Why do we worship Tulasi?

Tulasi's leaf has great medicinal value and is used to cure various illness, including the common cold.

But why do people worship Tulasi?

The answer to the question is in a legend...

Once, to save the Devas (Gods) from Jalhandara, the husband of Tulasi, Lord Krishna had to trick Tulasi. This enraged Tulasi and she cursed Lord Krishna. Seeing her devotion and adherence to honesty, Lord Krishna blessed her saying that she would become the worshipped plant, Tulasi that would decorate his head and all prayer offerings would be incomplete without the leaf from the Tulasi plant.

There’s also another legend that explains the vital reason behind offering Tulasi in prayer…

Satyabama once weighed Lord Krishna against all her illustrious wealth. But the scales did not balance till Rukmani placed a single Tulasi leaf with devotion.

Thus Tulasi played an important role of demonstrating to the world that even a small object offered with devotion means more to GOD than all the wealth in the world.

It is a common practice to build an altar with Tulasi plant (Tulasi Maadam) in the Patio. People who wish to be honest and have a happy family life worship Tulasi.