Thulasi Theertham is a holy water which would be offered in the temples of Lord Vishnu, after performing Deeparadhana to Lord Vishnu. In the pure drinking water, along with few Thulasi leaves, cardamom, saffron and some quantity of Pachai Karpooram would also be added, in order to add more taste and divinity to the holy Thulasi Theertham.
The practice of giving Thulasi Theertham was there since several centuries, and even during the period of Pallava, Chera and Chola Kings, the ancient priests would give the Holy Theertham to the devotees in a pleasant and in a pleasing manner.
Thulasi Theertham also contains some medicinal properties, and it acts as an Ayurveda medicine for curing common cold, and apart from that, our Holy Goddess Ma Thulasi permanently dwells in that Thulasi Theertham. Some children during their visit to the Vishnu Temples would ask for more Theertham in order to quench their thirst, and also they like the divine smell of the Thulasi Theertham.
Ancient Alwars praises a lot about the Thulasi Theertham in their divine songs, and they tells, “Oh Ma Thulasi, I have been blessed by you by consuming the holy Thulasi Theertham, you gives great fragrance to Lord Vishnu, since he always likes to wear the Thulasi garlands very much. Those who recite and those who taste your holy Thulasi leaves, at least once in their life time, would become staunch devotees of Lord Vishnu, and hence forth, they would be known as VISHNU BHAGAVATHAS”.
The practice of keeping Thulasi Maadam in the temples and in the homes was there since several centuries, and it is also a good practice to pour sufficient water to the Thulasi Maadam on a daily basis, and we must have to circumambulate it at least twelve times in a day. We can also read the Thulasi Namavali (108 names of Ma Thulasi), which is available in few spiritual websites.
Devotees those who keeps pet on their homes, can also offer some Thulasi water to them, since pets like dogs and cats are also considered as the divine vehicles of the deities. While dogs act as the vehicle for Lord Kalabhairava, who is an aspect of Lord Shiva, cats also act as the vehicle for Ma Shasti Devi, who is an aspect of Lord Muruga.
“OM SRI THULASINGA PERUMALE NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR