TULASYAMRTA: THE NECTAR OF SRIMATI TULASI DEVI
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Tulasyamrta: The Nectar Of Srimati Tulasi Devi
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This is a nice compilation of Vedic evidences about Srimati Tulasi Devi from various sources ranging from
sruti, to Puranas and writings of the past acaryas. I also serves as a practical guide for caring and serving
Srimati Tulasi Devi in Her plant form.
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Part 1: Tulasi-Dhatri-Mahimamrta: The nectar of glories of Srimati Tulasi Devi (and Amalaki)
* Tulasi Upanishad
* Tulasi Kavaca
* Sri Tulasi Stava
* Tulasi Dhatri Mahatmya
* Vaisnava Tulasy Asvattha Mahatmya
* Sri Tulasi Stotra
Part 2: Tulasi Sevamrta: The Nectar of Serving Srimati Tulasi Devi
* Tulasi lighting
* Altar for Srimati Tulasi Devi
* Appendix: Glories of Amalaki from Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa
* Appendix: Various versions of how Markandeya Rsi conquered death personified
* Appendix: Practical aspects of serving Srimati Tulasi Devi
The Glories of Tulasī Devī From The Śrī Nāradīya Purāṇa
Tulasi Devi’s glories can be found over and over again throughout sastra, they’re like hidden gems, yet
we don’t hear them very often. The next few articles will dig up some of these hidden gems; bringing
them out into the open air for all of us to admire, learn from, and go a little bit deeper in our
relationship with Tulasi Devi.
“A person who wears Srimati Tulasi Devi neck beads, even if he is impure or sinful, will eventually attain
my shelter. There is no doubt about it.”
-Hari-bhakti-vilasa 4.322
“Srimati Tulasi Devi is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by
remembering, simply by praying to, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about or simply by
sowing this tree, there is always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in touch with Srimati Tulasi Devi in
the above-mentioned ways lives eternally in the Vaikuntha world.”
-Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.204-205
Here we will feature the Vaisnava-tulasy-asvattha-mahatmya: The Glorification of Vaishnavas, Srimati
Tulasi Devi, and Asvattha from Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya of the Sri Naradiya Purana, Chapter 18. This
translation comes from the Tulasyamrta by HH B.V. Madhava Swami, which includes all of the original
sanskrit, word for word translation, and a comprehensive commentary on this section of the Sri
Naradiya Purana. This glorification of Tulasi Devi is told in a unique and humorous past time. Here, Tulasi
Devi is caught in the act of giving her mercy to a “foolish twice-born farmer” who has 90 minutes left to
live. The glories of Tulasi Devi that are found in many other puranas are practically played out in this
special lila. This past time is very rich, and not only glorifies Tulasi Devi, but also Vaishnavas and others.
The past time is as follows:
A little boy who is a devotee of the Supreme Lord is superior to a man who has lived a very long but
useless life. No other tree even of great importance can be compared to Srimati Tulasi Devi. Lord Hari
rejects a garland of parijata flowers, but he happily accepts Srimati Tulasi Devi, who is very dear to him.
How is it that she could be counted among creepers? Please hear an old story in connection with the
importance of Srimati Tulasi Devi.
We (the Yamadutas) have no power over anyone, pious or sinful, who worships Lord Hari with Srimati
Tulasi Devi. At the time of death he is carried away by the messenger of Lord Vishnu. We do not know
for what reason Lord Hari, who is so dear to Srimati Tulasi Devi, protects anyone who carries Tulasi Devi
in his hands.
There was a certain foolish, twice-born who supported himself by farming and disrespected spiritual
practice. Once he, who was desirous of collecting rice and liked to eat boiled rice that was left overnight,
set forth from his home taking a sickle and rope with him. At dawn that physically strong man, having
gone to the forest, collected rice-crop from the ground. Roaming there in search of green vegetables he
saw the immensely auspicious forest of Srimati Tulasi Devi. It resembled an emerald adorned in gold and
due to the tenderness of the plants it was very pleasing to the mind. He greedily thought: “If this Srimati
Tulasi Devi proves edible for either men or cows then I shall be lucky. I will collect it. Nevertheless, after
having collected a little, today I shall give it to my neighbor who desires it. He may want to use it for
some purpose.”
By divine arrangement, this was the moment when his predestined duration of life was to come to an
end. Invisible to him, the servants of the Lord of Death approached a snake situated nearby and spoke
as follows, “O black snake! Bite him quickly. This lowest amongst the twice-born deserves to be bitten
by you. He should not touch Srimati Tulasi Devi, for if he does then we shall have no power over him.”
Thus quickly instructed, the snake approached the twice-born farmer. By divine influence, although not
knowing what was going on, the farmer touched Srimati Tulasi Devi just a short moment before the
snake approached him.
Lord Vishnu constantly remains in the forest of Srimati Tulasi Devi, eagerly thinking, ‘Will any fortunate
person offer me just one leaf?’
Because of having touched Srimati Tulasi Devi, Sudarshana Chakra, the disk weapon of Lord Vishnu,
appeared for the protection arranged by the Lord and, remaining invisible, it followed the twice-born,
protecting him in all respects. Just before this moment, the snake quickly hid inside the heavy bundle of
grass that the twice-born was to carry. He firmly tied the bundle of grass and prepared to leave the
forest. In order to kill the twice-born as soon as he releases Srimati Tulasi Devi, the spying servants of
Yamaraja followed him. Not knowing what had happened, the twice-born, lifting the bundle of grass
along with the snake, went home surrounded afar by Yamaraja’s servants who were afraid of the
dazzling disk.
This wonder was beheld at the gate of the house by a worshiper of Lord Krishna who possessed divine
vision. He was amazed, “Why Srimati Tulasi Devi is there?” Out of curiosity he asked the followers of
Yamaraja about the meaning of all that he saw. They offered obeisances to him and explained what
happened and the reason for sudarsana disk’s protection of the twice-born.
The Yamadutas informed the Vaisnava Brahmana, “After the vipra puts down the grass bundle and if he
perchance moves far away from Srimati Tulasi Devi, the snake may be able to bite him bringing about his
death. And then we shall bring him to the abde of Yamaraja.” Then out of compassion towards him (the
twice-born farmer) this Brahman began considering the ways of serving him. This sage thus addressed
the followers of the intendant of death as if he were ignorant,
By divine influence, although not knowing what was going on, the farmer touched Srimati Tulasi Devi
just a short moment before the snake approached him.
“O great souls, O merciful messengers of the Lord of Death who punishes the sinful, please tell me of the
means to save this twice-born. Truly, Sudarshana Chakra the disk of Lord Vishnu, will not protect him if
perchance he releases Srimati Tulasi Devi. You generous persons, out of kindness to me, told me about
the danger of the snake. Srimati Tulasi Devi was brought for the sake of successful performance of my
personal worship of the Lord. So I beg you to protect him.”
Then the messengers of the Lord of Death said, “O Lord, what is the use of our mercy? Just out of
respect towards you, we the servants of death, would run away. Within an hour and a half from now, his
destined duration of life will be complete and he will die of a snake bite. But your worshipable Lord, the
all pervading Supreme Personality of Godhead, who longs for receiving an offering of Srimati Tulasi Devi,
can protect that foolish twice-born. Lord Vishnu constantly remains in the forest of Srimati Tulasi Devi,
eagerly thinking, ‘Will any fortunate person offer me just one leaf?’ If, staying there in the forest of
Srimati Tulasi Devi, he would offer a leaf of Srimati Tulasi Devi to the husband of the Goddess of
Fortune, Lord Vishnu, then the Lord’s personal weapon at that very moment would undoubtedly burn us
into ashes. We have no power over anyone, pious or sinful, who worships Lord Hari with Srimati Tulasi
Devi. At the time of death he is carried away by the messenger of Lord Vishnu. We do not know for what
reason Lord Hari, who is so dear to Srimati Tulasi Devi, protects anyone who carries Tulasi Devi in his
hands. If you intend this twice-born to be always protected then you should at once perform worship of
Srimati Tulasi Devi for expanding the duration of his life.”
No other tree even of great importance can be compared to Srimati Tulasi Devi. Lord Hari rejects a
garland of parijata flowers, but he happily accepts Srimati Tulasi Devi, who is very dear to him. How is it
that she could be counted among creepers?
Thus addressed he happily did as was explained, and by that he protected the twice-born. Then two of
them could see both the servants of Yamaraja and the snake leaving the place. Then this Vaisnava
informed that foolish twice-born of what happened, went together with him to a place of pilgrimage
dedicated to Lord Vishnu and worshiped Him for the pleasure of Srimati Tulasi Devi. Having worshiped
Him these two Vaishnavas attained supreme perfection.
This translation is from the Tulasyamrta by HH B.V. Madhava Swami, which includes all original sanskrit,
word for word translation, and a comprehensive commentary on this section of the Sri Naradiya Purana,
sections of the Padma Purana, the Tulasi Stava, and much more. The Tulasyamrta can be purchased
from the Tulasi Sevamrta Shop; all proceeds will go to Maharaja.
We invite you to subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter to keep up to date with new articles and exciting
news!
SASTRA
Who is Tulasī Devī and Why We Worship Her | Part 1
Who is Tulasī Devī?
Tulasī Devī is found all over the world and is worshiped and respected by many. We, as aspiring
Vaiṣṇava’s worship her and serve her daily; she is constantly wrapped around our necks, our fingers rub
her body throughout the day, she is in our homes and temples, she gives us service and nurtures us in
hopes that we will become devotees. Despite our lives being imbued with her mercy, most of us do not
know who she is, or why we worship her. Our ācāryas explain that Tulasī Devī is Vṛnda Devī:
tvaṁ kīrtyase sātvata-tantra-vidbhir
līlābhidhānā kila kṛṣṇa-śaktiḥ
tavaiva mūrtis tulasī nṛ-loke
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam
“O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Those who have studied the Sātvatatantra glorify you. You are Lord Kṛṣṇa’s potency for performing pastimes, and you are known as Tulasī
Devī in the human society.”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in his Śrī Vṛndādevy-aṣṭakam Text 7
The brushing of the wind, the soft beds of flowers, the jeweled thrones, the humming bees, the singing
birds, the decorated kuñja’s of Vṛndāvan, Vṛinda Devī arranges everything for the Divine Young Couples’
past times.
tvad-ājñayā pallava-puṣpa-bhṛṅgamṛgādibhir mādhava-keli-kuñjaḥ
madhav-ādibhir bhānti vibhūṣyamāṇā
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam
“O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Because of your order, the groves
where Lord Mādhava performs His pastimes appear very splendid, decorated with blossoming flowers,
bumblebees, deer, and other auspicious animals, flowers, and birds.”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in his Śrī Vṛndādevy-aṣṭakam Text 4
Every morning at her kunḍ she and her companions scheme the days activities. She is the playwright,
the doorkeeper of Vṛndāvan, the bestower of devotional service and unalloyed divine love, She is the
mother of devotion.
Tulasī Devī bestows service and devotion to anyone who comes in contact with her, all of her children,
whether they want it or not. She gives her special favor to those who serve her and take shelter of her,
she opens her own heart to those who open their heart to her.
Vṛinda is jagad-dhātri, the mother of all the residents of the universe. She is the soft nurturing mother
always guiding her rebellious children to their sweet, sweet home. Unconditional love is the nature of a
mother, so much so that even if her child was to disrespect her, neglect her, or forget about her, she
would always keep the deepest crevices of her heart open to her child. We constantly disrespect,
neglect, and forget about our most loving divine mother, we don’t even understand that it is by her
mercy we desire to desire to serve the Divine Young Couple and their servants. As an infant child does
not know where its sustenance comes from, who is feeding them, who is bathing them, who is clothing
them, who is giving them so much affection, we do not understand who is taking care of us, who is it
that has given such mercy to allow us to try to chant the holy name? Who is holding our hands, dragging
us to the soft dust of Vraj?
Why Do We Worship Tulasī Devī?
Our ācāryas explain that is by her mercy that we may be able to enter into Vṛndāvan, that it is by her
mercy that we can desire to desire to serve the Divine Young Couple and their servants. Our ācāryas
pray thus:
hṛdi cira-vasad-āśā-maṇḍalālambi-pādau
guṇavati tava nāthau nāthituṁ jantur eṣaḥ sapadi
bhavad-anujñāṁ yācate devi vṛnde
mayi kira karuṇārdrāṁ dṛṣṭim atra prasīda
“O merciful qualified Vṛnda, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are your Mistress and Lord. I have carried the desire to see
Them in my heart for so long, and only by your grace, this desire can be fulfilled. Please cast a merciful
glance upon me. Be kind upon me.”
Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī in his Utkalikā-vyallarī Text 4
he śrī-tulasy-uru-kṛpā-dyu-taraṅginī tvaṁ
yan-mūrdhni me caraṇa-paṅkajam ādadhāḥ svam
yac cāham apy apibam ambu manāk tadīyaṁ
tan me manasy udayam eti manoratho ’yam
“O Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, O celestial river of mercy, it is because I once placed my head at your lotus feet
and drank some drops of water that washed your lotus feet, that these desires (to serve Rādhā Kṛṣṇa
and their devotees) have risen in my heart.”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in his Śrī Saṅkalpa-kalpadrumaḥ Text 89
kvāhaṁ paraḥ śata-nikṛty-anuviddha-cetāḥ
saṅkalpa eṣa sahasā kva sudurlabhārthe
ekā kṛpaiva tava mām ajahāty upādhiśūnyaivam antum adadhāty agater gatir me
“O Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, how low I am, my heart pierced by hundreds of offenses! How exalted and
difficult to attain is my aspiration! Your causeless mercy is my only hope. It is by Your mercy that I, who
am so fallen, can have these desires and thoughts.”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in his Śrī Saṅkalpa-kalpadrumaḥ Text 90
rāsābhilāṣo vasatiś ca vṛndā vane tvad-īśāṅghri-saroja-sevā
labhyā ca puṁsāṁ kṛpayā tavaiva vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam
“O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. The living entities who attain the
service of the lotus feet of your Lord reside in Vṛndāvana. And the desire to understand the Lord’s
amazing pastimes of the rasa dance is only by your mercy.”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s Śrī Vṛndādevy-aṣṭakam Text 6
…we do not understand who is taking care of us, who is it that has given such mercy to allow us to try to
chant the holy name? Who is holding our hands, dragging us to the soft dust of Vraj?
The mood in which Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava’s worship Tulasī Devī is not one of exploiting her for benedictions,
to become freed from our sins, or worship out of awe and reverence. Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas worship Tulasī
Devī begging for service to the servants of the servants of the Divine Young Couple. Tulasī Devī bestows
service and devotion to anyone who comes in contact with her, all of her children, whether they want it
or not. She gives her special favor to those who serve her and take shelter of her, she opens her own
heart to those who open their heart to her. It is said that service to Tulasī Devī is 50% perspiration and
50% āśraya (dependency). Anyone who has worked hard for her and taken shelter of her can tell you
that She is a person, a divine, pure person, who loves you and cares for you
Our lives are imbued with Tulasī Devī’s mercy, let us open our eyes and really try to see how she is
helping us, and in return, lets try to do dome service for her. In future articles these topics will be
covered in greater detail, such as why she comes in the form of a plant, how does she give her mercy,
who is she gives her mercy to, more about her mood, etc.
We invite you to subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter to keep up to date with new articles and exciting
news!
Posted in Sastra and tagged Who is Tulasi Devi? Why Do We Worship Tulasi Devi?
SASTRA
The Glories of Wearing Tulasī Devī From The Skanda Purāṇa
Tulasī Devī’s glories can be found over and over again throughout sastra, they’re like hidden gems, yet
we don’t hear them very often. The next few articles will dig up some of these hidden gems; bringing
them out into the open air for all of us to admire, learn from, and go a little bit deeper in our
relationship with Tulasī Devī.
”Just as a pet dog has got a collar, similarly we are pet dogs of God. So we have got this collar. And
Yamarāja, the Lord of Death will understand that he, the devotee, is God’s dog; he should not be shot
down.”
-Srila Prabhupada (December 19, 1970 Srimad-Bhagavatam Class in Surat)
tulasī-kāstha-sambhūtāmśirasoyasyabhūsanam
bāhvohkarecamartyasyadehetasyasadāharih
“There is no need to perform atonement for a person who wears Tulasī neck beads. Factually, he does
not become contaminated at any stage in his life. Śrī Hari resides in the body of a person whose neck
and arms are decorated with ornaments made of Tulasī.”
-Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 4.335
We all wear Tulasī malas around our necks, some of us perhaps for a number of years. It may have been
some time since we reflected on the question, “What is the significance of wearing Tulasī Devī?” This
article attempts to deepen our understanding on why we wear Tulasī Devī. We will focus on the glories
of wearing Tulasī malas from the Skanda Purāṇa’s second book (Vaiṣṇavakhaṇda), fifth section
(Mārgaśīrṣa-māhātmya). This section is a dialogue between Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, we will focus
only on the portion of this dialogue where Lord Vishnu speaks about the glories of Tulasī Devī.
The section of the Skanda Purāṇa is as follows:
On seeing a garland of Tulasī twigs, the messengers of Yamarāja disappear from far like a leaf shaken off
by wind. In Kali-yuga, sin does not contaminate that house where a Tulasī twig or leave, whether dry or
green, is present.
(Lord Vishnu states:) The Brahmana who wears the garland of Tulasī twigs undoubtedly attains me
(Bhagavān), even if he is unclean and devoid of good conduct. The man on whose body a garland made
of Dhātrī (āmalakī) fruits or Tulasī twigs is visible is indeed a Bhāgavata (devotee of the lord). He who
wears the garland of Tulasī leaves, particularly the ones taken off from me, is worthy of being bowed to
even by the Devatas. The garland made of Tulasī leaves, or of Dhātrī fruits (āmalakī), grants salvation
even to sinners (Note: This is proof that everyone can and should wear Tulasī malas). All the more so in
the case of my devotees who serve me.
He who wears the garland of Tulasī leaves that has been worn by me attains the merit of ten horse
sacrifices for every leaf in that garland. If a man wears a garland of Tulasī twigs, oh dear one, I grant him
the merit arising from visiting the holy place of Dvārakā everyday. After dedicating it to me with
devotion, a man who wears a garland of Tulasi twigs devoutly has no sin at all.
I am always pleased with him who wears a garland of Tulasī twigs. He is as dear to me as my vital air. It is
not necessary that he should perform any expiatory rite. There is nothing unclean or polluted in his
body.
He whose body is ornamented with Tulasī twigs on the head, arms, and hands is dear to me. One should
do meritorious acts after adorning oneself with a garland of Tulasī twigs. The auspicious merits
performed by him shall have crores of times the benefit.
The Brahmana who wears the garland of Tulasī twigs undoubtedly attains me (Bhagavān), even if he is
unclean and devoid of good conduct. The man on whose body a garland made of Dhātrī (āmalakī) fruits
or Tulasī twigs is visible is indeed a Bhāgavata (devotee of the lord).
On seeing a garland of Tulasī twigs, the messengers of Yamarāja disappear from far like a leaf shaken off
by wind. In Kali-yuga, sin does not contaminate that house where a Tulasī twig or leave, whether dry or
green, is present. If anyone, embellished with a garland of Tulasī twigs, moves about on the earth, he
will not see bad dreams or ill omens or any danger from enemies.
If rationalists or heretics with sinful intentions refuse to wear a garland of Tulasī, they will never return
from hell. They will be burnt by my anger (Note: This is proof that everyone can and should wear Tulasī
malas). Hence a garland made of Tulasī twigs, seeds of lotus, or Dhātrī (āmalakī) fruits should be worn
carefully and devoutly. It bestows excellent merit. Hence a devotee should have Ūrdhvapuṇḍra (tilaka)
and the imprints of conch, etc. With Kusha grass in his hands he should remember me and perform
Sandhyā prayers (Gāyatrī mantras) at the root of a Tulasī plant.
We invite you to subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter to keep up to date with new articles and exciting
news!
Bibliography
The Skanda Purāṇa Part IV. Dehli: Motilal Banarsidass, 1998. Print.
Posted in Sastra and tagged About Tulasi Malas Skanda Purana Why Do We Worship Tulasi Devi?
SASTRA
Glories of Tulasī Devī from Padma-Purāṇa | Part 1
The following article is taken from the Padma-Purāṇa Uttarakhaṇḍa chapter twenty three. This is a
scholarly translation from Motilal Banarsidass publishers with very slight modifications by our editors to
make it easier to read in some areas.
Mahādeva said: O Nārada, listen. I shall tell you the importance of Tulasī, which having heard a man is
freed from sin from his birth to his death. Everything of Tulasī including leaves, flowers, fruits, roots,
branches, skin, and stem is purifying, so also is the clay where a Tulasī plant grows.
Glories of Cremation With Tulasī Wood
Those whose bodies are burnt with the Tulasī wood are freed from sins, so also he on whose dead body
the Tulasī wood is placed and who (i.e. whose dead body) is cremated after doing so, is freed from sins.
He who at the time of death hears the narration of or has recollection of Viṣṇu, and who is cremated
with the Tulasī wood is not reborn. If among a hundred pieces of any other kind of wood there is just
one piece of Tulasī wood (in the funeral pyre), the man would have salvation just at the time of
cremation—even if he has committed a crore of sins. By being sprinkled with the water of the Gaṅgā,
religious merit becomes meritorious. Similarly, pieces of wood become meritorious when mixed with
Tulasī wood. As long as the funeral pyre mixed with Tulasī wood is burning, all his sins committed during
crores of kalpas are burnt.
A man should especially bathe with the clay from the root of Tulasī. As long as the clay is on his body, he
has bathed at a holy place. When a man who worships with the shoot (flower) of Tulasī, has performed
the worship with many flowers and it (the benefit) lasts as long as the moon and the sun shine in the
sky. All the sin due to the murder of a brāhmaṇa perishes by touching or seeing the plant.
Seeing the dead body of a man being burnt with Tulasī wood, Viṣṇu’s messengers take him, not Yama’s
servants. Freed from thousands of crores of existences, he goes to Viṣṇu. On those men seated in
aeroplanes, who (i.e. whose dead bodies) are burnt with Tulasī wood, gods (devatas) drop handfuls of
flowers. All the celestial damsels sing and singers sing songs. Seeing him, Viṣṇu, along with Śiva, is
pleased. Taking him by his hand and physically taking him to his house, Viṣṇu would clean all his sins in
the presence of gods after having celebrated a great festival along with cries of victory. The sin of men is
burnt in the fire-chamber or crematory when the fire of Tulasī wood is burning with clarified butter.
Glories of Using Tulasī Wood in Pūjā
Those men who perform a sacrifice with the fire of Tulasī wood, would obtain the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma
sacrifice for every sesame seed that is offered into the fire. A man who offers the incense of a piece of
Tulasī wood to Viṣṇu, obtains the fruit similar to that of a hundred sacrifices or that of the gift of a
hundred cows. That food which a man cooks as an offering of eatables to the deity with the fire made
from Tulasī wood, is indeed accepted by Viṣṇu. O lord, he who offers one lamp lighted from the Tulasī
wood to Viṣṇu, obtains the fruit of the religious merit earned by the offering of thousands of lakhs of
lamps. There is no devotee seen on the earth like him who offers the sandal like paste of Tulasī wood to
Krsna. O best brahmana, he becomes fit for the favour of Viṣṇu. Having devoutly smeared Viṣṇu with the
sandal like paste obtained from Tulasī wood in the Kali-age, he always enjoys in the vicinity of Viṣṇu. The
fruit of the religious merit remains as long as the sandal like paste from Tulasī wood, used for smearing
the deity of Viṣṇu, remains in the temple.
Other glories of Tulasī Devī
He who carries on his head the water dropping from the Tulasī-leaf obtains the fruit of having bathed in
Gaṅgā and would get the fruit of a gift of a hundred cows.
If a man gives a Tulasī leaf on the piṇḍa offered to the manes (ancestors), then for every leaf that is
offered the manes (ancestors) are contented for a hundred years. A man should especially bathe with
the clay from the root of Tulasī. As long as the clay is on his body, he has bathed at a holy place. When a
man who worships with the shoot (flower) of Tulasī, has performed the worship with many flowers and
it (the benefit) lasts as long as the moon and the sun shine in the sky. All the sin due to the murder of a
brāhmaṇa perishes by touching or seeing the plant. Even by seeing Tulasī, O Nārada, all that sin
perishes.
Mahādeva said: Now I shall tell you something else. Listen with a concentrated mind. O best of the
divine sages, I have not told it to anyone else.
Viṣṇu and Śiva Resides Near Tulasī Devī
In whichever house, village or grove there would be a Tulasī plant, Viṣṇu, the lord of the world, being
pleased, would stay there. In that house where there is a Tulasī plant there is no poverty, no hostile
action due to (i.e. from) kinsmen, no grief, no fear, and no disease. Everywhere the Tulasī plant is
auspicious, and especially so in a sacred place. When Tulasī is planted by men they eternally reside with
Viṣṇu. When Tulasī is devoutly worshipped, Viṣṇu pacifies fearful diseases and many ill-omens.
Wherever the wind goes after taking the fragrance of Tulasī, all the ten quarters are purified, so also the
aggregate beings of four kinds. O best sage, the deities Śiva, and Viṣṇu always reside in that house in
which there is the clay taken from the root of the Tuiasi plant. Therefore, Tulasī is purifying.
There is no devotee seen on the earth like him who offers the sandal like paste of Tulasī wood to Krsna.
O best brahmana, he becomes fit for the favour of Viṣṇu. Having devoutly smeared Viṣṇu with the
sandal like paste obtained from Tulasī wood in the Kali-age, he always enjoys in the vicinity of Viṣṇu.
He who carries on his head the water dropping from the Tulasī-leaf obtains the fruit of having bathed in
Gaṅgā and would get the fruit of a gift of a hundred cows. If he especially plants a Tulasī plant in the
temple of Śiva, he would stay in heaven for as many yugas as is the number of the seeds. Formerly
goddess Pārvatī had planted a hundred Tulasī plants on the Himālaya for Śaṅkara.
I bow down to Tulasī. A man should plant Tulasī on a parvan day, on any other special occasion, when in
śrāvana, or on a saṁkrānti day.
Tulasī gives great religious merit. A poor man who worships Tulasī daily will become rich. The image of
Viṣṇu, bringing about every kind of success, gives fame also.
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Bibliography
The Padma-Purāṇa Part VII. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 1952. Print.
Posted in Sastra and tagged Padma Purana Why Do We Worship Tulasi Devi?
SASTRA
Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī Worships Tulasī Devī From The Garga-saṃhitā
Śrī Garga-saṃhitā
Canto Two
Chapter Fifteen
Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa-premodyoga-varṇana
Description of Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s Falling in Love
Text 1
śrī-nārada uvāca
idaṁ mayā te kathitaṁ
kāliyasyāpi mardanam
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caritaṁ puṇyaṁ
kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi
Śrī Nārada said: I have recounted to you Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s sacred pastime of crushing Kāliya. What more do you
wish to hear?
Text 2
śrī-bahulāśva uvāca
śrī-kṛṣṇasya kathāṁ śrutvā
bhaktas tṛptiṁ na yāti hi
yathāmaraḥ sudhāṁ pitvā
yathāliḥ padma-karṇikām
Śrī Bahulāśva said: As a demigod never tires of drinking nectar and a bee never tires of drinking from
the whorl of a lotus, so a devotee never tires of hearing Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.
Text 3
rāsaṁ kartuṁ harau jāte
śiśu-rūpe mahātmāni
bhāṇḍire deva-vāg āha
śrī-rādhāṁ khinna-mānasām
When Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was a child, and Śrī Rādhā was unhappy at
heart because She yearned to enjoy the rāsa dance with Him, in Bhāṇḍiravana forest a divine voice said:
Text 4
śocaṁ ma kuru kalyāṇi
vṛndāraṇye manohare
manorathas te bhavitā
śrī-kṛṣṇena mahātmanā
O beautiful one, don’t lament. In beautiful Vṛndāvana forest Your desire to enjoy with Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, will be fulfilled.
Text 5
itthaṁ deva-girā prokto
manoratha-mahārṇavaḥ
kathaṁ babhūva bhagavān
vṛndāraṇye manohare
After the divine voice spoke these words how did the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is a great
ocean of fulfilled desires, come to the beautiful Vṛndāvana forest?
Text 6
kathaṁ śrī-rādhayā sārdhaṁ
rāsa-krīḍāṁ manoharām
cakāra vṛndakāraṇye
paripūrṇatamaḥ svayam
In the beautiful Vṛndāvana forest how did the Supreme Personality of Godhead enjoy the rāsa-dance
pastime with Śrī Rādhā?
Text 7
śrī-nārada uvāca
sādhu pṛṣṭhaṁ tvayā rājan
bhagavac-caritaṁ śubham
guptaṁ vadāmi devaiś ca
līlākhyānaṁ manoharam
Śrī Nārada said: O king, you have asked well. I will tell the Lord’s beautiful and auspicious pastime,
which is hidden even from the demigods.
Text 8
ekadā mukhya-sakhyau dve
viśākhā-lalite śubhe
vṛṣabhānor gṛhaṁ prāpya
taṁ rādhāṁ jagmatū rahaḥ
One day Her two most intimate friends, beautiful Lalitā and Viśākhā, went to Mahārāja Vṛṣabhānu’s
palace and approached Rādhā in private.
Text 9
śrī-sakhyāv ūcatuḥ
yaṁ cintayasi rādhe tvaṁ
yad-guṇaṁ vadasi svataḥ
so ‘pi nityaṁ samāyāti
vṛṣabhānu-pure ‘rbhakaiḥ
The two friends said: He on whom You meditate and whose virtues You praise, with many boys again
and again comes to King Vṛṣabhānu’s palace.
Text 10
prekṣaṇīyas tvayā rādhe
darśanīyo ‘ti-sundaraḥ
paścimāyāṁ niśīthinyāṁ
go-cāraṇa-vinirgataḥ
O Rādhā, in the evening He comes from the west, returning with the cows. You should see Him. He is
very handsome.
Text 11
śrī-rādhovāca
likhitvā tasya citraṁ hi
darśayāśu manoharam
tarhi tat-prekṣaṇaṁ paścāt
kariṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ
Śrī Rādhā said: Draw a handsome picture of Him. Then I will look for Him in the west. Of this there is
no doubt.
Text 12
śrī-nārada uvāca
atha sakhyau vyalikhatāṁ
citraṁ nanda-śiśoḥ śubham
nava-yauvana-mādhuryaṁ
rādhāyai dadatus tvaram
The two friends drew a picture, handsome and filled with the sweetness of new youth, of Nanda’s
son, Kṛṣṇa, and gave it to Rādhā.
Text 13
tad dṛṣṭvā harṣitā rādhā
kṛṣṇa-darśana-lālasā
citraṁ kare prāpaśyantī
suṣvāpānanda-saṅkulā
When Rādhā saw the picture She became very happy. Gazing at the picture in Her hand, yearning to
see Kṛṣṇa, and now overcome with bliss, She fainted.
Text 14
dadarśa kṛṣṇaṁ bhavane śayānā
ghana-prabhaṁ pīta-paṭaṁ dadhānam
bhāṇḍīra-deśe yamunāṁ sametya
nṛtyantam ārād vṛṣabhānu-putrī
As She slept in Her home, Vṛṣabhānu’s daughter Rādhā dreamed of going to the Yamunā, where She
gazed at Kṛṣṇa, dark as a monsoon cloud, dressed in yellow garments, and dancing in Bhāṇḍīravana
forest.
Text 15
tadaiva rādhā śayanāt samutthitā
parasya kṛṣṇasya viyoga-vihvalā
sañcintayantī kamanīya-rūpiṇaṁ
mene trilokīṁ tṛṇavad videha-rāṭ
O king of Videha, when Rādhā rose from sleep, She was filled with the anguish of separation from
Kṛṣṇa. Always thinking of His handsome form, She thought the three worlds had become like a single
blade of grass.
Text 16
tarhy āvrajantaṁ sva-vanād vrajeśvaraṁ
saṅkoca-vīthyāṁ vṛṣabhānu-paṭṭane
gavākṣam etyāśu sakhī-pradarśitaṁ
dṛṣṭvā tu murcchāṁ samavāpa sundarī
Going to a window and, as Her two friends pointed to Him, gazing at Kṛṣṇa, the master of Vraja as He
walked on the narrow path from His own forest to King Vṛṣabhānu’s palace, beautiful Rādhā fainted.
