circumspice ...

holy basil (ocimum sanctum), considered the holy power plant, has a hot, spicy flavor ...

for thousands of years worshipped and revered as "tulsi" meaning "the incomparable one", ayurvedic masters consider it the mother medicine of nature, it is "anti-mutagenic and anti-inflammatory". it helps to mobilize mucus in bronchitis and asthma, relieves cold and flu, sorethroat, headaches, gum infection, sore eyes, night-blindness, leucoderma, insect bites, diarrhea, vomiting, reduces blood cholesterol and removes kidney stones.

protection against anxiety and stress, its a nervine tonic, sharpens memory, delivers nutrients to the mind necessary for the experience of enlightenment.

many hindu families have the tulsi planted in a specially built structure, which has an alcove for a small earthen oil lamp, like the one we see in the picture.

but this one is special ! built in 1885 in a beautiful british forest bungalow (mount stuart), in the middle of thick south indian jungle.

hugo wood, a working plan officer, lived here and successfully raised teak plantations all around, latter he died and his grave rests up close with word inscribed on a solid slab of granite brought from england ... which reads ... " SI MUNUMENTUM REQUIRIS CIRCUMSPICE " ... " if u want to see me look around " ...