Why Avoid Tulasi Leaf In Ganesh Puja

Why shouldn't we put Tulasi/ basil leave during Lord Vinayaka puja

When we perform Lord Vinayaka puja, we put many varieties of leaves and flowers. If you have noticed you don't find Tulasi/ basil leave. Tulasi leave is considered most sacred leaves in Hindu religion.


     Once Lord Vinayaka was traveling beside Ganga river, a princess named Dharmadwaja saw lord Vinayaka and started liking him and also proposed. But Lord Ganesha rejected her proposal, angry with his rejection she cursed Lord Ganesha saying you will remain as a bachelor for a long period. In response to her curse, even he cursed her to remain with a demon for a long period. After hearing his curse, she started pleading to rescue her from his curse. Lord Ganesha calmed himself and said you have to live with a demon for a short period and later get rebirth as a sacred Tulasi. This is the reason why Lord Vinayaka dislikes Tulasi leaves. So avoid tulasi leaf at Ganesh puja.

Why shouldn't we put Shiva linga at home?

When it comes to Lord Shiva, we need to offer regular puja. If we are capable of offering regular puja, then only we can put Shiva linga at home. We need to offer "Abhishekam" at the appropriate time, offer 'naivedam' (fruits, flowers, food items, etc) regularly. Offering sincerely with devotion has become a nightmare during this competitive lives.


     Where we are unable to offer regular puja and become a victim of Lord Shiva's angry, it is better to give away Shiva linga at a nearby temple. If you want to offer any particular ritual then you can do it at the nearby temple where you will be guided with the temple Brahmin/ scholar in performing sacred puja, homam and chanting mantras. So avoid putting Shiva Linga at home