Text 17
kṛṣṇo ‘pi dṛṣṭvā vṛṣabhānu-nandinīṁ
surūpa-kauśalya-yutāṁ guṇāśrayām
kurvan mano rantum atīva mādhavo
līlā-tanuḥ sa prayayau sva-mandiram
Glancing at Vṛṣabhānu’s beautiful daughter Rādhā, who sheltered a host of transcendental virtues,
and deciding in His heart to enjoy with Her, playful Kṛṣṇa went on to His own palace.
Text 18
evaṁ tataḥ kṛṣṇa-viyoga-vihvalāṁ
prabhūta-kāma-jvara-khinna-mānasām
samvīkṣya rādhāṁ vṛṣabhānu-nandinīṁ
uvāca vācaṁ lalitā sakhī varā
Seeing Her anguished by Kṛṣṇa’s absence and Her heart tortured by flames of love for Him, beautiful
Lalitā-sakhī spoke to Vṛṣabhānu’s daughter Rādhā.
Text 19
śrī-lalitovāca
kathaṁ tvaṁ vihvalā rādhe
mūrcchitāti-vyathāṁ gatā
yadīcchasi hariṁ su-bhru
tasmin snehaṁ dṛḍhaṁ kuru
Śrī Lalitā said: O Rādhā, why are You unconscious? O beautiful-eyebowed one, if You wish to attain
Kṛṣṇa, then give all Your love to Him.
Text 20
lokasyāpi sukhaṁ sarvaṁ
adhikṛtyāsti sāmpratam
duḥkhāgni-hṛt pradahati
kumbhakārāgni-vac chubhe
O beautiful one, even now that You have found the person that brings all happiness to the world,
Your heart still burns like the fire in a potter’s kiln.
Text 21
śrī-nārada uvāca
lalitāyāś ca lalitaṁ
vacaḥ śrutvā vrajeśvarī
netre unmīlya lalitāṁ
prāha gadgadayā girā
Śrī Nārada said: Hearing Lalitā’s graceful words, Vraja’s goddess, Rādhā, opened Her eyes and spoke
in a faltering voice.
Text 22
śrī-rādhovāca
vrajālaṅkāra-caraṇau
na prāptau yadi me kila
kadācid vigrahaṁ tarhi
na hi svaṁ dhārayāmy aham
Śrī Rādhā said: If I cannot attain His feet, which now decorate this land of Vraja, I will not keep My
body alive.
Text 23
śrī-nārada uvāca
iti śrutvā vacas tasyā
lalitā bhaya-vihvalā
śrī-kṛṣṇa-pārśvaṁ prayayau
kṛṣṇā-tīre manohare
Śrī Nārada said: Terrified by hearing these words, Lalitā went to Kṛṣṇa by the Yamunā’s beautiful
shore.
Text 24
mādhavī-jāla-samyukte
madhura-dhvani-saṅkule
kadamba-mūle rahasi
prāha caikākinaṁ harim
Finding Kṛṣṇa all alone under a kadamba tree in a solitary place laced with a network of flowering
mādhavī vines and filled with sweet sounds, Lalitā spoke.
Text 25
śrī-lalitovāca
yasmin dine ca te rūpaṁ
rādhayā dṛṣṭam adbhutam
tad-dināt stambhatāṁ prāptā
putrikeva na vākti kim
Śrī Lalitā said: Since the day She first saw Your wonderful form, Rādhā has been stunned. She is like a
motionless puppet. She does not even speak.
Texts 26-27
alaṅkāras tv arcir iva
vastraṁ bharja-rajo yathā
sugandhiḥ kaṭuvad yasya
mandiraṁ nirjanaṁ vanam
puṣpaṁ bāṇaṁ candra-bimbaṁ
viṣa-kandam avehi bhoḥ
tasyai sandarśanaṁ dehi
rādhayai duḥkha-nāśanam
Please know that Her ornaments have become for Her like dazzling suns, Her clothing like a shower of
sparks, Her perfumes bitter, Her palace a solitary wilderness, Her flowers sharp arrows, and the moon a
pot of poison. O, please give to Rādhā the sight of You, a sight that will destroy Her sufferings.
Text 28
te sākṣiṇaḥ kiṁ viditaṁ na bhū-tale
sṛjasy alaṁ pāsi harasy atho jagat
yadā samāno ‘si janeṣu sarvatas
tathāpi bhaktān bhajase pareśvara
You see everything. In this world what do You not know? You create, protect, and destroy the
universe. O Supreme Lord. although You are equal to all, You worship Your devotees.
Text 29
śrī-nārada uvāca
iti śrutvā hariḥ sākṣāl
lalitaṁ lalitā-vacaḥ
uvāca bhagavān devo
megha-gambhīrayā girā
Śrī Nārada said: Hearing Lalitā’s graceful words, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, spoke
with words deep as thunder.
Text 30
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
sarvaṁ hi bhāvaṁ manasaḥ parasparaṁ
na hy ekato bhāmini jāyate tataḥ
premaiva kartavyam ato mayi svataḥ
premṇā samānaṁ bhuvi nāsti kiñcit
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: We both feel this love in Our hearts. O noble girl, it is not
that only one of Us feels it. She should love Me. In this world there is nothing equal to the love She bears
for Me.
Text 31
yathā hi bhāṇḍīravane manoratho
babhūva tasyā hi tathā bhaviṣyati
ahaitukaṁ prema ca sadbhir āśritaṁ
tac cāpi santaḥ kila nirguṇaṁ viduḥ
The desire She felt in Bhāṇḍīravana forest will be fulfilled. Saintly devotees take shelter of pure
unalloyed love for Me. Saintly devotees know that love for Me is beyond the touch of the matter.
Text 32
ye rādhikāyāṁ mayi keśave manāg
bhedaṁ na paśyanti hi dugdha-śauklavat
ta eva me brahma-padaṁ prayānti tad
ahaituka-sphurjita-bhakti-lakṣaṇāḥ
Pure devotees who see no difference between Śrī Rādhā and Myself, Lord Kṛṣṇa, attain My spiritual
abode, which is pure as the whitest milk.
Text 33
ye rādhikāyāṁ mayi keśave harau
kurvanti bhedaṁ ku-dhiyo janā bhuvi
te kāla-sūtraṁ prapatanti duḥkhitā
rambhoru yāvat kila candra-bhāskarau
Fools who see a difference between Śrī Rādhā and Myself, Lord Kṛṣṇa, fall onto the string of time. O
girl with thighs like banana trees, they are tortured for as long the sun and moon exist.
Text 34
śrī-nārada uvāca
itthaṁ śrutvā vacaḥ kṛtsnaṁ
natvā taṁ lalitā sakhī
rādhāṁ sametya rahasi
prāha prahasitānanā
Śrī Nārada said: After hearing all these words, and after bowing before the Lord, Lalitā-sakhī, her face
full of smiles, approached Rādhā in a solitary place and spoke to Her.
Text 35
śrī-lalitovāca
tathā tvaṁ madhusūdanaḥ
yuvayor bheda-rahitaṁ
tejas tv aikaṁ dvidhā janaiḥ
Śrī Lalitā said: As You desire Kṛṣṇa, so Kṛṣṇa desires You. There is no difference between You. You are
one. Only fools think You are two.
Text 36
tathāpi devi kṛṣṇāya
karma niṣkāraṇaṁ kuru
yena te vāñchitaṁ bhūyād
bhaktyā paramayā sati
O goddess, You should serve Kṛṣṇa without any other desire. O saintly one, by serving Him with great
devotion, Your desire will be fulfilled.
Text 37
śrī-nārada uvāca
iti śrutvā sakhī-vākyaṁ
rādhā rāseśvarī nṛpa
candrānanāṁ prāha sakhīṁ
sarva-dharma-vidāṁ varām
Śrī Nārada said: O king, after hearing Her friend’s words, Śrī Rādhā, the goddess of the rāsa dance,
spoke to Her friend Candrānanā, the best of the knowers of religion.
Text 38
śrī-rādhovāca
śrī-kṛṣṇasya prasannārthaṁ
paraṁ saubhāgya-vardhanam
mahā-puṇyaṁ vāñchita-daṁ
pūjanaṁ vada kasyacit
Śrī Rādhā said: Please tell Me what kind of worship I should perform to please Śrī Kṛṣṇa, worship that
will bring auspiciousness, piety, and the fulfillment of My desire.
Text 39
tvayā bhadre dharma-śāstraṁ
gargācārya-mukhāc chrutam
tasmād vrataṁ pūjanaṁ vā
brūhi mahyaṁ mahā-mate
O beautiful one, You heard the religious scriptures from Garga Muni’s own mouth. O noble-hearted
one, please tell Me what vow or what worship I should perform.
Chapter Sixteen
tulasī-pūjana
The Worship of Tulasī
Text 1
śrī-nārada uvāca
rādhā-vākyaṁ tataḥ śrutvā
rājan sarva-sakhī-varā
candrānanā pratyuvāca
samvicārya kṣaṇaṁ hṛdi
Śrī Nārada said: Hearing Rādhā’s words, and reflecting on them in her heart for a moment,
Candrānanā, the best of all friends, replied.
Text 2
śrī-candrānanovāca
paraṁ saubhāgya-daṁ rādhe
mahā-puṇyaṁ vara-pradam
śrī-kṛṣṇasyāpi labdhy-arthaṁ
tulasī-sevanaṁ matam
Śrī Candrānanā said: O Rādhā, service to Tulasī gives the greatest piety, the greatest good fortune,
and the greatest benediction. It gives Lord Kṛṣṇa’s association.
Text 3
dṛṣṭā spṛṣṭāthavā dhyatā
kīrtitā namitā stutā
ropitā siñcitā nityaṁ
pūjitā tulasīṣṭa-dā
You should always gaze on Tulasī, touch her, remember her, glorify her, bow down before her, offer
prayers to her, plant her, and worship her. Then she will grant Your desire.
Text 4
navadhā tulasī-bhaktiṁ
ye kurvanti dine dine
yuga-koṭi-sahasrāṇi
te yānti sukṛtaṁ śubhe
They who day after day serve Tulasī in these nine ways attain the result of pious deeds performed in
many thousands of millions of yugas.
Texts 5 and 6
yāvac chākhā-praśākhābhir
bīja-puṣpa-dalaiḥ śubhaiḥ
ropitā tulasī martyair
vardhate vasudhā-tale
teṣāṁ vaṁśeṣu ye jātā
ye bhaviṣyanti ye gatāḥ
ā-kalpa-yuga-sāhasraṁ
teṣāṁ vāso harer gṛhe
A person who who plants Tulasī liberates his family. As many branches, sub-branches, seeds, flowers,
and leaves as are on the Tulasī he has planted, so many ancestors and descendents in his family for
thousands of kalpa-yugas will go to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental abode.
Text 7
yat phalaṁ sarva-patreṣu
sarva-puṣpeṣu rādhike
tulasī-dalena caikena
sarvadā prāpyate tu tat
O Rādhā, by offering Lord Kṛṣṇa a single Tulasī leaf one attains the result of offering Him every flower
and leaf that exists.
Text 8
tulasī-prabhavair patrair
yo naraḥ pūjayed dharim
lipyate na sa pāpena
padma-patram ivāmbhasā
A person who with offerings of Tulasī-leaves worships Lord Kṛṣṇa is not touched by sin as a lotus-leaf
is not touched by water.
Text 9
suvarṇa-bhāra-śatakaṁ
rajataṁ yac-catur-guṇam
tat-phalaṁ samavāpnoti
tulasī-vana-pālanāt
By protecting a Tulasī forest one attains the result of giving in pious charity a hundred bhāras of gold
or four hundred bhāras of silver.
Text 10
tulasī-kānanaṁ rādhe
gṛhe yasyāvatiṣṭhati
tad-gṛhaṁ tīrtha-rūpaṁ hi
na yānti yama-kiṅkarāḥ
A home in the midst of a Tulasī forest is a sacred pilgrimage place. Yamarāja’s servants will never
enter that home.
Text 11
sarva-pāpa-haraṁ puṇyaṁ
kāmadaṁ tulasī-vanam
ropayanti narāḥ śreṣṭhās
te na paśyanti bhāskarim
They who plant a sacred Tulasī forest, which fulfills desires and removes all sins, are the best of
people. They will never see Yamarāja.
Text 12
ropanāt pālanāt sekād
darśanāt sparśanān nṛṇām
tulasī dahate pāpaṁ
vāṅ-manaḥ-kāya-sañcitam
For persons who plant, protect, water, see, or touch her, Tulasī burns the sins committed with the
body, mind, and words.
Text 13
puṣkarādyāni tīrthāni
gaṅgādyāḥ saritas tathā
vāsudevādayo devā
vasanti tulasī-dale
On a single Tulasī leaf the holy places beginning with Puṣkara, the sacred rivers beginning with the
Gaṅgā, and the Deities headed by Lord Vāsudeva reside.
Text 14
tulasī-mañjarī-yukto
yas tu prāṇān vimuñcati
yamo ‘pi nekṣituṁ śakto
yuktaṁ pāpa-śatair api
Even though stained with a hundred sins, a person who touches a Tulasī-mañjarī as he leaves this life
does not see Yamarāja.
Text 15
tulasī-kaṣṭha-jaṁ yas tu
candanaṁ dhārayen naraḥ
tad dehaṁ na spṛśet pāpaṁ
kriyamāṇam apīha yat
Sin does not touch the the body of a sinner anointed with Tulasī-paste.
Text 16
tulasī-vipina-cchāyā
yatra yatra bhavec chubhe
tatra śrāddhaṁ prakartavyaṁ
pitṛṇāṁ dattam akṣayam
Wherever is the beautiful shade of a Tulasī forest, there śrāddha should be offered. There akṣaya
should be offered to the pitās.
Text 17
tulasyāḥ sakhi māhātmyaṁ
ādidevaś catur-mukhaḥ
na samartho bhaved vaktuṁ
O friend, as four-faced Brahmā cannot describe all the glories of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who holds the śārṅga
bow, so he cannot descibe all the glories of Tulasī.
Text 18
śrī-kṛṣṇacandra-caraṇe
tulasīṁ candanair yutam
yo dadāti pumān strī vā
yathoktaṁ phalam āpnuyāt
A man or woman who offers sandal-paste and Tulasī to Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra’s feet attains the results I
have told to You.
Text 19
tulasī-sevanaṁ nityaṁ
kuru tvaṁ gopa-kanyake
śrī-kṛṣṇo vaśyatāṁ yāti
yena vā sarvadaiva hi
O gopī, serve Tulasī every day. Then Śrī Kṛṣṇa will always be Your submissive servant.
Text 20
śrī-nārada uvāca
itthaṁ candrānanā-vākyaṁ
śrutvā rāseśvarī nṛpa
tulasī-sevanaṁ sākṣād
ārebhe hari-toṣaṇam
Śrī Nārada said: O king, after hearing Candrānanā’s words, Śrī Rādhā, the queen of the rāsa dance, in
order to please Lord Kṛṣṇa, began to serve Śrī Tulasī.
Texts 21-25
ketakī-vana-madhye ca
śata-hastaṁ su-vartulam
uccair hema-khacid-bhittipadmarāga-taṭaṁ śubham
harid-dhīraka-muktānāṁ
prākāreṇa mahollasat
sarvatas tolikā-yuktaṁ
cintāmaṇi-su-maṇḍitam
hema-dhvaja-samayuktaṁ
uttoraṇa-virājitam
haimair vitānaiḥ parito
vaijayantam iva sphurat
etādṛśaṁ śrī-tulasīmandiraṁ su-manoharam
tan-madhye tulasīṁ sthāpya
harit-pallava-śobhitam
abhijin-nāma-nakṣatre
tat-sevāṁ sā cakāra ha
samāhūtena gargeṇa
diṣṭena vidhinā satī
Taking Tulasī, beautiful with many green leaves, to the middle of a ketakī forest, and placing her in a
Tulasī-temple that was round, tall, a hundred hastas in size, beautiful with walls of gold and rubies,
splendid with an outer wall of emeralds, diamonds, and pearls, decorated with cintāmaṇi gems, arched
gateways, gold flags, and gold awnings everywhere, and glorious like Indra’s palace, at the time of the
star abhijit, saintly Rādhā, following Garga Muni’s instructions, served Śrī Tulasī.
Text 26
śrī-kṛṣṇa-toṣaṇārthāya
bhaktyā paramayā satī
iṣu-pūrṇāṁ samārabhya
caitra-pūrṇāvadhi vratam
Beginning with the full moon of the month of Aśvina (September-October), and ending with the full
moon of the month of Caitra (March-April), to please Śrī Kṛṣṇa, saintly Rādhā followed a vow with great
devotion.
Texts 27 and 28
kṛtvā nyasiñcad dugdhena
tathā cekṣu-rāsena vai
drakṣayāmra-raseṇāpi
sitayā bahu-miṣṭayā
pañcāmṛtena tulasīṁ
māse māse pṛthak pṛthak
udyāpana-samārambhaṁ
vaiśākha-pratipad-dine
Month after month She sprinkled Tulasī with milk, sugar-cane juice, grape-juice, mango-juice,
pañcāmṛta, and many kinds of sweet and cool juice. On the first day of Vaiśākha (April-May), She ended
the vow.
Note by Nandinī Tulasī dās:
If devotees feel inspired to worship Tulasī Devī in a similar way, we see Tulasī pūjā explained in quite a
few places in sastra. In the Agastya-saṁhitā, as quoted in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (9.98-100) it is stated,
bhūtvātha bhaktimān śrīmat
tulasyā kānane prabhum
sampūjyābhyarcayet taṁ ca
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa-priyam
After completing the worship of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one should go to the garden and worship Śrīmatī Tulasī
Devī’s plant, which is very dear to Him.
prāg dattvārghyaṁ tato ’vyarcya
gandha-puṣpākṣatādinā
stutvā bhagavatīṁ tāṁ ca
praṇamet prārhtya daṇḍavat
First, one should offer arghya to Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s plant and then, one after another, sandalwood
paste, flowers, rice paddy, and so on. After the worship is finished, one should offer his obeisances to
Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī and also offer some nice prayers.
śriyaḥ śriye śriyāvāse
nityaṁ śrīdhāra-satkṛte
bhaktyā dattaṁ mayā devi
arghyaṁ gṛhṇa namo’stu te
O Goddess Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, You are the shelter and residence of Śrīmatī Lakṣmī Devī. Lord Śrīdhara
always respects You. I offer You this arghya with devotion, kindly please accept it. My obeisances unto
You.
Similarly one could offer milk and other articles:
kadācit tulasīṁ dugdhaiḥ
secayed yo narottamaḥ
tasya veśmani viprarṣer
lakṣmīr bhavati niścalā
That person is the best of humans who occasionally sprinkles Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s plant with milk. O
Brāhmaṇa sage, Goddess Lakṣmī is always present in that person’s house. (Padma Purana 7.24.17)
One more glorification of sprinkling Tulasī Devī can be found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.203:
atha tadīyānāṁ sevanam, tulāsyaḥ, yathā skānde—
yā dṛṣṭā nikhilāgha-saṅga-śamanī spṛṣṭā vapuḥ-pāvanī rogāṇām abhivanditā nirasanī siktāntaka-trāsinī
pratyāsatti-vidhāyinī bhagavataḥ kṛṣṇasya saṁropitā nyastā tac-caraṇe vimukti-phaladā tasyai tulasyai
namaḥ
Regarding service to things related to the Lord, service to Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, it is stated in the Skanda
Purāṇa: Seeing Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī destroys all sins. Touching Her purifies the body. Bowing to Her
destroys all sufferings. Sprinkling Her with water delivers one from death. Planting Her bestows
attachment of the mind to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Offering Her to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet bestows special liberation in the
form of prema. I offer my respects to Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī.
The standard guidelines followed within ISKCON temple worship can be found in the Arcana-Paddhati:
In the morning, after the maṅgala-āratī, all the assembled devotees should attend to the worship and
circumambulation of Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī. First the devotees should offer obeisances to Tulasī-devī with
the tulasī-praṇāma-mantra (given at the end of this section), which is chanted three times. Then the
tulasī-pūjā-kīrtana song should be sung while Tulasī-devī is offered incense, ghee lamp, and flowers.
When the song is finished the assembled Vaiṣṇavas should circumambulate her four times and offer her
water. During the circumambulation the mantra: yāni kāni ca pāpāni brahma-hatyādikāni ca/ tāni tāni
praṇaśyanti pradakṣiṇaḥ pade pade should be chanted. After this the devotees should offer obeisances
again with the tulasī-praṇāma-mantra and then all the devotees should circumambulate the temple four
times with kirtana.
The following worship of Tulasī-devī should be performed by the Tulasī pūjārī after the morning worship
of the other Deities is completed, or, if that is not possible, another time during the morning.
1. First one should recite the prayer:
nirmitā tvaṁ purā devair
arcitā tvaṁ surāsuraiḥ
tulasi hara me ‘vidyāṁ
pūjāṁ gṛhna name ‘stu te
O Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī, you were previously created by the demigods and worshiped by both them and
the demons. O Tulasī-devī kindly take away my ignorance and accept my wor­hship. I offer you my
humble obeisances again and again.
2. Then, while sprinkling water on Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī one should chant the following mantra:
oṁ govinda-vallabhāṁ devīṁ
bhakta-caitanya-kāriṇīm
snāpayāmi jagad-dhātrīṁ
kṛṣṇa-bhakti-pradāyinīm
I am bathing goddess Tulasī Devī, who is very dear to Govinda and who brings life to all the devotees.
She is the mother of the universe, and the bestower of devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
3. Then, taking some arghya mixture from the arghya-pātra with a kuśī and pouring some on her soil,
one should chant:
śriyaḥ śriye śriya-vāse
nityaṁ śrīdharaṁ sat-kṛte
bhaktyā dattaṁ mayā devi
arghyaṁ gṛhna namo ‘stu te
O goddess Tulasī, I offer my obeisances unto you, who are the shelter and residence of a beauty and
opulence. You are even worshiped by the Supreme Lord. O Tulasī please accept this arghya water which
is offered by me with devotion.
4. Then one should chant the following:
a) One should offer a flower mixed with sandalwood pulp to Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī with the mantra:
idam sagandha-puṣpaṁ oṁ tulasyai namaḥ.
b) One should offer the bath water of Sri Kṛṣṇa to Tulasī-devī with the mantra:
idam sri-kṛṣṇa-caraṇāmṛtaṁ oṁ tulasyai namaḥ.
c) One should offer garlands and flowers offered to the Lord with the mantra:
idam mahā-prasāda-nirmālyādikaṁ sarvaṁ oṁ tulasyai namaḥ.
d) One should offer acamana to Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī with the mantra:
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ oṁ tulasyai namaḥ.
5. Then one should sing the praise of Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī as follows:
mahā-prasāda-janani
sarva-saubhāgya-vardhiṇi
ādhivyādhi-hare nityaṁ
tulasi tvāṁ nano ‘stu te
O Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī I offer my repeated obeisances unto you. You are the mother of mahā-prasāda, the
increaser of the good fortune of all, and you take away all diseases and mental anxi­eties.
6. Following this one should offer obeisances to her with the tulasī-praṇāma-mantra:
oṁ vṛndāyai tulasī-devyai
priyāyai keśavasya ca
kṛṣṇa-bhakti-prade devi
satyavatyai name namaḥ
I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vṛndā, Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī, who is very dear to Lord Keśava. O
goddess, you bestow devotional service to Kṛṣṇa and you possess the highest truth.
— End of the Arcana-Paddhati reference —
As said above, one should generally worship Tulasī Devī after worshipping Kṛṣṇa, one can better yet
offer her his mahāprasād. Milk, juices, pañcāmṛta, etc, can be offered and set aside or can be lightly
sprinkled on her leaves. Spraying Tulasī Devī’s leaves with milk is often used in cold seasons to treat
powdery mildew/mold. No matter how complicated or simple ones worship is, the most important thing
to remember is to offer ones love and devotion.
— End Note —
Text 29
garga-diṣṭena vidhinā
vṛṣabhānu-sutā nṛpa
ṣaṭ-pañcāśattamair bhogair
brāhmaṇānāṁ dvi-lakṣakam
O king, following Garga Muni’s instructions, King Vṛṣabhānu’s daughter Rādhā then pleased two
hundred thousand brāhmaṇas with a great feast of fifty-six courses.
Text 30
santarpya vastra-bhūṣādyair
dakṣiṇāṁ rādhikā dadau
divyānāṁ sthūla-muktānāṁ
lakṣa-bhāraṁ videha-rāṭ
O king of Videha, then Rādhā gave them dakṣiṇā of a hundred-thousand splendid large pearls and
many costly garments and ornaments.
Text 31
koṭi-bhāraṁ suvarṇaṇaṁ
gargācāryāya sā dadau
śata-bhāraṁ suvarṇānāṁ
muktānāṁ ca tathaiva hi
bhaktyā paramayā rādhā
brāhmaṇe brāhmaṇe dadau
Rādhā gave ten million bhāras of gold to Garga Muni. With great devotion She gave a hundred bhāras
of gold and pearls to each brāhmaṇa.
Text 32
deva-dundubhayo nedur
nanṛtuś cāpsaro-gaṇāḥ
tan-mandiropari surāḥ
puṣpa-varṣaṁ pracakrire
The demigods’ drums sounded and the apsarās danced. The demigods showered flowers on the
Tulasī-temple.
Text 33
tadāvirāsīt tulasī hari-priyā
suvarṇa-pīṭhopari śobhitāsanā
caturbhujā padma-palāśa-vīkṣaṇā
śyāmā sphurad-dhema-kirīṭa-kuṇḍalā
Then, seated on a glorious throne on a gold pedestal, her eyes lotus petals, and her gold crown and
earrings glittering, beautiful four-armed Tulasī, who is dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa, appeared.
Text 34
pītāmbarāc chādita-sarpa-veṇīṁ
srajaṁ dadhānaṁ nava-vaijayantīm
khagāt samuttīrya ca raṅga-vallī
cucumba rādhāṁ parirabhya bāhubhiḥ
Descending from the sky, Tulasī, beautiful as a flowering vine, with her four arms embraced and then
kissed Rādhā, who wore a new vaijayantī garland, and whose snake-braids were covered with a yellow
cloth.
Text 35
śrī-tulasy uvāca
ahaṁ prasannāsmi kalavatī-sute
tvad-bhakti-bhāvena jitā nirantaram
kṛtaṁ ca loka-vyavahāra-saṅgrahāt
tvayā vrataṁ bhāmini sarvato-mukham
Śrī Tulasī said: O daughter of Kalāvatī, I am pleased with You. I am eternally conquered by Your loving
devotion. O beautiful one, as if You were an ordinary human being, You very carefully followed this vow.
Text 36
manorathas te sa-phalo ‘tra bhūyād
buddhīndriyaiś citta-manobhir agrataḥ
sadānukūlatvam alaṁ pateḥ paraṁ
saubhāgyam evaṁ parikīrtanīyam
The desire that fills Your heart, mind, intelligence, and senses, will be attained. Lord Kṛṣṇa will be kind
to You. You are very fortunate.
Text 37
śrī-nārada uvāca
evaṁ vadantīṁ tulasīṁ hari-priyāṁ
natvātha rādhā vṛṣabhānu-nandinī
pratyāha govinda-padāravindayor
bhaktir bhaven me viditā hy ahaitukī
Śrī Nārada said: To Tulasī, who has spoken these words and who was dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa, Rādhā, the
daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu, bowed down and said: May I have unalloyed devotion for Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus
feet.
Text 38
tathāstu coktā tulasī hari-priyāthāntardadhe maithila rāja-sattama
tathaiva rādhā vṛṣabhānu-nandinī
prasanna-cittā sva-pure babhūva ha
Saying, “So be it”, Kṛṣṇa’s beloved Tulasī disappeared. O ruler of Mithilā, O best of kings, then Rādhā,
King Vṛṣabhānu’s daughter, went home happy at heart.
Text 39
śrī-rādhikākhyānām idaṁ vicitraṁ
śṛṇoti yo bhakti-paraḥ pṛthivyāṁ
traivargya-bhāvaṁ manasā sametya
rājaṁs tato yāti naraḥ kṛtārthatām
O king, a devotee who hears this wonderful story of Śrī Rādhā attains first the three goals of material
life and then the supreme spiritual goal of life.
We invite you to subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter to keep up to date with new articles and exciting
news!
Bibliography
Muni, Garga. Śrī Garga-saṃhitā (Dānavīr Goswāmī, Kuśakratha dāsa trans.) USA: Rūpānuga Vedic
College Publishing. Source: https://radha.name. PDF.
dāsa, Jayatīrtha. The Process of Deity Worship (Arcana-Paddhati) (Jayaśacīnandana dāsa trans.) USA:
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1978. Print.
Swāmī, Bhakti Viśrambha Mādhava. Tulasyamṛta, The Nectar of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī. Vrindāvan: Author,
2012. Print.
Posted in Sastra and tagged Garga-samhita Why Do We Worship Tulasi Devi?
SASTRA
The Glories of Wearing Tulasī Devī From The Skanda Purāṇa
Tulasī Devī’s glories can be found over and over again throughout sastra, they’re like hidden gems, yet
we don’t hear them very often. The next few articles will dig up some of these hidden gems; bringing
them out into the open air for all of us to admire, learn from, and go a little bit deeper in our
relationship with Tulasī Devī.
”Just as a pet dog has got a collar, similarly we are pet dogs of God. So we have got this collar. And
Yamarāja, the Lord of Death will understand that he, the devotee, is God’s dog; he should not be shot
down.”
-Srila Prabhupada (December 19, 1970 Srimad-Bhagavatam Class in Surat)
tulasī-kāstha-sambhūtāmśirasoyasyabhūsanam
bāhvohkarecamartyasyadehetasyasadāharih
“There is no need to perform atonement for a person who wears Tulasī neck beads. Factually, he does
not become contaminated at any stage in his life. Śrī Hari resides in the body of a person whose neck
and arms are decorated with ornaments made of Tulasī.”
-Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 4.335
We all wear Tulasī malas around our necks, some of us perhaps for a number of years. It may have been
some time since we reflected on the question, “What is the significance of wearing Tulasī Devī?” This
article attempts to deepen our understanding on why we wear Tulasī Devī. We will focus on the glories
of wearing Tulasī malas from the Skanda Purāṇa’s second book (Vaiṣṇavakhaṇda), fifth section
(Mārgaśīrṣa-māhātmya). This section is a dialogue between Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, we will focus
only on the portion of this dialogue where Lord Vishnu speaks about the glories of Tulasī Devī.
The section of the Skanda Purāṇa is as follows:
On seeing a garland of Tulasī twigs, the messengers of Yamarāja disappear from far like a leaf shaken off
by wind. In Kali-yuga, sin does not contaminate that house where a Tulasī twig or leave, whether dry or
green, is present.
(Lord Vishnu states:) The Brahmana who wears the garland of Tulasī twigs undoubtedly attains me
(Bhagavān), even if he is unclean and devoid of good conduct. The man on whose body a garland made
of Dhātrī (āmalakī) fruits or Tulasī twigs is visible is indeed a Bhāgavata (devotee of the lord). He who
wears the garland of Tulasī leaves, particularly the ones taken off from me, is worthy of being bowed to
even by the Devatas. The garland made of Tulasī leaves, or of Dhātrī fruits (āmalakī), grants salvation
even to sinners (Note: This is proof that everyone can and should wear Tulasī malas). All the more so in
the case of my devotees who serve me.
He who wears the garland of Tulasī leaves that has been worn by me attains the merit of ten horse
sacrifices for every leaf in that garland. If a man wears a garland of Tulasī twigs, oh dear one, I grant him
the merit arising from visiting the holy place of Dvārakā everyday. After dedicating it to me with
devotion, a man who wears a garland of Tulasi twigs devoutly has no sin at all.
I am always pleased with him who wears a garland of Tulasī twigs. He is as dear to me as my vital air. It is
not necessary that he should perform any expiatory rite. There is nothing unclean or polluted in his
body.
He whose body is ornamented with Tulasī twigs on the head, arms, and hands is dear to me. One should
do meritorious acts after adorning oneself with a garland of Tulasī twigs. The auspicious merits
performed by him shall have crores of times the benefit.
The Brahmana who wears the garland of Tulasī twigs undoubtedly attains me (Bhagavān), even if he is
unclean and devoid of good conduct. The man on whose body a garland made of Dhātrī (āmalakī) fruits
or Tulasī twigs is visible is indeed a Bhāgavata (devotee of the lord).
