Tulasi - The queen of herbs

I would like to start  my blog with a brief note on Tulasi. It is the queen of herbs and is  important to one and all. Every Hindu household will have a Tulasi Katte (Konkani word) in front to greet  the guest.

Every part of the plant is useful - both medicinally and religiously. Its aroma is good for our health. The lady of the house starts her day by watering Tulasi plant with devotion and then starts her daily household activities. She lights a diya near the plant in the evening to brighten up her courtyard.

From dry Tulasi plant we can make Tulasi beads for japamala for daily japa or wearing. It has medicinal properties . No ceremony is complete without the leaves of Tulasi in the life of Hindus. Even on the death of a person a Tulasi plant is placed near the body and giving little water with Tulasi leaves washes off the sin.

( Thulasi beads mala about 500 years old)

 For daily usage of Tulasi, I am giving here by a recipe - Herbal Tea:

Ingredients:

Two cups of water

10 - 12 Tulasi leaves

Lemon grass pieces

Small piece of ginger

1 pod cardomom

Method:

Add all these, boil and reduce to one cup. Add 1 teaspoon tea leaves. Boil and switch off the gas, Strain and add milk & sugar.

(Can also make with lemon juice (1/2 tsp) omitting milk.)

A small introduction from me

Born in a small village Muduperar near Mangalore.My father is late Mr.Perar Hariram Kamath.Who had a zest for life and was very much interest in agriculture and books.He had very big hand in the development of our village in all fields,be it the post office,school and health centers. He would experiment in agriculture and had a thirst for knowledge in all fields. My mother is Sunitha Laxmi Kamath from Udayavar Shenoys family residing in Mulki. Very much interested in cooking, stitching,making malas from all types of flowers. She was the typical konkani housewife of yesteryears .Most of the qualities I have inherited from my parents for which I am thankful.

Born in a big family of 7 children, I got married at the tender age of 18 ,am now settled in Kochi, Kerala. My father-in-law late Dr.B.D.Mallya was a renowned Doctor from Tellichery who had settled in Kochi.My husband Dr.Chandrashekar Mallya is also a Physician by profession and have two lovely daughters Sunayana &Supriya. Sunayana a Pharmacist is married and settled in U.S.A with Atul Pai my dear son-in-law. Supriya is doing first year engineering in Mangalore.Both of them have inherited my love for creative arts but need a bit of nudging to pursue this hobby.

My friend Asha helped me in most of my endeavors towards this field. She helped me in editing my contributions to this blog. Mr.Balakrishna Mallya helped me in creating this blog and I am thankful to him.

I dedicated this blog to my dear father & father-in-law whose blessings I will always cherish in my life

I would like to share my knowledge and intend to lap up the contribution of the other bloggers too. Any suggestions and criticism with the same favour is invited.