Nearly the whole year of 2020 I stayed in Rishikesh, India – normally, meaning before plandemic times – a buzzling town at the feet of the Himalayas – known as the world’s capital of yoga. It was truly a blessing to be locked down with a like-minded crowd and given the chance to embrace Indian culture and ancient wisdom more deeply.
I had bought from my most favorite organic shop across Laxman Jhula some tulsi seeds that I have never used as part of my diet before. My Ayurveda mind remembers tulsi (ocimum sanctum), which is often referred to as holy basil, a potent herb that has been used in India for thousands of years treating colds, coughs, flu, congestion, urinary tract infections, vata or kapha type fever and vata or kapha type of skin conditions (due to the heating actions of all other parts of the plant but the seeds, it is generally contraindicated for pitta conditions). Some research revealed that tulsi seeds are a good source of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron. Calcium and magnesium are essential for your bone health and muscle function, while iron is vital for red blood cell production – learning that the seeds of the plant are actually edible. Isn’t nature magnificent and always surprising?!
Now, as I have tulsi seeds in my holy kitchen I am excited to process them.
Like chia seeds, they swell and form a gel when soaked and grow to a larger size. They have a pretty bland flavor, that easily blends in all kind of recipes like smoothies, milkshakes, lemonade and other drinks, soups, salad dressings, yogurt, cereal like oatmeal, pancakes, bread and muffins, etc. adding great nutritional value to it.
Let the seeds soak for about 15 minutes (1 tablespoon in a cup of water). Strain the soaked tulsi seeds and add them to your recipe. If a recipe already contains a lot of liquid, such as soup, pre-soaking is unnecessary.
When using tulsi seeds in baked goods, you can grind them and use them to replace part of the flour rather than adding them soaked. Alternately, you can use soaked basil seeds to replace eggs in baked goods. Use 1 tablespoon of tulsi seeds soaked in 3 tablespoons of water to replace 1 egg.
No limitation to your creativity! Be inspired & create. Surely you can just grow your tulsi plant: place the seeds between warm, moist paper towels for a day, and then plant them in rich soil. A sprout will start to break through within 10 days.
It is a meditation itself to observe a plant growing. In India you can find a tulsi plant in nearly every Hindu household as it’s considered holy – the plant is regarded as an earthly manifestation of the goddess Tulsi – an avatar of Lakshmi representing abundance, prosperity, successful living, and beauty of nature.
Tulsi Gayatri Mantra ( तुसली गायत्री मंत्र )
Chanting of the Tulsi gayatri mantra will bring peace of mind, at home and harmony among family members. It is chanted for healing and inspiration. Chant the mantra and integrate it in your sadhana.
Tulsi Gayatri in Devanagari:
- ॐ श्री त्रिपूराय विद्महे
- तुलसी पत्राय धीमहि
- तन्नो तुलसी प्रचोदयात्
Scientific translation:
- oṃ śrī tripūrāya vidmahe
- tulasī patrāya dhīmahi
- tanno tulasī pracodayāt
Meaning:
Om, Let me meditate on the Goddess of Ocimum,
Oh, Goddess who is dear to Vishnu, give me higher intellect,
And let Brindha illuminate my mind.