On seeing a garland of Tulasī twigs, the messengers of Yamarāja disappear from far like a leaf shaken off
by wind. In Kali-yuga, sin does not contaminate that house where a Tulasī twig or leave, whether dry or
green, is present. If anyone, embellished with a garland of Tulasī twigs, moves about on the earth, he
will not see bad dreams or ill omens or any danger from enemies.
If rationalists or heretics with sinful intentions refuse to wear a garland of Tulasī, they will never return
from hell. They will be burnt by my anger (Note: This is proof that everyone can and should wear Tulasī
malas). Hence a garland made of Tulasī twigs, seeds of lotus, or Dhātrī (āmalakī) fruits should be worn
carefully and devoutly. It bestows excellent merit. Hence a devotee should have Ūrdhvapuṇḍra (tilaka)
and the imprints of conch, etc. With Kusha grass in his hands he should remember me and perform
Sandhyā prayers (Gāyatrī mantras) at the root of a Tulasī plant.
We invite you to subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter to keep up to date with new articles and exciting
news!
Bibliography
The Skanda Purāṇa Part IV. Dehli: Motilal Banarsidass, 1998. Print.
Posted in Sastra and tagged About Tulasi Malas Skanda Purana Why Do We Worship Tulasi Devi?
SASTRA
The Glories of Wearing Tulasī Devī From The Skanda Purāṇa
Tulasī Devī’s glories can be found over and over again throughout sastra, they’re like hidden gems, yet
we don’t hear them very often. The next few articles will dig up some of these hidden gems; bringing
them out into the open air for all of us to admire, learn from, and go a little bit deeper in our
relationship with Tulasī Devī.
”Just as a pet dog has got a collar, similarly we are pet dogs of God. So we have got this collar. And
Yamarāja, the Lord of Death will understand that he, the devotee, is God’s dog; he should not be shot
down.”
-Srila Prabhupada (December 19, 1970 Srimad-Bhagavatam Class in Surat)
tulasī-kāstha-sambhūtāmśirasoyasyabhūsanam
bāhvohkarecamartyasyadehetasyasadāharih
“There is no need to perform atonement for a person who wears Tulasī neck beads. Factually, he does
not become contaminated at any stage in his life. Śrī Hari resides in the body of a person whose neck
and arms are decorated with ornaments made of Tulasī.”
-Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 4.335
We all wear Tulasī malas around our necks, some of us perhaps for a number of years. It may have been
some time since we reflected on the question, “What is the significance of wearing Tulasī Devī?” This
article attempts to deepen our understanding on why we wear Tulasī Devī. We will focus on the glories
of wearing Tulasī malas from the Skanda Purāṇa’s second book (Vaiṣṇavakhaṇda), fifth section
(Mārgaśīrṣa-māhātmya). This section is a dialogue between Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, we will focus
only on the portion of this dialogue where Lord Vishnu speaks about the glories of Tulasī Devī.
The section of the Skanda Purāṇa is as follows:
On seeing a garland of Tulasī twigs, the messengers of Yamarāja disappear from far like a leaf shaken off
by wind. In Kali-yuga, sin does not contaminate that house where a Tulasī twig or leave, whether dry or
green, is present.
(Lord Vishnu states:) The Brahmana who wears the garland of Tulasī twigs undoubtedly attains me
(Bhagavān), even if he is unclean and devoid of good conduct. The man on whose body a garland made
of Dhātrī (āmalakī) fruits or Tulasī twigs is visible is indeed a Bhāgavata (devotee of the lord). He who
wears the garland of Tulasī leaves, particularly the ones taken off from me, is worthy of being bowed to
even by the Devatas. The garland made of Tulasī leaves, or of Dhātrī fruits (āmalakī), grants salvation
even to sinners (Note: This is proof that everyone can and should wear Tulasī malas). All the more so in
the case of my devotees who serve me.
He who wears the garland of Tulasī leaves that has been worn by me attains the merit of ten horse
sacrifices for every leaf in that garland. If a man wears a garland of Tulasī twigs, oh dear one, I grant him
the merit arising from visiting the holy place of Dvārakā everyday. After dedicating it to me with
devotion, a man who wears a garland of Tulasi twigs devoutly has no sin at all.
I am always pleased with him who wears a garland of Tulasī twigs. He is as dear to me as my vital air. It is
not necessary that he should perform any expiatory rite. There is nothing unclean or polluted in his
body.
He whose body is ornamented with Tulasī twigs on the head, arms, and hands is dear to me. One should
do meritorious acts after adorning oneself with a garland of Tulasī twigs. The auspicious merits
performed by him shall have crores of times the benefit.
The Brahmana who wears the garland of Tulasī twigs undoubtedly attains me (Bhagavān), even if he is
unclean and devoid of good conduct. The man on whose body a garland made of Dhātrī (āmalakī) fruits
or Tulasī twigs is visible is indeed a Bhāgavata (devotee of the lord).
On seeing a garland of Tulasī twigs, the messengers of Yamarāja disappear from far like a leaf shaken off
by wind. In Kali-yuga, sin does not contaminate that house where a Tulasī twig or leave, whether dry or
green, is present. If anyone, embellished with a garland of Tulasī twigs, moves about on the earth, he
will not see bad dreams or ill omens or any danger from enemies.
If rationalists or heretics with sinful intentions refuse to wear a garland of Tulasī, they will never return
from hell. They will be burnt by my anger (Note: This is proof that everyone can and should wear Tulasī
malas). Hence a garland made of Tulasī twigs, seeds of lotus, or Dhātrī (āmalakī) fruits should be worn
carefully and devoutly. It bestows excellent merit. Hence a devotee should have Ūrdhvapuṇḍra (tilaka)
and the imprints of conch, etc. With Kusha grass in his hands he should remember me and perform
Sandhyā prayers (Gāyatrī mantras) at the root of a Tulasī plant.
We invite you to subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter to keep up to date with new articles and exciting
news!
Bibliography
The Skanda Purāṇa Part IV. Dehli: Motilal Banarsidass, 1998. Print.
Posted in Sastra and tagged About Tulasi Malas Skanda Purana Why Do We Worship Tulasi Devi?
FEATURED SASTRA
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Worships Tulasī Devī
The following article is taken from Śrī Vṛndāvan dāsa Ṭhākura’s Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata with the Gauḍīyabhāṣya commentary of Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Goswāmī Mahārāja Prabhupāda
2.1.186
snāna kari’ gṛhe āilena viśvambhara
calilā paḍuyā-varga yathā yāṅra ghara
After completing their bath, Viśvambhara and His students returned to their own homes.
2.1.187-188
vastra parivarta’ kari’ dhuilā caraṇa
tulasīre jala diyā karilā secana
yathā-vidhi kari’ prabhu govinda-pūjana
āsiyā vasilā gṛhe karite bhojana
The Lord changed His clothes, washed His feet, and then offered water to Tulasī. Then, after properly
worshiping Govinda, the lord came inside and sat down to take His meal.
Gauḍīya-bhāṣya:
Unless a person properly initiated in chanting of Viṣṇu mantras includes tulasī-mañjarīs in his offering of
foodstuffs, Lord Viṣṇu will not accept the offering, because Tulasī is the eternal maidservant of Kṛṣṇa,
and therefore her leaves and flowers, or mañjarīs, are certainly dear to Keśava. It is prescribed that one
should offer tulasī-mañjarīs in worship to the Deity form of Śrī Govinda, for Tulasī has incarnated in the
form of a tree. The arrangement for offering tulasī-mañjarīs in worship to the Deity form of Lord Viṣṇu is
confirmed by all transcendental Vaiṣṇava smṛtis. After worshipping Śrī Tulasī in her manifested
worshipable form as tadīya by sprinkling water on her, Śrī Gaurasundara worshiped His family deity, Śrī
Govinda; in other words, He offered pure worship to the deity form of Viṣṇu. By performing this
pastime, the Lord set the ideal example of mandatory daily duties for God-conscious householders.
Every Vaiṣṇava householder should follow this ideal example of the lord by engaging in the worship of
the Deity form of Lord Viṣṇu and accepting with faith and humility the remnants of foodstuffs offered to
the Lord.
2.1.189
tulasīra mañjarī-sahita divya anna
mā’ye āni’ sammukhe karilā upasanna
Mother Śacī brought fine cooked rice with a Tulasī flower on top and placed it before the Lord.
3.8.154
tulasīra bhakti ebe śuna mana diyā
ye-rūpe kailena līlā tulasī laiyā
Now hear attentively the pastime of how Lord Caitanya exhibited devotion for Tulasī
3.8.155
eka kṣudra-bhāṇḍe divya mṛttikā pūriyā
tulasī dekhena sei ghaṭe āropiyā
One day the Lord took a small clay pot, filled it with choice dirt, and planted Tulasī in it.
3.8.156
prabhu bale,—“ami tulasīre nā dekhile
bhāla nāhi vāsoṅ yena matsya vine jale”
The Lord then said, “If I don’t see Tulasī, I cannot survive, just as a fish cannot survive out of water.”
3.8.157
yabe cale saṅkhyā-nāma kariyā grahaṇa
tulasī laiyā agre cale eka-jana
Whenever the Lord would chant japa while walking in the street, He would have someone carry a Tulasī
plant before him.
3.8.158
paścāte calena prabhu tulasī dekhiyā
paḍaye ānanda-dhārā śrī-aṅga vahiyā
As the Lord followed behind looking at Tulasī, tears of ecstasy would flow down his body.
3.8.159
saṅkhyā-nāma laite ye sthāne prabhu vaise
tathāya rākena tulasīre prabhu pāśe
When the Lord would sit to chant japa, a Tulasī plant would be placed next to Him.
Gauḍīya-bhāṣya:
The phrase saṅkhyā-nāma is explained as follows: It is the injunction that one should chant the holy
names a prescribed number of times on Tulasī beads. In this case it is understood that the Lord chanted
a fixed number of names while sitting next to a Tulasī plant. Śrī Gaurasundara exhibited the pastime of
associating with keśava-priyā tulasī to teach those who do not consider the association of kṛṣṇa-priyā
tulasī as favorable to devotional service but rather accept her as an ordinary plant. Tulasī is tadīya, or
related to Kṛṣṇa. The endeavors of those who are eager to serve Kṛṣṇa by transgressing His dear
servants are futile. In this regard on should discuss the following verse:
abhyarcayitvā govindaṁ tadīyān arcayanti ye
na te viṣṇu-prasādasya bhājanaṁ dambhikā janāḥ
“Proud persons who worship Kṛṣṇa but do not worship the Lord’s devotees do not attain Lord Kṛṣṇa’s
mercy.”
3.8.160
tulasīre dekhena, japena saṅkhyā-nāma
e bhakti-yogera tattva ke bujhibe āna
The Lord would constantly look at Tulasī while chanting. Who can understand this principle of
devotional service?
3.8.161
punaḥ sei saṅkhyā-nāma sampūrṇa kariyā
calena īśvara saṅge tulasī laiyā
After chanting the holy names a fixed number of times, the Lord would return with Tulasī again carried
in front.
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news!
Bibliography
Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata. New Dehli: Vrajraj Press, 2005. Print.
Posted in Featured Sastra and tagged Caitanya-bhagavata Sri Caitanya Why Do We Worship Tulasi Devi?
REALIZATIONS SASTRA
Tulasī Devī, Beloved of Kṛṣṇa | Part 1
The following article is an excerpt from the writings of Govinda Dasī (ACBSP) Published in Back To
Godhead Magazine January/February 1993 edition
Govinda Dasī: My fascination with Tulasī Devī began very soon after meeting Śrīla Prabhupāda in 1967. I
searched Indian stores all over New York City to find a set of Tulasī japa beads. One clever man sold me
rosewood beads, assuring me they were Tulasī. When I presented them to Śrīla Prabhupāda, he held
them and looked at them with scrutiny, then simply said, “No, not Tulasī.” But he chanted on them
anyway.
Later, in 1968, as I was cleaning Śrīla Prabhupāda’s room I found his Tulasī japa beads lying near his bead
bag on his cushion. As I carefully put them back into their bag, I was mesmerized by their smooth touch
and golden glow. They were large, round beads, shiny from years of use, with a mystical quality that still
sticks in my mind.
Prabhupāda talked on and on about the glories of Tulasī Devī, and he was in such joyful spirits! Śrīla
Prabhupāda’s servant, Kartikeya Dasa, was astonished. He later told me that he had not seen Śrīla
Prabhupāda so light- hearted and happy in over a year.
In 1969, Śrīla Prabhupāda sent me to Honolulu to open a temple. I spent much time at the research
library of the University of Hawaii’s East-West Center. I found many ancient texts from India, some by
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s guru and other Vaiṣṇava saints. And I found information on Tulasī Devī—her
botanical names, her history, and ways to grow her. My desire to grow Tulasī became an obsession, and
somehow I got seeds from India.
The first set of seeds did not grow. I daily worshiped a thin green sprout until it became painfully evident
that it was a blade of grass. The second batch of seeds proved fruitful, however, and tiny heart-shaped
seedlings spread their delicate leaves in our Honolulu home. That was the beginning.
I still didn’t know why growing Tulasī was important to Śrīla Prabhupāda or his mission. But when I later
presented two small Tulasī plants to him in Los Angeles, he was delighted. He held one of the small pots
in his hand for a long time, gazing at the seven-inch seedling, noting that she was indeed Srimati Tulasī
Devī.
It is specifically mentioned herein that Tulasī leaves are very dear to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead and devotees should take particular care to have Tulasī leaves in every temple and center of
worship.
Prabhupāda talked on and on about the glories of Tulasī Devī, and he was in such joyful spirits! Śrīla
Prabhupāda’s servant, Kartikeya Dasa, was astonished. He later told me that he had not seen Śrīla
Prabhupāda so light- hearted and happy in over a year.
At one point, Śrīla Prabhupāda told us that Tulasī Devī was a great devotee of Lord Krishna, and that her
husband, a demon, was killed by Krishna. Then Prabhupāda stopped short and became thoughtful. My
intuition was that he had given us as much as we could then understand.
So my understanding became quite basic: somehow, growing Tulasī made Śrīla Prabhupāda very, very
pleased. That was enough. I proceeded to cultivate Tulasī plants on a large scale. I wrote a booklet
entitled “How to Grow Tulasī Devī,” sent seeds and booklets to every temple, and tried to offer advice
and assistance to devotees in their efforts to cultivate Tulasī.
Later, I came across the following purport by Śrīla Prabhupāda in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (4.8.55):
It is specifically mentioned herein that Tulasī leaves are very dear to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead and devotees should take particular care to have Tulasī leaves in every temple and center of
worship. In the Western countries, while engaged in propagating the Krishna consciousness movement,
we were brought great unhappiness because we could not find Tulasī leaves. We are very much obliged,
therefore, to our disciple Srimati Govinda Dasī because she has taken much care to grow Tulasī plants
from seeds, and she has been successful by the grace of Krishna. Now Tulasī plants are growing in
almost every center of our movement.
Only then did I become truly aware of the importance of cultivating Tulasī plants. I realized that my
initial attraction to Tulasī and my obsessive desire to grow Tulasī plants, though not inspired by a direct
instruction from Śrīla Prabhupāda, were communicated from within the heart by the Lord to please and
assist Śrīla Prabhupāda in his mission. I felt humbled and joyful that even in my ignorance I had been
given an opportunity to serve him in this way.
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Posted in Realizations Sastra and tagged Srila Prabhupada Who is Tulasi Devi? Why Do We Worship
Tulasi Devi?
REALIZATIONS SASTRA
Tulasī Devī, Beloved of Kṛṣṇa | Part 2
The following article is an excerpt from the writings of Govinda Dasī (ACBSP) published in Back To
Godhead Magazine January/February 1993 edition
Learning Respect for Tulasī
Govinda Dasī: In 1968, before Tulasī made her appearance in the West, Śrīla Prabhupāda sometimes
talked about her. I recall him saying that in India every-one considers Tulasī plants sacred, and no one
will cut or uproot them. Even non-Hindus, he said, will not destroy Tulasī to build a house on a spot
where she is growing—they’ll look for a place not inhabited by Tulasī. When Bhaktivinoda Thākura
discovered the birthplace of Lord Caitanya, it was so overgrown with Tulasī that no one had settled
there, thinking it to be a sacred place. Even non-Hindus considered that disturbing Tulasī plants would
bring ill fortune.
Śrīla Prabhupāda taught us never to think of Tulasī as an ordinary plant. She is a great devotee standing
before us in the form of a small tree. She appears as a delicate tree in this world to serve the Lord and
uplift human society.
When Prabhupāda came to Hawaii in 1971, he admired our lush Tulasī garden in front of the entrance to
the temple. Because these Tulasī’s had grown far larger than we had expected (some nearly seven feet
tall and with stalks two inches in diameter), we had a problem. The Tulasī branches were beginning to
cover the entrance, and people unavoidably brushed up against her. We pointed this out to Śrīla
Prabhupāda and asked his permission to trim some of the branches. He became alarmed and exclaimed,
“You cannot cut Tulasī—that is the greatest offense! You must never cut her. But you can tie back the
branches obstructing the entrance.”
Even after tying back the branches, Tulasī kept growing, and the problem continued. When we told Śrīla
Prabhupāda that people had to bend down when passing through the Tulasī archway on the way into
the temple, he was delighted. He smiled, his eyes sparkled, and he said, “That’s good. It is good that
they have to bow to Tulasī before entering Kṛṣṇa’s temple.”
When Śrīla Prabhupāda came for a later visit, he carefully entered the Tulasī archway by going through
sideways to avoid brushing against her leaves and branches. And while walking along the walkway to the
temple, which was lined with more Tulasī plants, he told his secretary, Śyāmasundara, “Don’t step on
her shadow.” In these ways Śrīla Prabhupāda showed great respect for Tulasī Devī.
In his books, too, Śrīla Prabhupāda called attention to the exalted position of Tulasī Devī. He writes in a
purport to the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.16.21):
The goddess of fortune, Lakshmi, is sometimes envious of the Tulasī leaves which are placed at the lotus
feet of the Lord, for they remain fixed there and do not move, whereas Lakshmiji, although stationed by
the chest of the Lord, sometimes has to please other devotees who pray for her favor. Lakshmiji
sometimes has to go to satisfy her numerous devotees, but Tulasī leaves never forsake their position,
and the Lord therefore appreciates the service of Tulasī more than the service of Lakshmi.
In The Nectar of Devotion, Śrīla Prabhupāda quotes from the Skanda Purāṇa:
Tulasī is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by remembering, simply
by praying to, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about, or simply by sowing this tree, there is
always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in touch with the Tulasī tree in the above mentioned ways
lives eternally in the Vaikuṇṭha world.
He became alarmed and exclaimed, “You cannot cut Tulasī—that is the greatest offense! You must
never cut her. But you can tie back the branches obstructing the entrance.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda taught us never to think of Tulasī as an ordinary plant. She is a great devotee standing
before us in the form of a small tree. She appears as a delicate tree in this world to serve the Lord and
uplift human society.
Tulasī Devī can be used in many ways to please the Supreme Lord, but never for gratifying one’s senses.
To offer Tulasī Devī with a material incentive—to destroy one’s enemies, to remove anxieties, to make
medicine—will be the bridge by which one enters the hellish regions.
Tulasī Devī has come to the West to give us the opportunity to serve her for our benefit. If we care for
her nicely, she can grant us love for Kṛṣṇa.
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Posted in Realizations Sastra and tagged Srila Prabhupada Who is Tulasi Devi? Why Do We Worship
Tulasi Devi?
SASTRA
The Glories of Tulasī Wood Paste | Part 1 – From The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa
atha śrī tulasīkāṣṭha-candanamāhātmyam
The Glories of Tulasī Wood Paste
gāruḍe śrī nārada-dhundhumāranṛpa-saṁvāde
In a conversation between Śrī Nārada and Dhundhumāra about the glories of tulasī wood paste found in
the Gāruḍa Purāṇa, it is stated:
6.318
yo dadāti harernityaṁ
tulasī kāṣṭha candanam
yugāni vasate svarge
hyanantāni narottamaḥ
One who offers tulasī wood paste to Lord Janārdana every day will reside in heaven for an almost
unlimited number of yugas.
6.319-322
mahāṇau kalau bhaktayā
dattvā tulasī candanam
yo’rccayen mālatī puṣpair
na bhūya stanapo bhavet
tulasīkāṣṭha sambūtaṁ
candanaṁ yacchato hareḥ
nirddahet pātakaṁ sarvvaṁ
pūrvva janma śataiḥ kṛtam
sarvveṣāmapi devānāṁ
tulasīkāṣṭha candanam
pitṛṇāñca viśeṣeṇa
sadā’bhīṣṭaṁ hareryathā
mṛtyukāle tu saṁprāpte
tulasī taru candanam
bhavate yasya dehe tu
harirbhūtvā hariṁ vrajet
In this age of Kali, one who offers tulasī wood paste to Lord Maha-Viṣṇu and worships Him with offerings
of jasmine flowers will no longer have to suffer the miseries of material existence. By offering tulasī
wood paste to the Lord, a devotee’s sinful reactions that were accumulated during his past one hundred
lifetimes become burnt to ashes at once. As tulasī wood paste is dear to Lord Hari—it is also very dear to
the demigods and forefathers. He whose body is smeared with the paste of tulasī wood at the time of
death achieves the liberation of having the same bodily features as Lord Hari while residing in his
transcendental abode. (Note: we believe the last two sentences refer to the use of the Lords prasadam
tulasi wood paste.)
6.323
tāvan malayajaṁ viṣṇor
bhāti kṛṣṇā gururnṛpa
yāvanna dyśyate puṇyaṁ
tulasī kāṣṭha candanam
O King, sandalwood paste and black aguru increase the beauty of Śrī Viṣṇu anly for as long as pure tulasī
wood paste is not available. In other words, they are inferior to tulasī wood paste
6.324-325
tāvat kastūri kāmodaḥ
karpūrasya sugandhitā
yāvanna dīyate viṣṇos
tulasīkāṣṭha candanam
kalau yacchanti ye viṣṇau
tulasīkāṣṭha candanam
dhundhumāra na vai marttyāḥ
punarāyānti te bhuvi
The aroma of musk and camphor continue to flourish until tulasī wood paste is offered to the limbs of
Lord Viṣṇu. O Dhundhumāra, in the age of Kali, those who offer tulasī wood paste to Śrī Hari will not
have to return to this mortal world.
6.326
yo hi bhāgavato bhūtvā
kalau tulasī-candanam
nārpayati sadā viṣṇor
na sa bhāgavato naraḥ
A devotee of the Lord cannot be considered an actual devotee if he does not offer tulasī wood paste to
Lord Viṣṇu.
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news!
Bibliography
Gosvāmī, Sanātana. Śrī Hari-bhakti-vilāsa Volume Two, Vilāsas 6-10 (Bhumipati Dāsa trans.) Vrindāvan:
Rasbihari Lal & Sons, 2005. Print.
Posted in Sastra and tagged Hari-bhakti-vilasa Tulasi Wood Why Do We Worship Tulasi Devi?
SASTRA
The Glories of Tulasī Wood Paste | Part 2 – From The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa
prahlādasaṁhitayām
In the Prahlāda-saṁhita it is stated
6.327-329
na tena sadyśo loke
viṣṇavo vidyate bhuvi
yaḥ prayacchati kṛṣṇāya
tulasīkāṣṭha candanam
tulasī dāru jātena
candanena kalau naraḥ
vilipya bhaktito viṣṇuṁ
ramate sannidhau hareḥ
tulasīkāṣṭha jātena
candanena vilepanam
yaḥ kuryyād viṣṇutoṣāya
kapilāgo-phalam labhet
There is no better Vaiṣṇava in this world than one who offers tulasī wood paste to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. In this age
of Kali, by offering tulasī wood paste to the Lord with devotion, one can go to Vaikuntha and reside in
his association. Those who smear the body of Lord Viṣṇu with tulasī wood paste obtain the merit of
giving brown cows in charity.
viṣṇudharmottare ca
In the Viṣṇu-dharmottara it is stated
6.332
tulasīcandanākta aṅgaḥ
kurute kṛṣṇa pūjanam
pūjanena dinaikena
labhate śatavārṣikīm
One who worships Śrī Kṛṣṇa after decorating his body with tulasī wood paste attains the merit of
worshiping the Lord for one hundred years in a single day.
6.333-334
vilepanārthaṁ kṛṣṇasya
tulasīkāṣṭha candanam
mandire vasate yasya
tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu
tila prasthāṣṭakaṁ dattvā
yat puṇyaṁ cottrāyaṇe
tattulyaṁ jāyate puṇyaṁ
prasādāc cakrapāṇinaḥ
Now, hear about the piety of one in whose house there is tulasī wood paste used for applying to the
body of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The piety one achieves by donating eight prasthas of sesame seeds on a day when the
sun moves one zodiac sign to another when the sun is in the northern hemisphere can be achieved by
pleasing Lord Hari, who carries a disc in His hand, with an offering of tulasī wood paste.
We invite you to subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter to keep up to date with new articles and exciting
news!
Bibliography
Gosvāmī, Sanātana. Śrī Hari-bhakti-vilāsa Volume Two, Vilāsas 6-10 (Bhumipati Dāsa trans.)Vrindāvan:
Rasbihari Lal & Sons, 2005. Print.
Posted in Sastra and tagged Hari-bhakti-vilasa Tulasi Wood Why Do We Worship Tulasi Devi?
Deva Md AT
thanks this is exciting news! whats the safe way to harvest tulsi wood though? I hear from some
devotees it’s not good to trim her, others say its ok. do we wait for her to leave before grinding the
wood on a stone into paste or is it ok to trim her for that purpose?
REPLY
Tulasi Sevamrta Team AT
Srila Prabhupada has said in multiple instances that Tulasi Devi should never be cut. Govinda Dasi in her
BTG article recounts an event at ISCKON Hawaii : “The Tulasī branches were beginning to cover the
entrance, and people unavoidably brushed up against her. We pointed this out to Śrīla Prabhupāda and
asked his permission to trim some of the branches. He became alarmed and exclaimed, “You cannot cut
Tulasī—that is the greatest offense! You must never cut her. But you can tie back the branches
obstructing the entrance.””
In a letter to Jagad-mohinī Dasī Prabhupada says: “Whether we may prune the leaves of Tulasī, no, there
is no question of pruning. But you can take for worshiping Kṛṣṇa leaves from the Tulasī”
The Padma Purana Kriyayogasara Khanda Chapter 24 text 43 says “Lord Visnu, the Lord of Srimati Tulasi
Devi, feels anguish when a branch of Srimati Tulasi Devi breaks at the time of collecting her leaves.”
Sort of on the contrary, Prabhupada says in a letter to Vidya Dasi “You may cut the dead branches, but
what is the necessity.”
So the general rule that devotees follow is that the only time Tulasi Devi’s branches can be cut is when
there is a “life or death” circumstance, like if she has severe root rot, or is heavily infested with scales,
etc. Then it’s okay to cut her branches to help her cope and continue on, but only under guidance.
Therefore it can be understood that these verses from the HBV are talking about using only wood from a
“dead” Tulasi plant, just like when making a Tulasi mala, or for use in yajna.
We will have an article about cutting Tulasi Devi soon.
SASTRA
Glories of Tulasī Devī From The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa | Part 3
ataivoktaṁ gāruḍe naivedya-prasaṅge
Regarding the food that is to be offered to the Lord from the Garuḍa Purāṇa
7.265
tulasī dala saṁmiśraṁ
harer yacchecca tat sadā
One should always offer food to the Lord with tulasī leaves
7.266
bhagavad durlabha āyāstu
tulasyā mahimādbhutaḥ
sarvvaśāstreṣu vikhyātaḥ
saṅkṣepeṇeha likhyate
The indescribable glories of tulasī, which is very dear to the Supreme Lord, is declared in all scriptures. In
this book, we will briefly describe them.
aha tulasī-māhātmyam
The glories of tulasī
tatra svataḥ paramottamatā skānde
Her natural greatness is described in the Skanda Purāṇa as follows
7.267
sarvvoṣadhi rasanaiva
purā hi amṛtamanthane
sarvvasattvopa kārāya
viṣṇunā tulasī kṛtā
Long ago, at the time of the churning of the ocean of milk, for the benefit of all living entities, Lord Viṣṇu
created tulasī, which contains the essence of all medicinal herbs.
Note by Nandinī Tulasī dās:
Statements like these about Tulasī Devī are very common and can be confusing without context. There is
a section from the Padma Purāṇa that explains Tulasī Devī’s appearance in the material world though
the churning of the milk ocean:
mathanād deva-daityānāṁ
kanyā-ratna-catuṣṭayam
varuṇena darśitaṁ pūrvaṁ
somenaiva tathā punaḥ
Due to the churning done by the demigods and demons, four precious maidens came out of the milk
ocean. Lord Varuṇa first pointed them out, and then again Lord Soma also did. (Padma Purāṇa 2.119.6)
sulakṣmīr nāma sā caikā
dvitīyā vāruṇī tathā
jyeṣṭhā nāma tathākhyātā
kāmodānyā pracakṣate
The first one was Goddess Sulakṣmī. The second was Goddess Vāruṇī. The third was known as Goddess
Jyeṣṭhā. The other one was called Goddess Kāmodā. (Padma Purāṇa 2.119.8)
amṛtasya taraṅgāc ca
kāmodākhyā babhūva ha
The one called Goddess Kāmodā, came up from a ripple of the nectar. (Padma Purāṇa 2.119.10)
amṛtād utthitā devī
kāmodā nāma puṇyadā
viṣṇoḥ prītyai bhaviṣye tu
vṛkṣa-rūpaṁ prayāsyati
The Goddess Kāmodā, giver of merit, sprang from the nectar. In the future She will have the form of a
tree for the pleasure of Lord Viṣṇu. (Padma Purāṇa 2.119.13)
viṣṇu-prīti-karī sā tu
bhaviṣyati sadaiva hi
tulasī-nāma sā puṇyā
bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ
She will always delight Lord Viṣṇu. She, the auspicious one, will certainly be known by the name Tulasī.
(Padma Purāṇa 2.119.14)
— End note —
7.268
etaeva
It has therefore been said
na viprasadyśaṁ pātraṁ
na dānaṁ surabhīsamam
na ca gaṅgasamaṁ tīrthaṁ
na patraṁ tulasīsamam
There is no better recipient of charity then a brāhmaṇa. There is no better charity than the gift of a cow.
There is no water more sanctified than the water of the Ganges, and there is no better leaf than a tulasī
leaf.
7.269
ataeva ca viṣṇurahasye
Therefore, in the Viṣṇu-rahasya it is stated
abhinnapatrāṁ haritāṁ hi
adyamañjari saṁyutāṁ
ksīrodārṇava sambhūtāṁ
tulasīṁ dāpayed hareḥ
One should offer leaves that are not torn and beautiful mañjarīs of tulasī, who appeared from the ocean
of milk and presented herself before Hari.
7.270
śrī bhagavad durllabhatā
tulasī is very dear to the Lord
nāradīye
In the Nārada Purāṇa it is stated
tāvad garjanti puṣpāṇi
mālatyādīni bhūsura
yāvanna prāpyate puṇyā
tulasī kṛṣṇavallabhā
O brāhmaṇa, until the arrival of tulasī, who is very dear to Kṛṣṇa, flowers such as mālati can display their
pride.
7.271-272
viṣṇurahasye
In the Viṣṇu-rahasya it is stated
kṛṣṇā vāpyatha vāha kṛṣṇā
tulasī kṛṣṇa vallabhā
sitā vāpyathavā kṛṣṇā
dvādaśī vallabhā hareḥ
tāvad garjjanti ratnāni
kaustubhā dīni harniśam
yāvanna prāpyate kṛṣṇā
tulasī patra mañjarī
All kinds of tulasī, whether red or green, are dear to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, just as the Dvādaśi of the waxing and
waning moon are dear to him. Jewels, such as the Kaustubha, can exhibit their pride only as long as
tulasī leaves or mañjarīs are not available. In other words, such jewels have little value in front of tulasī.
7.273
agastya saṁhitāyām
In the Agastya-saṁhita it is stated
pūrvvam ugra tapaḥ kṛtvā
varaṁ vare manasvinī
tulasī sarvvapuṣpebhyaḥ
patrebhyo ballabhā tataḥ
The wise Tulasī-devī had previously performed severe austerities and then had asked for a benediction.
