Tulsi is commonly known as holy basil.
Tulsi (Holy basil) or Vrinda is a sacred plant in Hindu belief and has special place within the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism, Hindus regard it as an earthly manifestation of the goddess Tulsi and is regarded as a great worshipper of the god Vishnu. The offering of its leaves is mandatory in ritualistic worship of Vishnu and his forms like Krishna and Vithoba. in which devotees perform worship involving holy Tulsi plant or leaves.
Many Hindus have tulsi plants growing in front of their home, often in special pots or a special masonry structure known as Tulsi Vrindavan as this is related to their culture. Traditionally, Tulsi is planted in the center of the central courtyard of Hindu houses. More...