SB 2.3.23
jivañ chavo bhagavatanghri-renum
na jatu martyo 'bhilabheta yas tu
sri-visnu-padya manujas tulasyah
svasañ chavo yas tu na veda gandham
The person who has not at any time received the dust of the feet of the Lord's pure devotee upon his head is certainly a dead body. And the person who has never experienced the aroma of the tulasi leaves from the lotus feet of the Lord is also a dead body, although breathing.
Saunaka Rsi
dear to Lord Kesava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord Krsna and
possess the highest truth.
this Tulasi plant, and I am sure you will do it, then you must know it for certain that your
devotion for Krsna is testified. I was very much anxious to introduce this worship of Tulasi
plant amongst our Society members, but it has not become successful till now, therefore,
when I hear that you have got this opportunity, my pleasure does not have any bounds.
"Please take care of the Tulasi plants in the following way. This is the best season for
growing Tulasi plants. From 15th April to 15th June is the best season for growing this plant.
Now I understand that the seedlings are coming out, so the whole spot if possible may be
covered by some net because the seedling stage creepers being very delicate are sometimes
eaten up by the sparrows, so we have to give a little protection from attack of the sparrows.
All the devotees should pour water at least once in the morning before taking prasadam.
The watering should not be very much large in quantity, but it should be poured just to
keep the ground soft and moist. Sunlight also should be allowed. When the creepers are
grown at least 7 inches high, then you can take them out from the planting soil and transplant
them in a row in a different place. Then go on watering and they will grow like anything.
I think this plant cannot grow in cold countries, but if the plants are dispatched from
your place and if the devotees take care of the plant with a little care in a flower pot,
then it may grow."
Note: Tulasi leaves must be offered to Lord Visnu or Lord Krsna, Lord Narayana,
Caitanya (Visnu-tattva only).
"Tulasi leaf is very, very dear to Visnu. All Visnu-tattva Deities require profusely
Tulasi leaves. Lord Visnu likes garland of Tulasi leaves. Tulasi leaves mixed with
sandalwood pulp and placed on the lotus feet of the Lord is the topmost worship.
But we must be very careful that Tulasi leaves cannot be placed on the feet of
anyone else than Lord Visnu and His different forms. Tulasi leaves cannot be
placed even on the lotus feet of Radharani or on the lotus feet of the Spiritual Master.
It is entirely reserved for being placed on the lotus feet of Krsna.
We can place, however, Tulasi leaves in the hands of Radharani for being placed on
the lotus feet of Krsna, as you have seen on the Govinda Album."
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Benefits of Worshiping Tulasi Devi
Although we can never fully describe the glories of Tulasi Devi, an eternal associate of Lord Krsna, the scriptures give us a hint of the value of worshiping her. The following list comes from the Padma Purana.
Tulasi is the essence of all devotional activities.
The leaves, flowers, roots, bark, branches, trunk, and shade of Tulasi Devi are all spiritual.
One who with devotion applies the paste of Tulasi wood to the Deity of Krsna will always live close to Krsna.
One who puts mud from the base of the Tulasi tree on his body and worships the Deity of Lord Krsna gets the results of one hundred days worship each day.
One who offers a Tulasi manjari to Lord Krsna gets the benefit of offering all other varieties of flowers, and he goes to the abode of Krsna.
One who sees or comes near a house or garden where the Tulasi plant is present gets rid of all his sinful reactions, including that of killing a brahmana.
Lord Krsna happily lives in the house, town, or forest where Tulasi Devi is present.
A house where Tulasi Devi is present never falls on bad times, and it becomes purer than all holy places.
The fragrance of Tulasi Devi purifies all who smell it.
Lord Krsna and all the demigods live in a house where mud from the base of the Tulasi tree is found.
Without Tulasi leaves, Lord Krsna does not like to accept flowers, food, or sandalwood paste.
One who worships Lord Krsna daily with Tulasi leaves attains the results of all kinds of austerity, charity, and sacrifice. In fact, he has no other duties to perform, and he has realized the essence of the scriptures.
One who puts into his mouth or on his head Tulasi leaves that have been offered to Lord Krsna attains Lord Krsna's abode.
In Kali-yuga, one who worships, remembers, plants, keeps, or performs kirtana before Tulasi burns up all sinful reactions and quickly attains Lord Krsna's abode.
One who worships Lord Krsna with Tulasi leaves releases all his ancestors from the realm of birth and death.
One who remembers the glories of Tulasi or tells others about them will never take birth again.