Because of this, she has become the most dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa among all kinds of flowers and leaves.
7.274
pādme vaiśākha māhātmye śrī yamabrāhmaṇa saṁvāde
In a conversation between Yama and a brāhmaṇa found in the Vaiśākha-mahātmya section of the
Padma Purāṇa it is stated
sarvvāsāṁ patrajātīnāṁ
tulasī keśavapriyā
Among all kinds of leaves, tulasī leaves are most dear to Lord Keśava.
We invite you to subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter to keep up to date with new articles and exciting
news!
Bibliography
Gosvāmī, Sanātana. Śrī Hari-bhakti-vilāsa Volume Two, Vilāsas 6-10 (Bhumipati Dāsa trans.) Vrindāvan:
Rasbihari Lal & Sons, 2005. Print.
Swāmī, Bhakti Viśrambha Mādhava. Tulasyamṛta, The Nectar of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī. Vrindāvan: Author,
2012. Print.
Posted in Sastra and tagged Hari-bhakti-vilasa Why Do We Worship Tulasi Devi?
FEATURED SASTRA
Glories of Tulasī Devī From The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa | Part 4
7.275
kiñca
It is also stated
sarvvathā sarvvakāleṣu
tulasī viṣṇuvallabhā
Always, and in all circumstances, tulasī is very dear to Lord Viṣṇu.
7.276-277
tatraivottarakhaṇḍe kārttika māhātmye śrī nāradoktau
Nārada has stated in the Kārtika-mahātmya section of the Padma Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa
tulasī dala pūjāyā
mayā vaktuṁ na śakyaye
atyanta vallabhā sā hi
śālagrāmābhidhe harau
pātivratyena vṛndāsau
harim ārādhya karmmaṇā
pūrvvajanmani asau lebhe
kṛṣṇa saṁyogam uttamam
I am unable to describe the glories of worshiping the Lord with an offering ot tulasī leaves. Tulasī is
extremely dear to Lord Hari in his form as śālagrāma-śilā. Setting and ideal example of chastity,
Vṛṇdādevī had worshiped Lord Hari in her previous life and thereby attained this most glorious position.
7.278
tatraiva śrī vṛndopākhyānānte
At the end of the story of Vṛṇdā in the same literature, it is stated
satyaṁ prītikaraṁ vākyaṁ
kopas tasyāstu tāmasaḥ
bhāvadvayaṁ harau jātaṁ
yat tadvarṇa dvayaṁ hibhūt
śyāmā’pi tulasī viṣṇoḥ
priyā gaurī viśeṣataḥ
Pleasing words spoken by Vṛṇdā-devī are certainly in the mode of goodness, and her wrath is in the
mode of ignorance. According to these two qualities of Vṛṇdā, Lord Hari displays two different moods.
This is the reason that tulasī has two different colors. Although blackish tulasī is certainly dear to Kṛṣṇa,
green tulasī is especially dear to him.
7.279
dvārakāmāhātmye ca śrī mārkaṇḍeyendradyumna saṁvāde
In a conversation between Mārkaṇḍeya and Indradyumna found in the Dvārakā-mahātmya, it is stated
yathā lakṣmīḥ priyā viṣṇo
tulasī ca tato’dhikā
Lakṣmī is certainly dear to Lord Viṣṇu but tulasī is more dear to Him.
7.280-281
Skānde
In the Skanda Purāṇa it is stated
yogināṁ viratau vāñchā
kāmināñca yathā ratau
puṣpeṣvapi ca sarvveṣu
tulasyāñca tathā hareḥ
nirasya mālatī puṣpaṁ
muktāpuṣpaṁ saroruham
gṛhnnāti tulasīṁ śuṣkām
api paryyuṣitāṁ hariḥ
Just as yogīs are very attached to renunciation and lusty people are very attached to sex—Lord Hari is
more attached to tulasī leaves than all the other plants. Lord Hari renounces mālati, muktā, and lotus
flowers and longs for tulasī leaves, even if they are wilted and dry.
7.28
etaeva caturthaskandhe śrī dhruvaṁ prati śrī nāradopadeśe
The following verse is spork by Nārada to Dhruva is found in the Fourth Canto of the ŚrimandBhāgavatam
salilaiḥ śucibhir mālyair
vanyair mūla-phalādibhiḥ
śastāṅkurāṁśukaiś cārcet
tulasyā priyayā prabhum
One should worship the Lord by offering pure water, pure flower garlands, fruits, flowers and
vegetables, which are available in the forest, or by collecting newly grown grasses, small buds of flowers
or even skins of trees, and if possible, by offering tulasī leaves, which are very dear to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.
7.283
rāsakridāyāñca daśamaskandhe śrīgopīnām bhagavadanveṣaṇe
In the rāsa-līlā section of the Tenth Canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the following verse was spoken by
the gopīs
kaccit tulasī kalyāṇi
govinda-caraṇa-priye
saha tvāli-kulair bibhrad
dṛṣṭas te ‘ti-priyo ’cyutaḥ
O most kind tulasī, to whom the feet of Govinda are so dear, have you seen that infallible one walk by,
wearing you and encircled by swarms of bees?
7.284
etaeva skānde
Therefore, in the Skanda Purāṇa it is stated
yat phalaṁ sarvvapuṣpeṣu
sarvvapatreṣu nārada
tulasī dala mātreṇa
prāpyate keśavārccane
O Nārada, the merit one obtains by worshiping Lord Keśava with offerings of all kinds of flowers and
leaves can be obtained simply by worshiping Him with an offering of only one tulasī leaf.
7.285
pādme vaisākhātmye tatraiva
In the Vaiśākha-mahātmya section of the Padma Purāṇa it is stated
tyaktvā tu mālatī puṣpaṁ
muktvā caiva saroruham
gṛhītvā tulasī patraṁ
bhaktyā mādhava arccayet
tasya puṇyaphalaṁ vaktum
alaṁ śeṣo’pi no bhavet
Even lord Ananta is unable to estimate the merit one achieves by worshiping Lord Mādhava with
offerings of tulasī leaves, rather than mālatī or lotus flowers.
7.286
tatraiva śrī māgha māhātmye devadūtavikuṇḍale saṁvāde
In a conversation between Devadūta and Vikuṇḍala that is found in the Māgha-mahātmya section of the
Padma Purāṇa, it is stated
maṇi kāñcana puṣpāṇi
tathā muktāmayāni ca
tulasī patra dānasya
kalāṁ nārhanti ṣoḍaśim
One does not receive even one-sixteenth the merit that one obtains by offering tulasī leaves to Lord
Viṣṇu if he offers him golden flowers inlaid with precious jewels and pearls.
We invite you to subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter to keep up to date with new articles and exciting
news!
Bibliography
Gosvāmī, Sanātana. Śrī Hari-bhakti-vilāsa Volume Two, Vilāsas 6-10 (Bhumipati Dāsa trans.) Vrindāvan:
Rasbihari Lal & Sons, 2005. Print.
Posted in Featured Sastra and tagged Hari-bhakti-vilasa Why Do We Worship Tulasi Devi?
FEATURED SASTRA
Tulasī-kavaca
The following text is taken directly from HH Bhakti Viśrambha Mādhava Swāmī’s book titled
Tulasyamṛta, The Nectar of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī. Mahārāja’s book includes word for word transliterations,
as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tulasī-kavaca and other sanskrit texts about Śrīmatī
Tulasī Devī. In His book, Mahārāja draws a lot of fine details out of these texts and shares his personal
realizations in serving Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī.
The Tulasī-kavaca is spoken in the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa by Lord Śiva to his son Kārttikeya who had grown
tired while fighting the demon Tārakāsura. We are publishing this article during the 2020 Covid-19
pandemic as an appeal for devotees to pray to Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī in these difficult times. A mother will
always help her child, but a bit of crying never hurts.
atha nyāsaḥ
Nyāsa mantra
oṃ asya śrī-tulasī-kavaca-stotra-mahā-mantrasya
śrī-mahādeva ṛṣiḥ
anuṣṭup chandaḥ
śrī-tulasī devatā
mano ‘bhīṣṭa-kāmāni sarva-vidyārthe jape viniyogaḥ
This Tulasi-kavaca stotra (prayer) great mantra whose ṛṣi (preceptor) is Lord Śiva, chandas (Vedic poetic
meter) is anuṣṭubh, devatā (object of worship) is Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, viniyoga (application) is to fulfill
one’scherished mental desires and gain all knowledge–is being chanted now.
aha dhyānam
Meditation
tulasi amṛta-janmāsi
sadā tvaṁ keśava-priye
prasīda vara-de devi
viṣṇoḥ priya-kāri sadā
O Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, You are born from the nectar resulting from the churning of the milk ocean and
You are always dear to Lord Keśava. Lord Viṣṇu is always delighted by you, O goddess bestowing boons,
so please be kind to me.
atha kavacam
Now begins the kavaca–armor of protection
Text 1
tulasi śrī-mahā-devi
namaḥ paṅkaja-dhāriṇi
śiro me tulasī pātu
bhālaṁ pātu yaśasvinī
I offer my respects to the great Goddess Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī who holds a lotus flower in Her hand. May
She protect my head, and may the glorious one protect my forehead.
Text 2
dṛśau me padma-nayanā
śrī-sakhī śravaṇe mama
ghrāṇaṁ pātu sugandhā me
mukhaṁ ca sumukhī mama
May She whose eyes resemble lotuses protect my eyes. May the friend of Śrīmatī Lakṣmī Devī protect
my ears. May the sweet-scented one protect my nose. And may the beautiful-faced one protect my
face.
Text 3
jihvāṁ me pātu śubha-dā
kaṇṭhaṁ vidyā-mayī mama
skandhau kalhāriṇī pātu
hṛdayaṁ viṣṇu-vallabhā
May the bestower of auspiciousness protect my tongue. May the personification of knowledge protect
my neck. May She who has a charming garland of white water-lilies (kalhāra) on Her shoulders protect
my shoulders. May Lord Viṣṇu’s beloved protect my heart.
Text 4
puṇya-dā pātu me madhyaṁ
nābhiṁ saubhāgya-dāyinī
kaṭiṁ kuṇḍalinī pātu
ūrū nārada-vanditā
May the bestower of the results of pious activity protect my middle. May the giver of good fortune
protect my navel. May She who wears earrings (or tantric kuṇḍalinī chakra energy) protect my hips. May
She who is praised by Nārada Muni protect my thighs.
Text 5
jananī jānunī pātu
jaṅghe sakala-vanditā
nārāyaṇa-priyā pādau
sarvāṅgaṁ sarva-rakṣiṇī
May the universal mother protect my knees. May She who is praised by all protect the lower part of my
legs areas. May the darling of Lord Nārāyaṇa protect my feet. May She who protects everyone and
everything, protect all my limbs.
Text 6
saṅkaṭe viṣame durge
bhaye vāde mahāhave
nityaṁ dvi-sandhyayoḥ pātu
tulasī sarvataḥ sadā
In danger, in distress, in difficulty, in fear, in quarrel, in great battle, during dawn and dusk may Śrīmatī
Tualsi Devi invariably protect me at all times and in all respects.
atha phala-śrutiḥ
Now begins the description of the results obtained by chanting this kavaca
Text 7
itīdaṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ
tulasyāḥ kavacāmṛtam
martyānām amṛtārthāya
bhītānām abhayāya ca
Thus ends this very secret armor of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī which is like nectar. It gives immortality to
mortals and fearlessness to those in fear.
Text 8
mokṣāya ca mumukṣūṇāṁ
dhyāyināṁ dhyāna-yoga-kṛt
vaśāya vaśya-kāmanāṁ
vidyāyai veda-vādinām
This protective hymn bestows liberation unto those seeking it, the result of dhyāna-yoga to those
absorbed in meditation, authority to those who want to have power over others, and knowledge to the
followers of the Vedas.
Text 9
draviṇāya daridrāṇāṁ
pāpināṁ pāpa-śāntaye
annāya kṣudhitānāṁ ca
svargāya svargam icchatām
This armor of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī provides wealth to the poor, extinction of the sins of the sinners, food
for the hungry, and the passage of heaven to those who want to go there.
Text 10
paśavyaṁ paśu-kāmānāṁ
putra-daṁ putra-kāṅkṣiṇām
rājyāya bhraṣṭa-rājyānām
aśāntānāṁ ca śāntaye
It is beneficial for the animals of those who want to possess them. It gives sons to those desirous to have
sons, kingdom to those deprived of kingdom, and peace to those bereft of peace.
Text 11
bhakty-arthaṁ viṣṇu-bhaktānāṁ
viṣṇau sarvāntar-ātmani
jāpyaṁ tri-varga-siddhy-arthaṁ
gṛha-sthena viśeṣataḥ
This protective hymn should be particularly chanted for developing the devotion to the soul of
everything, Lord Viṣṇu, by His devotees; and by the householders for attaining success in religion,
economic development, and sense gratification.
Text 12
udyantaṁ caṇḍa-kiraṇam
upasthāya kṛtāñjaliḥ
tulasī-kānane tiṣṭhann
āsīno vā japed idam
Prayerfully folding one’s hands with great respect, while exposing oneself towards the early morning
rising sun, one should chant this protective hymn daily while sitting, or otherwise standing, in the forest
of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī.
Text 13
sarvān kāmān avāpnoti
tathaiva mama sannidhim
mama priya-karaṁ nityaṁ
hari-bhakti-vivardhanam
One who chants this armor gets all his desires fulfilled, and also attains vicinity to me (Lord Śiva), pleases
me constantly, and gets his devotion to Lord Hari increased.
Text 14-15
yā syān mṛta-prajā nārī
tasyā aṅgaṁ pramārjayet
sā putraṁ labhate dīrghajīvinaṁ cāpy arogiṇam
vandhyāyā mārjayed aṅgaṁ
kuśair mantreṇa sādhakaḥ
sā ‘pi saṁvatsarādeva
garbhaṁ dhatte mano-haram
For a woman who bears dead children one should clean her body by chanting this armor hymn, and then
she will give birth to a long-lived and healthy son. And for a childless woman such worshiper of this
armor should clean her body with the mantra and kuśa grass, and then she will beget a charming child
(which will steal her mind) within one year.
Text 16
aśvatthe rāja-vaśyārthī
japed agneḥ surūpa-bhāk
palāśa-mūle vidyārthī
tejo- ‘rthy ādbhimukho raveḥ
One should chant this hymn under an Aśvattha tree for controlling a king, facing the fire for attaining
beauty, at the base of a Palāśa tree for acquiring knowledge, and facing the sun for achieving good
health.
Text 17
kanyārthī caṇḍikā-gehe
śatru-hatyai gṛhe mama
śrī-kāmo viṣṇu-gehe ca
udyāne strī-vaśā bhavet
This hymn should be chanted in a temple of Goddess Caṇḍikā for getting a beautiful girl in marriage, in
my (Lord Śiva) temple for killing an enemy, by those desirous of riches in Lord Viṣṇu’s temple, and in a
garden or park by a barren woman.
Text 18
kim atra bahunoktena
śṛṇu sainyeśa tattvataḥ
yaṁ yaṁ kāmam abhidhyāyet
taṁ taṁ prāpnoty asaṁśayam
What is the use of speaking more about it? Listen O commander of great armies, indeed whatever
wishes one might consider; those are fulfilled accordingly. There is no doubt about it.
Text 19-20
mama gehe gatas tvaṁ tu
tārakasya vadhecchayā
japan strotraṁ ca kavacaṁ
tulasī-gata-mānasaḥ
maṇḍalāt tārakaṁ hantā
bhaviṣyasi na saṁśayaḥ
You also, as you intend to kill the demon Tāraka, should go to my temple and chant this protective hymn
fixing your mind on Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī. Thus, after forty days (or after completing all mentioned above)
you will undoubtedly become the killer of Tāraka.
iti brahmāṇḍa-purāṇe śivopadiṣṭaṁ tulasī-kavacaṁ saṁpūrṇam
Thus ends the Tulasī-kavaca from the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa which was taught by Lord Śiva
We invite you to subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter to keep up to date with new articles and exciting
news!
Bibliography
Swāmī, Bhakti Viśrambha Mādhava. Tulasyamṛta, The Nectar of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī. Vrindāvan: Author,
2012. Print.
Posted in Featured Sastra and tagged Who is Tulasi Devi? Why Do We Worship Tulasi Devi?
SASTRA
Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī Worships Tulasī Devī From The Garga-saṃhitā
Śrī Garga-saṃhitā
Canto Two
Chapter Fifteen
Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa-premodyoga-varṇana
Description of Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s Falling in Love
Text 1
śrī-nārada uvāca
idaṁ mayā te kathitaṁ
kāliyasyāpi mardanam
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caritaṁ puṇyaṁ
kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi
Śrī Nārada said: I have recounted to you Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s sacred pastime of crushing Kāliya. What more do you
wish to hear?
Text 2
śrī-bahulāśva uvāca
śrī-kṛṣṇasya kathāṁ śrutvā
bhaktas tṛptiṁ na yāti hi
yathāmaraḥ sudhāṁ pitvā
yathāliḥ padma-karṇikām
Śrī Bahulāśva said: As a demigod never tires of drinking nectar and a bee never tires of drinking from
the whorl of a lotus, so a devotee never tires of hearing Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.
Text 3
rāsaṁ kartuṁ harau jāte
śiśu-rūpe mahātmāni
bhāṇḍire deva-vāg āha
śrī-rādhāṁ khinna-mānasām
When Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was a child, and Śrī Rādhā was unhappy at
heart because She yearned to enjoy the rāsa dance with Him, in Bhāṇḍiravana forest a divine voice said:
Text 4
śocaṁ ma kuru kalyāṇi
vṛndāraṇye manohare
manorathas te bhavitā
śrī-kṛṣṇena mahātmanā
O beautiful one, don’t lament. In beautiful Vṛndāvana forest Your desire to enjoy with Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, will be fulfilled.
Text 5
itthaṁ deva-girā prokto
manoratha-mahārṇavaḥ
kathaṁ babhūva bhagavān
vṛndāraṇye manohare
After the divine voice spoke these words how did the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is a great
ocean of fulfilled desires, come to the beautiful Vṛndāvana forest?
Text 6
kathaṁ śrī-rādhayā sārdhaṁ
rāsa-krīḍāṁ manoharām
cakāra vṛndakāraṇye
paripūrṇatamaḥ svayam
In the beautiful Vṛndāvana forest how did the Supreme Personality of Godhead enjoy the rāsa-dance
pastime with Śrī Rādhā?
Text 7
śrī-nārada uvāca
sādhu pṛṣṭhaṁ tvayā rājan
bhagavac-caritaṁ śubham
guptaṁ vadāmi devaiś ca
līlākhyānaṁ manoharam
Śrī Nārada said: O king, you have asked well. I will tell the Lord’s beautiful and auspicious pastime,
which is hidden even from the demigods.
Text 8
ekadā mukhya-sakhyau dve
viśākhā-lalite śubhe
vṛṣabhānor gṛhaṁ prāpya
taṁ rādhāṁ jagmatū rahaḥ
One day Her two most intimate friends, beautiful Lalitā and Viśākhā, went to Mahārāja Vṛṣabhānu’s
palace and approached Rādhā in private.
Text 9
śrī-sakhyāv ūcatuḥ
yaṁ cintayasi rādhe tvaṁ
yad-guṇaṁ vadasi svataḥ
so ‘pi nityaṁ samāyāti
vṛṣabhānu-pure ‘rbhakaiḥ
The two friends said: He on whom You meditate and whose virtues You praise, with many boys again
and again comes to King Vṛṣabhānu’s palace.
Text 10
prekṣaṇīyas tvayā rādhe
darśanīyo ‘ti-sundaraḥ
paścimāyāṁ niśīthinyāṁ
go-cāraṇa-vinirgataḥ
O Rādhā, in the evening He comes from the west, returning with the cows. You should see Him. He is
very handsome.
Text 11
śrī-rādhovāca
likhitvā tasya citraṁ hi
darśayāśu manoharam
tarhi tat-prekṣaṇaṁ paścāt
kariṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ
Śrī Rādhā said: Draw a handsome picture of Him. Then I will look for Him in the west. Of this there is
no doubt.
Text 12
śrī-nārada uvāca
atha sakhyau vyalikhatāṁ
citraṁ nanda-śiśoḥ śubham
nava-yauvana-mādhuryaṁ
rādhāyai dadatus tvaram
The two friends drew a picture, handsome and filled with the sweetness of new youth, of Nanda’s
son, Kṛṣṇa, and gave it to Rādhā.
Text 13
tad dṛṣṭvā harṣitā rādhā
kṛṣṇa-darśana-lālasā
citraṁ kare prāpaśyantī
suṣvāpānanda-saṅkulā
When Rādhā saw the picture She became very happy. Gazing at the picture in Her hand, yearning to
see Kṛṣṇa, and now overcome with bliss, She fainted.
Text 14
dadarśa kṛṣṇaṁ bhavane śayānā
ghana-prabhaṁ pīta-paṭaṁ dadhānam
bhāṇḍīra-deśe yamunāṁ sametya
nṛtyantam ārād vṛṣabhānu-putrī
As She slept in Her home, Vṛṣabhānu’s daughter Rādhā dreamed of going to the Yamunā, where She
gazed at Kṛṣṇa, dark as a monsoon cloud, dressed in yellow garments, and dancing in Bhāṇḍīravana
forest.
Text 15
tadaiva rādhā śayanāt samutthitā
parasya kṛṣṇasya viyoga-vihvalā
sañcintayantī kamanīya-rūpiṇaṁ
mene trilokīṁ tṛṇavad videha-rāṭ
O king of Videha, when Rādhā rose from sleep, She was filled with the anguish of separation from
Kṛṣṇa. Always thinking of His handsome form, She thought the three worlds had become like a single
blade of grass.
Text 16
tarhy āvrajantaṁ sva-vanād vrajeśvaraṁ
saṅkoca-vīthyāṁ vṛṣabhānu-paṭṭane
gavākṣam etyāśu sakhī-pradarśitaṁ
dṛṣṭvā tu murcchāṁ samavāpa sundarī
Going to a window and, as Her two friends pointed to Him, gazing at Kṛṣṇa, the master of Vraja as He
walked on the narrow path from His own forest to King Vṛṣabhānu’s palace, beautiful Rādhā fainted.
Text 17
kṛṣṇo ‘pi dṛṣṭvā vṛṣabhānu-nandinīṁ
surūpa-kauśalya-yutāṁ guṇāśrayām
kurvan mano rantum atīva mādhavo
līlā-tanuḥ sa prayayau sva-mandiram
Glancing at Vṛṣabhānu’s beautiful daughter Rādhā, who sheltered a host of transcendental virtues,
and deciding in His heart to enjoy with Her, playful Kṛṣṇa went on to His own palace.
Text 18
evaṁ tataḥ kṛṣṇa-viyoga-vihvalāṁ
prabhūta-kāma-jvara-khinna-mānasām
samvīkṣya rādhāṁ vṛṣabhānu-nandinīṁ
uvāca vācaṁ lalitā sakhī varā
Seeing Her anguished by Kṛṣṇa’s absence and Her heart tortured by flames of love for Him, beautiful
Lalitā-sakhī spoke to Vṛṣabhānu’s daughter Rādhā.
Text 19
śrī-lalitovāca
kathaṁ tvaṁ vihvalā rādhe
mūrcchitāti-vyathāṁ gatā
yadīcchasi hariṁ su-bhru
tasmin snehaṁ dṛḍhaṁ kuru
Śrī Lalitā said: O Rādhā, why are You unconscious? O beautiful-eyebowed one, if You wish to attain
Kṛṣṇa, then give all Your love to Him.
Text 20
lokasyāpi sukhaṁ sarvaṁ
adhikṛtyāsti sāmpratam
duḥkhāgni-hṛt pradahati
kumbhakārāgni-vac chubhe
O beautiful one, even now that You have found the person that brings all happiness to the world,
Your heart still burns like the fire in a potter’s kiln.
Text 21
śrī-nārada uvāca
lalitāyāś ca lalitaṁ
vacaḥ śrutvā vrajeśvarī
netre unmīlya lalitāṁ
prāha gadgadayā girā
Śrī Nārada said: Hearing Lalitā’s graceful words, Vraja’s goddess, Rādhā, opened Her eyes and spoke
in a faltering voice.
Text 22
śrī-rādhovāca
vrajālaṅkāra-caraṇau
na prāptau yadi me kila
kadācid vigrahaṁ tarhi
na hi svaṁ dhārayāmy aham
Śrī Rādhā said: If I cannot attain His feet, which now decorate this land of Vraja, I will not keep My
body alive.
Text 23
śrī-nārada uvāca
iti śrutvā vacas tasyā
lalitā bhaya-vihvalā
śrī-kṛṣṇa-pārśvaṁ prayayau
kṛṣṇā-tīre manohare
Śrī Nārada said: Terrified by hearing these words, Lalitā went to Kṛṣṇa by the Yamunā’s beautiful
shore.
Text 24
mādhavī-jāla-samyukte
madhura-dhvani-saṅkule
kadamba-mūle rahasi
prāha caikākinaṁ harim
Finding Kṛṣṇa all alone under a kadamba tree in a solitary place laced with a network of flowering
mādhavī vines and filled with sweet sounds, Lalitā spoke.
Text 25
śrī-lalitovāca
yasmin dine ca te rūpaṁ
rādhayā dṛṣṭam adbhutam
tad-dināt stambhatāṁ prāptā
putrikeva na vākti kim
Śrī Lalitā said: Since the day She first saw Your wonderful form, Rādhā has been stunned. She is like a
motionless puppet. She does not even speak.
Texts 26-27
alaṅkāras tv arcir iva
vastraṁ bharja-rajo yathā
sugandhiḥ kaṭuvad yasya
mandiraṁ nirjanaṁ vanam
puṣpaṁ bāṇaṁ candra-bimbaṁ
viṣa-kandam avehi bhoḥ
tasyai sandarśanaṁ dehi
rādhayai duḥkha-nāśanam
Please know that Her ornaments have become for Her like dazzling suns, Her clothing like a shower of
sparks, Her perfumes bitter, Her palace a solitary wilderness, Her flowers sharp arrows, and the moon a
pot of poison. O, please give to Rādhā the sight of You, a sight that will destroy Her sufferings.
Text 28
te sākṣiṇaḥ kiṁ viditaṁ na bhū-tale
sṛjasy alaṁ pāsi harasy atho jagat
yadā samāno ‘si janeṣu sarvatas
tathāpi bhaktān bhajase pareśvara
You see everything. In this world what do You not know? You create, protect, and destroy the
universe. O Supreme Lord. although You are equal to all, You worship Your devotees.
Text 29
śrī-nārada uvāca
iti śrutvā hariḥ sākṣāl
lalitaṁ lalitā-vacaḥ
uvāca bhagavān devo
megha-gambhīrayā girā
Śrī Nārada said: Hearing Lalitā’s graceful words, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, spoke
with words deep as thunder.
Text 30
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
sarvaṁ hi bhāvaṁ manasaḥ parasparaṁ
na hy ekato bhāmini jāyate tataḥ
premaiva kartavyam ato mayi svataḥ
premṇā samānaṁ bhuvi nāsti kiñcit
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: We both feel this love in Our hearts. O noble girl, it is not
that only one of Us feels it. She should love Me. In this world there is nothing equal to the love She bears
for Me.
Text 31
yathā hi bhāṇḍīravane manoratho
babhūva tasyā hi tathā bhaviṣyati
ahaitukaṁ prema ca sadbhir āśritaṁ
tac cāpi santaḥ kila nirguṇaṁ viduḥ
The desire She felt in Bhāṇḍīravana forest will be fulfilled. Saintly devotees take shelter of pure
unalloyed love for Me. Saintly devotees know that love for Me is beyond the touch of the matter.
Text 32
ye rādhikāyāṁ mayi keśave manāg
bhedaṁ na paśyanti hi dugdha-śauklavat
ta eva me brahma-padaṁ prayānti tad
ahaituka-sphurjita-bhakti-lakṣaṇāḥ
Pure devotees who see no difference between Śrī Rādhā and Myself, Lord Kṛṣṇa, attain My spiritual
abode, which is pure as the whitest milk.
Text 33
ye rādhikāyāṁ mayi keśave harau
kurvanti bhedaṁ ku-dhiyo janā bhuvi
te kāla-sūtraṁ prapatanti duḥkhitā
rambhoru yāvat kila candra-bhāskarau
Fools who see a difference between Śrī Rādhā and Myself, Lord Kṛṣṇa, fall onto the string of time. O
girl with thighs like banana trees, they are tortured for as long the sun and moon exist.
Text 34
śrī-nārada uvāca
itthaṁ śrutvā vacaḥ kṛtsnaṁ
natvā taṁ lalitā sakhī
rādhāṁ sametya rahasi
prāha prahasitānanā
Śrī Nārada said: After hearing all these words, and after bowing before the Lord, Lalitā-sakhī, her face
full of smiles, approached Rādhā in a solitary place and spoke to Her.
Text 35
śrī-lalitovāca
tathā tvaṁ madhusūdanaḥ
yuvayor bheda-rahitaṁ
tejas tv aikaṁ dvidhā janaiḥ
Śrī Lalitā said: As You desire Kṛṣṇa, so Kṛṣṇa desires You. There is no difference between You. You are
one. Only fools think You are two.
Text 36
tathāpi devi kṛṣṇāya
karma niṣkāraṇaṁ kuru
yena te vāñchitaṁ bhūyād
bhaktyā paramayā sati
O goddess, You should serve Kṛṣṇa without any other desire. O saintly one, by serving Him with great
devotion, Your desire will be fulfilled.
Text 37
śrī-nārada uvāca
iti śrutvā sakhī-vākyaṁ
rādhā rāseśvarī nṛpa
candrānanāṁ prāha sakhīṁ
sarva-dharma-vidāṁ varām
Śrī Nārada said: O king, after hearing Her friend’s words, Śrī Rādhā, the goddess of the rāsa dance,
spoke to Her friend Candrānanā, the best of the knowers of religion.
Text 38
śrī-rādhovāca
śrī-kṛṣṇasya prasannārthaṁ
paraṁ saubhāgya-vardhanam
mahā-puṇyaṁ vāñchita-daṁ
pūjanaṁ vada kasyacit
Śrī Rādhā said: Please tell Me what kind of worship I should perform to please Śrī Kṛṣṇa, worship that
will bring auspiciousness, piety, and the fulfillment of My desire.
Text 39
tvayā bhadre dharma-śāstraṁ
gargācārya-mukhāc chrutam
tasmād vrataṁ pūjanaṁ vā
brūhi mahyaṁ mahā-mate
O beautiful one, You heard the religious scriptures from Garga Muni’s own mouth. O noble-hearted
one, please tell Me what vow or what worship I should perform.
Chapter Sixteen
tulasī-pūjana
The Worship of Tulasī
Text 1
śrī-nārada uvāca
rādhā-vākyaṁ tataḥ śrutvā
rājan sarva-sakhī-varā
candrānanā pratyuvāca
samvicārya kṣaṇaṁ hṛdi
Śrī Nārada said: Hearing Rādhā’s words, and reflecting on them in her heart for a moment,
Candrānanā, the best of all friends, replied.
Text 2
śrī-candrānanovāca
paraṁ saubhāgya-daṁ rādhe
mahā-puṇyaṁ vara-pradam
śrī-kṛṣṇasyāpi labdhy-arthaṁ
tulasī-sevanaṁ matam
Śrī Candrānanā said: O Rādhā, service to Tulasī gives the greatest piety, the greatest good fortune,
and the greatest benediction. It gives Lord Kṛṣṇa’s association.
Text 3
dṛṣṭā spṛṣṭāthavā dhyatā
kīrtitā namitā stutā
ropitā siñcitā nityaṁ
pūjitā tulasīṣṭa-dā
You should always gaze on Tulasī, touch her, remember her, glorify her, bow down before her, offer
prayers to her, plant her, and worship her. Then she will grant Your desire.
Text 4
navadhā tulasī-bhaktiṁ
ye kurvanti dine dine
yuga-koṭi-sahasrāṇi
te yānti sukṛtaṁ śubhe
They who day after day serve Tulasī in these nine ways attain the result of pious deeds performed in
many thousands of millions of yugas.
