Srimati Tulasi Maharani, details of care etc

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Srimati Tulasi Devi

 

Caring for a pure devotee in a plant body...

 

 

 

For proper worship of Vishnu Tattva Deities, which includes Sri Krishna,

one must have Tulasi leaf and flower to sprinkle on the offering plates

before bringing them on the altar. So growing Tulasi plants goes on at

most temples, if the plants are not available locally commonly.

 

In India, one often sees Tulasi growing on a raised pillar in the middle

of the temple courtyards, etc.

 

Serious Vishnu Bhaktas, like the folks at all Hare Krishna centers, will

be growing Tulasi as a regular course of their lives. They will have

seeds and or small plants to share.

 

However, they are protective about the plants. Some will not give them

out to outsiders who are not "initiated" in Vishnu Bhakti through

surrender to Guru etc. This is to protect Srimati Tulasi Devi from abuse.

 

You can find Tulasi as an ingredient in many Ayurvedic medicines. Strict

Vaisnavas get great pains seeing that Tulasi is being slaughtered for medicine.

 

The only time Vaisnavas will eat Tulasi leaf or flower is after is has

been offered to Vishnu or Krishna on the altar, otherwise they consider

her STRICTLY to be the property of Krishna, like other divine

paraphanelia or personalities, and therefore, not to be "taken"

whimsically by us at any time.

 

So if one seeks to own a Tulasi plant, one will have to acquire seeds or

a small plant. This should be done. Everyone should grow Tulasi if

possible. You can approach the devotees or seek a seed source.

 

The Tulasi plant is scientifically a type of Basil plant. It is NOT the

kinds of Basil you can buy in stores in the West. There are many types

of Basil, and some look an awful lot like Tulasi but still are not.

Tulasi itself comes in a couple minor varieties or sub species I guess

you could say.

 

It is considered that the Tulasi plant is an expansion of the soul of

Srimati Tulasi Devi, an exalted devotee in Heaven (the eternal spiritual

world of the Vedic scriptures telling), and that therefore any offense

towards the plant is to be avoided. The Vaisnavas bow to the plant,

treat it like a deity essentially, worship it everyday, give it special

treatment. In Hare Krishna temples, they sew skirts for the pots (as if

it's a lady with a dress on so to speak). VERY CUTE. Very Devotional.

This is so good for people to see and feel.

 

It may look weird, but think about it, who the heck are you to say!

 

The final step in installing a Vishnu or Krishna deitie is to stick a

Tulasi leaf on the foot of the deity with Sandalwood paste, as if to

signify,

 

THIS deitie is now GOD HIMSELF, therefore, we can STICK A TULASI LEAF on

it's foot and be CORRECT.

 

It's the final step in Pran Pratishta, or inviting the breath of God

into the deity. From this, one can grasp the high place Tulasi holds in

Hindu Vaisnava Thought.

 

The beads worn around the neck and chanted on are made from expired

Tulasi bushes. In Vrndavan India, Krishnas city, many are engaged in

making beeds from old expired Tulasi trunks. The bush can grow to be

large, like a person say, but is usually a small bush, only knee high

from the Earth say. Generally, a Tulasi plant is a small bush with a

firm woody stem and twigs, very soft small almond shaped leaves, bushy

long flowers, and an incredible aroma and taste overall. Indeed, the

leaves are very very tasty, as either a spice or whatever, and the smell

of the plant is something else. It's very special.

 

Note that Vrndavan is considered to be essentially a forest of Tulasi

plants, in subtle essence anyway, don't expect to see that now on Earth,

but there are places in India and Hawaii where there are TONS of Tulasi

growing wild.

 

The Tulasi plant prefers warmth and humidity. I have raised Tulasi

houses successfully in Portland Oregon and Londong England, two places

that don't naturally qualify at all. She'll die outside in such places.

 

So for most of america and most of the Western World, you have to raise

her indoors, but she's not an indoor plant. So, you have to give her

special circumstances. The best thing is a small indoor greenhouse, so

that you can control the humidity and warmth. If she is warm and damp,

like as if in a jungle, then she'll grow like crazy and be bright green

and healthy. This is such a pleasure to see. She is an incredibly

beautiful and stunning plant. Really. It's a sweet feeling to raise Tulasi.

 

But if she dies in your care, it's not a sweet feeling at all. It's

rather sad, and it happens. It's best to take this seriously.

 

I generally build an indoor greenhouse, from floor to ceiling, but it

can be as small as 3 ft high deep and wide, simply by putting up strips

of wide thick plastic, like plastic tarps or whatever, glass is best,

get as fancy as you want. I put in shelves and full spectrum plant

lights. Everything you need is available in all modern places. Then I

bring in She. I spray her a few times a day, and keep her soil moist.

She likes loam, not acidic soil. Forget what they say about making it

sandy, no, make it light, as her tender roots will then go crazy in that

nice black rich light soil as she grows. She'll be happy.

 

If you care about her, you'll be able to feel her. She's very sensitive.

She's soft and supple. She's not at all agressive. Not too wet, but not

too dry, just right, and with nice light, she can handle alot of light

in the right temperature and humidity.

 

She dies usually from cold drafts, drying up, dry air, spiders, white

flies, spider mites, other types of plant mites, the presence of dogs or

cats or other ignorant innocently abusive animals, neglect of spirit,

and bad vibes in the home which don't welcome her Lord Sri Vishnu

(purity in the home is good). She's a Bhakti Barometer. She is so tasty

and good and kind that all forms of bugs love to eat her. You must not

let them, but you must not use harsh anything around her. We used to

pick off small bugs of all types one by one by hand to avoid poisons or

making her watch carnage of critters, which she also doesnt like to see.

 

You can pick a few leaves each day, the ones that want to mature and

fall off come off easily, and you place them on top of the food just

before you offer it. You do not use her in the cooking. You set the

fresh leaves right on top of the food as you bring it to Krishna. Just

lightly wash off each leaf first, that's all. You can also pick the

flowers and use them in the exact same way. You can also just give these

to Krishna, or God, directly, by placing them on the altar, and offering

them with a prayer, or on Krishnas feet, or make a garland of them and

put it on Krishna.

 

After these leaf and flowers are offered, you may and should eat them.

They are tasty, good for you, and good for devotion. Never treat them

bad in any way.

 

To learn more about Tulasi, hang out with the Tulasi Pujari (caretaker)

at any Hare Krishna or other Vaisnava temple, or place where Tulasi is

grown and worshipped fully. There are books in Sanskrit, Hindi and

English just on the matter of her Divinity and Care.

 

Jai Srimati Tulasi Maharani