My "Tulsi" Plant! Showed me....

Dear Ilites,

Do you see God in everything? But I discovered very recently that I am able to see God in things which I like or love the most.

Seeing God in everything is a Sadhana. But generally we all have a opinion that doing a Sadhana is something tough that too a Spiritual Sadhana.

Gardening is my passion. But as I stay in a rented house, I am not able to fulfill my thirst for gardening. My House Owner recently purchased few silk garments for her daughter's wedding from Pothys, T.Nagar. That day, all the customers who purchased silk garments were gifted with a "Tulsi" plant by the Shop owners.

We have a beautiful open terrace at our house and a section of it can be used for keeping flower pots. My owner lady kept the Tulsi plant in the terrace allowing it to stay with little water in a plastic bag. She said us that it needs a fertile soil to grow and she would plant it when she gets the soil.

Since she was busy with her daughter's wedding preparation, she totally forgot about the Tulsi plant that was kept in the terrace. It was lying unattended for days which made me sad.

Last week I had been to the Medical Camp to a place called "Arasan Kazhani" (interior Velacherry). The camp was at a small school which had a beautiful garden maintained by the Watchman.

After the camp was over, I talked to the Watchman and was learning few tips on gardening. When I mentioned about this Tulsi Plant, he immediately got a big garbage bag and gave me the soil from a heap of mud which was kept aside.

I noticed few Earth Worms in the mud and understood it must be fertile as Earth Worms are considered as "Friend of Farmers". I was overjoyed.

I just recollected its destiny (Tulsi Plant). I had been to the Medical Camp for a good cause, knowing my grievance my God provided me a good soil for my Tulsi plant. How Lord takes care of petty wishes of His devotees? Now the destiny - is nothing but the Tulsi plant wast planted with my hands.

I came home and happily planted my Tulsi Plant in a big pot and watered it. This Tuesday I made my Athai to put Kolam and keep KumKum around the pot. She will stay only for 10 days here in my house. That again is a destiny by God. Thats a different story related to my Athai and Tulsi plant. It will take more time to narrate.

Whenever I see my Tulsi Plant, I see God. He fulfilled my passion, my love for gardening. I have also planted few flower pots around Tulsi Plant. Though it is not a big garden, I feel it is indeed a gift from my God.

So, I sincerely feel, if you cannot go to a temple and worship God or concentrate in a pooja in your house and see God, never mind. See God in things which you love the most.

The love which binds you with a "thing" will bind you with God.

I love plants, I see God in them.

I love animals, I see God in them.

I love my friends and relatives, I see God in them.

Love is God, God is Love.

Hi Vanaja,
I miss Tulsi Plant here....
But while in India, my mom had planted so many green and black tulsi and she used to use tulsi for her daily pooja.
But people around our house wanted to cut off the tulsi and throw away because of snakes near our house. They thought our tulsi plants would attract snakes....
How these people could think of it?????..
My mom used to fight with all of them to save her tulsi plants....
But the neighbours cut off the tulsi while my mom was in US with me.
So now she just has in pots.

Regards.

Dear most Vanaja ma'am,

Sairam :) Hope you are doing fine !!

A good write up. I wanted to personally write about the Terrace garden that we have not in our flat. No big takers when we had announced the same in meeting (Small flat only but meetings are just meant for other neighbors for NOTHING and a great time for ugly gossips). My father, mom and I decided to grow our own plants (potted) in the terrace. You will not believe, we have about 20 pots in our terrace and all our neighbors are spell bound !! More over, my father and I are great garden Lovers and we spend a lot of time walking, exercising and talking about the cute creations of the Almighty !!!

We have the Normal Green Tulasi, Krishna Tulasi (blackish one), Karpoora valli, Big and Small Button Rose plants (pink, orange and yellow shades), Tomato, Green chilli, Vrikshi poo plant, Gundu malli, Kanakaambaram and a few non-flowering ones to mention !! The lush and opulence that they radiate will penetrate even cold blooded Sixth sensed !!!!

Yes, we can see Almighty's hand work and aura in all his bountiful creations ma'am; if we the heart to accept everything as His work !!!

Thank you very much for initiating this wonderful thread. Now I shall go and have a look at my "cuties" since your blog made me long for their sight :)

Regards with Love
RamyaVaradharajan

Dear Vanaja
Wow another good piece. Love is God. God is Love.............Perfect words
As soon as you love a thing automatically you will see God in it that is what I believe.
I too love gardening I had a beautiful garden in India a small one as I too use to stay in flat. I had planted so many plants and were all growing so well but as got transfered had to part them all to friends, in laws and some to my servants I still feel bad about it anyone speaking of garden I remember my sweet small terrace garden. Before coming here in almost all the places I had independent house so use to spend lot of time in the garden but fell very bad while leaving them but one day all is going to part. Nice memories always remain forever. Here again after a long time I am in a flat but have not planted anything don't want that feeling while leaving.

Dear Punitha
that was really sad ya to hear so bad of those neighbours to cut off tulsi plant. My mom to have so many tulsi plants at home but never ever saw a snake in it. Those people might be feeling jealous becoz Tulsi was growing so well in your mom's place. As Tulsi plant is that plant which never grows in all the places. My mom's next neighbour tried to grow tulsi in her house but it doesn't grow there so many times she took it from mom and went but of no use.