Texts 5 and 6
yāvac chākhā-praśākhābhir
bīja-puṣpa-dalaiḥ śubhaiḥ
ropitā tulasī martyair
vardhate vasudhā-tale
teṣāṁ vaṁśeṣu ye jātā
ye bhaviṣyanti ye gatāḥ
ā-kalpa-yuga-sāhasraṁ
teṣāṁ vāso harer gṛhe
A person who who plants Tulasī liberates his family. As many branches, sub-branches, seeds, flowers,
and leaves as are on the Tulasī he has planted, so many ancestors and descendents in his family for
thousands of kalpa-yugas will go to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental abode.
Text 7
yat phalaṁ sarva-patreṣu
sarva-puṣpeṣu rādhike
tulasī-dalena caikena
sarvadā prāpyate tu tat
O Rādhā, by offering Lord Kṛṣṇa a single Tulasī leaf one attains the result of offering Him every flower
and leaf that exists.
Text 8
tulasī-prabhavair patrair
yo naraḥ pūjayed dharim
lipyate na sa pāpena
padma-patram ivāmbhasā
A person who with offerings of Tulasī-leaves worships Lord Kṛṣṇa is not touched by sin as a lotus-leaf
is not touched by water.
Text 9
suvarṇa-bhāra-śatakaṁ
rajataṁ yac-catur-guṇam
tat-phalaṁ samavāpnoti
tulasī-vana-pālanāt
By protecting a Tulasī forest one attains the result of giving in pious charity a hundred bhāras of gold
or four hundred bhāras of silver.
Text 10
tulasī-kānanaṁ rādhe
gṛhe yasyāvatiṣṭhati
tad-gṛhaṁ tīrtha-rūpaṁ hi
na yānti yama-kiṅkarāḥ
A home in the midst of a Tulasī forest is a sacred pilgrimage place. Yamarāja’s servants will never
enter that home.
Text 11
sarva-pāpa-haraṁ puṇyaṁ
kāmadaṁ tulasī-vanam
ropayanti narāḥ śreṣṭhās
te na paśyanti bhāskarim
They who plant a sacred Tulasī forest, which fulfills desires and removes all sins, are the best of
people. They will never see Yamarāja.
Text 12
ropanāt pālanāt sekād
darśanāt sparśanān nṛṇām
tulasī dahate pāpaṁ
vāṅ-manaḥ-kāya-sañcitam
For persons who plant, protect, water, see, or touch her, Tulasī burns the sins committed with the
body, mind, and words.
Text 13
puṣkarādyāni tīrthāni
gaṅgādyāḥ saritas tathā
vāsudevādayo devā
vasanti tulasī-dale
On a single Tulasī leaf the holy places beginning with Puṣkara, the sacred rivers beginning with the
Gaṅgā, and the Deities headed by Lord Vāsudeva reside.
Text 14
tulasī-mañjarī-yukto
yas tu prāṇān vimuñcati
yamo ‘pi nekṣituṁ śakto
yuktaṁ pāpa-śatair api
Even though stained with a hundred sins, a person who touches a Tulasī-mañjarī as he leaves this life
does not see Yamarāja.
Text 15
tulasī-kaṣṭha-jaṁ yas tu
candanaṁ dhārayen naraḥ
tad dehaṁ na spṛśet pāpaṁ
kriyamāṇam apīha yat
Sin does not touch the the body of a sinner anointed with Tulasī-paste.
Text 16
tulasī-vipina-cchāyā
yatra yatra bhavec chubhe
tatra śrāddhaṁ prakartavyaṁ
pitṛṇāṁ dattam akṣayam
Wherever is the beautiful shade of a Tulasī forest, there śrāddha should be offered. There akṣaya
should be offered to the pitās.
Text 17
tulasyāḥ sakhi māhātmyaṁ
ādidevaś catur-mukhaḥ
na samartho bhaved vaktuṁ
O friend, as four-faced Brahmā cannot describe all the glories of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who holds the śārṅga
bow, so he cannot descibe all the glories of Tulasī.
Text 18
śrī-kṛṣṇacandra-caraṇe
tulasīṁ candanair yutam
yo dadāti pumān strī vā
yathoktaṁ phalam āpnuyāt
A man or woman who offers sandal-paste and Tulasī to Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra’s feet attains the results I
have told to You.
Text 19
tulasī-sevanaṁ nityaṁ
kuru tvaṁ gopa-kanyake
śrī-kṛṣṇo vaśyatāṁ yāti
yena vā sarvadaiva hi
O gopī, serve Tulasī every day. Then Śrī Kṛṣṇa will always be Your submissive servant.
Text 20
śrī-nārada uvāca
itthaṁ candrānanā-vākyaṁ
śrutvā rāseśvarī nṛpa
tulasī-sevanaṁ sākṣād
ārebhe hari-toṣaṇam
Śrī Nārada said: O king, after hearing Candrānanā’s words, Śrī Rādhā, the queen of the rāsa dance, in
order to please Lord Kṛṣṇa, began to serve Śrī Tulasī.
Texts 21-25
ketakī-vana-madhye ca
śata-hastaṁ su-vartulam
uccair hema-khacid-bhittipadmarāga-taṭaṁ śubham
harid-dhīraka-muktānāṁ
prākāreṇa mahollasat
sarvatas tolikā-yuktaṁ
cintāmaṇi-su-maṇḍitam
hema-dhvaja-samayuktaṁ
uttoraṇa-virājitam
haimair vitānaiḥ parito
vaijayantam iva sphurat
etādṛśaṁ śrī-tulasīmandiraṁ su-manoharam
tan-madhye tulasīṁ sthāpya
harit-pallava-śobhitam
abhijin-nāma-nakṣatre
tat-sevāṁ sā cakāra ha
samāhūtena gargeṇa
diṣṭena vidhinā satī
Taking Tulasī, beautiful with many green leaves, to the middle of a ketakī forest, and placing her in a
Tulasī-temple that was round, tall, a hundred hastas in size, beautiful with walls of gold and rubies,
splendid with an outer wall of emeralds, diamonds, and pearls, decorated with cintāmaṇi gems, arched
gateways, gold flags, and gold awnings everywhere, and glorious like Indra’s palace, at the time of the
star abhijit, saintly Rādhā, following Garga Muni’s instructions, served Śrī Tulasī.
Text 26
śrī-kṛṣṇa-toṣaṇārthāya
bhaktyā paramayā satī
iṣu-pūrṇāṁ samārabhya
caitra-pūrṇāvadhi vratam
Beginning with the full moon of the month of Aśvina (September-October), and ending with the full
moon of the month of Caitra (March-April), to please Śrī Kṛṣṇa, saintly Rādhā followed a vow with great
devotion.
Texts 27 and 28
kṛtvā nyasiñcad dugdhena
tathā cekṣu-rāsena vai
drakṣayāmra-raseṇāpi
sitayā bahu-miṣṭayā
pañcāmṛtena tulasīṁ
māse māse pṛthak pṛthak
udyāpana-samārambhaṁ
vaiśākha-pratipad-dine
Month after month She sprinkled Tulasī with milk, sugar-cane juice, grape-juice, mango-juice,
pañcāmṛta, and many kinds of sweet and cool juice. On the first day of Vaiśākha (April-May), She ended
the vow.
Note by Nandinī Tulasī dās:
If devotees feel inspired to worship Tulasī Devī in a similar way, we see Tulasī pūjā explained in quite a
few places in sastra. In the Agastya-saṁhitā, as quoted in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (9.98-100) it is stated,
bhūtvātha bhaktimān śrīmat
tulasyā kānane prabhum
sampūjyābhyarcayet taṁ ca
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa-priyam
After completing the worship of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one should go to the garden and worship Śrīmatī Tulasī
Devī’s plant, which is very dear to Him.
prāg dattvārghyaṁ tato ’vyarcya
gandha-puṣpākṣatādinā
stutvā bhagavatīṁ tāṁ ca
praṇamet prārhtya daṇḍavat
First, one should offer arghya to Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s plant and then, one after another, sandalwood
paste, flowers, rice paddy, and so on. After the worship is finished, one should offer his obeisances to
Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī and also offer some nice prayers.
śriyaḥ śriye śriyāvāse
nityaṁ śrīdhāra-satkṛte
bhaktyā dattaṁ mayā devi
arghyaṁ gṛhṇa namo’stu te
O Goddess Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, You are the shelter and residence of Śrīmatī Lakṣmī Devī. Lord Śrīdhara
always respects You. I offer You this arghya with devotion, kindly please accept it. My obeisances unto
You.
Similarly one could offer milk and other articles:
kadācit tulasīṁ dugdhaiḥ
secayed yo narottamaḥ
tasya veśmani viprarṣer
lakṣmīr bhavati niścalā
That person is the best of humans who occasionally sprinkles Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s plant with milk. O
Brāhmaṇa sage, Goddess Lakṣmī is always present in that person’s house. (Padma Purana 7.24.17)
One more glorification of sprinkling Tulasī Devī can be found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.203:
atha tadīyānāṁ sevanam, tulāsyaḥ, yathā skānde—
yā dṛṣṭā nikhilāgha-saṅga-śamanī spṛṣṭā vapuḥ-pāvanī rogāṇām abhivanditā nirasanī siktāntaka-trāsinī
pratyāsatti-vidhāyinī bhagavataḥ kṛṣṇasya saṁropitā nyastā tac-caraṇe vimukti-phaladā tasyai tulasyai
namaḥ
Regarding service to things related to the Lord, service to Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, it is stated in the Skanda
Purāṇa: Seeing Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī destroys all sins. Touching Her purifies the body. Bowing to Her
destroys all sufferings. Sprinkling Her with water delivers one from death. Planting Her bestows
attachment of the mind to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Offering Her to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet bestows special liberation in the
form of prema. I offer my respects to Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī.
The standard guidelines followed within ISKCON temple worship can be found in the Arcana-Paddhati:
In the morning, after the maṅgala-āratī, all the assembled devotees should attend to the worship and
circumambulation of Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī. First the devotees should offer obeisances to Tulasī-devī with
the tulasī-praṇāma-mantra (given at the end of this section), which is chanted three times. Then the
tulasī-pūjā-kīrtana song should be sung while Tulasī-devī is offered incense, ghee lamp, and flowers.
When the song is finished the assembled Vaiṣṇavas should circumambulate her four times and offer her
water. During the circumambulation the mantra: yāni kāni ca pāpāni brahma-hatyādikāni ca/ tāni tāni
praṇaśyanti pradakṣiṇaḥ pade pade should be chanted. After this the devotees should offer obeisances
again with the tulasī-praṇāma-mantra and then all the devotees should circumambulate the temple four
times with kirtana.
The following worship of Tulasī-devī should be performed by the Tulasī pūjārī after the morning worship
of the other Deities is completed, or, if that is not possible, another time during the morning.
1. First one should recite the prayer:
nirmitā tvaṁ purā devair
arcitā tvaṁ surāsuraiḥ
tulasi hara me ‘vidyāṁ
pūjāṁ gṛhna name ‘stu te
O Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī, you were previously created by the demigods and worshiped by both them and
the demons. O Tulasī-devī kindly take away my ignorance and accept my wor­hship. I offer you my
humble obeisances again and again.
2. Then, while sprinkling water on Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī one should chant the following mantra:
oṁ govinda-vallabhāṁ devīṁ
bhakta-caitanya-kāriṇīm
snāpayāmi jagad-dhātrīṁ
kṛṣṇa-bhakti-pradāyinīm
I am bathing goddess Tulasī Devī, who is very dear to Govinda and who brings life to all the devotees.
She is the mother of the universe, and the bestower of devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
3. Then, taking some arghya mixture from the arghya-pātra with a kuśī and pouring some on her soil,
one should chant:
śriyaḥ śriye śriya-vāse
nityaṁ śrīdharaṁ sat-kṛte
bhaktyā dattaṁ mayā devi
arghyaṁ gṛhna namo ‘stu te
O goddess Tulasī, I offer my obeisances unto you, who are the shelter and residence of a beauty and
opulence. You are even worshiped by the Supreme Lord. O Tulasī please accept this arghya water which
is offered by me with devotion.
4. Then one should chant the following:
a) One should offer a flower mixed with sandalwood pulp to Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī with the mantra:
idam sagandha-puṣpaṁ oṁ tulasyai namaḥ.
b) One should offer the bath water of Sri Kṛṣṇa to Tulasī-devī with the mantra:
idam sri-kṛṣṇa-caraṇāmṛtaṁ oṁ tulasyai namaḥ.
c) One should offer garlands and flowers offered to the Lord with the mantra:
idam mahā-prasāda-nirmālyādikaṁ sarvaṁ oṁ tulasyai namaḥ.
d) One should offer acamana to Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī with the mantra:
idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ oṁ tulasyai namaḥ.
5. Then one should sing the praise of Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī as follows:
mahā-prasāda-janani
sarva-saubhāgya-vardhiṇi
ādhivyādhi-hare nityaṁ
tulasi tvāṁ nano ‘stu te
O Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī I offer my repeated obeisances unto you. You are the mother of mahā-prasāda, the
increaser of the good fortune of all, and you take away all diseases and mental anxi­eties.
6. Following this one should offer obeisances to her with the tulasī-praṇāma-mantra:
oṁ vṛndāyai tulasī-devyai
priyāyai keśavasya ca
kṛṣṇa-bhakti-prade devi
satyavatyai name namaḥ
I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vṛndā, Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī, who is very dear to Lord Keśava. O
goddess, you bestow devotional service to Kṛṣṇa and you possess the highest truth.
— End of the Arcana-Paddhati reference —
As said above, one should generally worship Tulasī Devī after worshipping Kṛṣṇa, one can better yet
offer her his mahāprasād. Milk, juices, pañcāmṛta, etc, can be offered and set aside or can be lightly
sprinkled on her leaves. Spraying Tulasī Devī’s leaves with milk is often used in cold seasons to treat
powdery mildew/mold. No matter how complicated or simple ones worship is, the most important thing
to remember is to offer ones love and devotion.
— End Note —
Text 29
garga-diṣṭena vidhinā
vṛṣabhānu-sutā nṛpa
ṣaṭ-pañcāśattamair bhogair
brāhmaṇānāṁ dvi-lakṣakam
O king, following Garga Muni’s instructions, King Vṛṣabhānu’s daughter Rādhā then pleased two
hundred thousand brāhmaṇas with a great feast of fifty-six courses.
Text 30
santarpya vastra-bhūṣādyair
dakṣiṇāṁ rādhikā dadau
divyānāṁ sthūla-muktānāṁ
lakṣa-bhāraṁ videha-rāṭ
O king of Videha, then Rādhā gave them dakṣiṇā of a hundred-thousand splendid large pearls and
many costly garments and ornaments.
Text 31
koṭi-bhāraṁ suvarṇaṇaṁ
gargācāryāya sā dadau
śata-bhāraṁ suvarṇānāṁ
muktānāṁ ca tathaiva hi
bhaktyā paramayā rādhā
brāhmaṇe brāhmaṇe dadau
Rādhā gave ten million bhāras of gold to Garga Muni. With great devotion She gave a hundred bhāras
of gold and pearls to each brāhmaṇa.
Text 32
deva-dundubhayo nedur
nanṛtuś cāpsaro-gaṇāḥ
tan-mandiropari surāḥ
puṣpa-varṣaṁ pracakrire
The demigods’ drums sounded and the apsarās danced. The demigods showered flowers on the
Tulasī-temple.
Text 33
tadāvirāsīt tulasī hari-priyā
suvarṇa-pīṭhopari śobhitāsanā
caturbhujā padma-palāśa-vīkṣaṇā
śyāmā sphurad-dhema-kirīṭa-kuṇḍalā
Then, seated on a glorious throne on a gold pedestal, her eyes lotus petals, and her gold crown and
earrings glittering, beautiful four-armed Tulasī, who is dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa, appeared.
Text 34
pītāmbarāc chādita-sarpa-veṇīṁ
srajaṁ dadhānaṁ nava-vaijayantīm
khagāt samuttīrya ca raṅga-vallī
cucumba rādhāṁ parirabhya bāhubhiḥ
Descending from the sky, Tulasī, beautiful as a flowering vine, with her four arms embraced and then
kissed Rādhā, who wore a new vaijayantī garland, and whose snake-braids were covered with a yellow
cloth.
Text 35
śrī-tulasy uvāca
ahaṁ prasannāsmi kalavatī-sute
tvad-bhakti-bhāvena jitā nirantaram
kṛtaṁ ca loka-vyavahāra-saṅgrahāt
tvayā vrataṁ bhāmini sarvato-mukham
Śrī Tulasī said: O daughter of Kalāvatī, I am pleased with You. I am eternally conquered by Your loving
devotion. O beautiful one, as if You were an ordinary human being, You very carefully followed this vow.
Text 36
manorathas te sa-phalo ‘tra bhūyād
buddhīndriyaiś citta-manobhir agrataḥ
sadānukūlatvam alaṁ pateḥ paraṁ
saubhāgyam evaṁ parikīrtanīyam
The desire that fills Your heart, mind, intelligence, and senses, will be attained. Lord Kṛṣṇa will be kind
to You. You are very fortunate.
Text 37
śrī-nārada uvāca
evaṁ vadantīṁ tulasīṁ hari-priyāṁ
natvātha rādhā vṛṣabhānu-nandinī
pratyāha govinda-padāravindayor
bhaktir bhaven me viditā hy ahaitukī
Śrī Nārada said: To Tulasī, who has spoken these words and who was dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa, Rādhā, the
daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu, bowed down and said: May I have unalloyed devotion for Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus
feet.
Text 38
tathāstu coktā tulasī hari-priyāthāntardadhe maithila rāja-sattama
tathaiva rādhā vṛṣabhānu-nandinī
prasanna-cittā sva-pure babhūva ha
Saying, “So be it”, Kṛṣṇa’s beloved Tulasī disappeared. O ruler of Mithilā, O best of kings, then Rādhā,
King Vṛṣabhānu’s daughter, went home happy at heart.
Text 39
śrī-rādhikākhyānām idaṁ vicitraṁ
śṛṇoti yo bhakti-paraḥ pṛthivyāṁ
traivargya-bhāvaṁ manasā sametya
rājaṁs tato yāti naraḥ kṛtārthatām
O king, a devotee who hears this wonderful story of Śrī Rādhā attains first the three goals of material
life and then the supreme spiritual goal of life.
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news!
Bibliography
Muni, Garga. Śrī Garga-saṃhitā (Dānavīr Goswāmī, Kuśakratha dāsa trans.) USA: Rūpānuga Vedic
College Publishing. Source: https://radha.name. PDF.
dāsa, Jayatīrtha. The Process of Deity Worship (Arcana-Paddhati) (Jayaśacīnandana dāsa trans.) USA:
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1978. Print.
Swāmī, Bhakti Viśrambha Mādhava. Tulasyamṛta, The Nectar of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī. Vrindāvan: Author,
2012. Print.
Posted in Sastra and tagged Garga-samhita Why Do We Worship Tulasi Devi?
REALIZATIONS
Śrīla Prabhupāda on Tulasī Devī | Part 1
The following article consists of excerpts about Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī from the letters, lectures,
conversations, and books of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Prabhupāda.
Date: Dec. 19, 1970
Location: Surat
Bhagavatam Class
Just as a pet dog has got a collar, similarly we are pet dogs of God. So we have got this collar. And
Yamarāja, the Lord of Death will understand that he, the devotee, is God’s dog; he should not be shot
down.
Date: Dec. 29, 1970
Location: Surat
Letter to: Jagadīśa
The presence of Tulasī is proof of true devotional atmosphere there. Please offer Her all respects and
carefully tend and Srīmati Tulasī will be pleased upon you in gaining the auspicious favor of the Lord.
Date: April 7, 1970
Location: Los Angeles
Letter to: Govinda Dasī
Tulasī leaf is very, very dear to Viṣṇu. All Viṣṇu-tattva Deities require profusely Tulasī leaves. Lord Viṣṇu
likes garland of Tulasī leaves. Tulasī 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 Tulasī leaves cannot be placed on the
feet of anyone else except Lord Viṣṇu and His different forms. Tulasī leaves cannot be placed even on
the lotus feet of Rādhārani or on the lotus feet of the Spiritual Master. It is entirely reserved for being
placed on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. We can place, however, Tulasī leaves in the hands of Rādhārani for
being placed on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, as you have seen on the Govinda Album.
Date: Oct. 25, 1976
Location: Vrindaban
Letter to: Vidyā Dasī
If it is not possible for Tulasī to survive the winters when planted in the ground, then a suitable house
should be provided for her. Even in the Canadian temples which are in a much colder climate are
keeping Tulasī nicely. Why should there be so much difficulty in Los Angeles, which has such a nice
climate. Just do everything very carefully. Tulasī flourishes where there is love and devotion.
In answer to your questions; 1) Tulasī is one devotee who appears wherever there is devotion to Kṛṣṇa.
2) Tulasī’s body is spiritual. 3) Yes, jewelry is alright. 4) If possible. 5) Tulasī leaves should be offered to
the Deity. 6) If possible. 7) Yes. 8) Yes. 9) You may cut the dead branches, but what is the necessity. 10) I
never said that. 11) No. 12) Yes. 13) Use the wood for beads as far as possible, the balance may be
placed within the earth. 14) I said no chemical sprays. 15) Undisturbed means what? 16) Use common
sense and if you have none then consult with others. 17) No. 18) Don’t try to introduce something new.
The most important thing is the love and devotion.
Date: Aug. 21, 1972
Location: Los Angeles
Bhagavatam Class
Tadīya means those who are in relationship with Viṣṇu, tadīya. Just like His devotee, tadīya. Tulasī-vṛkṣa.
Tulasī is tadīya or temple tadīya, preaching tadīya. Tadīyānāṁ samarcanam. This is bhāgavata. So Lord
Śiva recommends that “Of all methods of worship, Viṣṇu worship is the best, and better than Viṣṇu
worship is to worship His devotee or things in relationship with Him.” Tadīyānām, that is bhāgavata.
Here it is also said, tadīyānām, bhāgavata-sevayā. This book bhāgavata, spoken by the devotee
bhāgavata, this should be taken very seriously daily. Otherwise you…, we do not understand what is
Bhagavān. Therefore it is recommended here, nityam, daily, or constantly, twenty-four hours. We have
to mold our life in such a way that twenty-four hours, not a single moment leaving aside, we should be
engaged in bhāgavata-sevayā, in the service of Lord’s relationship.
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REALIZATIONS
Śrīla Prabhupāda on Tulasī Devī | Part 2
The following article consists of excerpts about Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī from the letters, lectures,
conversations, and books of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Prabhupāda.
Date: Feb. 17, 1973
Location: Sydney
Letter to: Govinda Dasī
You are the pioneer of pushing forward Tulasī worship in the Western world and I can understand that
proportionally as your Tulasī plants are growing, your devotion and love is also growing. Please continue
in this way.
Date: Unknown
Location: Unknown
Letter to: Jagad-mohinī Dasī
Whether we may prune the leaves of Tulasī, no, there is no question of pruning. But you can take for
worshiping Kṛṣṇa leaves from the Tulasī. First utilize the dead leaves or leaves which have fallen down,
and if more leaves are required for worshiping Kṛṣṇa, you may take them from Tulasī plant in this way:
First approach Tulasī Devī and offer your obeisances, requesting her that for worshiping Kṛṣṇa you want
to take some leaves. Then if she allows you may take. There is no question of pruning in the manner of
gardeners just to make nice beautiful plant for ornamental purposes. And if there are any dead
branches, these may be made into beads, like neck beads, and if they are large branches you can make
japa beads.
Date: Dec. 6, 1973
Location: Los Angeles
Letter to: Kirtida Kanyaka
I understand that you are especially devoted to the care of Tulasī Devī. Formerly our Govinda Dasī
introduced this Tulasī worship to our society and I was very much pleased to see it. Now she has
temporarily gone away so you must take charge of caring for Tulasī Devī in Hawaii. The more you devote
yourself to her service, the more you will understand and relish Kṛṣṇa Consciousness.
Date: Jan. 6, 1972
Location: Bombay
Letter to: Rādha-vallabha das
I am very glad to know that you are seriously taking to Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī worship. Tulasī Devī is a pure
devotee of Kṛṣṇa and she should be treated with the same respect given to all Kṛṣṇa’s pure devotees.
Simply by worshiping her faithfully, a devotee can get himself free of from all material miseries. In the
Nectar of Devotion I have given two verses from the Skanda Purāṇa, one of which is: “Tulasī is
auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by remembering, simply by
praying to, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about, or simply by sowing the tree, there is
always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in touch with the Tulasī tree in the above mentioned ways
lives eternally in the Vaikuṇṭha world.” So from this verse we can understand how pure is the service
which Tulasī offers to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. So we should always endeavor after becoming servant of Tulasī Devī.
I do not know who has taught you that part of a Tulasī plant may be cut off and then replanted? From
the Tulasī plant you can cut off only leaves for offering them to Kṛṣṇa, never for cutting and planting.
That is an offense. The manjaris (seeds) can be offered in water and it makes the water fragrant and
tasteful. And the manjaris can be planted for growing new Tulasī plants.
Yes, the prayer you have enclosed is bona fide. Tulasī Devī never goes back to Godhead, she is always
with Godhead. She is a pure devotee and thus she has appeared on this planet to render service to
Kṛṣṇa by being offered in all temples throughout the world by being offered up to the lotus feet of
Kṛṣṇa.
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REALIZATIONS SASTRA
Śrīla Prabhupāda on Tulasī Devī | Part 3
The following article consists of excerpts about Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī from the letters, lectures,
conversations, and books of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Prabhupāda.
Date: Nov. 25, 1974
Location: Bombay
Letter to: Sarada
My Dear Sarada Devī Dasī. Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October
17, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am very glad to hear that you are engaged in the service of
Tulasī Devī. Tulasī leaves are very important for satisfying Lord Krishna. But Tulasī Devī is not pleased by
the nice tune of singing but by the nice devotion. So you continue to your best, and you will
automatically advance more and more in Krishna consciousness.
Date: Nov. 17, 1971
Location: Delhi
Letter to: Patty Dorgan
As far as your questions, Krishna is not in need of anything, He is purnam, the Complete Whole. And yet
He appreciates our love for Him, just like everyone appreciates if someone exhibits love for them. So He
kindly allows us to show that love by considering that if I do not feed Him, Krishna will go hungry, if I do
not give Him rest, He will be tired, like that. He reciprocates by pretending to be dependent on me, my
slave, just to give us opportunity to find the real object of our loving propensity and to take pleasure by
pleasing and serving Him. Everything we do should be for the reason that it gives pleasure to Krishna.
Because Krishna’s intimate associates give Him the most pleasure, and because they are His favorites, it
pleases Him to see that these associates and close friends are also offered all respect by the devotees.
Tulasī Devī is part of Krishna’s entourage, She is Krishna-ised or Krishna Conscious, and in this pure state
She has all the qualities of Krishna, and therefore She becomes worshipable just like Krishna. There is a
saying, love me, love my dog. It is like that. To approach the President is very difficult, unless you are the
friend of His son or daughter, then it becomes very easy. So worship of Tulasī Devī and other of Lord
Krishna’s Entourage as part of the total devotional attitude of pleasing Krishna.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) Translations and Purports:
3.15.19
mandāra-kunda-kurabotpala-campakārṇapunnāga-nāga-bakulāmbuja-pārijātāḥ
gandhe ’rcite tulasīkābharaṇena tasyā
yasmiṁs tapaḥ sumanaso bahu mānayanti
Although flowering plants like the mandāra, kunda, kurabaka, utpala, campaka, arṇa, punnāga,
nāgakeśara, bakula, lily and pārijāta are full of transcendental fragrance, they are still conscious of the
austerities performed by Tulasī, for Tulasī is given special preference by the Lord, who garlands Himself
with Tulasī leaves.
Purport:
The importance of Tulasī leaves is very clearly mentioned here. Tulasī plants and their leaves are very
important in devotional service. Devotees are recommended to water the Tulasī tree every day and
collect the leaves to worship the Lord. One time an atheistic svāmī remarked, “What is the use of
watering the Tulasī plant? It is better to water eggplant. By watering the eggplant one can get some
fruits, but what is the use of watering the Tulasī?” These foolish creatures, unacquainted with
devotional service, sometimes play havoc with the education of people in general.
The most important thing about the spiritual world is that there is no envy among the devotees there.
This is true even among the flowers, which are all conscious of the greatness of Tulasī. In the Vaikuṇṭha
world entered by the four Kumāras, even the birds and flowers are conscious of service to the Lord.
4.8.55
salilaiḥ śucibhir mālyair
vanyair mūla-phalādibhiḥ
śastāṅkurāṁśukaiś cārcet
tulasyā priyayā prabhum
One should worship the Lord by offering pure water, pure flower garlands, fruits, flowers and vegetables
which are available in the forest, or by collecting newly grown grasses, small buds of flowers or even the
skins of trees, and if possible, by offering Tulasī leaves, which are very dear to the Supreme Personality
of Godhead.
Purport:
It is specifically mentioned herein that Tulasī leaves are very dear to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, and devotees should take particular care to have Tulasī leaves in every temple and center of
worship. In the Western countries, while engaged in propagating the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement,
we were brought great unhappiness because we could not find Tulasī leaves. Therefore we are very
much obliged to our disciple Śrīmatī Govinda dāsī because she has taken much care to grow Tulasī plants
from seeds, and she has been successful by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. Now Tulasī plants are growing in almost
every center of our movement.
Tulasī leaves are very important in the method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead…
Tulasī leaves are very important for satisfying the Lord, so as far as possible an arrangement should be
made for growing Tulasī leaves.
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Posted in Realizations Sastra and tagged Srila Prabhupada Who is Tulasi Devi? Why Do We Worship
Tulasi Devi?
FEATURED SASTRA
The Transcendental Anatomy of Tulasī Devī
These are only a small number of verses describing the transcendental anatomy of Tulasī Devī, we will
be updating this article as we find more verses.
Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (Skanda Purāṇa) 9.182-184
bhū-gatais tulasī-mūlair
mṛttikā sparśitā tu yā
tīrtha-koṭi-samā jñeyā
dhāryā yatnena sā gṛhe
yasmin gṛhe dvija-śreṣṭha
tulasī-mūla-mṛttikā
sarvadā tiṣṭhate dehe
devatā na sa mānusaḥ
tulasī-mṛttika-lipto
yadi prāṇāt parityajet
yamena nekṣituṁ śakto
yuktaḥ pāpa-śatair api
Know for certain that the clay found where the roots of a tulasī plant have spread is as sanctified as
millions of holy places of pilgrimage. One should very carefully keep that clay in his house. One whose
body or house is adorned with clay that was taken from the root of a tulasī plant is not to be considered
inferior to a demigod. One can escape the wrath of Yamarāja if at the time of death his body is smeared
with the clay found at the root of a tulasī plant.
Tulasī Upaniṣad Text 5
tvam eva sura-saṁsevyā
tvam eva mokṣa-dāyinī
tvac-chāyāyāṁ vasel lakṣmīs
tvan-mūle viṣṇur avyayaḥ
You indeed are the object of worship for all the demigods, and the bestower of liberation. In Your
shadow Śrīmatī Lakṣmī Devī lives, and in Your root imperishable Lord Viṣṇu is residing.
Tulasī-dhātrī-māhātmya (Padma Purāṇa) Text 8
indro ’gniḥ śamanaś caiva
nairṛtir varuṇas tathā
pavanaś ca kuveraś ca
tac chākhāyāṁ vasanty amī
The demigods—Lord Indra, Lord Agni, Lord Yamarāja, Lord Nairṛti, Lord Varuṇa, Lord Vāyu, and Lord
Kuvera dwell in the branches of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s plant.
Tulasī-dhātrī-māhātmya (Padma Purāṇa) Text 6
keśavaḥ patra-madhye ca
patrāgre ca prajāpatiḥ
patra-vṛnte śivas tiṣṭhet
tulasyāḥ sarvadaiva hi
Lord Keśava always dwells in the middle of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s leaf, Lord Brahmā at the tip of the leaf,
and Lord Śiva at the base of the stem of the leaf.
Tulasī-dhātrī-māhātmya (Padma Purāṇa) Text 7
lakṣmīḥ sarasvatī caiva
gāyatrī caṇḍikā tathā
sarvāś cānyā deva-patnyas
tat-patreṣu vasanti ca
Goddess Lakṣmī, Goddess Sarasvatī, Goddess Gāyatrī, Goddess Caṇḍikā, and all the wives of other
demigods as well, dwell in the leaves of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s plant.
