Tulsi Plant. Source: Google.

Holy basil  or tulasi (Ocimum Sanctum) is  a sacred plant in Hindu beliefs. Hindus regard it as an earthly manifestation of the goddess Tulsi, a consort of the god Vishnu. The offering of its leaves is mandatory in ritualistic worship of Vishnu and his forms like Krishna. This plant is regarded as the threshold between the heaven and earth. It is called ?The Incomparable One? and ?Mother Medicine of Nature? among other things, and can be seen growing outside of Hindu temples.

Apart from spritual beliefs, it also has many medicinal importance. In Ayurvedic medicine, it has been used since thousands of years and now it is gaining popularity in West too. Holy basil has numerous beneficial properties including:  adaptogenic (anti-stress),antibacterial, anti-fungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. The known benefits of holy basil are: memory booster, fever reduction, cough soothing, sore throat relief, soothing to bites, cuts, and scrapes, headache treatment, increased kidney function, balanced emotional health, clearing ache and possible blood sugar regulation.

The presence of tulsi plant symbolizes the religious bent of a Hindu family. A Hindu household is considered incomplete if it doesn't have a tulsi plant in the courtyard. Many families have the tulsi planted in a specially built structure, which has images of deities installed on all four sides, and an alcove for a small earthen oil lamp. Here, a special day is fixed on the plantation of tulsi on specially built structure. It mostly lies in eleventh lunar day in June-July. This year it was on July 8. This special festival in Hindu, is celebrated by fasting, worshipping god, and planting holy basil plant in the special structure in their courtyard. I also planted a basil plant in my courtyard this year considering its medicinal and spiritual importance.

Myself planting tulsi plant.

There are many such  medicinally important plants in Hindu community which are worshipped as the incarnation of god. There are many people who have strong faith in god and are regulated by the religion. In such communities, religion has become  the strong means to conserve the nature and vegetation that carries significance to human.  This shows that, though, Religion and scientific studies on nature conservation seems very apart, they have a common vision conserve nature for increasing the existence of human beings on this earth.