Benefits of Worshipping Tulasi Devi

December 30, 2004

Hare Krishna,

Although we can never fully describe the glories of Tulasi Devi, an eternal associate of Lord Krishna, 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 service.

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 Krishna will always live close to Krishna.

One who puts mud from the base of the Tulasi tree on their body and worships the Deity of Lord Krishna gets the results of one hundred days' worship each day.

One who offers a Tulasi manjari to Lord Krishna gets the benefit of offering all other varieties of flowers, and they go to the abode of Lord Krishna.

One who sees or comes near a house or garden where the Tulasi plant is residing gets rid of all sinful reactions, including that of killing a brahmana.

Lord Krishna 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 more pure than all the holy places.

The fragrance of Tulasi Devi purifies all who smell her.

Lord Krishna and other devatas live in a house where mud from the base of the Tulasi tree is found.

Without Tulasi leaves, Lord Krishna does not like to accept flowers, food, or sandalwood paste.

One who worships Lord Krishna daily with Tulasi leaves attains the results of all kinds of austerity, charity and sacrifice. In fact, one has no other duties to perform, and that person has realized the essence of the scriptures.

One who puts into their mouth or on their head Tulasi leaves that have been offered to Lord Krishna attains Lord Krishna's abode.

In Kali-yuga, one who worships, remembers, plants, keeps, or performs kirtana before Tulasi burns up all sinful reactions and quickly attains Lord Krishna's abode.

One who worships Lord Krishna with Tulasi leaves releases all his ancestors from the realm of birth and death.

One who remembers the glories of Tulasi or tells about them will never take birth again.

Shrila Prabhupada writes in a purport to the Shrimad-Bhagavatam(3.16.21) :

"The Goddess of fortune, Lakshmi, is sometimes envious of the Tulasi leaves which are placed at the 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. Lakshmi devi sometimes has to go to satisfy her numerous devotees, but Tulasi leaves never forsake their position, and the Lord therefore appreciates the service of Tulasi more than the service of Lakshmi."

In The Nectar of Devotion, Shrila Prabhupada quotes from the Skanda Purana :

"Tulasi 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 Tulasi tree in the above-mentioned ways lives eternally in the Vaikuntha world."

Worshiping of Tulasi DeviThe following list was compiled from scriptures and from Shrila Prabhupada's instructions.

Tulasi's body is spiritual. Although Tulasi appears as many individual trees, she is one person, and she comes wherever she sees devotion to Lord Krishna.

Every morning devotees should water and pray to Tulasi Devi and circumambulate her three times.

Worship Tulasi with nice food, flowers, incense, a ghee lamp, and other traditional articles of worship.

Protect the delicate Tulasi seedlings from birds and insects. It is an offense to turn the seedling back into the soil.

In places where Tulasi cannot survive the winters when planted in the ground, provide a suitable house for her.

Every day provide Tulasi with fresh air, water (as needed - be careful not to water too much), and sunshine (or plant lights).

Neglecting to care for or water Tulasi properly is a great offense. Do everything carefully.

When picking Tulasi leaves, chant the following mantra :

tulasy amrta-janmasisada tvam kesava-priyakesavartham cinomi tvamvarada bhava sobhane( "O Tulasi, you are born from nectar. You are always very dear to LordKesava. Now in order to worship Lord Kesava, I am collecting your leaves andmanjaris. 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 can be used to make more leaves and flowers for Lord Krishna'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.

After picking the leaves and manjaris, chant the following mantra :

cayanodbhava-duhkham cayad hrdi tava vartatetat ksamasva jagan-matahvrnda-devi namo 'stu te("O Tulasi-devi, I offer my respectful obeisances unto you. Kindly forgive meif I have caused you pain by picking your leaves and manjaris, O mother ofthe universe." )

Never cut or prune Tulasi Devi. 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 Tulasi leaves and flowers in the morning, never at night (from sunset to sunrise).

Never use chemical sprays on Tulasi.

Collect leaves once in the morning for worshiping Lord Krishna and for putting on the plates of food to be offered to Him. Put at least one leaf on each preparation. Never pick Tulasi leaves for any other purpose than to offer to the Lord.

Lord Krishna likes garlands of Tulasi leaves. Tulasi leaves mixed with sandalwood pulp and placed on the lotus feet of the Lord is the topmost worship. Do not place Tulasi leaves on the feet of anyone other than Lord Vishnu in His various forms. Shrimati Radharani can be given a Tulasi leaf in Her hand for offering to Lord Krishna.

Krishna accepts even dry Tulasi leaves.

Tulasi wood (taken after a plant has fully dried naturally) can be used to carve worshipable paraphernalia, such as beads. Place leftover Tulasi wood within the earth.

Never use Tulasi leaves or flowers to make teas or juices, even after they've been offered to Lord Krishna. It is a great offense to cook or heat Tulasi, or to use her for mundane purposes, such as medicines and ointments.

Never cut down or pull up living Tulasi plants. This is a great offense.

Avoid stepping on Tulasi Devi's shadow.

Tulasi Devi is very, very dear to the Lord Krishna. Therefore, most important is to serve her with love and devotion.

Sri Krishnaya Namah!!!

Bhaktasevak

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NB- Extract of an article.

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