Tulasī-dhātrī-māhātmya (Padma Purāṇa) Text 10
koṭi-brahmāṇḍa-madhyeṣu
yāni tīrthāni bhū-tale
tulasī-dalam āśritya
tāny eva nivasanti vai
All holy places in the millions of universes as well as on the earth, are sheltered in Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s
leaves.
Śrī Garga-saṃhitā 2.15.13
puṣkarādyāni tīrthāni
gaṅgādyāḥ saritas tathā
vāsudevādayo devā
vasanti tulasī-dale
On a single Tulasī leaf the holy places beginning with Puṣkara, the sacred rivers beginning with the
Gaṅgā, and the Deities headed by Lord Vāsudeva reside.
Śrī-tulasī-stava Text 32
tulasī-patra-galitaṁ
yas toyaṁ śirasā vahet
gaṅgā-snānam avāpnoti
daśa-dhenu-phala-pradam
One who carries water fallen from Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s leaves on one’s head attains the same result of
bathing in Gaṅgā river or giving ten cows in charity
Tulasī-dhātrī-māhātmya (Padma Purāṇa) Text 5
yatraikas tulasī vṛkṣas
tiṣṭhaty api ca sattama
tatraiva tridaśāḥ sarve
brahma-viṣṇu-śivādayaḥ
O best of the sages, demigods headed by Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu, and Lord Śiva dwell at that place
where even one of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s plant stands.
Tulasī-dhātrī-māhātmya (Padma Purāṇa) Text 9
ādityādi-grahāḥ sarve
viśvedevāś ca sarvadā
vasavo munayaś caiva
tathā devarṣayo ’khilāḥ
All planets, like the Sun, the Viśvedevas, the Vasus, as well as all sages and all divine saints always reside
in Her.
Tulasī-dhātrī-māhātmya (Padma Purāṇa) Text 11
tulasīṁ sevate yas tu
bhakti-bhāva-samanvitaḥ
sevitās tena tīrthāś ca
devā brahmādayas tathā
All holy places and demigods headed by Lord Brahmā are worshiped automatically by one who devoutly
serves Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī.
Śrī Tulasī Stotra Text 9
tulasyāṁ sakalā devā
vasanti satataṁ yataḥ
atas tām arcayel loke
sarvān devān samarcayan
In Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī all the demigods reside all the time. Therefore one should worship Her, thereby
worshiping all demigods in this world.
Tulasī Upaniṣad Texts 6-7
samantād devatāḥ sarvāḥ
siddha-cāraṇa-pannagāḥ
yan-mūle sarva-tīrthāni
yan-madhye brahma-devatāḥ
yad-agre veda-śāstrāṇi
tulasīṁ tāṁ namāmy aham
tulasi śrī-sakhi śubhe
pāpa-hāriṇi puṇya-de
Around You all the upadevas such as the denizens of Siddha-loka, Cāraṇa-loka, and the celestial serpents
are situated. I offer my respects to that Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī in whose root all places of pilgrimage are
situated, in whose middle Lord Brahmā and the demigods stay, and in whose top the Vedic scriptures
rest. O Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, O friend of Goddess Lakṣmī, You are all-auspicious, and You dispel sins and
bestow the merits of pious activity.
Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (Padma Purāṇa) 9.162
tulasī-kānanaṁ yatra
yatra padma-vanāni ca
purāṇa-paṭhanaṁ yatra
tatra sannihito hariḥ
Lord Hari resides where there is a tulasī garden or lotus pond, or wherever the purāṇas are recited.
Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (Skanda Purāna) 9.11-116
ratiṁ badhnāti nānyatra
tulasī-kānanaṁ vinā
deva-devo jagat-svāmī
kali-kāle viśeṣataḥ
hitvā tīrtha-sahasrāṇi
sarvān api śiloccayān
tulasī-kānane nityaṁ
kalau tiṣṭhati keśavaḥ
In Kali-yuga, the lord of the universe is not pleased with anything other than a tulasī forest. In this age of
Kali, Lord Keśava disregards thousands of holy places while eternally residing in a forest of tulasī plants.
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Bibliography
Gosvāmī, Sanātana. Śrī Hari-bhakti-vilāsa Volume Two, Vilāsas 6-10 (Bhumipati Dāsa trans.) Vrindāvan:
Rasbihari Lal & Sons, 2005. Print.
Swāmī, Bhakti Viśrambha Mādhava. Tulasyamṛta, The Nectar of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī. Vrindāvan: Author,
2012. Print.
Muni, Garga. Śrī Garga-saṃhitā (Dānavīr Goswāmī, Kuśakratha dāsa trans.) USA: Rūpānuga Vedic
College Publishing. Source: https://radha.name. PDF.
Posted in Featured Sastra and tagged Garga-samhita Hari-bhakti-vilasa Who is Tulasi Devi? Why Do We
Worship Tulasi Devi?
REALIZATIONS SASTRA
Tulasī Devī, Beloved of Kṛṣṇa | Part 1
The following article is an excerpt from the writings of Govinda Dasī (ACBSP) Published in Back To
Godhead Magazine January/February 1993 edition
Govinda Dasī: My fascination with Tulasī Devī began very soon after meeting Śrīla Prabhupāda in 1967. I
searched Indian stores all over New York City to find a set of Tulasī japa beads. One clever man sold me
rosewood beads, assuring me they were Tulasī. When I presented them to Śrīla Prabhupāda, he held
them and looked at them with scrutiny, then simply said, “No, not Tulasī.” But he chanted on them
anyway.
Later, in 1968, as I was cleaning Śrīla Prabhupāda’s room I found his Tulasī japa beads lying near his bead
bag on his cushion. As I carefully put them back into their bag, I was mesmerized by their smooth touch
and golden glow. They were large, round beads, shiny from years of use, with a mystical quality that still
sticks in my mind.
Prabhupāda talked on and on about the glories of Tulasī Devī, and he was in such joyful spirits! Śrīla
Prabhupāda’s servant, Kartikeya Dasa, was astonished. He later told me that he had not seen Śrīla
Prabhupāda so light- hearted and happy in over a year.
In 1969, Śrīla Prabhupāda sent me to Honolulu to open a temple. I spent much time at the research
library of the University of Hawaii’s East-West Center. I found many ancient texts from India, some by
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s guru and other Vaiṣṇava saints. And I found information on Tulasī Devī—her
botanical names, her history, and ways to grow her. My desire to grow Tulasī became an obsession, and
somehow I got seeds from India.
The first set of seeds did not grow. I daily worshiped a thin green sprout until it became painfully evident
that it was a blade of grass. The second batch of seeds proved fruitful, however, and tiny heart-shaped
seedlings spread their delicate leaves in our Honolulu home. That was the beginning.
I still didn’t know why growing Tulasī was important to Śrīla Prabhupāda or his mission. But when I later
presented two small Tulasī plants to him in Los Angeles, he was delighted. He held one of the small pots
in his hand for a long time, gazing at the seven-inch seedling, noting that she was indeed Srimati Tulasī
Devī.
It is specifically mentioned herein that Tulasī leaves are very dear to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead and devotees should take particular care to have Tulasī leaves in every temple and center of
worship.
Prabhupāda talked on and on about the glories of Tulasī Devī, and he was in such joyful spirits! Śrīla
Prabhupāda’s servant, Kartikeya Dasa, was astonished. He later told me that he had not seen Śrīla
Prabhupāda so light- hearted and happy in over a year.
At one point, Śrīla Prabhupāda told us that Tulasī Devī was a great devotee of Lord Krishna, and that her
husband, a demon, was killed by Krishna. Then Prabhupāda stopped short and became thoughtful. My
intuition was that he had given us as much as we could then understand.
So my understanding became quite basic: somehow, growing Tulasī made Śrīla Prabhupāda very, very
pleased. That was enough. I proceeded to cultivate Tulasī plants on a large scale. I wrote a booklet
entitled “How to Grow Tulasī Devī,” sent seeds and booklets to every temple, and tried to offer advice
and assistance to devotees in their efforts to cultivate Tulasī.
Later, I came across the following purport by Śrīla Prabhupāda in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (4.8.55):
It is specifically mentioned herein that Tulasī leaves are very dear to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead and devotees should take particular care to have Tulasī leaves in every temple and center of
worship. In the Western countries, while engaged in propagating the Krishna consciousness movement,
we were brought great unhappiness because we could not find Tulasī leaves. We are very much obliged,
therefore, to our disciple Srimati Govinda Dasī because she has taken much care to grow Tulasī plants
from seeds, and she has been successful by the grace of Krishna. Now Tulasī plants are growing in
almost every center of our movement.
Only then did I become truly aware of the importance of cultivating Tulasī plants. I realized that my
initial attraction to Tulasī and my obsessive desire to grow Tulasī plants, though not inspired by a direct
instruction from Śrīla Prabhupāda, were communicated from within the heart by the Lord to please and
assist Śrīla Prabhupāda in his mission. I felt humbled and joyful that even in my ignorance I had been
given an opportunity to serve him in this way.
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REALIZATIONS SASTRA
Tulasī Devī, Beloved of Kṛṣṇa | Part 2
The following article is an excerpt from the writings of Govinda Dasī (ACBSP) published in Back To
Godhead Magazine January/February 1993 edition
Learning Respect for Tulasī
Govinda Dasī: In 1968, before Tulasī made her appearance in the West, Śrīla Prabhupāda sometimes
talked about her. I recall him saying that in India every-one considers Tulasī plants sacred, and no one
will cut or uproot them. Even non-Hindus, he said, will not destroy Tulasī to build a house on a spot
where she is growing—they’ll look for a place not inhabited by Tulasī. When Bhaktivinoda Thākura
discovered the birthplace of Lord Caitanya, it was so overgrown with Tulasī that no one had settled
there, thinking it to be a sacred place. Even non-Hindus considered that disturbing Tulasī plants would
bring ill fortune.
Śrīla Prabhupāda taught us never to think of Tulasī as an ordinary plant. She is a great devotee standing
before us in the form of a small tree. She appears as a delicate tree in this world to serve the Lord and
uplift human society.
When Prabhupāda came to Hawaii in 1971, he admired our lush Tulasī garden in front of the entrance to
the temple. Because these Tulasī’s had grown far larger than we had expected (some nearly seven feet
tall and with stalks two inches in diameter), we had a problem. The Tulasī branches were beginning to
cover the entrance, and people unavoidably brushed up against her. We pointed this out to Śrīla
Prabhupāda and asked his permission to trim some of the branches. He became alarmed and exclaimed,
“You cannot cut Tulasī—that is the greatest offense! You must never cut her. But you can tie back the
branches obstructing the entrance.”
Even after tying back the branches, Tulasī kept growing, and the problem continued. When we told Śrīla
Prabhupāda that people had to bend down when passing through the Tulasī archway on the way into
the temple, he was delighted. He smiled, his eyes sparkled, and he said, “That’s good. It is good that
they have to bow to Tulasī before entering Kṛṣṇa’s temple.”
When Śrīla Prabhupāda came for a later visit, he carefully entered the Tulasī archway by going through
sideways to avoid brushing against her leaves and branches. And while walking along the walkway to the
temple, which was lined with more Tulasī plants, he told his secretary, Śyāmasundara, “Don’t step on
her shadow.” In these ways Śrīla Prabhupāda showed great respect for Tulasī Devī.
In his books, too, Śrīla Prabhupāda called attention to the exalted position of Tulasī Devī. He writes in a
purport to the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.16.21):
The goddess of fortune, Lakshmi, is sometimes envious of the Tulasī leaves which are placed at the lotus
feet of the Lord, for they remain fixed there and do not move, whereas Lakshmiji, although stationed by
the chest of the Lord, sometimes has to please other devotees who pray for her favor. Lakshmiji
sometimes has to go to satisfy her numerous devotees, but Tulasī leaves never forsake their position,
and the Lord therefore appreciates the service of Tulasī more than the service of Lakshmi.
In The Nectar of Devotion, Śrīla Prabhupāda quotes from the Skanda Purāṇa:
Tulasī is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by remembering, simply
by praying to, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about, or simply by sowing this tree, there is
always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in touch with the Tulasī tree in the above mentioned ways
lives eternally in the Vaikuṇṭha world.
He became alarmed and exclaimed, “You cannot cut Tulasī—that is the greatest offense! You must
never cut her. But you can tie back the branches obstructing the entrance.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda taught us never to think of Tulasī as an ordinary plant. She is a great devotee standing
before us in the form of a small tree. She appears as a delicate tree in this world to serve the Lord and
uplift human society.
Tulasī Devī can be used in many ways to please the Supreme Lord, but never for gratifying one’s senses.
To offer Tulasī Devī with a material incentive—to destroy one’s enemies, to remove anxieties, to make
medicine—will be the bridge by which one enters the hellish regions.
Tulasī Devī has come to the West to give us the opportunity to serve her for our benefit. If we care for
her nicely, she can grant us love for Kṛṣṇa.
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REALIZATIONS
Tulasī Devī, Beloved of Kṛṣṇa | Part 3
The following article is an excerpt from the writings of Govinda Dasī (ACBSP) published in Back To
Godhead Magazine January/February 1993 edition
Serving Tulasī’s Home
In November 1989, I met “Vṛndā Kunḍa Baba,” or Mādhava Dāsa, a renowned scholar and Vaishnava
saint, and a great devotee of Srīmati Tulasī Devī. He had spent years in Vṛndāvana working to restore
and develop Vṛndā Kunḍa, the eternal home of Vṛndā Devī, the cowherd-girl form of Tulasī Devī.
Mādhava Baba’s knowledge of the scriptures, especially those relating to the glories of Tulasī Devī, was
vast. Not surprisingly, I felt an immediate connection.
Because Baba had become old and ill, he wanted to leave his work to reliable people who were also
devoted to Tulasī Devī. Somehow, by the divine arrangement of the Lord, he ended up at ISKCON’s
Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma temple.
Every day Baba talked to us of the glories of Vṛndā Devī as described in the Skanda Purāṇa, Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa, Padma Purāṇa, Garuḍa Purāṇa, Nāradīya Purāṇa, and other Vedic texts. He carefully
translated the Vṛndādevy-aṣṭakam by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravarti Ṭhākura, and he told us about the
mercy of Lord Caitanya. We learned that the Lord would have a Tulasī tree carried before him in His
sankirtana party.
On meeting him, I felt a strong urge to assist him and began by helping with his medical expenses. Later,
when he became bedridden in February and March of 1990, I worked with Vidyā Devī Dasī, Muralīdhara
Dāsa, and Mohana Dāsa to help provide nursing and medical care for him in his final days.
At that time, I was inspired to paint a picture of Vṛndā Devī. Mādhava Baba knew all the scriptural
references to Vṛndā Devī, and he carefully supervised the tiniest details of this painting. The scriptures
describe Vṛndā Devī as having a beautiful complexion like molten gold, a shimmering golden effulgence,
and an enchanting pearl on her nose. A gentle smile decorates her lips.
She wears blue garments and is decorated with pearls and flowers. Her right hand is raised in blessing
the devotees, and on her left hand she holds her yellow parrot, Daksha, who has thousands of parrot
disciples of various colors: red, green, yellow, blue, white. The parrots serve Vṛndā Devī by carrying
messages to various parts of Vṛndāvana.
Vṛndā Devī is in charge of the Vṛndāvana līlā—the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. She decides which
flowers will bloom, which birds will sing, which songs will be sung, which breezes will blow, which food
will be served, which games will be played, which musical instruments will be played.
Lord Kṛṣṇa and Srīmati Rādhārani have given Vṛndā Devī her role as queen of Vṛndāvana. Vṛndā Devī
may be likened to a grand director or choreographer of the Vṛndāvana līlā, and her parrots are her
communication service. She always stays in Vṛndāvana, absorbed in love for Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Her great
yearning is to expertly arrange Their meeting, and by doing this she feels the greatest joy.
When the painting was finished, I would hold it up before Baba daily, and he would chant his prayers to
Vṛndā Devī, his worshipable deity. Often he would cry when he saw her.
Once he looked up at me and very humbly said, “Thank you, Mātāji. You have made just the exact
replica of Vṛndā Devī.”
I told him, “Baba, because you are now unable to walk and go see your beloved deity, Vṛndā Devī has
arranged to come to see you.”
We pressed Baba to tell us his life story so we could tape it for future publication. He was reluctant.
Lord Kṛṣṇa and Srīmati Rādhārani have given Vṛndā Devī her role as queen of Vṛndāvana. Vṛndā Devī
may be likened to a grand director or choreographer of the Vṛndāvana līlā, and her parrots are her
communication service. She always stays in Vṛndāvana, absorbed in love for Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Her great
yearning is to expertly arrange Their meeting, and by doing this she feels the greatest joy.
“No Mātāji, I don’t want name and fame.”
We persisted, imploring him that it would be a necessary part of continuing the development of Vṛndā
Kunḍa. We pleaded that name and fame would come after he had left this world. He finally agreed, for
the service of Vṛndā Devī, and we began documenting his life story and the story of the development of
Vṛndā Kunḍa.
Srīla Prabhupāda had told us that Vṛndāvana is named after Vṛndā Devī. It means “forest of Tulasī.”
Baba explained, “This Vṛndāvana-dhama belongs to Srī Kṛṣṇa. It is the shining crest jewel of all the
Vaikuṇṭhas, and Srīmati Rādhārani, the daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu, has made Vṛndā Devī the ruling
monarch of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s opulent and auspicious abode of Vṛndāvana.”
Every day Baba talked to us of the glories of Vṛndā Devī as described in the Skanda Purāṇa, Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa, Padma Purāṇa, Garuḍa Purāṇa, Nāradīya Purāṇa, and other Vedic texts. He carefully
translated the Vṛndādevy-aṣṭakam by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravarti Ṭhākura, and he told us about the
mercy of Lord Caitanya. We learned that the Lord would have a Tulasī tree carried before him in His
sankirtana party.
Vṛndā Devī is in charge of the Vṛndāvana līlā—the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. She decides which
flowers will bloom, which birds will sing, which songs will be sung, which breezes will blow, which food
will be served, which games will be played, which musical instruments will be played.
During this time, I visited Vṛndā Kunḍa. There is a small, simple temple there, and a lovely pond lined
with Tulasī trees. The atmosphere was surcharged with a unique spiritual essence. I sat quietly and
chanted and meditated beside Tulasī Devī. In my mind I had a fleeting “glimpse” of a beautiful palace,
with winding crystal staircases and shimmering decor. I wondered at this, and when I saw Baba I asked
him about it. He began to describe such a palace from various scriptural quotations. I was stunned.
In a miraculous way that only Lord Kṛṣṇa could have designed, this aged saint, who was born in a highly
situated brahmana family and who had spent his entire life as a sadhu, was now being cared for by a
small crew of American and European disciples of Srīla Prabhupāda. Witnessing his love and devotion for
Vṛndā Devī was our greatest gift. It was as if Srīla Prabhupāda had arranged for us to receive further
instruction and opportunity to serve Srīmati Tulasī Devī by sending Baba into our midst.
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REALIZATIONS TULASI SEVA
Tulasī Devī, Beloved of Kṛṣṇa | Part 5
The following article is an excerpt from the writings of Govinda Dasī (ACBSP) published in Back To
Godhead Magazine January/February 1993 edition
Worshiping Tulasī Devī
Govinda Dasī: The following list was compiled from scriptures and from Srīla Prabhupāda’s instructions:
Tulasī’s body is spiritual. Although Tulasī appears as many individual trees, she is one person, and she
comes wherever she sees devotion to Kṛṣṇa.
Every morning devotees should water and pray to Tulasī Devī and circumambulate her three times.
Worship Tulasī with nice food, flowers, incense, a ghee lamp, and other traditional articles of worship.
Protect the delicate Tulasī seedlings from birds and insects. It is an offense to turn the seedlings back
into the soil.
In places where Tulasī cannot survive the winters when planted in the ground, provide a suitable house
for her.
Every day provide Tulasī fresh air, water (as needed—be careful not to water too much), and sunshine
(or plant lights).
Neglecting to care for or water Tulasī properly is a great offense. Do everything carefully.
When picking Tulasī leaves, chant the following mantra:
tulasy amṛta-janmāsi
sadā tvaṁ keśava-priyā
keśavārthaṁ cinomi tvāṁ
vara-dā bhava śobhane
“Oh Tulasī, you were born from nectar. You are always very dear to Lord Keśava. Now, in order to
worship Lord Keśava, 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 Kṛṣṇa’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 Tulasī Devī. 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 Tulasī leaves and flowers in the morning, never at night (from sunset to sunrise).
Never use chemical sprays on Tulasī.
Collect leaves once in the morning for worshiping Kṛṣṇa and for putting on the plates of food to be
offered to Him. Put at least one leaf on each preparation. Never pick Tulasī leaves for any other purpose
than to offer to the Lord.
Lord Kṛṣṇa likes garlands of Tulasī leaves. Tulasī leaves mixed with sandalwood pulp and placed on the
lotus feet of the Lord is the topmost worship. Do not place Tulasī leaves on the feet of anyone other
than Lord Viṣṇu in His various forms. Śrīmatī Rādhārānī can be given a Tulasī leaf in Her hand for offering
to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Kṛṣṇa accepts even dry Tulasī leaves.
Tulasī wood (taken after a plant has fully dried naturally) can be used to carve worship paraphernalia,
such as beads. Place leftover Tulasī wood within the earth.
Never use Tulasī leaves or flowers to make teas or juices, even after they’ve been offered to Kṛṣṇa. It is a
great offense to cook or heat Tulasī, or to use her for mundane purposes, such as medicines and
ointments.
Never cut down or pull up living Tulasī plants. This is a great offense.
Avoid stepping on Tulasī Devī’s shadow.
Tulasī Devī is very, very dear to the Lord. Therefore, most important is to serve her with love and
devotion.
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Posted in Realizations Tulasi Seva and tagged Manjaris Picking Leaves Srila Prabhupada Water
FEATURED SASTRA
The Transcendental Anatomy of Tulasī Devī
These are only a small number of verses describing the transcendental anatomy of Tulasī Devī, we will
be updating this article as we find more verses.
Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (Skanda Purāṇa) 9.182-184
bhū-gatais tulasī-mūlair
mṛttikā sparśitā tu yā
tīrtha-koṭi-samā jñeyā
dhāryā yatnena sā gṛhe
yasmin gṛhe dvija-śreṣṭha
tulasī-mūla-mṛttikā
sarvadā tiṣṭhate dehe
devatā na sa mānusaḥ
tulasī-mṛttika-lipto
yadi prāṇāt parityajet
yamena nekṣituṁ śakto
yuktaḥ pāpa-śatair api
Know for certain that the clay found where the roots of a tulasī plant have spread is as sanctified as
millions of holy places of pilgrimage. One should very carefully keep that clay in his house. One whose
body or house is adorned with clay that was taken from the root of a tulasī plant is not to be considered
inferior to a demigod. One can escape the wrath of Yamarāja if at the time of death his body is smeared
with the clay found at the root of a tulasī plant.
Tulasī Upaniṣad Text 5
tvam eva sura-saṁsevyā
tvam eva mokṣa-dāyinī
tvac-chāyāyāṁ vasel lakṣmīs
tvan-mūle viṣṇur avyayaḥ
You indeed are the object of worship for all the demigods, and the bestower of liberation. In Your
shadow Śrīmatī Lakṣmī Devī lives, and in Your root imperishable Lord Viṣṇu is residing.
Tulasī-dhātrī-māhātmya (Padma Purāṇa) Text 8
indro ’gniḥ śamanaś caiva
nairṛtir varuṇas tathā
pavanaś ca kuveraś ca
tac chākhāyāṁ vasanty amī
The demigods—Lord Indra, Lord Agni, Lord Yamarāja, Lord Nairṛti, Lord Varuṇa, Lord Vāyu, and Lord
Kuvera dwell in the branches of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s plant.
Tulasī-dhātrī-māhātmya (Padma Purāṇa) Text 6
keśavaḥ patra-madhye ca
patrāgre ca prajāpatiḥ
patra-vṛnte śivas tiṣṭhet
tulasyāḥ sarvadaiva hi
Lord Keśava always dwells in the middle of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s leaf, Lord Brahmā at the tip of the leaf,
and Lord Śiva at the base of the stem of the leaf.
Tulasī-dhātrī-māhātmya (Padma Purāṇa) Text 7
lakṣmīḥ sarasvatī caiva
gāyatrī caṇḍikā tathā
sarvāś cānyā deva-patnyas
tat-patreṣu vasanti ca
Goddess Lakṣmī, Goddess Sarasvatī, Goddess Gāyatrī, Goddess Caṇḍikā, and all the wives of other
demigods as well, dwell in the leaves of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s plant.
Tulasī-dhātrī-māhātmya (Padma Purāṇa) Text 10
koṭi-brahmāṇḍa-madhyeṣu
yāni tīrthāni bhū-tale
tulasī-dalam āśritya
tāny eva nivasanti vai
All holy places in the millions of universes as well as on the earth, are sheltered in Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s
leaves.
Śrī Garga-saṃhitā 2.15.13
puṣkarādyāni tīrthāni
gaṅgādyāḥ saritas tathā
vāsudevādayo devā
vasanti tulasī-dale
On a single Tulasī leaf the holy places beginning with Puṣkara, the sacred rivers beginning with the
Gaṅgā, and the Deities headed by Lord Vāsudeva reside.
Śrī-tulasī-stava Text 32
tulasī-patra-galitaṁ
yas toyaṁ śirasā vahet
gaṅgā-snānam avāpnoti
daśa-dhenu-phala-pradam
One who carries water fallen from Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s leaves on one’s head attains the same result of
bathing in Gaṅgā river or giving ten cows in charity
Tulasī-dhātrī-māhātmya (Padma Purāṇa) Text 5
yatraikas tulasī vṛkṣas
tiṣṭhaty api ca sattama
tatraiva tridaśāḥ sarve
brahma-viṣṇu-śivādayaḥ
O best of the sages, demigods headed by Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu, and Lord Śiva dwell at that place
where even one of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī’s plant stands.
Tulasī-dhātrī-māhātmya (Padma Purāṇa) Text 9
ādityādi-grahāḥ sarve
viśvedevāś ca sarvadā
vasavo munayaś caiva
tathā devarṣayo ’khilāḥ
All planets, like the Sun, the Viśvedevas, the Vasus, as well as all sages and all divine saints always reside
in Her.
Tulasī-dhātrī-māhātmya (Padma Purāṇa) Text 11
tulasīṁ sevate yas tu
bhakti-bhāva-samanvitaḥ
sevitās tena tīrthāś ca
devā brahmādayas tathā
All holy places and demigods headed by Lord Brahmā are worshiped automatically by one who devoutly
serves Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī.
Śrī Tulasī Stotra Text 9
tulasyāṁ sakalā devā
vasanti satataṁ yataḥ
atas tām arcayel loke
sarvān devān samarcayan
In Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī all the demigods reside all the time. Therefore one should worship Her, thereby
worshiping all demigods in this world.
Tulasī Upaniṣad Texts 6-7
samantād devatāḥ sarvāḥ
siddha-cāraṇa-pannagāḥ
yan-mūle sarva-tīrthāni
yan-madhye brahma-devatāḥ
yad-agre veda-śāstrāṇi
tulasīṁ tāṁ namāmy aham
tulasi śrī-sakhi śubhe
pāpa-hāriṇi puṇya-de
Around You all the upadevas such as the denizens of Siddha-loka, Cāraṇa-loka, and the celestial serpents
are situated. I offer my respects to that Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī in whose root all places of pilgrimage are
situated, in whose middle Lord Brahmā and the demigods stay, and in whose top the Vedic scriptures
rest. O Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, O friend of Goddess Lakṣmī, You are all-auspicious, and You dispel sins and
bestow the merits of pious activity.
Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (Padma Purāṇa) 9.162
tulasī-kānanaṁ yatra
yatra padma-vanāni ca
purāṇa-paṭhanaṁ yatra
tatra sannihito hariḥ
Lord Hari resides where there is a tulasī garden or lotus pond, or wherever the purāṇas are recited.
Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (Skanda Purāna) 9.11-116
ratiṁ badhnāti nānyatra
tulasī-kānanaṁ vinā
deva-devo jagat-svāmī
kali-kāle viśeṣataḥ
hitvā tīrtha-sahasrāṇi
sarvān api śiloccayān
tulasī-kānane nityaṁ
kalau tiṣṭhati keśavaḥ
In Kali-yuga, the lord of the universe is not pleased with anything other than a tulasī forest. In this age of
Kali, Lord Keśava disregards thousands of holy places while eternally residing in a forest of tulasī plants.
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news!
Bibliography
Gosvāmī, Sanātana. Śrī Hari-bhakti-vilāsa Volume Two, Vilāsas 6-10 (Bhumipati Dāsa trans.) Vrindāvan:
Rasbihari Lal & Sons, 2005. Print.
Swāmī, Bhakti Viśrambha Mādhava. Tulasyamṛta, The Nectar of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī. Vrindāvan: Author,
2012. Print.
Muni, Garga. Śrī Garga-saṃhitā (Dānavīr Goswāmī, Kuśakratha dāsa trans.) USA: Rūpānuga Vedic
College Publishing. Source: https://radha.name. PDF.
Posted in Featured Sastra and tagged Garga-samhita Hari-bhakti-vilasa Who is Tulasi Devi? Why Do We
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FEATURED SASTRA
Tulasī-kavaca
The following text is taken directly from HH Bhakti Viśrambha Mādhava Swāmī’s book titled
Tulasyamṛta, The Nectar of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī. Mahārāja’s book includes word for word transliterations,
as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tulasī-kavaca and other sanskrit texts about Śrīmatī
Tulasī Devī. In His book, Mahārāja draws a lot of fine details out of these texts and shares his personal
realizations in serving Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī.
The Tulasī-kavaca is spoken in the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa by Lord Śiva to his son Kārttikeya who had grown
tired while fighting the demon Tārakāsura. We are publishing this article during the 2020 Covid-19
pandemic as an appeal for devotees to pray to Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī in these difficult times. A mother will
always help her child, but a bit of crying never hurts.
atha nyāsaḥ
Nyāsa mantra
oṃ asya śrī-tulasī-kavaca-stotra-mahā-mantrasya
śrī-mahādeva ṛṣiḥ
anuṣṭup chandaḥ
śrī-tulasī devatā
mano ‘bhīṣṭa-kāmāni sarva-vidyārthe jape viniyogaḥ
This Tulasi-kavaca stotra (prayer) great mantra whose ṛṣi (preceptor) is Lord Śiva, chandas (Vedic poetic
meter) is anuṣṭubh, devatā (object of worship) is Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, viniyoga (application) is to fulfill
one’scherished mental desires and gain all knowledge–is being chanted now.
aha dhyānam
Meditation
tulasi amṛta-janmāsi
sadā tvaṁ keśava-priye
prasīda vara-de devi
viṣṇoḥ priya-kāri sadā
O Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, You are born from the nectar resulting from the churning of the milk ocean and
You are always dear to Lord Keśava. Lord Viṣṇu is always delighted by you, O goddess bestowing boons,
so please be kind to me.
atha kavacam
Now begins the kavaca–armor of protection
Text 1
tulasi śrī-mahā-devi
namaḥ paṅkaja-dhāriṇi
śiro me tulasī pātu
bhālaṁ pātu yaśasvinī
I offer my respects to the great Goddess Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī who holds a lotus flower in Her hand. May
She protect my head, and may the glorious one protect my forehead.
Text 2
dṛśau me padma-nayanā
śrī-sakhī śravaṇe mama
ghrāṇaṁ pātu sugandhā me
mukhaṁ ca sumukhī mama
May She whose eyes resemble lotuses protect my eyes. May the friend of Śrīmatī Lakṣmī Devī protect
my ears. May the sweet-scented one protect my nose. And may the beautiful-faced one protect my
face.
Text 3
jihvāṁ me pātu śubha-dā
kaṇṭhaṁ vidyā-mayī mama
skandhau kalhāriṇī pātu
hṛdayaṁ viṣṇu-vallabhā
May the bestower of auspiciousness protect my tongue. May the personification of knowledge protect
my neck. May She who has a charming garland of white water-lilies (kalhāra) on Her shoulders protect
my shoulders. May Lord Viṣṇu’s beloved protect my heart.
Text 4
puṇya-dā pātu me madhyaṁ
nābhiṁ saubhāgya-dāyinī
kaṭiṁ kuṇḍalinī pātu
ūrū nārada-vanditā
May the bestower of the results of pious activity protect my middle. May the giver of good fortune
protect my navel. May She who wears earrings (or tantric kuṇḍalinī chakra energy) protect my hips. May
She who is praised by Nārada Muni protect my thighs.
