Guest guest Posted September 18, 2008 Report Share Posted September 18, 2008 Why do we worship Tulasi ? Benefits of Worshiping Tulasi-devi Although we can never fully describe the glories of Tulasi-devi, an eternal associate of Lord Krsna. The scriptures give us a hint of the value of worshiping her. The following list comes from the Padma Purana. Tulasi is the essence of all devotional activities. The leaves, flowers, roots, bark, branches, trunk, and shade of Tulasi-devi are all spiritual. One who with devotion applies the paste of Tulasi wood to the Deity of Krsna will always live close to Krsna. One who puts mud from the base of the Tulasi tree on his body and worships the Deity of Lord Krsna gets the results of one hundred days worship each day. One who offers a Tulasi manjari to Lord Krsna gets the benefit of offering all other varieties of flowers, and he goes to the abode of Krsna. One who sees or comes near a house or garden where the Tulasi plant is present gets rid of all his sinful reactions, including that of killing a brahmana. Lord Krsna happily lives in the house, town, or forest where Tulasi-devi is present A house where Tulasi-devi is present never falls on bad times, and it becomes purer than all holy places. The fragrance of Tulasi-devi purifies all who smell it. Lord Krsna and all the demigods live in a house where mud from the base of the Tulasi tree is found. Without Tulasi leaves, Lord Krsna does not like to accept flowers, food, or sandalwood paste. One who worships Lord Krsna daily with Tulasi leaves attains the results of all kinds of austerity, charity, and sacrifice. In fact, he has no other duties to perform, and he has realized the essence of the scriptures. One who puts into his mouth or on his head Tulasi leaves that have been offered to Lord Krsna attains Lord Krsna's abode. Why do we worship tulasi? In Sanskrit, tulanaa naasti athaiva tulasi - that which is incomparable (in its qualities) is the tulasi. For Indians it is one of the most sacred plants. In fact it is known to be the only thing used in worship, which, once used, can be washed and reused in pooja - as it is regarded so self-purifying. As one story goes, Tulasi was the devoted wife of Shankhachuda, a celestial being. She believed that Lord Krishnatricked her into sinning. So she cursed Him to become a stone (shaaligraama) . Seeing her devotion and adhered to righteousness, the Lord blessed her saying that she would become the worshipped plant, tulasi that would adorn His head. Also that all offerings would be incomplete without the tulasi leaf - hence the worship of tulasi.She also symbolises Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu. Those who wish to be righteous and have a happy family life worship the tulasi. Tulasi is married to the Lord with all pomp and show as in any wedding. This is because according to another legend, the Lord blessed her to be His consort. Satyabhama once weighed Lord Krishna against all her legendary wealth. The scales did not balance till a single tulasi leaf was placed along with the wealth on the scale by Rukminiwith devotion. Thus the tulasi played the vital role of demonstrating to the world that even a small object offered with devotion means more to the Lord than all the wealth in the world. The tulasi leaf has great medicinal value and is used to cure various ailments, including the common cold. "Yanmule sarvatirhaani Yannagre sarvadevataa Yanmadhye sarvavedaascha Tulasi taam namaamyaham" I bow down to the tulasi, At whose base are all the holy places, At whose top reside all the deities and In whose middle are all the Vedas. Mutual respect should be given to Tulsi plant.... let me give you some points from Garuda PURANA... Lord says, 2.29.23 "O bird, there are five types of boats [panca pravahana] to succor saintly men who may otherwise get drowned in the ocean of worldly existence - tulasi, brahmanas, cows, Visnu and the Ekadasiday. 