- Also called:
- tulsi or tulasi
- Related Topics:
- Tulsi Vivah
- Ocimum
- herb
holy basil
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What is holy basil?
Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is a fragrant plant of the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Also known as Tulsi, it is used in Ayurvedic and folk medicine as herbal tea for various conditions and is considered sacred in Hinduism.
Hindus revere it as a manifestation of the goddess Lakshmi and believe its presence increases piety and provides purification and protection. Holy basil is also a culinary herb with a pungent flavor, used in Asian cuisine, that intensifies with cooking and is reminiscent of clove, Italian basil, mint, and pepper. In some regions outside of its native environment, it is regarded as an agricultural weed and an invasive species.
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Where does holy basil come from?
Holy basil, Ocimum tenuiflorum, is a flowering plant from the mint family (Lamiaceae) that is native to the Indian subcontinent and grows throughout Southeast Asia. It is also found in the tropics of the Old World and is naturalized in tropical America.
Holy basil is widely utilized in Ayurvedic and folk medicine and is considered sacred in Hinduism. It is also a culinary herb with a pungent flavor. In some areas outside of its native range, it is regarded as an agricultural weed and an invasive species.
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How is holy basil different from regular basil?
Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) and regular basil (Ocimum basilicum) are both herbs in the mint family (Lamiaceae). Holy basil, native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, is known for its use in Ayurvedic and folk medicine and is considered sacred in Hinduism.
Key differences: Holy basil has a pungent flavor that intensifies with cooking, with notes of clove, mint, and pepper, while regular basil has a warm, sweet, mildly pungent flavor. Holy basil is often grown in Hindu homes and temples and used in worship, while regular basil is mainly a kitchen herb.
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What are some traditional uses of holy basil?
Holy basil, or Ocimum tenuiflorum, a plant of the mint family, is native to the Indian subcontinent and grows throughout Southeast Asia. It is often used as an herbal tea for a variety of ailments in Ayurvedic and folk medicine.
In Hinduism, the holy basil plant is revered as a manifestation of the goddess Lakshmi and is especially sacred to Vaishnavites. The Lord Krishna is said to wear a garland of holy basil leaves and flowers around his neck, and the plant is grown in many Hindu homes to increase piety, foster meditation, purify, and protect. The beginning of the Hindu wedding season is marked by a festival known as Tulsi Vivah, in which homes and temples ceremonially wed holy basil to Vishnu. Water infused with the leaves is often given to the dying to help elevate their souls.
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How is holy basil used in medicine or healing practices?
Holy basil, or Ocimum tenuiflorum, a plant of the mint family, is native to the Indian subcontinent and grows throughout Southeast Asia. It is widely utilized in Ayurvedic and folk medicine as an herbal tea to treat a variety of ailments. In Hinduism, the holy basil plant is revered as a manifestation of the goddess Lakshmi (Tulsi) and is especially sacred to Vaishnavites. It is believed that the presence of the holy basil plant increases piety, fosters meditation, and offers purification and protection.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
holy basil, (Ocimum tenuiflorum), flowering plant of the mint family (Lamiaceae) grown for its aromatic leaves. Holy basil is native to the Indian subcontinent and grows throughout Southeast Asia. The plant is widely used in Ayurvedic and folk medicine, often as an herbal tea for a variety of ailments, and is considered sacred in Hinduism. It is also used as a culinary herb with a pungent flavor that intensifies with cooking. It is reminiscent of clove, Italian basil (Ocimum basilicum), and mint and has a peppery spiciness. It is considered an agricultural weed and an invasive species in some areas outside its native range.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Angiosperm
- Order: Lamiales
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Genus: Ocimum
See also list of plants in the family Lamiaceae and list of herbs and spices.
Physical description
The holy basil plant is a small annual or short-lived perennial shrub, up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) in height. The stems are hairy and bear simple toothed or entire leaves oppositely along the stem. The fragrant leaves are green or purple, depending on the variety. The small purple or white tubular flowers have green or purple sepals and are borne in terminal spikes. The fruits are nutlets and produce numerous seeds.
In Hinduism
The holy basil plant is revered in Hinduism as a manifestation of the goddess Lakshmi (Tulsi), the principal consort of the god Vishnu. The plant is especially sacred to Vaishnavites (devotees of Vishnu), and the Lord Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, is said to wear a garland of holy basil leaves and flowers around his neck. The plant is grown in many Hindu homes, often in the courtyard in a dedicated four-sided structure, and the presence of a holy basil plant is believed to increase piety, foster meditation, purify, and protect. Devotees commonly worship in the morning and evening with mantras and offerings of flowers, incense, or water from the Ganges, and Tuesdays and Fridays are considered especially sacred. Even the ritual act of watering and caring for the plant, usually undertaken by the women of the house, is considered worshipful and meritorious.
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Holy basil is cultivated at many temples, and the woody stems of plants that have died are used to make beads for sacred japa mala (rosaries). The beginning of the Hindu wedding season is marked by a festival known as Tulsi Vivah, in which homes and temples ceremonially wed holy basil to Vishnu. Water infused with the leaves is often given to the dying to help elevate their souls, and funeral pyres are commonly fitted with holy basil twigs with the hopes that the deceased may obtain moksha and be liberated from the cycle of rebirth.