Text 5
jananī jānunī pātu
jaṅghe sakala-vanditā
nārāyaṇa-priyā pādau
sarvāṅgaṁ sarva-rakṣiṇī
May the universal mother protect my knees. May She who is praised by all protect the lower part of my
legs areas. May the darling of Lord Nārāyaṇa protect my feet. May She who protects everyone and
everything, protect all my limbs.
Text 6
saṅkaṭe viṣame durge
bhaye vāde mahāhave
nityaṁ dvi-sandhyayoḥ pātu
tulasī sarvataḥ sadā
In danger, in distress, in difficulty, in fear, in quarrel, in great battle, during dawn and dusk may Śrīmatī
Tualsi Devi invariably protect me at all times and in all respects.
atha phala-śrutiḥ
Now begins the description of the results obtained by chanting this kavaca
Text 7
itīdaṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ
tulasyāḥ kavacāmṛtam
martyānām amṛtārthāya
bhītānām abhayāya ca
Thus ends this very secret armor of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī which is like nectar. It gives immortality to
mortals and fearlessness to those in fear.
Text 8
mokṣāya ca mumukṣūṇāṁ
dhyāyināṁ dhyāna-yoga-kṛt
vaśāya vaśya-kāmanāṁ
vidyāyai veda-vādinām
This protective hymn bestows liberation unto those seeking it, the result of dhyāna-yoga to those
absorbed in meditation, authority to those who want to have power over others, and knowledge to the
followers of the Vedas.
Text 9
draviṇāya daridrāṇāṁ
pāpināṁ pāpa-śāntaye
annāya kṣudhitānāṁ ca
svargāya svargam icchatām
This armor of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī provides wealth to the poor, extinction of the sins of the sinners, food
for the hungry, and the passage of heaven to those who want to go there.
Text 10
paśavyaṁ paśu-kāmānāṁ
putra-daṁ putra-kāṅkṣiṇām
rājyāya bhraṣṭa-rājyānām
aśāntānāṁ ca śāntaye
It is beneficial for the animals of those who want to possess them. It gives sons to those desirous to have
sons, kingdom to those deprived of kingdom, and peace to those bereft of peace.
Text 11
bhakty-arthaṁ viṣṇu-bhaktānāṁ
viṣṇau sarvāntar-ātmani
jāpyaṁ tri-varga-siddhy-arthaṁ
gṛha-sthena viśeṣataḥ
This protective hymn should be particularly chanted for developing the devotion to the soul of
everything, Lord Viṣṇu, by His devotees; and by the householders for attaining success in religion,
economic development, and sense gratification.
Text 12
udyantaṁ caṇḍa-kiraṇam
upasthāya kṛtāñjaliḥ
tulasī-kānane tiṣṭhann
āsīno vā japed idam
Prayerfully folding one’s hands with great respect, while exposing oneself towards the early morning
rising sun, one should chant this protective hymn daily while sitting, or otherwise standing, in the forest
of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī.
Text 13
sarvān kāmān avāpnoti
tathaiva mama sannidhim
mama priya-karaṁ nityaṁ
hari-bhakti-vivardhanam
One who chants this armor gets all his desires fulfilled, and also attains vicinity to me (Lord Śiva), pleases
me constantly, and gets his devotion to Lord Hari increased.
Text 14-15
yā syān mṛta-prajā nārī
tasyā aṅgaṁ pramārjayet
sā putraṁ labhate dīrghajīvinaṁ cāpy arogiṇam
vandhyāyā mārjayed aṅgaṁ
kuśair mantreṇa sādhakaḥ
sā ‘pi saṁvatsarādeva
garbhaṁ dhatte mano-haram
For a woman who bears dead children one should clean her body by chanting this armor hymn, and then
she will give birth to a long-lived and healthy son. And for a childless woman such worshiper of this
armor should clean her body with the mantra and kuśa grass, and then she will beget a charming child
(which will steal her mind) within one year.
Text 16
aśvatthe rāja-vaśyārthī
japed agneḥ surūpa-bhāk
palāśa-mūle vidyārthī
tejo- ‘rthy ādbhimukho raveḥ
One should chant this hymn under an Aśvattha tree for controlling a king, facing the fire for attaining
beauty, at the base of a Palāśa tree for acquiring knowledge, and facing the sun for achieving good
health.
Text 17
kanyārthī caṇḍikā-gehe
śatru-hatyai gṛhe mama
śrī-kāmo viṣṇu-gehe ca
udyāne strī-vaśā bhavet
This hymn should be chanted in a temple of Goddess Caṇḍikā for getting a beautiful girl in marriage, in
my (Lord Śiva) temple for killing an enemy, by those desirous of riches in Lord Viṣṇu’s temple, and in a
garden or park by a barren woman.
Text 18
kim atra bahunoktena
śṛṇu sainyeśa tattvataḥ
yaṁ yaṁ kāmam abhidhyāyet
taṁ taṁ prāpnoty asaṁśayam
What is the use of speaking more about it? Listen O commander of great armies, indeed whatever
wishes one might consider; those are fulfilled accordingly. There is no doubt about it.
Text 19-20
mama gehe gatas tvaṁ tu
tārakasya vadhecchayā
japan strotraṁ ca kavacaṁ
tulasī-gata-mānasaḥ
maṇḍalāt tārakaṁ hantā
bhaviṣyasi na saṁśayaḥ
You also, as you intend to kill the demon Tāraka, should go to my temple and chant this protective hymn
fixing your mind on Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī. Thus, after forty days (or after completing all mentioned above)
you will undoubtedly become the killer of Tāraka.
iti brahmāṇḍa-purāṇe śivopadiṣṭaṁ tulasī-kavacaṁ saṁpūrṇam
Thus ends the Tulasī-kavaca from the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa which was taught by Lord Śiva
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news!
Bibliography
Swāmī, Bhakti Viśrambha Mādhava. Tulasyamṛta, The Nectar of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī. Vrindāvan: Author,
2012. Print.
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FEATURED SASTRA
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Worships Tulasī Devī
The following article is taken from Śrī Vṛndāvan dāsa Ṭhākura’s Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata with the Gauḍīyabhāṣya commentary of Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Goswāmī Mahārāja Prabhupāda
2.1.186
snāna kari’ gṛhe āilena viśvambhara
calilā paḍuyā-varga yathā yāṅra ghara
After completing their bath, Viśvambhara and His students returned to their own homes.
2.1.187-188
vastra parivarta’ kari’ dhuilā caraṇa
tulasīre jala diyā karilā secana
yathā-vidhi kari’ prabhu govinda-pūjana
āsiyā vasilā gṛhe karite bhojana
The Lord changed His clothes, washed His feet, and then offered water to Tulasī. Then, after properly
worshiping Govinda, the lord came inside and sat down to take His meal.
Gauḍīya-bhāṣya:
Unless a person properly initiated in chanting of Viṣṇu mantras includes tulasī-mañjarīs in his offering of
foodstuffs, Lord Viṣṇu will not accept the offering, because Tulasī is the eternal maidservant of Kṛṣṇa,
and therefore her leaves and flowers, or mañjarīs, are certainly dear to Keśava. It is prescribed that one
should offer tulasī-mañjarīs in worship to the Deity form of Śrī Govinda, for Tulasī has incarnated in the
form of a tree. The arrangement for offering tulasī-mañjarīs in worship to the Deity form of Lord Viṣṇu is
confirmed by all transcendental Vaiṣṇava smṛtis. After worshipping Śrī Tulasī in her manifested
worshipable form as tadīya by sprinkling water on her, Śrī Gaurasundara worshiped His family deity, Śrī
Govinda; in other words, He offered pure worship to the deity form of Viṣṇu. By performing this
pastime, the Lord set the ideal example of mandatory daily duties for God-conscious householders.
Every Vaiṣṇava householder should follow this ideal example of the lord by engaging in the worship of
the Deity form of Lord Viṣṇu and accepting with faith and humility the remnants of foodstuffs offered to
the Lord.
2.1.189
tulasīra mañjarī-sahita divya anna
mā’ye āni’ sammukhe karilā upasanna
Mother Śacī brought fine cooked rice with a Tulasī flower on top and placed it before the Lord.
3.8.154
tulasīra bhakti ebe śuna mana diyā
ye-rūpe kailena līlā tulasī laiyā
Now hear attentively the pastime of how Lord Caitanya exhibited devotion for Tulasī
3.8.155
eka kṣudra-bhāṇḍe divya mṛttikā pūriyā
tulasī dekhena sei ghaṭe āropiyā
One day the Lord took a small clay pot, filled it with choice dirt, and planted Tulasī in it.
3.8.156
prabhu bale,—“ami tulasīre nā dekhile
bhāla nāhi vāsoṅ yena matsya vine jale”
The Lord then said, “If I don’t see Tulasī, I cannot survive, just as a fish cannot survive out of water.”
3.8.157
yabe cale saṅkhyā-nāma kariyā grahaṇa
tulasī laiyā agre cale eka-jana
Whenever the Lord would chant japa while walking in the street, He would have someone carry a Tulasī
plant before him.
3.8.158
paścāte calena prabhu tulasī dekhiyā
paḍaye ānanda-dhārā śrī-aṅga vahiyā
As the Lord followed behind looking at Tulasī, tears of ecstasy would flow down his body.
3.8.159
saṅkhyā-nāma laite ye sthāne prabhu vaise
tathāya rākena tulasīre prabhu pāśe
When the Lord would sit to chant japa, a Tulasī plant would be placed next to Him.
Gauḍīya-bhāṣya:
The phrase saṅkhyā-nāma is explained as follows: It is the injunction that one should chant the holy
names a prescribed number of times on Tulasī beads. In this case it is understood that the Lord chanted
a fixed number of names while sitting next to a Tulasī plant. Śrī Gaurasundara exhibited the pastime of
associating with keśava-priyā tulasī to teach those who do not consider the association of kṛṣṇa-priyā
tulasī as favorable to devotional service but rather accept her as an ordinary plant. Tulasī is tadīya, or
related to Kṛṣṇa. The endeavors of those who are eager to serve Kṛṣṇa by transgressing His dear
servants are futile. In this regard on should discuss the following verse:
abhyarcayitvā govindaṁ tadīyān arcayanti ye
na te viṣṇu-prasādasya bhājanaṁ dambhikā janāḥ
“Proud persons who worship Kṛṣṇa but do not worship the Lord’s devotees do not attain Lord Kṛṣṇa’s
mercy.”
3.8.160
tulasīre dekhena, japena saṅkhyā-nāma
e bhakti-yogera tattva ke bujhibe āna
The Lord would constantly look at Tulasī while chanting. Who can understand this principle of
devotional service?
3.8.161
punaḥ sei saṅkhyā-nāma sampūrṇa kariyā
calena īśvara saṅge tulasī laiyā
After chanting the holy names a fixed number of times, the Lord would return with Tulasī again carried
in front.
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news!
Bibliography
Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata. New Dehli: Vrajraj Press, 2005. Print.
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SASTRA TULASI SEVA
How To Serve Tulasī Devī: Introduction
Tulasī Devī is transcendental, her body is 100% spiritual, she does not live on light and water, but she
lives on love, care, and devotion. Serving Tulasī Devī is not black and white; there is no absolute
guideline, there is no absolute way of caring for her body. Serving her comes from the heart, it is
dynamic, sweet, and introspective. Tulasī Devī is always pure, she is always full of love, she is always
trying to bring us closer to the Divine Young Couple.
Tulasī Devī is sneaky, she tricks us into doing service to a pure devotee (herself) by becoming
“unhealthy” or falling “sick”. How can a transcendental person fall sick? It is not due to material
circumstance, but has some very deep reason. There will be times when Tulasī Devī has all physical
facilities, everything is provided for her, the best quality lights, good soil, good humidity, proper
watering, but she may still get sick or leave. The missing ingredients are not material necessities, rather,
it is love, care and devotion. Many people experience Tulasi Devi becoming unhealthy in this way. The
solution is not only to address the sickness materially, but also to simply sing to her, chant in front of
her, and to worship her with the Divine Young Couple. Tulasī Devī will grow best in these conditions. This
can be practically seen in the following example: Below are two photos of young Tulasī Devī’s. Their
seeds came from the same Mañjarī, they were both planted at the same time, and they are always kept
next to each other in the same growing conditions. Neither of them have ever fallen sick and both have
been cared for nicely. The only difference between the two is that one is worshiped every morning after
worshiping Kṛṣṇa, and the other is not. This is a very practical example of what pleases her: Love, care,
and devotion is the secret of keeping Tulasī Devī healthy.
Let us not neglect her thinking that we actually have love or devotion to offer her. Rather let us pray
that one day we may be able to actually offer our heart to her out of gratitude for how she has nurtured
us.
Some may ask, “So if she falls sick does this mean I have no love, no care, no devotion? I worship her,
sing to her, and pray to her everyday but she still falls sick.” Tulasī Devī is jagad-dhātri, the mother of the
universe. She is our mother. She wants what is best for her children, she pushes her children so they will
become devotees. A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Prabhupāda described Tulasī Devī as a spiritual barometer,
therefore, sometimes she falls sick to show us we have some internal work to do. By getting “sick” she is
pushing us to work for her. She allows us to serve her so we may become purified. This is her tender
love and care, her sweet mercy. She will do anything to bring her children home, this is one example.
Some may further question, “Why is it that in some places Tulasī Devī is not worshipped, not cared for
very nicely, she just sits in the corner of the temple or someone’s home, and she doesn’t get sick? Why
is it that in theses circumstances, she grows great and is healthy despite the material conditions?” There
is no one as tolerant as a mother, even if her children forget about or neglect her, the mother always
remembers the child and wishes the best for them. Tulasī Devī is doing the same, in these circumstances
she is simply giving her mercy. Just seeing Tulasī Devī is so auspicious, doing any service for her, large or
small, is so auspicious, just being in her association is so auspicious. The Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa Prakṛtikhaṇḍa 22.23 states:
viśve yat-prāpti-mātreṇa
bhaktyānando bhaved dhruvam
nandinī tena vikhyātā
sā prītā bhavitā hi me
“Only due to contact with Her can the bliss of devotion to the Lord be truly experienced. May She who is
known as Nandinī because of that be pleased with Me.”
Tulasī Devī is tolerating any inconvenience, any discomfort, any offenses, so that we may become
purified. She is allowing her body to fall sick so that we can become purified. She is showing us that we
have internal work to do so we may become purified. She is pushing us to do more service so that we
may become purified. This is her sweet mercy.
By getting “sick” she is pushing us to work for her. She allows us to serve her so we may become
purified. This is her tender love and care, her sweet mercy. She will do anything to bring her children
home…
Some may argue, “If Tulasī Devī is transcendental and lives off of love, care, and devotion, then what is
the need to care for her with light, water, etc?”It is very important that we do not neglect her, or ignore
her physical condition. We should strive to care for her the best we can, she is giving her mercy by
allowing us to serve her. She is pushing us to become devotees by allowing us to serve her. How can we
get any service to the devotees or the Divine Young Couple without her mercy? Let us not neglect her
thinking that we actually have love or devotion to offer her. Rather let us pray that one day we may be
able to actually offer our heart to her out of gratitude for how she has nurtured us.
Going forward we can try to keep in mind that Tulasī Devī flourishes on love, care and devotion, we can
try to keep this foundation strong so our service may be heartfelt and thoughtful. The following articles
will go into more detail on different aspects of caring for Tulasī Devī, our divine mother.
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Posted in Sastra Tulasi Seva and tagged Diagnosis
SASTRA
Who is Tulasī Devī and Why We Worship Her | Part 1
Who is Tulasī Devī?
Tulasī Devī is found all over the world and is worshiped and respected by many. We, as aspiring
Vaiṣṇava’s worship her and serve her daily; she is constantly wrapped around our necks, our fingers rub
her body throughout the day, she is in our homes and temples, she gives us service and nurtures us in
hopes that we will become devotees. Despite our lives being imbued with her mercy, most of us do not
know who she is, or why we worship her. Our ācāryas explain that Tulasī Devī is Vṛnda Devī:
tvaṁ kīrtyase sātvata-tantra-vidbhir
līlābhidhānā kila kṛṣṇa-śaktiḥ
tavaiva mūrtis tulasī nṛ-loke
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam
“O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Those who have studied the Sātvatatantra glorify you. You are Lord Kṛṣṇa’s potency for performing pastimes, and you are known as Tulasī
Devī in the human society.”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in his Śrī Vṛndādevy-aṣṭakam Text 7
The brushing of the wind, the soft beds of flowers, the jeweled thrones, the humming bees, the singing
birds, the decorated kuñja’s of Vṛndāvan, Vṛinda Devī arranges everything for the Divine Young Couples’
past times.
tvad-ājñayā pallava-puṣpa-bhṛṅgamṛgādibhir mādhava-keli-kuñjaḥ
madhav-ādibhir bhānti vibhūṣyamāṇā
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam
“O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Because of your order, the groves
where Lord Mādhava performs His pastimes appear very splendid, decorated with blossoming flowers,
bumblebees, deer, and other auspicious animals, flowers, and birds.”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in his Śrī Vṛndādevy-aṣṭakam Text 4
Every morning at her kunḍ she and her companions scheme the days activities. She is the playwright,
the doorkeeper of Vṛndāvan, the bestower of devotional service and unalloyed divine love, She is the
mother of devotion.
Tulasī Devī bestows service and devotion to anyone who comes in contact with her, all of her children,
whether they want it or not. She gives her special favor to those who serve her and take shelter of her,
she opens her own heart to those who open their heart to her.
Vṛinda is jagad-dhātri, the mother of all the residents of the universe. She is the soft nurturing mother
always guiding her rebellious children to their sweet, sweet home. Unconditional love is the nature of a
mother, so much so that even if her child was to disrespect her, neglect her, or forget about her, she
would always keep the deepest crevices of her heart open to her child. We constantly disrespect,
neglect, and forget about our most loving divine mother, we don’t even understand that it is by her
mercy we desire to desire to serve the Divine Young Couple and their servants. As an infant child does
not know where its sustenance comes from, who is feeding them, who is bathing them, who is clothing
them, who is giving them so much affection, we do not understand who is taking care of us, who is it
that has given such mercy to allow us to try to chant the holy name? Who is holding our hands, dragging
us to the soft dust of Vraj?
Why Do We Worship Tulasī Devī?
Our ācāryas explain that is by her mercy that we may be able to enter into Vṛndāvan, that it is by her
mercy that we can desire to desire to serve the Divine Young Couple and their servants. Our ācāryas
pray thus:
hṛdi cira-vasad-āśā-maṇḍalālambi-pādau
guṇavati tava nāthau nāthituṁ jantur eṣaḥ sapadi
bhavad-anujñāṁ yācate devi vṛnde
mayi kira karuṇārdrāṁ dṛṣṭim atra prasīda
“O merciful qualified Vṛnda, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are your Mistress and Lord. I have carried the desire to see
Them in my heart for so long, and only by your grace, this desire can be fulfilled. Please cast a merciful
glance upon me. Be kind upon me.”
Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī in his Utkalikā-vyallarī Text 4
he śrī-tulasy-uru-kṛpā-dyu-taraṅginī tvaṁ
yan-mūrdhni me caraṇa-paṅkajam ādadhāḥ svam
yac cāham apy apibam ambu manāk tadīyaṁ
tan me manasy udayam eti manoratho ’yam
“O Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, O celestial river of mercy, it is because I once placed my head at your lotus feet
and drank some drops of water that washed your lotus feet, that these desires (to serve Rādhā Kṛṣṇa
and their devotees) have risen in my heart.”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in his Śrī Saṅkalpa-kalpadrumaḥ Text 89
kvāhaṁ paraḥ śata-nikṛty-anuviddha-cetāḥ
saṅkalpa eṣa sahasā kva sudurlabhārthe
ekā kṛpaiva tava mām ajahāty upādhiśūnyaivam antum adadhāty agater gatir me
“O Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, how low I am, my heart pierced by hundreds of offenses! How exalted and
difficult to attain is my aspiration! Your causeless mercy is my only hope. It is by Your mercy that I, who
am so fallen, can have these desires and thoughts.”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in his Śrī Saṅkalpa-kalpadrumaḥ Text 90
rāsābhilāṣo vasatiś ca vṛndā vane tvad-īśāṅghri-saroja-sevā
labhyā ca puṁsāṁ kṛpayā tavaiva vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam
“O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. The living entities who attain the
service of the lotus feet of your Lord reside in Vṛndāvana. And the desire to understand the Lord’s
amazing pastimes of the rasa dance is only by your mercy.”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s Śrī Vṛndādevy-aṣṭakam Text 6
…we do not understand who is taking care of us, who is it that has given such mercy to allow us to try to
chant the holy name? Who is holding our hands, dragging us to the soft dust of Vraj?
The mood in which Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava’s worship Tulasī Devī is not one of exploiting her for benedictions,
to become freed from our sins, or worship out of awe and reverence. Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas worship Tulasī
Devī begging for service to the servants of the servants of the Divine Young Couple. Tulasī Devī bestows
service and devotion to anyone who comes in contact with her, all of her children, whether they want it
or not. She gives her special favor to those who serve her and take shelter of her, she opens her own
heart to those who open their heart to her. It is said that service to Tulasī Devī is 50% perspiration and
50% āśraya (dependency). Anyone who has worked hard for her and taken shelter of her can tell you
that She is a person, a divine, pure person, who loves you and cares for you
Our lives are imbued with Tulasī Devī’s mercy, let us open our eyes and really try to see how she is
helping us, and in return, lets try to do dome service for her. In future articles these topics will be
covered in greater detail, such as why she comes in the form of a plant, how does she give her mercy,
who is she gives her mercy to, more about her mood, etc.
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Posted in Sastra and tagged Who is Tulasi Devi? Why Do We Worship Tulasi Devi?
TULASI SEVA
How To Serve Tulasi Devi: Soil 101
There are five major factors that determine Tulasī Devī’s health: light, water, soil, air, and devotion.
Among these five factors, soil is one of the most important. By providing the proper soil to Tulasī Devī
she can grow very healthy and beautiful.
What Soil Should I Use?
Organic soil is always the way to go. We should try to avoid keeping Tulasī Devī in inorganic soil unless
there are no other options available. Cheap, inorganic soil is often filled with toxic pesticides, fertilizers
derived from animal products, and “sludge” or a byproduct of sewage waste treatment. Organic soil is
“living soil” and contains necessary fungi and bacteria that help support root growth and nutrients
intake resulting in Tulasī Devī being very healthy and vibrant. We generally should not use soil out of a
garden or the ground, because it could contain worms, insect eggs, or disease spreading organisms. You
can also make your own soil mixture using a wide variety of ingredients, we will publish an article about
that soon.
What Type of Soil Conditions Does Tulasī Like?
All soils will eventually get packed down from watering, which decreases air flow and drainage in the
soil. To prevent the soil from getting too packed down it is a good practice to carefully “fluff” the top
inch of her soil once a month with a fork or your fingers, without hurting any roots.
Tulasī Devī likes dry, and well draining soil. Keeping track of when she needs water and not over
watering will keep her soil at the proper moisture. Soil moisture can be checked by sticking your finger
about a 1/2 inch into her soil, or by using a water meter. Using a water meter keeps things simple and
fail proof. Better drainage can be created by adding small rocks at the bottom of Tulasi’s pot and mixing
her soil with some sand when planting her.
How Do I Tell If There Is A Problem With The Soil?
When Tulasī Devī’s soil is not providing the necessary conditions or nutrients, then she will show various
symptoms. Common signs that her soil may be tired and needs to be revitalized with particular nutrients
are: stunted growth, pale leaves, yellowing leaves and reddish discoloration of leaves.
There are a variety of organic products to provide the necessary nutrients to Tulasī Devī. Depending on
the symptoms, certain products are used either when watering her or as a spray.
Signs that Tulasī Devī’s soil may not be providing proper drainage, or that she is being over watered are:
wilting, dropping of leaves, leaves turning brown starting from the tips, and pale leaf color. Some signs
that Tulasī Devī’s soil is too dry or that she is under watered are: wilting and pale leaf color. If her soil is
too wet or too dry, then you can keep track of how often she is watered and how much water is used. If
her soil is too dense and does not drain well, then it is best to repot her with the proper soil.
All soils will eventually get packed down from watering, which decreases air flow and drainage in the
soil. To prevent the soil from getting too packed down it is a good practice to carefully “fluff” the top
inch of her soil once a month with a fork or your fingers, without hurting any roots.
Can I Grow Tulasī In The Ground?
When Tulasī Devī’s soil is not providing the necessary conditions or nutrients, then she will show various
symptoms. Common signs that her soil may be tired and needs to be revitalized with particular nutrients
are: stunted growth, pale leaves, yellowing leaves and reddish discoloration of leaves.
If you live in a place with the proper climate, you can grow Tulasī Devī outdoors in the ground. Using soil
from the ground for growing her in a pot is not recommended because of the animals, insects, and other
organisms living in that soil can spread disease and tear apart her root structure. But when these
organisms are left in their natural environment they often help Tulasī Devī grow. A perfect example are
worms. When worms are left in a pot, if they have a proper food supply they will repopulate and
practically fill the pot.However, when they are left in their natural environment they break down matter
into nutrient-rich soil that’s great for plants. Simply make sure your soil outside is healthy, isn’t too
dense and doesn’t have too much clay.
Getting Started
Happy Frog Organic Potting Soil (USA) is an easily accessible, affordable, and great soil that has been
used by many devotees and gardeners alike for years with great results. It is available in the Tulasī
Sevāmṛta shop.
Soon we will have articles about nutrients, water, and how to make your own soil. All related products
are now available in the Tulasī Sevāmṛta Shop. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
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news!
Posted in Tulasi Seva and tagged Diagnosis Nutrients Soil
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TULASI SEVA
Tulasī Diagnosis: Over and Under Watering
One of the most common causes of Tulasī Devī being unhealthy is by killing her with love, in other
words, over watering. There are some simple steps to diagnose when Tulasī Devī needs water, and how
much water to use. These steps can be found in the article ”How To Serve Tulasī Devī: Water 101”.
Signs of too Much Water
Don’t feel bad, a lot of people over water plants, it’s really common. Over time as we attentively serve
Tulasī Devī we begin to understand how to better serve her. Our good work is not of our own
intelligence, but often she is the one teaching us how to serve her.
When Tulasī Devī is over watered her soil will be constantly wet, which is especially bad for her roots.
Her leaves will become pale and turn brown at the tips (brown tips are also a symptom of not enough
humidity), and she will begin to wilt. The most dangerous part of over watering is that the roots can rot,
this is known as “root-rot” or “die-back”. Once Tulasī Devī’s roots start to rot then it’s tough to help her
recover.
How To Help an Overwatered Tulasī
Stop watering her for some time and wait until her soil is dry before attempting to water her again.
Follow the instructions on how to water Tulasī Devī here. If her soil is really drenched and is taking a
long time to get dry, then replace her soil. It will take her time to recover and she should be fine as long
as she is watered properly going forward.
In extreme cases when she she has root-rot, she will need to be taken out of her pot, the affected roots
will need to be removed, and she will need to be re-potted with fresh soil. Once re-potted it will help to
use Fox Farms Boomerang fertilizer and Fox Farms Grow Big fertilizer for some time while watering to
help speed her recovery. These steps can help to save her if she has root-rot/die-back.
Over watering can be prevented by using the proper soil, by using clay pots, and by watering her
properly.
Signs of Not Enough Water
Tulasī Devī can live on dry soil for some time, but she makes it really clear when she doesn’t have
enough water. When she’s under watered her leaves will turn pale, her soil will separate from the edge
of the pot, and soon, all of her leaves will become really soft and wilt. Her leaves will then dry up and
she will leave if she doesn’t get a full watering.
How To Help an Under Watered Tulasī
If you have concluded that Tulasī Devī is under watered, the next step is to fully saturate her soil with
water. Her soil will be so dry that water will just bead up and run to the edge of the pot, so it will take
some extra effort to water her.
The best option is to dip her entire pot (up to about the same level as the soil) into a bucket of water. Be
sure not to let the water overflow into her pot, but just let her sit there until you see the top of the soil
become moist. She will absorb water from the hole at the bottom of the pot. Once you can see the soil
is moist, take her out and let any excess water drain from the bottom of the pot.
The other method is to slowly water her with a light stream, letting the water sit on top of her soil,
slowly getting absorbed. Once the soil starts holding water then fully water her as usual. This method
takes longer but is effective.
Once she is in an underwatered state, when she is watered again she will go into shock and drop a lot of
leaves. This is normal, just keep her away from heat and direct light for a few days.
Use Fox Farms Boomerang fertilizer when treating an under watered Tulasī to help her spring back really
quickly. Fox Farms Grow Big fertilizer will also give her a boost and help her absorb nutrients and spread
the nutrients through her body very quickly. Use both nutrients when watering Tulasī Devī until she
seems to have fully recovered. You can purchase them both at the Tulasī Sevāmṛta Shop.
For more information on how to water Tulasī Devī check out our other articles on water. If you have any
questions or need any help serving Tulasī Devī, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Posted in Tulasi Seva and tagged Diagnosis Water
TULASI SEVA
How To Serve Tulasī Devī: Picking Leaves and Manjaris
Picking Tulasī leaves and manjaris is an important activity in the life of a sādhaka because Tulasī is
absolutely needed to worship Kṛṣṇa in His deity form. We put Tulasī in the water we bath Him with, the
food He eats, and on His lotus feet. The video above goes in detail on how to properly pick Tulasī Devī to
help her grow healthy and bushy. In this short article, I will outline the method to pick Tulasī leaves and
manjaris.
There is a quote by Srila Prabhupada where he mentions that Tulasī leaves that have fallen should be
collected first. This is practical advice because if we pick too many green leaves, Tulasī may be troubled
because scientifically, a plant eats through its leaves. Of course, Tulasī is transcendental, but we have to
keep this in mind.
“You can take for worshiping Kṛṣṇa leaves from the Tulasī plant. First utilize the dead leaves or leaves
which have fallen down, and if more leaves are required for worshiping Kṛṣṇa, you may take them from
Tulasī plant in this way: First approach Tulasī Devī and offer your obeisances, requesting her that for
worshiping Kṛṣṇa you want to take some leaves. Then if she allows you may take.”
-Letter from Srila Prabhupada, 1977 unknown correspondence
Manjaris, on the other hand, take a lot of energy to grow. They should be cut when they are soft and
when they look like small pyramids. In the sastras, it is said that we should offer soft manjaris to Kṛṣṇa.
In the above video you can see where you have to pick, just underneath a manjari with two leaves, one
on each side.
Some say you shouldn’t use scissors, but I personally use a dedicated pair of scissor that I use for Tulasī
only. This makes sure I don’t accidentally pluck too much off or perhaps even split a branch.
When picking leaves or manjaris, it should be day time, not Dvādaśī (the day after Ekādaśī), and you
should be altar clean (freshly bathed and wearing clean clothing). Chant the mantra:
tulasy amṛta-janmāsi
sadā tvaṁ keśava-priyā
keśavārthaṁ cinomi tvāṁ
vara-dā bhava śobhane
“Oh Tulasī, you were born from nectar. You are always very dear to Lord Keśava. Now, in order to
worship Lord Keśava, I am collecting your leaves and manjaris. Please bestow your benediction on me.”
It’s best to pick the manjaris as soon as you see them, so that Tulasī can direct her energy elsewhere.
Also you don’t always need to pick green leaves, first use leaves that have fallen or are yellow and about
to fall. When you are done picking, chant the mantra:
cayanodbhava-duḥkhaṁ ca
yad hṛdi tava vartate
tat kṣamasva jagan-mātaḥ
vṛndā-devī namo ’stu te
“Oh Tulasī Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances unto you. Kindly forgive me if I have caused you pain by
picking your leaves and manjaris, Oh mother of the universe.”
Keep Tulasī’s area clean by sweeping daily, and her pot free from dry leaves and flowers. She is a pure
devotee of the Lord and should be treated as such!
Check out the video above for a visual explanation of how to pick Tulasī Devī properly and how to help
her grow more bushy.
-Namarasa Dasa
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Posted in Tulasi Seva and tagged Manjaris Picking Leaves
TULASI SEVA
How To Serve Tulasī Devī: Water 101
There are five major factors that determine Tulasī Devī’s health: light, water, soil, air, and devotion. Next
to devotion, water is probably the most important. By properly watering Tulasī Devī she can grow very
healthy and beautiful.
