Guest guest Posted June 1, 2001 Report Share Posted June 1, 2001 Please kindly post and give this message to all the householders who worship Tulasi devi. They may like it. ys MMDASBR Generally ISKCON members encourage everyone and anyone to wear tulasi neck beads and tilaka. I have just heard from a Nepali Vaisnava that one who is wearing tulasi and tilaka must live to the highest standards of Vaisnava life and morality--that it is a great offense to tell a lie while wearing tulasi beads. > My Tulsi is attacked by white insects ? What is the solution ? > What kind of insecticide maybe used ? I have some experience that tumeric, powdered or freshly ground, either made into a paste in water or cow's urine or the powder supended in the liquid and smeared or -- in the case of the suspension, simply applied to the plant -- works.This worked actually against what appeared to be a fungus infestation on her branches. > What kind of insecticide maybe used? A vaisnava is non-violent. He doesn't kill *any* living entity. Insect *repelant* would have been a better word. Maybe the author knew this but is not proficient in English. Tumeric is a general antiseptic. > Should the soil be changed in this case? If your Tulasi is suffering from any infestation, she is likely weak and so subjecting her to any kind of additional stress -- as changing the soil would be -- should not be done. At other times, even if the soil is less than desired, changing it is a strain. Nature has ways of adjusting the properties of the soil by her own methods if you simply keep the soil aerated and satisfactorily watered. Rasananda das I read them in a book from Padmalocana dasa, I think it was "Tulasi Mahatmya". The verse was: Vrindavani vrinde visva-pujita puspa-sara Nandini krsna-jivani visva-pavani tulasi I found other version of it in Mahanidhi Swami´s "Appreciating Sri Vrindavana Dhama". Krsna-jivani, nandini, puspasara, tulasi; visva-pavani, visvapujita, vrnda, vrndavani There it is said it is from Padma-Purana. Translation: "Tulasi is the life of Krsna and she gives unlimited bliss to the devotees. She is the best of all flowers and her presence is required on any garland to be worn by Krsna. She is one who has no comparison. Tulasi purifies the three worlds and is worshiped all over the universe. Tulasi is the goddess of all plants and trees; and she first manifested in Vrindavana". Mahanidhi Swami adds: "On Srimati Tulasi-devi´s appearence day (the full moon day in Kartikk month), Sri Krsna Himself worships her with this mantra. One who remembers this mantra will very quickly attain devotion for Sri Krsna". Here is the 108 names of Tulasi.Sorry, I do not have information regarding it's source. tulasã aùñottara÷ata nàmàvaliþ .. OM ÷rã tulasyai namaþ . OM nandinyai namaþ . OM devyai namaþ . OM ÷ikhinyai namaþ . OM dhàriõyai namaþ . OM dhàtryai namaþ . OM sàvitryai namaþ . OM satyasandhàyai namaþ . OM kàlahàriõyai namaþ . OM gauryai namaþ . OM devagãtàyai namaþ . OM dravãyasyai namaþ . OM padminyai namaþ . OM sãtàyai namaþ . OM rukmiõyai namaþ . OM priyabhåùaõàyai namaþ . OM ÷reyasyai namaþ . OM ÷rãmatyai namaþ . OM mànyàyai namaþ . OM gauryai namaþ . OM gautamàrcitàyai namaþ . OM tretàyai namaþ . OM tripathagàyai namaþ . OM tripàdàyai namaþ . OM traimårtyai namaþ . OM jagatrayàyai namaþ . OM tràsinyai namaþ . OM gàtràyai namaþ . OM gàtriyàyai namaþ . OM garbhavàriõyai namaþ . OM ÷obhanàyai namaþ . OM samàyai namaþ . OM dviradàyai namaþ . OM àràdyai namaþ . OM yaj¤avidyàyai namaþ . OM mahàvidyàyai namaþ . OM guhyavidyàyai namaþ . OM kàmàkùyai namaþ . OM kulàyai namaþ . OM ÷rãyai namaþ . OM bhåmyai namaþ . OM bhavitryai namaþ . OM sàvitryai namaþ . OM saravedavidàmvaràyai namaþ . OM ÷aükhinyai namaþ . OM cakriõyai namaþ . OM càriõyai namaþ . OM capalekùaõàyai namaþ . OM pãtàmbaràyai namaþ . OM prota somàyai namaþ . OM saurasàyai namaþ . OM akùiõyai namaþ . OM ambàyai namaþ . OM sarasvatyai namaþ . OM sam÷rayàyai namaþ . OM sarva devatyai namaþ . OM vi÷và÷rayàyai namaþ . OM sugandhinyai namaþ . OM suvàsanàyai namaþ . OM varadàyai namaþ . OM su÷roõyai namaþ . OM candrabhàgàyai namaþ . OM yamunàpriyàyai namaþ . OM kàveryai namaþ . OM maõikarõikàyai namaþ . OM arcinyai namaþ . OM sthàyinyai namaþ . OM dànapradàyai namaþ . OM dhanavatyai namaþ . OM socyamànasàyai namaþ . OM ÷ucinyai namaþ . OM ÷reyasyai namaþ . OM prãticintekùaõyai namaþ . OM vibhåtyai