2.32.100 "In this shadowy world of unsurmountable difficulties, the following six incite devotion: meditation on Visnu, observance of vow on the eleventh day of the month (Ekadasi), listening to the Bhagavadgita, worship of the sacred plant Tulasi, brahmanas and cows. 2.38.11 "O bird, by growing, nurturing, sprinkling, saluting and extolling the Tulasi plant man's sin accumulated in various births is wiped off. 3.29.39 "He should bow to Tulasi and remember Visnu and His consort Laksmi. Tulasi plant is a place of pilgrimage "Every home with a Tulasi plant is a place of pilgrimage, and no diseases, messengers of Yama, the God of Death, can enter it." Skandapurana 2, 4, 8, 13 Padmapurana Uttarakhanda Wherever the aroma of Tulasi is carried by the wind, it purifies the atmosphere and frees all animals from all baser tendencies." Padmapurana, Uttarakhanda "Vishnu, the Lord of the Three Worlds, takes up abode in the village or the house where Tulasi is grown. In such a house no one suffers calamities like poverty, illness or separations from dear ones." Padmapurana, Uttarakhanda, 6-24-31-32 Benefits of Worshiping Tulasi-devi Although we can never fully describe the glories of Tulasi-devi, an eternal associate of Lord Krsna. The scriptures give us a hint of the value of worshiping her. The following list comes from the Padma Purana. Tulasi is the essence of all devotional activities. The leaves, flowers, roots, bark, branches, trunk, and shade of Tulasi-devi are all spiritual. One who with devotion applies the paste of Tulasi wood to the Deity of Krsna will always live close to Krsna. One who puts mud from the base of the Tulasi tree on his body and worships the Deity of Lord Krsna gets the results of one hundred days worship each day. One who offers a Tulasi manjari to Lord Krsna gets the benefit of offering all other varieties of flowers, and he goes to the abode of Krsna. One who sees or comes near a house or garden where the Tulasi plant is present gets rid of all his sinful reactions, including that of killing a brahmana. Lord Krsna happily lives in the house, town, or forest where Tulasi-devi is present A house where Tulasi-devi is present never falls on bad times, and it becomes purer than all holy places. The fragrance of Tulasi-devi purifies all who smell it. Lord Krsna and all the demigods live in a house where mud from the base of the Tulasi tree is found. Without Tulasi leaves, Lord Krsna does not like to accept flowers, food, or sandalwood paste. One who worships Lord Krsna daily with Tulasi leaves attains the results of all kinds of austerity, charity, and sacrifice. In fact, he has no other duties to perform, and he has realized the essence of the scriptures. One who puts into his mouth or on his head Tulasi leaves that have been offered to Lord Krsna attains Lord Krsna's abode. Tulsi's benefits in Kaliyuga In Kali-yuga, one who worships, remembers, plants, keeps, or performs kirtana before Tulasi burns up all sinful reactions and quickly attains Lord Krsna's abode. One who worships Lord Krsna with Tulasi leaves releases all his ancestors from the realm of birth and death. One who remembers the glories of Tulasi or tells others about them will never take birth again. Worship Tulasi Devi Whoever worships Tulasi Devi with her eight names and their meanings--Vrinda, Vrindavani, Viswapavani, Visvapujita, Tulasi, Puspasara, Nandini, and Krsna Jivani--and properly sings this hymn of eight verses, acquires the merit of performing an Ashvamedha(horse) sacrifice. Because Tulasi was born on the lunar day of the full moon in the month of Kartika, Lord Hari prescribed this day for her worship. Whoever worships her on this day will be freed from all sins and go to Vaikuntha. Whoever, out of reverence, gives Lord Visnu a Tulasi leaf in the month of Kartika, will gain the same benefit obtained by giving the gift of ten million cows. By hearing or recalling the Tulasi hymn, a son will be born to the sonless woman, a wife will be obtained by the wifeless man, health will be restored to a diseased person, freedom will be given to a prisoner, fearlessness will be bestowed upon the terrified, and salvation will be given to the sinners. In the Kanva Sakha branch of the Vedas, the method of worshiping and meditating on Tulasi Devi is described. Without invoking the goddess, one can reverentially meditate on her and adore her with sixteen ingredients in the following way: "Of all flowers, Tulasi is the best. She is worshipable and beautiful, and burns up the fuel of sins like a flame of fire. Of all the goddesses, she is the most sacred. Because no one can compare to her, she is called Tulasi. I worship this goddess who is entreated by all. She is placed on the heads of all, desired by all, and makes the universe holy. She bestows liberation from this world and devotion to Lord Hari. I worship her." After this meditation and worship, the wise should read her praises and bow down to her RK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 hello babita,thanks 4 ur mail.rgds sunil b.prabhu.