What Water To Use
Using the proper water is really important. Tap water is not good because it contains many substances
like chlorine and calcium, both of which are bad for plant growth. Chlorine is toxic to all living beings and
kills both good and bad bacteria. When it is used on plants it kills the good bacteria that live in the soil,
gradually taking the life out of the soil. When tap water is used, calcium builds up over time and changes
the pH level of the soil. Calcium buildup gradually makes it more and more difficult for plants to absorb
nutrients.
The most common mistake when serving Tulasī Devī is that sometimes devotees water her a little bit
everyday, or water her every 3 days, or every monday, and so on. Tulasī Devī needs to be fully watered
when she needs it, not when it is convenient for us.
If you have been using tap water, excess chlorine in the soil can be identified by checking the pH of the
soil, and excess calcium causes a white ring to form around the top of clay pots.
Instead of using tap water, use filtered water or rain water. Rain water has a number of elements like
nitrogen and extra oxygen which are needed by plants, making it the best water to use.
The temperature of the water is important. If the water is too hot or too cold it can the hurt the roots
and the soil won’t absorb it, therefore it is best to use room temperature water.
How to Tell When to Water
For many, knowing when Tulasī Devī needs water is one of the most difficult parts of her service. She’s
most often “killed with love” or overwatered. To keep things very simple and fail proof we recommend
using a soil moisture meter. Simply stick the meter in her soil every few days and see how moist her soil
is. Generally a good rule of thumb is to water Tulasī Devī when the meter reading drops to 2. For your
convenience there are soil moisture meters in the Tulasī Sevāmṛta Shop.
If you don’t have a moisture meter on hand then check the moisture by sticking your finger about ½ an
inch into her soil. If her soil is dry then water her, if it’s moist then wait and check her soil another day.
Devotees who have attentively been taking care of a particular Tulasī plant for a long time can tell when
she needs water simply by looking at her, or picking up her pot. Try picking up Tulasī’s pot before you
water her, and again after you water her. This way you can remember roughly how heavy her pot is
when the soil is wet and when the soil is dry, allowing you to more easily determine when she needs to
be watered.
When Tulasī Devī is not watered on time, her leaves will turn dull and soft, and she will begin to wilt. Her
soil will also shrink and seperate from the side of the pot. When she is over watered, her leaves will turn
pale and start to brown at the tips. Her roots could also rot and she will struggle to absorb nutrients or,
in the worst case, she will leave. For details on how to manage over or under watering check out the
article “Tulasī Diagnosis: Over and Under Watering”.
How Often To Water?
For many, knowing when Tulasī Devī needs water is one of the most difficult parts of her service. She’s
most often “killed with love” or overwatered. To keep things very simple and fail proof we recommend
using a soil moisture meter. Simply stick the meter in her soil every few days and see how moist her soil
is.
The most common mistake when serving Tulasī Devī is that sometimes devotees water her a little bit
everyday, or water her every 3 days, or every monday, and so on. Tulasī Devī needs to be fully watered
when she needs it, not when it is convenient for us. When she needs to be watered is not always
regulated; there’s no fixed amount of time between waterings, she needs to be watered when she
needs to be watered. Checking her regularly and watering her when she needs it helps ensure that she
does not get over or under watered.
How often she needs to be watered and how much water she needs depends on the temperature,
humidity, size of the pot, and the size of Tulasī Devī. Therefore we have to be attentive, check her often
and water her based on her needs.
How To Water Tulasī Devī
When watering Tulasī Devī slowly pour water around the inside edge of her pot until water comes out of
the bottom of her pot into her tray. Let her sit in the tray of water for about 30 minutes to allow her to
absorb as much water back into her pot as she needs. After about 30 minutes empty her tray. That’s all!
Don’t water her again until her soil is dry. This method ensures that her soil has fully absorbed enough
water.
For this watering method you’ll need a clay pot with a hole in the bottom, and a clay tray for the pot to
sit in. If Tulasī Devī is not in a clay pot, then she should be relocated into one. It is best to use only clay or
wood pots. Soon we’ll have an article discussing pots and explaining why it is best to use only clay and
wood pots for Tulasī Devī.
Other Things To Consider
If you’re using a mild fertilizer then it’s recommended to use it when water as per the manufacturer’s
instructions. Fertilizers help to make sure that Tulasī Devī gets the proper nutrients and revitalizes her
soil. There is a selection of fertilizers in the Tulasī Sevāmṛta Shop with details on which to use and how
to use them.
It’s a good practice not to water Tulasī Devī with a hard stream of water as this will pack down her soil,
decreasing soil aeration, and may expose roots. Instead, water her lightly around the inside edges of the
pot, and take some time to water her slowly. This will ensure that the soil conditions stay proper. As
explained in the article “How To Serve Tulasī Devī: Soil 101” every once in a while fluff the top inch or so
of her soil, being careful not to hurt any roots, to keep the soil from getting packed down from watering.
For many devotees, watering Tulasī Devī is often the most difficult part of her service. We simply need
to be attentive and give her the right water, in the proper quantity and at the right time. Check out the
other articles about water and the article about how to diagnose if she is over watered or under
watered.
We invite you to subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter to keep up to date with new articles and exciting
news!
Posted in Tulasi Seva and tagged Water
FEATURED TULASI SEVA
How To Serve Tulasī Devī: Health Diagnostic
Quick Links:
Bug Problems
Natural Repellents
Nutrition Problems
Water Problems
Leaf Problems
Other Problems
“Tulasī doesn’t look healthy and I don’t know why”. Those caring for Tulasī Devī have probably had this
thought at some point. We have compiled this comprehensive guide of symptoms and treatments to
help diagnose why Tulasī Devī may not be looking healthy, and how to help her.
We should keep in mind that Tulasī Devī is 100% transcendental; she does not really need all these
material facilities, but she uses them as a way to give us some service. She is our mother and she wants
what is best for us. By serving her she will push us and nurture us so we may one day desire to offer our
hearts.
We have tried to compile a complete list of common problems and solutions, if you can think of
anything else to add to the list, or any corrections that can be made, please contact us.
Before diving into diagnosing Tulasī Devī, we suggest reading our articles How To Serve Tulasī Devī:
Introduction and Who is Tulasī Devī and Why We Worship Her.
Bugs:
Spider Mites:
Identification: Spider mites are the most common pests you’ll encounter. When Tulasī Devī has spider
mites she will have some discoloration and will seem like shes struggling or weak. Spider mites are the
size of a pinhead and can be identified by the small webs they make, usually in one area. The webs often
go from branch to branch and around the undersides of leaves. There will also be little dots on her
leaves, and oftentimes you will be able to see the little spiders. They are really easy to miss if you are
inattentive and can quickly take over her body.
Symptoms: Discoloration of leaves, stunted growth, wilting in extreme cases, webs, white dots on
leaves.
Treatment: Use cotton wool to remove mites and webs off of leaves/branches. Thoroughly spray Tulasī
with neem spray (recipe below) until she is dripping wet. Be sure to thoroughly get the underside of her
leaves. Repeat this process after 3-5 days until they are fully gone.
White Flies:
Identification: Whiteflies are very small (1mm or smaller) and feed on the underside of leaves. They
generally go for small healthy leaves and eventually will grow big and fly around. They leave a sticky
liquid on the leaves, if it gathers for to long it will grow mold, so if you see mold there might be some
whiteflies around. They’re the second most common bug next to spider mites.
Symptoms: Yellowing leaves, stunted growth, mold on leaves.
Treatment: Get sticky traps to catch the flies as they fly around. For enclosed grow spaces, the Encarsia
bug feeds on white flies and is commonly used to treat whitefly infestations. Thoroughly spray Tulasī
with neem spray (recipe below) until she is dripping wet. Be sure to thoroughly get the underside of her
leaves. Repeat this process after 3-5 days until they are fully gone.
Four Lined Plant Bug:
Identification: Four lined plant bugs look like a little beetle, they are about 7.5mm long, 4mm wide and
bright colored. They feed on her leaves and leave brown dot-like indents where ever they eat. The
leaves they feed on will sometimes dry up and fall off. They usually come in the late spring and leave
eggs that will hatch the following year.
Symptoms: Brown dot-like indents on leaves, dried leaves, falling leaves.
Treatment: If you see them put them outside somewhere and thoroughly spray Tulasī with neem spray
(recipe below) until she is dripping wet. Be sure to thoroughly get the underside of her leaves. Repeat
this process after 3-5 days until they are fully gone. This will make the plant bug sick and go away.
Scales:
Identification: Scales are a difficult pest to detect, they hide on Tulasī’s stems and have woody looking
bodies that blends in with her bark. As Tulasī Devī grows her stem gets wider, as she gets bigger little
cracks in the bark are created, scales feed on these cracks, slowly sucking the life out of her. Scales are
usually 3-4 mm in size, oval shaped, and have a brown dot on their back, they can be found on Tulasī
Devī’s mature woody stems.
Symptoms: Mold, stunted growth, yellowing leaves, in extreme cases there can be wilting and
eventually she will leave if untreated.
Treatment: For enclosed grow spaces the Cryptolaemus or Metaphycus bugs can be used to help get rid
of scales. 91% isopropyl alcohol will kill them. Take a cotton swab soaked in the alcohol and rub where
the scale is. It’s really hard to find them, so best to just rub all over Tulasī’s stem. If this is not done
thoroughly and immediately, then the scales will come back and cause lots of trouble. After some time
once they seem to be gone check up on her daily to see if they came back.
Mealy bugs:
Identification: Mealy bugs are common greenhouse pests, they’re small (2-3mm) wingless, soft-bodied
and appear like small cotton balls on leaves and stems. They feed on plants by drinking sap through the
plants tissue. When they’re population is low they don’t do to much damage, but in high concentrations
they cause yellowing leaves and wilting as they slowly kill the plant. They can be easily identified by their
appearance and their sticky residue trail which attracts mold.
Symptoms: Yellowing leaves, deformed leaves, waxy thread trail, mold, wilting.
Treatment: For enclosed grow spaces the Cryptolaemus bug can be used to get rid of mealybugs.
Thoroughly spray Tulasī with neem spray (recipe below) until she is dripping wet. Be sure to thoroughly
get the underside of her leaves. Repeat this process after 3-5 days until they are fully gone. If the neem
spray doesn’t do the job then 91% isopropyl alcohol will kill them. Take a cotton swab soaked in the
alcohol and rub where the bugs are.
Leafhoppers:
Identification: Leaf hoppers are most common in North America. They’re small (6mm long) slender
insects that can be green, yellow, or brown in color. They do not have wings but can jump long
distances. They feed on plants by piercing the underside of leaves and drink plant juices. Their saliva is
toxic and causes white spots to form on the leaves.
Symptoms: White spots on leaves, curling leaves, yellow leaves, stunted growth, leaf distortion.
Treatment: Get sticky traps to catch them as they jump around. If you see them put them outside
somewhere and thoroughly spray Tulasī with neem spray (recipe below) until she is dripping wet. Be
sure to thoroughly get the underside of her leaves. Repeat this process after 3-5 days until they are fully
gone. This will make the plant bug sick and go away.
Aphids:
Identification: Aphids are 3mm small, soft bodied insects, they can be green, yellow, brown, red, or
black in color depending on the species. They have two antennas on their head and two cornincles on
their hind. Usually they are wingless but sometimes can have wings. They’re not so harmful in small
quantities, but in large amounts they can do alot of damage causing Tulasī Devī to wilt, turn yellow, and
grow weak.
Symptoms: Mold, curling leaves, wilting, yellowing leaves, stunted growth.
Treatment: For enclosed grow spaces, Hover Flies or Aphidius bugs can be used to get rid of aphids.
Thoroughly spray Tulasī with neem spray (recipe below) until she is dripping wet. Be sure to thoroughly
get the underside of her leaves. Repeat this process after 3-5 days until they are fully gone.
Thrips:
Identification: Thrips are commonly found in greenhouses and gardens, they are really small (less than
1mm) yellow or black thin insects with wings. Without a microscope they look like little threads on the
leaves. They suck life out of plants, making them turn pale, and weak, and eventually killing them.
Symptoms: Pale leaves, silvery leaves, possible disfiguration of leaves, possible wilting.
Treatment: Get sticky traps to catch them as they fly around. Thoroughly spray Tulasī with neem spray
(recipe below) until she is dripping wet. Be sure to thoroughly get the underside of her leaves. Repeat
this process after 3-5 days until they are fully gone.
Natural Repellents:
Plants That Repel Bugs:
African Marigold (cracker Jack)
The smell of the flowers repel whiteflies.
Lupin
Crush lupin flowers and rub on Tulasī’s base or pot to prevent ants.
Penny Royal
A really great ant repellent.
Chrysanthemums
Repel spider mites and ants.
Petunias
Repel leafhoppers and may help with aphids.
Thyme
Helps repel whiteflies.
Nasturtiums
Repels aphids and whiteflies.
Note: These plants can be grown near Tulasī Devī to help repel bugs.
Nice Bugs That Eat Bad Bugs:
Metaphycus
Feed on scales.
Cryptolaemus
Feed on mealybugs and scales.
Aphidius
Feed on aphids.
Hover Flies
Feed on aphids.
Encarsia
Feed on whiteflies.
Note: These bugs can be kept with Tulasī Devī in enclosed growing areas, like greenhouses, to combat
any bugs that might hurt Tulasī Devī.
Neem Spray Recipe:
1 liter sized spray bottle
1 liter warm filtered water
½ teaspoon 100% organic neem oil
½ teaspoon organic eucalyptus castile soap
Mix oil and soap well in a spray bottle so the oil is evenly mixed. Then add warm water and stir/shake
thoroughly. When using the spray, be sure to thoroughly wet Tulasī Devī until she is dripping wet.
Thoroughly spray the underside of leaves because most bugs feed there. If the mixture has been left
sitting in the spray bottle, after some time it will need to be rewarmed and stirred thoroughly.
Note: Keep Tulasī and her space clean to help prevent bugs.
Nutrition Problems:
Nitrogen Deficiency:
Symptoms: Slow or no growth, pale leaves, red discoloration in some areas.
Treatment: Apply nutrients containing nitrogen such as Fox Farm’s Grow Big fertilizer and/or Fox Farm’s
Liquid Kelp Fertilizer every other time you water her until symptoms go away.
Trace Element Deficiency:
Potash:
Symptoms: Low immunity to diseases and pests, leaf discoloration.
Magnesium:
Symptoms: Starting from the inner foliage the leaves will turn yellow. Eventually the outer foliage will be
affected.
Manganese:
Symptoms: Young leaves turning yellow, some red discoloration here and there. If untreated older
leaves will also yellow.
Trace Element Treatment: Use a general nutrient like Fox Farm’s Grow Big fertilizer every other time
when watering until symptoms go away.
Note: Before treating Tulasī Devī for a nutrition deficiency, read the below symptoms of other common
problems. The symptoms of a nutrition deficiency can be confused with signs of other problems, so the
situation may not even be nutrient related. Treating Tulasī Devī with too much nutrient can lead to even
more problems.
Water Problems:
Over-Watered:
Symptoms: Soil is constantly wet, leaves are pale and turn brown at the tips (brown tips are also a
symptom of not enough humidity), and wilting. The most dangerous part of over watering is that the
roots can rot, this is known as “root-rot” or “die-back”. Once Tulasī Devī’s roots start to rot then it can
be tough to help her recover.
Treatment: Stop watering her for some time and wait until her soil is dry before attempting to water her
again. Follow the instructions on how to properly water Tulasī Devī here. If her soil is really drenched
and is taking a long time to get dry, then replace her soil. It will take her time to recover and she should
be fine in this regard as long as she is watered properly going forward.
Under-Watered:
Symptoms: When she’s under watered her leaves will turn pale, her soil will separate from the edge of
the pot, and soon, all of her leaves will become really soft and wilt. Her leaves will then dry up and she
will leave if she doesn’t get a full watering.
Treatment: Water her… for more details check out this article. She will go into shock and drop a lot of
leaves once she is watered again.
Note: For more details diagnosing and treating overwatering and underwatering we suggest reading this
article. To learn about how to properly water Tulasī Devī read this article.
Root-Rot:
Possible cause: Over watering.
Treatment: Take her out of the pot, take off all soil, cut off diseased roots, and repot her in new soil. Use
a fertilizer like Fox Farm’s Boomerang Fertilizer to help her recover quickly.
Note: To learn more about over-watering and root rot read this article.
Leaf Problems:
Green Leaves Falling Off:
Possible cause: Underwatered. Too much fertilizer. Drafts, breezes, temperature changes.
Treatment: Water her on time. If she was given too much fertilizer then flush her roots with water until
water flows freely out of the bottom of her pot. Keep her away from breezes, drafts, cold windows, etc.
Edge of Leaf Brown or Reddish:
Possible cause: Too much sun and heat through glass. Too close to grow lights. Too much fertilizer. Over
watered. Low humidity.
Treatment: Move grow lights a bit further away, move her away from direct sunlight through windows.
If due to low humidity, spray her with water throughout the day (if she is not in an enclosed space) or
get a humidifier. If it’s due to fertilizer, flush her soil with water until the water freely flows out of the
bottom of her pot. If due to over watering then following instructions in this article.
Yellowing Leaves:
Possible cause: Not enough light. Over fertilizing or in need of fertilizer. The soil is tired. Temperature
changes. Possibly bugs.
Treatment: First check the temperature for the time of year. Check for bugs. Might need fertilizer or had
too much fertilizer. Might need new soil and pot. May need better lighting.
Note: To learn more about soil read this article.
Curling Leaves:
Possible cause: Humidity too low, temperature too cold. Possibly bugs.
Treatment: Spray with water every morning (as long as she is not in an in closed space), or get a
humidifier. Make sure temperature is proper. Check for bugs.
Sagging/Wilting All Over:
Possible cause: Most likely underwatered. May have outgrown her pot. Temperature may be way too
cold. Possibly a case of untreated bug infestation.
Treatment: Check temperature. Most likely needs to be watered properly. To learn how to water Tulasī
Properly we suggest reading this article. Check for bugs. When she wilts she has gone into shock and will
lose a lot of leaves when she starts recovering.
Mold on Leaves:
Possible cause: Humidity to high, residue left from bug infestation.
Treatment: Spray with a mixture of turmeric and watered down milk, or with the neem oil spray (recipe
given above). Repeat this process after 3-5 days until the mold is gone. In small cases clean individual
leaves with a wet cloth. Lower humidity, check for bugs.
Spots on Leaves:
Possible cause: Most likely from a bug. Could be fungus.
Treatment: Check for bugs. If it is fungus then take off affected leaves and put outside. Spray with neem
spray once a day or apply powdered sulphur to leaves. Lower humidity and increase air flow.
Other Problems:
Not Enough Light:
Symptoms: Tulasī Devī’s branches are far apart, leaves are spread far apart and are small. She is “leggy”
and weak.
Treatment: Give her direct sunlight. Get better quality or more grow lights.
Moss on Top of Soil:
Possible cause: Humidity is too high. Soil is to compact. Stagnant humid air.
Treatment: Loosen top layer of soil, add a layer of fresh soil. Watch humidity and air flow. It may not
even be moss, if it is a dry white powder it may be excess salts from fertilizers or unfiltered water that
have built up in her soil.
Note: To learn more about soil read this article.
Fungus:
Symptoms: Yellowing and round brown spots appear on the leaves. May be confused with spots left by a
bug.
Treatment: Take off affected leaves and put outside. Spray with neem spray, repeat after 3-5 days until
all fungus is gone, or apply powdered sulphur to leaves. Lower humidity and increase air flow. Check for
bugs.
White Powder on Pot:
Possible cause: Access calcium or salts from unfiltered water and/or access fertilizer. Could be mold if
pot is constantly wet.
Treatment: Clean off powder. Start using only filtered water. If using filtered water then watch how
much fertilizer you’re using and check for symptoms of excess fertilizer. If its mold from her pot being
constantly wet then get a new pot and start watering her properly.
Note: To learn about how to properly water Tulasī Devī read this article.
We should keep in mind that Tulasī Devī is 100% transcendental; she does not really need all these
material facilities, but she uses them as a way to give us some service. She is our mother and she wants
what is best for us. By serving her she will push us and nurture us so we may one day desire to offer our
hearts.
Some parts of this diagnostic information is sourced from and inspired by ISKCON’s deityworship.com
We invite you to subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter to keep up to date with new articles and exciting
news!
Posted in Featured Tulasi Seva and tagged Air Diagnosis Light Nutrients Soil Water
Taken from the book “Gita-Mahatmya & Tulasi Devi Mahatmya of Padma Purana” by Krsna-dvaipayanaVyasa
Compiled by Padmalochan dasa ACBSP
Glories of Tulasi Devi
From Patalakanda of Padma Purana
Lord Siva said: “My dear Narad Muni, kindly listen now I will relate to you the wonderful glories of Tulasi
Devi.
One who hears Tulasi Devi’s glories will have all his sinful reactions, stored from many births, destroyed
and very quickly attain the lotus-feet of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.
The leaves, flowers, roots, bark, branches, trunk and the shade of Tulasi Devi are all spiritual.
One, whose dead body is burnt in a fire, which has Tulasi wood as fuel, will attain the spiritual world,
even if he is the most sinful of sinful persons, and the person who lights up that fire, will be freed from
all sinful reactions.
One who at the time of death takes the name of Lord Krsna and is touching the wood of Tulasi Devi will
attain the spiritual world.
When the dead body is being burnt, even if one small piece of Tulasi wood is put in the fire, then that
person will attain the spiritual world; by the touch of Tulasi all other wood is purified. When the
messengers of Lord Vishnu see a fire which has Tulasi wood burning in it they immediately come and
take that person whose body has been burnt to the spiritual world. The messengers of Yamaraj will not
come to that place when Tulasi wood is burning. That person’s body which has been burnt by Tulasi
wood goes to the spiritual world and on his way all the demigods shower flowers on him. When Lord
Vishnu and Lord Siva see that person on his way to the spiritual world, they become very happy and
bless him and Lord Krsna comes before him and taking his hand, He takes him to His own abode.
One, who happens to go to a place where Tulasi wood has been burnt will become purified of all sinful
reactions. That Brahmin, who is performing a fire sacrifice and places amongst the other wood Tulasi
wood, will get the result of one agnihotra yajna (fire sacrifice) for each grain offered in that fire.
One who offers Lord Krsna incense made of Tulasi wood will get the same result of one hundred fire
sacrifices and of giving one hundred cows in charity.
One who cooks an offering for Lord Krsna on a fire which has Tulasi wood in it, will attain the same
benefit as one who gives in charity a hill of grains as large as Mount Meru for each grain of such an
offering to Lord Krsna.
One who lights up a lamp to be offered to Lord Krsna with a piece of Tulasi wood will attain the same
benefit as one who offers ten million lamps to Lord Krsna.
There is no one more dear to Lord Krsna than that person.
One who applies the paste of Tulasi wood to the body of the Deity of Lord Krsna with devotion will
always live close to Lord Krsna.
That person who puts the mud from the base of Tulasi Devi 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 the varieties of flowers
after which he goes to the abode of Lord Krsna.
One who sees or comes near a house or garden where the Tulasi plant is present gets rid of all his
previous sinful reactions including that of killing a Brahmin.
Lord Krsna happily resides in that house, town, or forest, where Tulasi Devi is present.
That house where Tulasi Devi is present never falls on bad times and due to Tulasi Devi’s presence that
place becomes more pure than all the Holy places.
One who plants a Tulasi tree near the temple of Lord Krsna’s abode………
Wherever the smell of Tulasi Devi is taken by the wind it purifies everyone who comes in contact with it.
In that house where the mud from the Tulasi Devi is kept, all the demigods along with Lord Krsna will
always reside.
Wherever the shade of Tulasi Devi falls is purified and is the best place for offering fire sacrifices.
NOTE: - One must only use Tulasi wood which has been attained after Tulasi Devi has dried up, one must
never take Tulasi wood from a tree which has not dried up. (pages 64 – 66.)
Further Glorifications of Tulasi Devi
Sristikanda of Padma Purana
Kartikeya inquired : “My dear father (Lord Siva) which tree or plant is capable of giving love of God?”
Lord Siva replied : “My dear son, of all trees and plants Tulasi Devi is the topmost; She is all auspicious,
the fulfiller of all desires, completely pure, most dear to Lord Krsna and the topmost devotee.
Long ago, Lord Krsna for the welfare of all conditioned souls brought Vrindadevi in her form of a plant
(Tulasi) and planted her in this material world. Tulasi is the essence of all devotional activities. Without
Tulasi leaves, Lord Krsna does not like to accept flowers, food stuffs, sandalwood paste, in fact anything
without Tulasi leaves is not looked upon by Lord Krsna.
One who worships Lord Krsna daily with Tulasi leaves attains the results of all kinds of austerities,
charity, fire-sacrifices. In fact he does not have any other duties to perform, and he has realized the
essence of all scriptures.
Just as the Ganges river is purifying all who bathe in her, so Tulasi Devi is purifying the three worlds.
It is not possible to describe the full benefit of offering Tulasi Manjaris (flowers) to Lord Krsna. Lord
Krsna, along with all the other demigods lives wherever there is Tulasi Devi. For this reason one should
plant Tulasi Devi at one’s home and offer worship daily. One who sits near Tulasi Devi and chants or
recites prayers will attain the results much faster.
All forms of ghosts and demons run away from that place where Tulasi Devi is planted and all kinds of
sinful reactions are destroyed when one comes close to Tulasi Devi. One who makes a garden of Tulasi
plants gets the result of all charities and of one hundred fire sacrifices.
One who puts into his mouth or on his head the Tulasi leaves after they have been offered to Lord Krsna
attains the abode of Lord Krsna. In Kali-yuga, one who worships, performs kirtan in front of, remembers,
plants or keeps Tulasi burns up all his sinful reactions and attains Lord Krsna’s abode very quickly.
One who preaches the glories of Tulasi Devi and also practices what he preaches, becomes very dear to
Lord Krsna.
One who worships Tulasi Devi has already satisfied his guru, the Brahmins, demigods, and all the Holy
places.
One who offers a Tulasi leaf to Lord Krsna becomes a Vaishnava very quickly. What is the need of
understanding all the scriptures for one who has offered the wood or leaves of Tulasi Devi to Lord Krsna,
for he will never have to taste the milk from the breast of a mother again (he will never take birth
again).
One who has worshipped Lord Krsna with the leaves of Tulasi Devi has already released all his ancestors
from this realm of birth and death.
My dear Kartikeya, I have told you many of the glories of Tulasi Devi. If I was to describe her glories for
eternity I still would not be able to reach their conclusion.
One who remembers or tells others these glorifications of Tulasi Devi will never take birth again.
(pages 67 – 68.)
Sri Tulasi Stava of Sristikanda of Padma Purana
The Brahmin said : “Srila Vyasadeva, we have heard from you the glories of Tulasi Devi’s leaves and
flowers. Now we would like to hear from you the Tulasi Stava (prayer)”
Srila Vyasadeva replied: “Previously a disciple of Shatanand Muni had approached him with folded
hands and inquired about the Tulasi Stava”.
Disciple: “Oh top most of all devotees of Lord Krsna, kindly relate that Tulasi Stava, which you had heard
from the mouth of Lord Brahma.” Shatanand replied : “Just by taking the name of Tulasi Devi one
pleases Lord Krsna and destroys all sinful reactions”.
One who just sees Tulasi Devi gets the benefit of giving millions of cows in charity and when that person
offers worship and prayers to Tulasi Devi then that person becomes worthy of worship in this Kali-yuga.
In the Kali-yuga that person who plants a Tulasi tree for the pleasure of Lord Krsna even if the
messengers of Yamaraj are angry with him, what can they do to him, he need not fear even death
personified.
Tulasi amrita janmasi sada twam keshava priya
Keshavartham chinomi twam varada bhava sobhane
Twadang sambhavai aniyam
Pujayami yatha hatim
Tatha kuru pavitrangi
Kalou mata vinashini
One who chants this mantra while picking Tulasi leaves and then offers them to Lord Krsna’s lotus feet,
the results of that offering is increased millions of times.
Now listen carefully to the Tulasi Stava:
1 munayah sidha-gandharvah
Patale nagarat svayam
Prabhavam tava deveshi
Gayanti sura-sattama
2 na te prabhavam jananti
devatah keshavadrite
gunanam patimananutu
kalpakotisha-tairapi
3 krsna-anandat samudbhnutu
kshiroda – mathanodyame
uttamange pura yena
tulasi-vishnu na dhrita
4 prapyaitani tvaya devi
vishno-rangani sarvashah
pavitrata tvaya prapta
tulasim tvam namamyaham
5 tvadanga-sambhavaih patrai
puja-yami yatha harim
tatha kurushva me vighna
yato yami para gatim
6 ropita gomati-tire
svayam-krsnena palita
jagaddhitaya tulasi
gopinam hita-hetave
7 vrindavane vicharata
sevita vishnuna svayam
gokulasya vivriddhyath
kamsasya nidhanaya cha
8 vashishtha vachanat purvam
ramen sarayu-tate
rakshasanam vadharthaya
ropit-tvam jagat-priye
ropita-tapaso vridhyai
tulasi-tvam namamyaham
9 viyoge raghavendra-sya
dhyatva tvam janak atmaja
ashokavana-madhye tu
priyena saha-sangata
10 shankarartha pura devi
parvatya tvam himalaye
ropita sevita siddhyai
tulasi-tvam namamyaham
11 dharmaranye gayayam cha
sevita pitribhih svayam
sevita tulasi punya
atmano hita-michhata
12 ropita ramachandren
sevita lakshmanena cha
sitaya palita bhaktya
tulasi-dandake vane
13 trailokya-vyapini ganga
yatha-shastre-shu giyate
tathaiva tulasi devi
drisyate sacharachare
14 rishyamuke cha vasata
kapirajen sevita
tulasi balinashaya
tarasangam-hetave
15 pranamya tulasi-devi
sagarot tkramanam kritam
krit-karayah prahusthascha
hanuman punaragataha
16 tulasi grahanam kritva
vimukto yati patakaih
athava munishardula
brahma-hatyam-vyapohati
17 tulasi patra-galitam
yastoyam-sirasa vahet
ganga-snanam avapnoti
dasha-dhenu phala-pradam
18 prasid devi deveshi
prasid hari vallabhe
kshirod-mathanod bhute
tulasi tvam namamyaham
19 dvadasyam jagare ratrou
yah pathet tulasi stavam
dvatrim-shadaperadhans cha
kshamate tasya keshavah
One who worships Tulasi Devi on Dwadasi (the 12 day) and chants this Tulasi Stava destroys all 32 kinds
of sinful reactions. Lord Krsna becomes very happy with that person.
In that house, where this Tulasi Stava is present misfortune never visits, not even by accident, and the
Goddess of Fortune will happily reside there.
One who recites this Tulasi Stava will attain devotion to Lord Krsna and his mind will not wonder away
from the lotus-feet of Lord Krsna.
That person who keeps awake on the Deadasi night after worshipping Tulasi Devi with this Stava will
attain the benefit of visiting all the Holy places and his mind will never contemplate enjoying separately
from Lord Krsna. Not only this but that fortunate devotee will never be separated from the association
of the Vaishnavas (devotees of Lord Krsna.)
(pages 69 – 71.)
Asta-Naam-Stava
Eight names of Tulasi Devi
Vrindavani, vrinda, visvapujita, pushpasara,
Nandina, krsna-jivani, visva-pavani, tulasi
Vrindavani – one who first manifested in Vrindavan.
Vrinda – The goddess of all plants and trees (even if one Tulasi plant is present in a forest it can be called
Vrindavan.).
Visvapujita – one whom the whole universe worships.
Pushpasara – the top most of all flowers, without whom Krishna does not like to look upon other
flowers.
Nandini – seeing whom gives unlimited bliss to the devotees.
Krishna-jivani – The life of Krishna.
Visva-pavani – one who purifies the three worlds.
Tulasi – one who has no comparison.
Anyone while worshipping Tulasi Devi chants these eight names will get the same result as one who
performs the Asvamed Yagna and one who on the full moon day of Karttik (Tulasi Devi’s appearance
day) worships her with this mantra will break free from the bonds of this miserable world of birth and
death, and very quickly attains Goloka Vrindavan. On the full moon day of Karttik Lord Krishna Himself
worships Tulasi Devi with this mantra..
One who remembers this mantra will very quickly attain devotion to Lord Krishna’s lotus feet.
(page 72.)