namaþ . OM àkçtyai namaþ . OM àvirbhåtyai namaþ . OM prabhàvinyai namaþ . OM gandhinyai namaþ . OM svarginyai namaþ . OM gadàyai namaþ . OM vedyàyai namaþ . OM prabhàyai namaþ . OM sàrasyai namaþ . OM sarasivàsàyai namaþ . OM sarasvatyai namaþ . OM ÷aràvatyai namaþ . OM rasinyai namaþ . OM kàldinyai namaþ . OM ÷reyovatyai namaþ . OM yàmàyai namaþ . OM brahmapriyàyai namaþ . OM ÷yàmasundaràyai namaþ . OM ratnaråpiõyai namaþ . OM ÷amanidhinyai namaþ . OM ÷atànandàyai namaþ . OM ÷atadyutaye namaþ . OM ÷itikaõñhàyai namaþ . OM prayàyai namaþ . OM dhàtryai namaþ . OM ÷rã vçndàvanyai namaþ . OM kçùõàyai namaþ . OM bhaktavatsalàyai namaþ . OM gopikàkrãóàyai namaþ . OM haràyai namaþ . OM amçtaråpiõyai namaþ . OM bhåmyai namaþ . OM ÷rã kçùõakàntàyai namaþ . OM ÷rã tulasyai namaþ .. iti tulasã aùñottara÷ata nàmàvaliþ .. Ask Sundarananda to help you deciper it correctly. Eight Names of Vrinda Devi Vrinda Devi: She has thousands and thousands of sakhis (associate maidservants). Vrindavani: She never leaves Vrndavana. Visvapujita: The whole world worships her. Visvapavana: She is the sanctified of the whole world Puspasara: She is the essence of all flowers. Nandini: She gives happiness to everyone. Tulasi-Devi: She has an incomparable form Krsna-jivani: She is the life and soul of Lord Krishna. >May be you know some stories about her as a Deity and > as a personality in the spiritual world. Stories: One time, Narada Muni was desirous to participate in the rasa dance. Kusuma Sarovar is the place Vrnda devi asked Narada Muni to jump into the waters. He obtained the form of a gopi and was able to participate in the rasa dance. There is another kund close to Kusuma Sarova, on the other side of the parikrama trail. Kusuma Sarova is part of Govardhana. This other kund is about 1/2 a kilometer off the parikrama path, right off the side of Kusuma Sarova. It is called Narada Kunda. (Lokanath Swami added) None of our boys became gopies, although they were swimming all day long. Maybe they increased their appreciation of the Gopis. By hearing that on the bank of Kusuma Sarova, (Kusuma means flowers), gopis come there to pick flowers. On their way to Radhakund, the gopis come to Kusuma Sarova to pick many varieties of fresh flowers from the garden personally supervised and maintained by Vrndadevi. Uddhava himself is residing there now, on the bank of Kusuma Sarovar in the form of creepers and grasses, hoping to get the dust of the feet of the gopies who come there. I offer pujas, sing > Vrinda-devi-astaka bhajan and offer her bhoga but I do not know how to do > it in a right way. Do it all with love. I have no specific idea. AGain I'll ask and get back with you on puja details. > How important is this Deity is for acaryas in our sampradaya, >what philosophical sense is in worshipping her and following her footsteps? Well Vishvanatha Chakravarti wrote the Vrnda-devi astakam so for him definitely, She is important. Why not us? SP never established her worship, but it is understood that when you worship Tulasi devi you are also worshipping Vrnda-Devi simultaneously. Yes continue to chant and serve Tulasi devi, she can give you Krsna if she wants to. Also encourage other devotees to take shelter of Tulasi and the holy name. If you want to please Tulasi, then chant her glories, and Krsna's name and glories to her and other devotees too. memorise and post these verses so others can see also. Taking shelter of Srimati Tulasi devi burns away material desires and purifies anyone. This is due to Her special characteristics as an nitya-parsada (eternal associate of the Lord). Srila Visvanath Chakravarti's Vrndadevi-astakam, text 7 Tvam kirtase satvata-tantra-vidbhir lilabhidhana kila krsna-saktih tavaiva murtis tulasi nr-loke vrnde namas te caranaravindam tvam-you; kirtase-are glorified;-satvata-tantra-vidbhih-by those who know the Satvata- Tantra; lila-pastimes; abhidhana-by the name; kila-indeed; krsna-of Lord Krsna; saktih-the potency; tava-your; eva-indeed; murtih-form; tulasi-tulasi; nr-loke-in human society: vrnde-unto Vrnda-Devi; namah-obeisances; te-unto you; caranaravindam-lotus feet. They who are learned in the Satvata-tantra glorify you. You are Krsna's pastime potency. The Tulasi plant is your form in the world of men. