The Uniqueness Of Different Living Plants

The amazing planet earth that we live on is filled with countless number of living plants. Just as every location these plants could be found in has its own uniqueness in its climate and growing requirements, it’s not surprising that all plants have their own personality… what some may call a “spirit” or essence about each one of these different plants. So perhaps, if we can start to comprehend that “essence”, we can start to connect and understand how to use that plant.

For example, some of them will have a higher affinity to warmer climates, and others will have a colder nature. Some plants will have characteristics that are more of a gathering nature, and some others do better in a dispersing pattern. And just as many varieties of location, nature and characteristics of plants, one can learn that there are just as many myths, folklores, and superstitions that surrounds these wonderous things that we cannot live without.

It never ceases to amaze me how one can pick a single plant, any plant, and learn so much not just about the growth patterns and uses for that one plant; but how much stories, history that may come with it.

Today we will dive into the world of basil and learn just some of the fascinating folklores that come with this plant. Today the basil herb is a really popular and widely used plant in all kitchens, professionally and in the common homes. It is used in many different countries and cultures like Thailand, Italy, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, and more.

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Aside from its culinary uses, the basil herb also has great medicinal values. It’s easy to see that since it has so many uses, and probably has been around for a very long time, that the basil comes with its fair share of myths, folklores, and superstitions. For example, to the ancient Romans and Greeks this herb was a sign of insanity and hostility through the belief that one had to have sworn and shout very angrily while sowing its seeds, and that you must curse at them regularly to make sure that they will grow healthily and prolifically.

Just imagine, watching your neighbor who gardens constantly screaming and cursing at their vegetables and herbs… it’s quite a comical and crazy idea, but practiced by many! Some people also really believe that before you harvest herbs, you must apologize first so that you will be forgiven for taking the plant’s leaves. Meanwhile, other traditions have tied this herb with love… rumored that if when an Italian woman is ready for a lover, she will place on her balcony a pot of basil plant. In parts of northern Europe, couples would exchange sprigs of basil to signify their faithfulness to each other. Since holy basil, also known as tulsi, is revered or deeply respected in India, it won’t come as a shock that there are stories and folklores that have been passed down for over five thousand years. One of the tales that are told is that it is believed that there once was a woman named Tulsi who was very religious worshipped Lord Vishnu. Tulsi engaged in many religious practices and fasts for a long period to gain favor with the gods. After the gods were pleased, she asked them for a boon.

A boon is basically something that is helpful or beneficial… a favor or request. Tulsi asked the gods to make her Lord Vishnu’s wife. Word got around to Goddess Lakshmi, who was the queen consort, the main head wife of King Vishnu. Hearing what Tulsi asked the gods, Lakshmi got very angry and cursed Tulsi and changed her into a plant, the holy basil. Lord Vishnu however, comforted Tulsi and assured her that she will always be remembered whenever he is worshipped. It is also said that the Saligrama stone that is kept near the Tulsi plant is also a form of Lord Vishnu. Another Indian mythological story is told in the setting of Palace of Dwarka where Lord Krishna is loved and worshipped by the people. This story shows about the love and devotion and focuses on three of Lord Krishna’s wives Rukmini, Satyabhama, and Jambavati who serves him. Rukmini was the first queen of Dwaraka and is the humble and pious wife. Satyabhama was the young and beautiful wife from a royal lineage. One day, Jambavati complained to Rukmini that it wasn’t fair that Satyabhama always gets to spend time with Lord Krishna, while the others like themselves were stuck doing all the chores.

Being the humble and devout understanding one, Rukmini told Jambavati not to be furious and explained that it will take Satyabhama some time to understand because she is younger and has much to learn what true devotion is. At the same time, Narada who was Satyabhama’s son came to the Palace visiting his mother and put it in her head that he heard a rumor that the Lord Krishna loved Rukmini more than Satyabhama, which made her jealous and upset. Narada came up with a scheme that Satyabhama is to perform a ritual where she will make an offering for her Krishna to be Narada’s slave, but that she’s willing to offer up all her wealth to trade for her husband. This will prove to Krishna her devotion, and consequently Lord Krishna will end up favoring Satyabhama over Rukmini. Satyabhama thought this sounded like a good plan because she is very proud of her royal lineage and the great wealth that comes from her family. She shares this plan with Krishna that she wants to prove her devotion to his, and went forward with the ritual despite Krishna not thinking it’s a good idea.