--- On Thu, 9/18/08, RK <narikode wrote:RK <narikode Tulasi-devi"Devot Cate" Thursday, September 18, 2008, 1:38 PM Why do we worship Tulasi ? Benefits of Worshiping Tulasi-devi Although we can never fully describe the glories of Tulasi-devi, an eternal associate of Lord Krsna. The scriptures give us a hint of the value of worshiping her. The following list comes from the Padma Purana. Tulasi is the essence of all devotional activities. The leaves, flowers, roots, bark, branches, trunk, and shade of Tulasi-devi are all spiritual. One who with devotion applies the paste of Tulasi wood to the Deity of Krsna will always live close to Krsna. One who puts mud from the base of the Tulasi tree on his body and worships the Deity of Lord Krsna gets the results of one hundred days worship each day. One who offers a Tulasi manjari to Lord Krsna gets the benefit of offering all other varieties of flowers, and he goes to the abode of Krsna. One who sees or comes near a house or garden where the Tulasi plant is present gets rid of all his sinful reactions, including that of killing a brahmana. Lord Krsna happily lives in the house, town, or forest where Tulasi-devi is present A house where Tulasi-devi is present never falls on bad times, and it becomes purer than all holy places. The fragrance of Tulasi-devi purifies all who smell it. Lord Krsna and all the demigods live in a house where mud from the base of the Tulasi tree is found. Without Tulasi leaves, Lord Krsna does not like to accept flowers, food, or sandalwood paste. One who worships Lord Krsna daily with Tulasi leaves attains the results of all kinds of austerity, charity, and sacrifice. In fact, he has no other duties to perform, and he has realized the essence of the scriptures. One who puts into his mouth or on his head Tulasi leaves that have been offered to Lord Krsna attains Lord Krsna's abode. Why do we worship tulasi? In Sanskrit, tulanaa naasti athaiva tulasi - that which is incomparable (in its qualities) is the tulasi. For Indians it is one of the most sacred plants. In fact it is known to be the only thing used in worship, which, once used, can be washed and reused in pooja - as it is regarded so self-purifying. As one story goes, Tulasi was the devoted wife of Shankhachuda, a celestial being. She believed that Lord Krishnatricked her into sinning. So she cursed Him to become a stone (shaaligraama) . Seeing her devotion and adhered to righteousness, the Lord blessed her saying that she would become the worshipped plant, tulasi that would adorn His head. Also that all offerings would be incomplete without the tulasi leaf - hence the worship of tulasi.She also symbolises Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu. Those who wish to be righteous and have a happy family life worship the tulasi. Tulasi is married to the Lord with all pomp and show as in any wedding. This is because according to another legend, the Lord blessed her to be His consort. Satyabhama once weighed Lord Krishna against all her legendary wealth. The scales did not balance till a single tulasi leaf was placed along with the wealth on the scale by Rukminiwith devotion. Thus the tulasi played the vital role of demonstrating to the world that even a small object offered with devotion means more to the Lord than all the wealth in the world. The tulasi leaf has great medicinal value and is used to cure various ailments, including the common cold. "Yanmule sarvatirhaani Yannagre sarvadevataa Yanmadhye sarvavedaascha Tulasi taam namaamyaham" I bow down to the tulasi, At whose base are all the holy places, At whose top reside all the deities and In whose middle are all the Vedas. Mutual respect should be given to Tulsi plant.... let me give you some points from Garuda PURANA... Lord says, 2.29.23 "O bird, there are five types of boats [panca pravahana] to succor saintly men who may otherwise get drowned in the ocean of worldly existence - tulasi, brahmanas, cows, Visnu and the Ekadasiday. 