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Tulasee (Holy Basil)

Tulasee is a holy plant which is normally found in every Hindu household. Its specialty is that nobody keeps its pot inside the house in spite of being found in every house. It is always found outside the house or in the courtyard of the house. The main reason to keep it in the house is that without its leaves Vishnu Bhagavaan doesn't eat anything, so when one offers Naivedya to Vishnu, Tulasee leaf is necessary. For the same reason many people worship it. This plant has a medicinal value also. It is said that every part of its plant is useful in some way or the other.

It has a background story that why Bhagavaan does not accept anything without Tulasee. There was a Raakshas named Jalandhar. His wife's name was Vrindaa. His wife was a great devotee of Bhagavaan and she was a great Satee woman too, while Jalandhar was a great demon. When Devtaa got tired of his atrocities, they went to Vishnu Bhagavaan. Vishnu Jee said,  "Yes, I can see that, but my problem is that his wife is a great Satee. Whatever evil deeds he does, his wife's Satee effect nullifies it, so even I cannot harm him. But still I will think some solution to it." 

So Bhagavaan Vishnu went to Vrindaa in disguise of her husband and gave pleasure to her. Later she knew that Vishnu tricked her. As she knew it, she gave Him Shaap, "You have tricked a Satee Stree, so be a stone." And Vishnu accepted it respectfully, "So be it". He was converted into Shaalgraam (black stone which is also popularly worshipped in Hindu houses). Vishnu said - "I am sorry, I didn't have any other choice, because I could not punish your husband till your Satee effect was nullified. You gave me Shaap which was according to your nature, now I give you a Vardaan in exchange of your Shaap according to my nature." Then He gave her a Vardaan, "You will be born as Tulasee in Vrindaa Van (in fact that place will be called Vrindaa Van because of your name) abundantly, and I will not take anything without you. I will also come there and stay there for some time." Since then Vishnu doesn't accept anything without Tulasee leaves.