Worshipping Tulasi Devi
The following list was compiled from scriptures and from Srila Prabhupada's instructions.
· Tulasi's body is spiritual. Although Tulasi appears as many individual trees, she is one person, and she comes wherever she sees devotion to Krsna.
· Every morning devotees should water and pray to Tulasi Devi and circumambulate her three times.
· Worship Tulasi with nice food, flowers, incense, a ghee lamp, and other traditional articles of worship.
· Protect the delicate Tulasi seedlings from birds and insects. It is an offense to turn the seedlings back into the soil.
· In places where Tulasi cannot survive the winters when planted in the ground, provide a suitable house for her.
· Every day provide Tulasi fresh air, water (as needed be careful not to water too much), and sunshine (or plant lights).
· Neglecting to care for or water Tulasi properly is a great offense. Do everything carefully.
· When picking Tulasi leaves, chant the following mantra:
tulasy amrta janmasi
sada tvram kesava-priya
kesavartham cinomi tvam
varada bhava sobhane
"O Tulasi, you were born from nectar. You are always very dear to Lord Kesava. Now, in order to worship Lord Kesava, I am collecting your leaves and manjaris. Please bestow your benediction on me."
Pick only the leaves that grow next to the manjaris (flowers) and the leaves that are ready to drop they will turn a pale color not the new, green ones. Pick the manjaris as soon as they blossom. Avoid letting them go to seed, which takes much energy from the plant that can be used to make more leaves and flowers for Krsna's service. Pick the leaves one at a time with your fingertips. Don't shake or stroke the branch and damage healthy leaves. Pick with care and attention. Avoid using cutting tools.
· Never cut or prune Tulasi Devi. This is a great offense. Remove dead branches if absolutely necessary. If branches obstruct a passageway, tie them back, but don't cut them.
· Pick Tulasi leaves and flowers in the morning, never at night (from sunset to sunrise).
· Never use chemical sprays on Tulasi.
· Collect leaves once in the morning for worshiping Krsna and for putting on the plates of food to be offered to Him. Put at least one leaf on each preparation. Never pick Tulasi leaves for any other purpose than to offer to the Lord.
· Lord Krsna likes garlands of Tulasi leaves. Tulasi leaves mixed with sandalwood pulp and placed on the lotus feet of the Lord is the topmost worship. Do not place Tulasi leaves on the feet of anyone other than Lord Visnu in His various forms. Srimati Radharani can be given a Tulasi leaf in Her hand for offering to Lord Krsna.
. . .
· Krsna accepts even dry Tulasi leaves. - Tulsa wood (taken after a plant has fully dried naturally) can be used to carve worship paraphernalia, such as beads. Place leftover Tulasi wood within the earth.
· Never use Tulasi leaves or flowers to make teas or juices, even after they've been offered to Krsna. It is a great offense to cook or heat Tulas~, or to use her for mundane purposes, such as medicines and ointments.
· Never cut down or pull up living Tulsa plants. This is a great offense.
· Avoid stepping on Tulasi Dev~'s shadow.
· Tulasi Devi is very, very dear to the Lord. Therefore, most important is to serve her with love and devotion.
to obtain the service of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.
on him, you make him a resident of Vrndavana.
of Sri Vrndavana-dhama. Thus, within my vision I will always behold the
beautiful pastimes of Radha and Krsna.
give me the privilege of devotional service and make me your own maidservant.
the love of Sri Radha and Govinda.
kesavasya--to Lord Kesava; ca-and; krsna-bhakti-- devotional service to Lord
Krsna, prade--who bestows; devi--O goddess; satya-vatyai--unto Satyavati; namah
namah--repeated obeisances.
dear to Lord Kesava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord Krsna and
possess the highest truth.
brahmana; adikani--and so on; ca--also, tani tani--all of them;
pranasyanti--are destroyed; pradaksinah--(by) the circumambulation (of Tulasi
Devi); pade pade--at every step.
committed are destroyed at every step, even the sin of killing a brahmana.
1
vrnde maharani namo namah
2
obeisances to you again and again.
are described in the Vedas and Puranas.
the Lord of Laksmi. O blessed mother Tulasi, you performed successful
austerities and have thus become the chief consort and queen of Sri
sgalagrama-sila.
incense, a ghee lamp, naivedya, and arati. The Lord does not care for even one
of fifty-six varieties of cooked food or thirty-six different curries offered
without tulasi leaves.
munis, headed by Lord Brahma, are circumambulating you. O mother! O Maharani,
Candrasekhara thus sings your glories. Please bestow upon him the gift of pure
devotion.
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