2.32.100 "In this shadowy world of unsurmountable difficulties, the following six incite devotion: meditation on Visnu, observance of vow on the eleventh day of the month (Ekadasi), listening to the Bhagavadgita, worship of the sacred plant Tulasi, brahmanas and cows. 2.38.11 "O bird, by growing, nurturing, sprinkling, saluting and extolling the Tulasi plant man's sin accumulated in various births is wiped off. 3.29.39 "He should bow to Tulasi and remember Visnu and His consort Laksmi. Tulasi plant is a place of pilgrimage "Every home with a Tulasi plant is a place of pilgrimage, and no diseases, messengers of Yama, the God of Death, can enter it." Skandapurana 2, 4, 8, 13 Padmapurana Uttarakhanda Wherever the aroma of Tulasi is carried by the wind, it purifies the atmosphere and frees all animals from all baser tendencies." Padmapurana, Uttarakhanda "Vishnu, the Lord of the Three Worlds, takes up abode in the village or the house where Tulasi is grown. In such a house no one suffers calamities like poverty, illness or separations from dear ones." Padmapurana, Uttarakhanda, 6-24-31-32 Benefits of Worshiping Tulasi-devi Although we can never fully describe the glories of Tulasi-devi, an eternal associate of Lord Krsna. The scriptures give us a hint of the value of worshiping her. The following list comes from the Padma Purana. Tulasi is the essence of all devotional activities. The leaves, flowers, roots, bark, branches, trunk, and shade of Tulasi-devi are all spiritual. One who with devotion applies the paste of Tulasi wood to the Deity of Krsna will always live close to Krsna. One who puts mud from the base of the Tulasi tree on his body and worships the Deity of Lord Krsna gets the results of one hundred days worship each day. One who offers a Tulasi manjari to Lord Krsna gets the benefit of offering all other varieties of flowers, and he goes to the abode of Krsna. One who sees or comes near a house or garden where the Tulasi plant is present gets rid of all his sinful reactions, including that of killing a brahmana. Lord Krsna happily lives in the house, town, or forest where Tulasi-devi is present A house where Tulasi-devi is present never falls on bad times, and it becomes purer than all holy places. The fragrance of Tulasi-devi purifies all who smell it. Lord Krsna and all the demigods live in a house where mud from the base of the Tulasi tree is found. Without Tulasi leaves, Lord Krsna does not like to accept flowers, food, or sandalwood paste. One who worships Lord Krsna daily with Tulasi leaves attains the results of all kinds of austerity, charity, and sacrifice. In fact, he has no other duties to perform, and he has realized the essence of the scriptures. One who puts into his mouth or on his head Tulasi leaves that have been offered to Lord Krsna attains Lord Krsna's abode. Tulsi's benefits in Kaliyuga In Kali-yuga, one who worships, remembers, plants, keeps, or performs kirtana before Tulasi burns up all sinful reactions and quickly attains Lord Krsna's abode. One who worships Lord Krsna with Tulasi leaves releases all his ancestors from the realm of birth and death. One who remembers the glories of Tulasi or tells others about them will never take birth again. Worship Tulasi Devi Whoever worships Tulasi Devi with her eight names and their meanings--Vrinda, Vrindavani, Viswapavani, Visvapujita, Tulasi, Puspasara, Nandini, and Krsna Jivani--and properly sings this hymn of eight verses, acquires the merit of performing an Ashvamedha(horse) sacrifice. Because Tulasi was born on the lunar day of the full moon in the month of Kartika, Lord Hari prescribed this day for her worship. Whoever worships her on this day will be freed from all sins and go to Vaikuntha. Whoever, out of reverence, gives Lord Visnu a Tulasi leaf in the month of Kartika, will gain the same benefit obtained by giving the gift of ten million cows. By hearing or recalling the Tulasi hymn, a son will be born to the sonless woman, a wife will be obtained by the wifeless man, health will be restored to a diseased person, freedom will be given to a prisoner, fearlessness will be bestowed upon the terrified, and salvation will be given to the sinners. In the Kanva Sakha branch of the Vedas, the method of worshiping and meditating on Tulasi Devi is described. Without invoking the goddess, one can reverentially meditate on her and adore her with sixteen ingredients in the following way: "Of all flowers, Tulasi is the best. She is worshipable and beautiful, and burns up the fuel of sins like a flame of fire. Of all the goddesses, she is the most sacred. Because no one can compare to her, she is called Tulasi. I worship this goddess who is entreated by all. She is placed on the heads of all, desired by all, and makes the universe holy. She bestows liberation from this world and devotion to Lord Hari. I worship her." After this meditation and worship, the wise should read her praises and bow down to her RK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.