She told him not to worry, it will all work out. Unfortunately, Satyabhama’s plan did not pan out. When the ritual began, Lord Krishna took his place on one side of the scale. To get Krishna back so that he does not actually become Narada’s slave, Satyabhama had to place her wealth including gold coins and jewels on the other side of the scale. She kept stacking and stacking her fortune, and to her shock, the scale did not budge at all! After placing all of the wealth that she owned, she was in fear that she was going to lose her husband because the scale did not move one inch. In her desperation, Satyabhama rushed to seek Rukmini’s help per Krishna’s suggestion. Rukmini, being calm as her usual self, agreed to help. On the way to the ritual, Rukmini plucked a single leaf of Tulasi, the holy basil also known as tulsi. She walked up to the balance scale, and prayed to Krishna, and place the single tulsi leaf on the scale. To everyone’s shock, the balance scale tipped so fast that it made Krishna’s side underbalanced!

Krishna asked Satyabhama to try removing some of fortunes from the scale. With great skepticism, Satyabhama removed little by little, until all her riches were moved and there was nothing on the balance plate opposite side of Krishna except for the single leaf of tulsi. With a sigh of relief, Satyabhama was thankful to Rukmini for her help and relieved that she did not lose her husband to Narada as a slave. She was also able to have all her fortune back. However she did not understand how this could be. Lord Krishna explained to Satyabhama that she had given all her riches to him, however there was no devotion in the offering, only a feeling of possessiveness. When she made her offerings with such thoughts, the riches lost her value and became mundane things. On the other hand, Rukmini offered just a single tulasi leaf, but her intensions were true and noble, making the offering with utmost love and devotion towards him. That single leaf was sufficient to please the Lord beyond expectations. This lesson teaches that it is not the offering that matters, but the love and devotion that does. Turns out, Narada did this plan to help teach Satyabhama a valuable lesson.

And today, this is why tulsi is such a sacred plant in India, second to the lotus. Basil also has some superstitions related to it. Staying with the Lord Vishnu story, it was popular belief that since Tulsi had become the wife of Lord Vishnu, it would be disrespectful to chew the tulsi leaves, thus they should be swallowed. When you think about it, superstition such as this one may have some scientific backing to it since tulsi has some mercury in it, so if chewing on the leaves too much, it would most definitely damage the teeth in the long run. Another superstition is that tulsi leaves should not be plucked by women because of the generation of heat energy that women gives off higher than men. For those who are religious, tulsi leaves shouldn’t be picked on a Sunday, with the idea that picking a plant will hurt the plant, and it’s not holy to do such a thing on the Lord’s day.

Other fun but unfounded basil folklore is that before flying, witches would drink tea made from basil. Now, we all know that there are no flying witches! So whether fact or fiction, it’s interesting to learn about all the different stories that relates to the basil plant. So next time when you are gardening and planting pruning some basil plants, be sure to consider stomping around and cursing a bit (as long as your surroundings permit this kind of behavior), and maybe you’ll have better basil plants!

References

1. Bonasorte, Massimo. “Sacred Plant of Eternal Love and Healing: The Mythology and Magic of Basil.”
2. Ancient Origins, Ancient Origins, www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/sacred-plant-eternal-love-and-healing-mythology-and-magic-basil-009395.
3. “Herbal Folklore.” Sanctuary Gardener, 16 Jan. 2014, sanctuarygardener.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/herbal-folklore/.
4. Morris, Rose, et al. “Common Garden Superstitions and Their Origins.” Garden Therapy, 8 Mar. 2018, gardentherapy.ca/garden-superstitions/. NIE ADMIN. “Superstitions Related To Tulsi.”
5. TIMES NIE : Home, toistudent.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/omg/superstitions-related-to-tulsi/12916.html.
6. “Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics Embracing the Myths, Traditions, Superstitions, and Folk-Lore of the Plant Kingdom.”
7. Google Books, books.google.com/books?id=kAS4CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT308&lpg=PT308&dq=folklore and superstitions holy basil&source=bl&ots=D2tlS55x8n&sig=wD_QjOY5DISUEW_zsA7gwGZuuc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjIz4i94YrcAhXSrFMKHYkVBgUQ6AEIejAH#v=onepage&q=folklore and superstitions holy basil&f=false.
8. “Sacred Plants in Folklore, Religions, Myths and Magick.”
9. Traditional Herbs of the Ancient Middle East, www.anniesremedy.com/folklore.php.