Tulasi questions

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Tulasi questions

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Dandavats to Karnamrta and Arcana-siddhi, and all of you who are dear to all

of us. Jaya Prabhupada.

 

> On another topic I have a question about Tulasi

> worship. I came across the following quotes in Amala

> Bhakta's book "The life of Tulasi Devi", which

> recounts the Story of Tulasi's appearance in the

> material world taken from the Brahma-Vaivarta Purana.

> In the chapter entitled, "Blessings Tulasi Devi will

> Bestow", Lord Narayana gives many nectar blessings

> from Tulasi worship and also great offences, of which

> I have a question about:

>

> "Lord Hari will decapitate that person who, on the day

> of the new moon or the full moon, or on the twelth or

> last day of the lunar month,

 

(According to this injunction of Padma Purana) this means on Amavasya,

Purnima, Dvadasi, Caturdasi, one is forbidden to collect the Tulasi leaves.

 

> or after being anointed

> with oil just before taking a bath, or at noon, night,

> daybreak or sundown, or in a state of impurity or in

> one's night dress--will cull or pluck the Tulasi

> leaf."

 

I 'feel' this stresses the importance of serving Tulasi Rani according to

*her* standards and not according to our *crisis management*.

 

According to the injunctions above, Brahminical devotees should collect Her

leaves in a Brahminical manner. FEar of the Lord's chastisment helps

sadhakas "toe the line".

 

Tulasi is the wife and an eternally situated nitya kinkari of the Lord

remember,,

 

> I know about the "twelth day of the lunar month" which

> is Dwadasi, but what is the "last day of the lunar

> month"?

 

chaturdasi the day before the Purnima when the lunar month changes over.

 

> Also can we pick Tulas on the other Dwadasi??

 

If one dvadasi is forbidden, how can it be okay to collect her leaves on the

other dvadasi? *all*dvadasi's are forbidden to collect Tulasi leaves.

 

> Time of the day can be a difficult on here as the

> Tulasi pujari, is not very timely with picking leaves,

> and sometimes there is none so I pick them in the

> morning when it is still dark. I can say that it is

> for Krsna 's service, and He will cover for me, but I

> don't want to rationalize. Anyway what is your take on

> these list of don'ts. I can certainly understand being

> clean, and regulated, and to have rules so we don't

> take Her lightly. However there are times like I gave

> when I have to make a choise out of necessity.

 

keep a big stock of dry leaves and old tulasi small twigs to break up and

use when you need to for emergencies..Why risk offending her for your

convienence?

 

Padma Purana also states that if needed be (obviously for himalaya type

climates) you can touch the a twig of tulasi wood to the bhoga (or the

Lord's Lotus Feet) and wash it off and offer it tomarrow as an offering of

Tulasi.

 

In a pinch you can chant her Name and meditate on Her presence if you have

no recourse to dry leaves etc.

 

ys MMDASBR