Why is a diya lighted before Tulsi plant in evenings? And how doing it right can have profound benefits

Tulsi, one of the most sacred plants for Hindus, is not just some stems and a couple of leaves, but it is the epitome of purity. The Tulsi plant, for Hindus, is not just a plant that they water, but a symbol of devotion, purity, and enlightenment. Every morning and evening, the members of a family come together to worship the Tulsi and light a diya near the plant. This simple act is believed to purify the surroundings and give the family divine blessings.

Tulsi, or Holy Basil as it is usually referred to, is said to be a manifestation and avatar of the goddess Lakshmi. The Tulsi plant is also called ‘Vishnupriya’, which basically means something that is beloved to Lord Vishnu.
The importance of the Tulsi plant is mentioned in various texts and tales. For starters, the Skanda Purana states that planting, lighting a diya near it, taking care of the plant, and worshipping the Tulsi plant ensures freedom from all sins and grants moksha. The Padma Purana also mentions that teaching people how to correctly worship the Tulsi plant will ensure that the teacher attains liberation.

Lighting a diya is a common practice in Hindu rituals. Be it the joyous day of Diwali or the regular, everyday puja rituals, lighting a diya is an important part of worship. For Hindus, and in many other religions as well, a diya is the symbol of victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. Lighting the diya is like infusing life into a space that was filled with darkness and ignorance. It is like an offering to the divine and is believed to help keep away any types of negative energies.

Both in scriptures and in stories, there are many tales about what people received when they lit up a diya near the Tusli plant. And, one of the most famous ones is of a woman who removed all her sins by just lighting the diya once!
The story says that years ago there was a woman who was married to a sage but her own acts were not very saint-ly. Her behaviour and etiquettes never fit into that of her husband’s and over time she was banished to the forests. One day, she fell extremely sick and had no one to care for her and tend to her. That is when she seeked refuge in an ashram along with other women. While she continued to live there, she never took part in any of the rituals that were followed by the other women. One fine day, she saw some girls praying to and lighting a diya near the Tulsi plant. And then in the evening she did the same. Unfortunately, on the same day, she had a painful pain in her body and died. When Yamraj’s men came to pick her, Vishnu ji intervened that she would not go to ‘Narak’. When asked why, Lord Vishnu replied that because she had lit up a diya near Tulsi, her sins were now erased and she would find a spot in heaven.

As mentioned in the tale above, a person who even once lights up a diya near the Tulsi plant is made free from his or her previous sins and finds a spot in Vishnu’s abode. Even in real life, whenever a person dies, in his mouth the priest or the family members, put a leaf or two from the Tulsi plant to help the deceased safely ascend to heaven.
This is done to ensure that the soul attains moksha and reaches the abode of Vishnu. The belief that Tulsi is sacred and purifies the soul, helps in the soul’s journey towards liberation.

Lighting a diya near the Tulsi plant is believed to purify the energies in the surrounding areas. Traditionally, families used to keep the Tulsi plant in their ‘Angan’ or courtyards which were an open space, and so when they lit up a diya near the Tulsi plant, it also used to light up the areas surrounding that place.
It is believed that the light of the diya, combined with the pure nature of the Tulsi plant, creates a powerful aura of positivity and spiritual purity. It is said to cleanse the space of any negative vibrations and invite positive energies that promote peace, health, and prosperity.

The act of lighting a diya near the Tulsi plant is considered to bring the combined blessings of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, blesses the house with abundance, and Vishnu ji, the preserver and protector, gives the family protection and well-being.

Now, it is important to note that one should not just go up to the Tulsi plant and light the diya. First, be considerate of the time that you do it. The diya should be lit shortly before sunset and this time marks the transition from day to night. And so, lighting the diya at this time is like a symbol of removing the darkness and shining new light. Next, make sure that you don't use oil to light up the diya, instead go for pure cow ghee as it is also a symbol of purity.
Then, first offer water to the Tulsi plant, say a short prayer, and then light up the diya. Once the diya is lit up, chant a mantra while doing a ‘parikrama’ of the plant.
In this way, one can reap the maximum benefits of lighting a diya and watering the Tulsi plant.