Kathmandu. Every year on the day of Ashad Shukla Ekadashi, the special worship of basil plants in homes for four months is starting from today.
On the day of Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi a month ago, the dal plants placed in the Tulsi Moth of the house are moved to the Moth today. According to Sanatan Vedic tradition, Tulsi is considered as a symbol of Vishnu. From today till the day of Kartik Shukla Ekadashi special worship of Tulsi is done.
Prof. Dr. Devmani Bhattarai, a theologian and member of the Nepal Panchang Jury Committee, says that today is called Harishayani Ekadashi because Lord Vishnu sleeps in Kshir Sagar for four months from Ashad Shukla Ekadashi to Kartik Shukla Ekadashi. The four months during which Lord Vishnu sleeps is also known as Chartumasa.
There are 24 Ekadashis in a year. Those who can, fast on all Ekadashis by eating only fruits. Those who cannot fast fast on the eight Ekadashis that fall in the four months of Chatumas. Those who have to be active in work and cannot eat fruits even for four months, eat fruits and fast on the days of Harishayani Ekadashi and Haribodhini Ekadashi.
On the occasion of Harishayani Ekadashi, devotees throng the Narayan and Vishnu temples across the country including Budhanilkanth in the capital, Charnarayan in the valley from early this morning. On the day of Ekadashi, people do not eat rice-based dishes like roti and dhindo.
Scientifically proven to contain more oxygen, Tulsi is used as medicine for various diseases. There is also a belief that poisonous types of germs that transmit disease will not come to the place where basil is grown.
It is believed that keeping Tulsi pods in places with Vastu Dosha will give positive results, while the fact that pure air flows in places with Tulsi has been scientifically confirmed.
There is a Vedic tradition of marrying Tulsi to Damodar on the day of Kartik Shukla Ekadashi i.e. Haribodhini Ekadashi, which is ritually worshiped for four months. After the formal marriage of Tulsi and Damodar, Havan is also performed for the observance of the Chatumasa fast through the Agnisthapana method.
It is said that herbs such as Tulsi will also work to develop disease resistance in the human body to avoid corona. Since two years ago, the market demand for Tulsi tea made by Singha Darbar Vaidyakhana Development Committee has increased. These facts explain the importance of Tulsi.
