The holy basil plant has a very important place as per the scriptural and scientific considerations. This is the reason why its mention has been made not only in the scriptures and mythological tents, but also in the Ayurvedic texts. The holy Bail is as holy as Lord Vishnu, because she is also known as Vishnupriya, Vishnukanta and Keshavpriya. The holy basil originated from the hairs of Tulsi who in her previous life was blessed by Lord Narayan.

According to the mythological point of view, a place is considered to be the most sacred pilgrimage where exists the holy basil plant. This is the reason why every Hindu tries to have it in the house. Women have been worshipping it with the desire for good fortune and well beings of her lineage.

It is believed that the lord of death does not dare to enter a place, where exists a holy basil plant. Worshipping god with the new sprout of basil plants give salvation. Such a man is freed from the cycles of birth and death. Even the deities are desirous of attaining salvation, with the help of basil plant.Taking bath with water, in which basil leaves have been mixed, gives virtues similar to that of all the pilgrimage.

The deities and all the places of pilgrimages have their dwelling places in whole of the basil-plant from its root to the shade. Any ceremony, which is performed in the vicinity of a basil plant, enables a man to attain salvation and God.

Even the soil underneath the holy basil plant is of such great importance, that if it is applied on the forehead, all the sins of a man gets destroyed and he attains happiness, prosperity and benediction.Wearing a string of beads consisting of basil-seeds makes a man free from the fears of death. If chanting is done with the help of basil beads, then it helps in the attainment of accomplishment.

The use of the leaves of holy basil in the ceremonies like Shraddh and Tarpan gives indestructible virtues to the dead ancestors. The tradition of offering the leaves of basil plant, to the person approaching death has been continuing since time immemorial. This act of offering basil-leaves terrifies the messenger of Yama and helps the person is attaining to the abode of Lord Vishnu, after his death.If the last rite of a dead person is performed in the wood of basil plant, it helps his soul to attain to the abode of Lord Vishnu. Not only this, if even a single wood of basil plant is kept on the burning pyre then all the sins of that person get destroyed.

Although the use of stale flower and stale water is prohibited in the worship but this is not applicable to the leaves of basil plant, however there are some days on which selection of basil leaves are prohibited - Sunday, last day of dark lunar phase (Amavasya), twelfth day of every Hindu month (Dwadashi), Sanskranti and till the three hours after mid night. Therefore the leaves should be collected, well before the above mentioned days and times.

The holy basil, which is also called Tulsi in India, its birth and marriage ceremony is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik every year. This celebration gives great virtues and benediction.The holy basil has the same importance in the Ayurvedic field as it has in the spiritual and religious fields. It has miraculous curatory effects on numerous physical and mental ailments.

The holy basil plant keeps away the germs capable of causing diseases from its vicinity. It also helps in the purification of mind by purifying the whole atmosphere around it. This pure atmosphere helps us to attain physical and mental health.

All the parts of holy basil plant such as leaves, sprout, stem, soil underneath the plant have great medicinal properties.