There is an Indian household that is doing something very similar to wellness, but without the marketing hype.There is a household that is doing something very similar to wellness in India, just without the marketing hype. Go to any old house in the subcontinent and you would find a plant in nearly every nook that held any significance, the entrance, the courtyard, the kitchen window area or the small plot of land beside the prayer room. Not one of these was an ornamental rather than the modern planter box. Every plant had a story, a god, a training, and at times a really practical application that's stood the test of time.

Tulsi is at the heart of this tradition and so is it supposed to be. The daily act of lighting a lamp in front of holy basil is considered to be as much a ritual of devotion towards Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu, as it is a superstition, and is more a part of creating a rhythm in the day. Those who have raised a tulsi plant will tell you that it has an effect on the air around it, and herbalists confirm this, as the leaves appear in traditional treatments and teas regularly. The plant requires light and regular watering, and households have always been meticulous about not cluttering the area surrounding the plant, so cleanliness is a part of the plant's purity as well.

Walk away from the house and you encounter the Peepal tree, too big and too symbolic to be housed in a courtyard. It is associated with both Vishnu and Shiva, and the belief that it is a symbol of peace that has ensured it remains standing in the temple courtyard and open square, not in the back yard, at least partly because of the fact that the root system can destroy a foundation. Neem is in the same realm, but on a more practical level. People have been using it for centuries as a natural insect repellant, and as a basis for skin treatments; it's even said that hanging its leaves at a festival door to keep away bad energy is more about repelling insects than it is about repelling bad energy. Just like Peepal it requires some distance from buildings as well as underground pipes, neither tree can afford to be a neighbour.

Then there are the plants that make an appearance when life is being celebrated. The banana plant is woven into the fabric of weddings and celebratory feasts, with its wide leaves used to serve and as a token of plenty, always symbolizing Vishnu. It requires heat, light and frequent watering and so is not a living room plant, but rather a garden or terrace plant. Bilva has a more specific connotation, usually only used in the context of Shiva worship and the three leaves form a reference to the trinity or to Shiva's trinity of eyes. It's not a pot plant either needs open ground and full sun to get it going.

The more common, sensory approach of this plant culture is taken by jasmine and marigold. Balconies and windows near prayer areas are where jasmine is most likely to be found because of its fragrance and delicate flowers which symbolize devotion and serenity. But Marigold is the flower of celebration bright, carefree, ready and ready for pots by the front door, where houses have always had them to welcome good luck. Aparajita, which is tied around the wrist of Goddess Durga and has blue or white flowers, serves a different purpose; it's used as an ornamental plant and also as a modest symbol of triumph over difficulties, as it is used around railings and trellises.

Though neither of these is scriptural, there are two more plants that complete the modern version of this list. Today, the money plant is used in almost every home in India as a symbol of growth and stability: its trailing vines are no longer a source of wealth but are a reminder that patience is the key to success when kept away from direct sunlight and from overwatering. Aloe vera stands out for its versatility and utility, with its thick leaves being a staple in many beauty products and a testament to its resilience, making it an excellent companion for any sunny windowsill.

Rather than a superstition, it is a working philosophy as to how a home should function that ties all of this together. Sanatan living places emphasis on being aware of placement not fearful, thereby maintaining a safe distance from large canopy trees while providing a space near the people from fragrant and flowering plants. A dead or neglected plant is seen as a small mark of such stagnation and is usually removed and never allowed to just remain there; nothing can beat the natural plant!

This doesn't need an extensive garden. Just a well cared for tulsi right at the doorstep, a couple of flowering plants in the balcony, herbs close to the kitchen, and larger trees with space to grow away from the home is adequate to establish the balance that older people had created in their homes. What these plants actually communicate or they could, if you listen are not about ritual, but about patience, gratitude and paying attention, which seem to be values that are relevant in all eras.