Originally Posted by puni88

Hi Vanaja,
I miss Tulsi Plant here....
But while in India, my mom had planted so many green and black tulsi and she used to use tulsi for her daily pooja.
But people around our house wanted to cut off the tulsi and throw away because of snakes near our house. They thought our tulsi plants would attract snakes....
How these people could think of it?????..
My mom used to fight with all of them to save her tulsi plants....
But the neighbours cut off the tulsi while my mom was in US with me.
So now she just has in pots.

Regards.

Hi Puni,

Thanks a lot for the first FB. Tulsi never attracts snakes. It is a wrong information. When you have Tulsi plants in plenty, I mean like a farm, you will find snakes. That is again general, due to its fragrance.

One or two plants never attract snakes.

Heartless people! How can they cut off a plant that too a revered plant?

She can have it in pots and worship. Tulsi is dear to Lord Narayana. It is like having Lord Narayana at home.

hi all
The word tulasi plant in itself brings a feeling of happiness within me bringing in the memories of my mom doing pooja everyday.

I now have a Tulasi plant within my apartment for past 2 months.But there is not much sunlight here and is like a indoor plant. Can anybody give me tips on how i can maintain it indoors.

thanks
kapuchu

Dear Vanaja,

A wonderful write up! When you see God in everything it shows you are very close to God.
Well my day starts with watering the Tulsi plant ,praying to Tulsimata to keep us safe and far from evil ,and then I drink some water .
I always feel very safe whenever I see the Tulsi plant and I owe her for keeping my home safe. I also use Tulsi everyday for my daughter mixing it with honey.
Yes I have a lawn and am fond of gardening , and I absolutely love flowers but my favourite is the Shankhpushpam in blue which adorns and has beautified the front of my home and the Pavizhamali that wakes me up with its beautiful fragrance and reminds me its time for Puja.

Love,
Devika

Originally Posted by RamyaVaradharajan

Dear most Vanaja ma'am,

Sairam :) Hope you are doing fine !!

A good write up. I wanted to personally write about the Terrace garden that we have not in our flat. No big takers when we had announced the same in meeting (Small flat only but meetings are just meant for other neighbors for NOTHING and a great time for ugly gossips). My father, mom and I decided to grow our own plants (potted) in the terrace. You will not believe, we have about 20 pots in our terrace and all our neighbors are spell bound !! More over, my father and I are great garden Lovers and we spend a lot of time walking, exercising and talking about the cute creations of the Almighty !!!

We have the Normal Green Tulasi, Krishna Tulasi (blackish one), Karpoora valli, Big and Small Button Rose plants (pink, orange and yellow shades), Tomato, Green chilli, Vrikshi poo plant, Gundu malli, Kanakaambaram and a few non-flowering ones to mention !! The lush and opulence that they radiate will penetrate even cold blooded Sixth sensed !!!!

Yes, we can see Almighty's hand work and aura in all his bountiful creations ma'am; if we the heart to accept everything as His work !!!

Thank you very much for initiating this wonderful thread. Now I shall go and have a look at my "cuties" since your blog made me long for their sight :)

Regards with Love
RamyaVaradharajan

Dear Ramya,

Sairam. I am fine as you are. Thanks a lot for the reply.

I felt very pleasant to hear from you that you have nearly 20 pots at your terrrace. And you have a great companion for gardening - your father.

Yes, it is a sensory pleasure keep looking at these plants. I am again honoured here by my God, that this blog had initiated you to have a special visit to your terrace.

Originally Posted by kapuchu

hi all
The word tulasi plant in itself brings a feeling of happiness within me bringing in the memories of my mom doing pooja everyday.

I now have a Tulasi plant within my apartment for past 2 months.But there is not much sunlight here and is like a indoor plant. Can anybody give me tips on how i can maintain it indoors.

thanks
kapuchu

hi,

It is a bit difficult to maintain a Tulsi plant indoors. Tulsi is considered as a Goddess. So, extreme care has to be taken when it comes to purity.

We are advised not to go near the Tulsi plant when we have our periods. It is better not to have it indoors as these things are unavoidable.

You will have to take care of its basic needs like other plants. For pooja, if you are not able to do it daily, atleast on Tuesdays and Fridays keep Turmeric and KumKum around the pot, put kolam and take an Aarthi if possible.

You are advised to pluck the leaves holding your thumb and ring finger at the leaf stalk. We need to take care of the leaves not getting stamped by our feet, in case they fall out from our hands. These are the basic things one should know about Tulsi plant.

Originally Posted by Arunarc

Dear Vanaja
Wow another good piece. Love is God. God is Love.............Perfect words
As soon as you love a thing automatically you will see God in it that is what I believe.
I too love gardening I had a beautiful garden in India a small one as I too use to stay in flat. I had planted so many plants and were all growing so well but as got transfered had to part them all to friends, in laws and some to my servants I still feel bad about it anyone speaking of garden I remember my sweet small terrace garden. Before coming here in almost all the places I had independent house so use to spend lot of time in the garden but fell very bad while leaving them but one day all is going to part. Nice memories always remain forever. Here again after a long time I am in a flat but have not planted anything don't want that feeling while leaving.

Dear Aruna,

Thanks for the reply. Though I love plants, I keep it a point that I don't get attached to what I grow in my house. Love is different from getting attached. If you love a plant, you will love any other plant in this world.

So, if circumstances are such that we need to take part of the plants grown by us, we should give them to the safe hands, as you did. What do you say? Good your memories are fertile .