Tulsi leaves

Tulsi leaves made in gold polished copper. Ideal for offering to deities during ritual worship.

Tulsi is the most sacred of all plants in the Hindu tradition. Tulasi malasa are considered to be auspicious for the wearer, and believed to put them under the protection of Hanuman. They have such a strong association with Vaishnavas, that followers of Hanuman are known as "those who bear the tulasi round the neck".

Tulsi has been considered a symbol of culture. It spreads a spiritual aura and promotes material prosperity and well-being of the household. It is the divine representative of God Vishnu. Tulsi is an important component of Vishnu puja in temples as well as homes.  Vishnu is supposed to take abode in a house where Tulsi is grown. In such a house, no one undergoes sufferings, such as poverty, illness or separation from dear ones.

The Devi Bhagavata Purana regards Tulsi as an manifestation of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and principle consort of Vishnu. It narrates that Vishnu had three wives: Lakshmi, Saraswati and Ganga. Once, Ganga was flirting with Vishnu, when a jealous Saraswati noticed her and dragged her to the ground. Lakshmi ran to save Ganga. An infuriated Saraswati then curses Lakshmi to be born on earth as a plant. Ganga (the Ganges river) and Saraswati (the Saraswati River) also curse each other to be born as rivers. Vishnu comforts Lakshmi that she will be born on earth as Tulsi, but only part of her will stay there as a plant and she will return to Him. At the same time on earth, King Vrishadhvaja - a devotee of the god Shiva - banned worship all other deities except his patron god. An agitated sun-god Surya cursed him that Lakshmi (fortune) will abandon him. In turn, Shiva pursued Surya, who fled, finally arriving in shelter of Vishnu. Vishnu said to the deities that years had passed on earth, Vrishadhvaja and also his heir-son were dead and that then the grandchildren of Vrishadhvaja - Dharmadhvaja and Kushadhvaja - were worshipping Lakshmi to gain her favour. Lakshmi rewards by being born as daughters Tulsi and Vedavati to Dharmadhvaja and Kushadhvaja respectively. Tulsi gave up all her royal comfort and went to Badrinath to perform penance to gain Vishnu as Her husband. Lord Brahma pleased with her penance told her that she will have to marry the demon Shankhachuda before she marries Vishnu. Sudama, a part-incarnation of Krishna was born on earth as the demon due to a curse. Shankhachuda, who also pleased Brahma with his penance, was granted the Vishnu-Kavacha (armour of Vishnu) and blessed that until his wife's chastity was retained and Vishnu-Kavacha was on his body, no one could slay him. Shankhachuda and Tulsi were soon married. Shankhachuda was filled with pride and terrorized the beings of the universe. To rescue the universe, Shiva challenged Shankhachuda to war, while Vishnu went to Tulsi to break her chastity. Vishnu assumed the form of Shankhachuda and compelled Tulsi to have coitus. With her chastity broken, Shankhachuda was killed and Sudama was freed of his curse. In middle of the coitus, Tulsi recognized the impersonator. Vishnu appeared in his true form and told Tulsi to abandon Her earthly body and return to His celestial abode as Lakshmi, His wife. Tulsi's mortal remains decayed and became the Gandaki River, while Her hair transformed into the sacred Tulsi plant.

Design: Made in gold polished copper.
Dimensions: 1.5 inches (width) x 1.25 inches (length)