestows liberation from this world and devotion to

Lord Hari. I worship her. " (Padma Purana)

>

>

>

> " Tulasi is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by

touching, simply by remembering, simply by praying to, simply by

bowing before, simply by hearing about, or simply by sowing the tree,

there is always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in touch with the

Tulasi tree in the above mentioned ways lives eternally in the

Vaikuntha world. " (Skanda Purana).

>

>

>

> The botanical (latin) name of Tulasi is Ocimum sanctum, (ocimum

means basil and sanctum - holy) †" The Holy Basil. Tulasi belongs to

a rare plant family which has what is known as " a perfect flower " ,

that is to say, the flower contains both the male and female

developments which allows her to fertilize herself. In other words,

there is no such thing as a male Tulasi. There is two forms of Tulasi

†" Rama (with white flowers) and Krishna (with purple flowers). In

Himalayas there is another type of Tulasi †" Black Tulasi.

>

>

>

> Currently I don't have a Tulasi plant, but what follows is the

short record of my experience with Tulasi:

>

>

>

> The most important factor is sunlight!

>

> As I know Tulasi is a perennial in India but is best treated as a

half-hardy annual in Europe as northern European light levels are

insufficient during winter for it to keep growing. Sunlight, and the

correct amount of it to be exact, determines whether plants will

flower or not; so if your Tulasi isn't flowering, try to make some

adjustment for more light. Tulasi grown indoors after 8 or 10 months

don't fair as well as those given real sunlight. If indoor lighting

is unavoidable, then fluorescent can be suspended over/around her.

The lights must be special indoor full spectrum plant tubes, not

ordinary white fluorescent tube.

>

>

>

> Mix and sift 1 part compost, 1 part loam, and 2 parts clean river

sand (unsalted) - sift into seed flat or peat moss pots and water

from beneath - don't sprinkle them (washes seeds). Sow in moderate

heat, 18-20ºC, during April-May. Cover seed very thinly with sieved

compost or vermiculite. If plants are very well established and

growing in a greenhouse, you may be able to save seed to keep for

next year, which may be easier to germinate than bought seed.

Otherwise, remove spent flowers to prolong the life of Tulasi. (The

main reason to loose my Tulasi plant).

>

>

>

> The first Tulasi sprouts should appear in 6 or 7 days, and will

continue appearing for several weeks. As seedlings are large enough

to handle, pot up until they are in a 30cm pot. If trying outside,

plant out in summer in a sunny open place, perhaps near a south-

facing wall. Feed potted plants fortnightly with a general liquid

fertilizer and keep well watered, allowing plants to dry between

watering. Water the Tulasi seedlings thoroughly each morning, using

tepid water bottle. Keep a large pot of tepid water nearby for

refilling the water bottle, as they should be kept nicely moist. If

the seedlings start turning purplish or grayish, then they're getting

too much sun and not enough water. If this happens keep them in shade

for a few days till they recover, else they may wither and die.

>

>

>

> Important! The seedlings must be put one to a pot as soon as

possible after they have 2 sets of leaves. Beforehand be sure to

water the pots to be transplanted thoroughly. This makes the soil

stick more to the roots, protecting them while transplanting, the

idea is to avoid breaking and losing the seedling's roots, to

transplant as quickly as possible because even momentary root

exposure to air and wind is damaging, and to keep as much moist soil

as possible around the roots. After thorough watering, begin by

cutting an 1-2 cm or so deep into the peat pot, dividing it into two

or more sections, depending on the number of seedlings. Start

sections by cutting, then carefully pull the sections apart, trying

to avoid root breakage and exposure as far as possible. Immediately

plant the sections in the newly prepared peat pots, pressing down

firmly and filling more with moist soil as needed, and water

thoroughly several times. Full shade and increased watering should

continue for 3 days, and longer if they wilt. If you do it quickly

and carefully, there will be little or no wilting or drying up.

>

>

>

> After 3 days of shade and double watering, gradually introduce them

to filtered sunlight and continue caring for them. Continue this

program for 2 or 3 weeks, until they have 3 or 4 sets of leaves. When

more leaves have appeared, you may check periodically to see if any

tiny white roots are coming through the bottoms of the pots. (One of

the advantages of peat moss pots, aside from easy transplant, is that

the roots never become cramped, thus dwarfing the plant. When the pot

becomes too small, the roots start growing right through it. When you

begin to see the roots coming through the bottom, it's time to put

the Tulasi plants in their permanent location, either in the garden

or in a large pot.

>

>

>

> Proper watering has to be adjusted according to weather, climate,

size, soil and the particular nature of the Tulasi. She would rather

be just a little bit dry than too wet, but don't let her soil become

hard with a crust and have her become limp. It is best to water in

the morning †" around 8 or 9 o'clock †" as She uses the water for

photosynthesis all day long. Over-watering causes diseases in the

soil, mold, faded and curled leaves, rots the soil, and causes root

diseases. A sign or over watering is when Tulasi turns a pale green

and apparently perfectly healthy leaves drop. She will go limp, if

under watered. Tulasi breathes through the soil and over the process

of time the soil tends to become packed. This causes uneven water

absorption and poor ventilation. The cure is to break up the soil

with a fork or a spoon handle. Dig down about 1,5 †" 2 cm, breaking

up and turning over the soil in small clods. This can be done as

needed in accordance with the rate it becomes packed. Be cautious of

the roots!

>

>

>

> I hope this is enough for a beginner. If you/your friend have

additional questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'll be

glad to help as much as I can.

>

>

>

> Yours sincerely,

>

> Ivan

>

>

>

> P.S. Worship of Tulasi and her mantras is another subject and if

your friend need them I am ready to provide available shlokas,

namavalis, etc.

>

>

>

> ---

>

> AUM namaH shivAya shivAya namaH AUM

>