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet. Srila Visvanath Chakravarti's Vrndadevi-astakam, text 8 bhaktya vihina aparadha-laksaih ksiptas ca kamadi-taranga-madhye krpamayi tvam saranam prapanna vrnde namas te caranaravindam bhaktya-of devotional service; vihinah-devoid; aparadha-of offenses; laksaih-with thousands; ksiptah-thrown; ca-and; kama-of lust; adi-and other inauspicious qualities; taranga-of the waves; madhye-in the midst; krpamayi-O merciful one; tvam-you; saranam-shelter; prapannah-attain.vrnde-unto Vrnda-Devi; namah-obeisances; te-unto you; caranaravindam-lotus feet. O merciful one, they who have no devotion and they whom millions of offenses have thrown into the waves of lust and other vices take shelter of you. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet. Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 3: Chapter Fifteen, Text 19 mandara-kunda-kurabotpala-campakarna- punnaga-naga-bakulambuja-parijatah gandhe 'rcite tulasikabharanena tasya yasmims tapah sumanaso bahu manayanti mandara--mandara; kunda--kunda; kuraba--kuraba; utpala--utpala; campaka--campaka; arna--arna flower; punnaga--punnaga; naga--nagakesara; bakula--bakula; ambuja--lily; parijatah--parijata; gandhe--fragrance; arcite--being worshiped; tulasika--tulasi; abharanena--with a garland; tasyah--of her; yasmin--in which Vaikuntha; tapah --austerity; su-manasah--good minded, Vaikuntha minded; bahu--very much; manayanti--glorify. TRANSLATION Although flowering plants like the mandara, kunda, kurabaka, utpala, campaka, arna, punnaga, nagakesara, bakula, lily and parijata are full of transcendental fragrance, they are still conscious of the austerities performed by tulasi, for tulasi is given special preference by the Lord, who garlands Himself with tulasi leaves. PURPORT The importance of tulasi leaves is very clearly mentioned here. Tulasi plants and their leaves are very important in devotional service. Devotees are recommended to water the tulasi tree every day and collect the leaves to worship the Lord. One time an atheistic svami remarked, "What is the use of watering the tulasi plant? It is better to water eggplant. By watering the eggplant one can get some fruits, but what is the use of watering the tulasi?" 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 tulasi. In the Vaikuntha world entered by the four Kumaras, even the birds and flowers are conscious of service to the Lord. Bhakti-Rasamrta sindhuh 1.2.203) Atha Tadiyanam sevanam, Tulasyah, yatha Skande- ya drsta nikhilagha-sangha-samani sprsta vapuh pavani, roganamabhivandita nirasani siktantakatrasini pratyasatti-vidhayini bhagavatah krsnasya sanropita nyasta taccarane vimukti-phalada tasyai tulasyai namah In the Skanda Purana there is a statement praising the tulasi tree as follows: "Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the tulasi tree, which can immediately vanquish volumes of sinful activities. Simply by seeing or touching this tree one can become relieved from all distresses and diseases. Simply by offering obeisances to and pouring water on the tulasi tree, one can become freed from the fear of being sent to the court of Yamaraja [the King of death, who punishes the sinful]. If someone sows a tulasi tree somewhere, certainly he becomes devoted to Lord Krsna. And when the tulasi leaves are offered in devotion at the lotus feet of Krsna, there is the full development of love of Godhead." (NOD page 99) In India all Hindus, even those not belonging to the Vaisnava group, take special care of the tulasi tree. Even in great cities where it is very difficult to keep a tulasi tree, people are to be found very carefully keeping this plant. They water it and offer obeisances to it, because worship of the tulasi tree is very important in devotional service. (NOD PAGE 100) In the Skanda Purana there is another statement about tulasi, as follows: Bhakti-Rasamrta sindhuh 1.2.204-205) (Tatha ca tatraiva-there is another statement) drsta sprsta tatha dhyata kirtita namita stuta ropita sevita nityam pujita tulasi subha navadha tulasim devim ye bhajanti dine dine yuga-koti-sahasrani te vasanti harergrhe "Tulasi is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by re-membering, 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 tulasi tree in the above-mentioned ways lives eternally in the Vaikuntha world." (NOD PAGE 100) I hope this helps out. ys MMDASBR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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