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Srila Prabhupada on Srimati Tulasi Devi
“Tulasi leaf is very, very dear to Vishnu. All Vishnu-tattva
Deities require profusely Tulasi leaves. Lord Vishnu likes garlands
of Tulasi leaves. Tulasi leaves mixed with sandalwood pulp and
placed on the lotus feet of the Lord is the top most worship. But
we must be very careful that Tulasi leaves cannot be placed on the
feet of anyone except Lord Vishnu and His different forms. Tulasi
leaves cannot be placed even on the lotus feet of Radharani or on
the lotus feet of the Spiritual Master. It is entirely reserved for
being placed on the lotus feet of Krsna. We can place, however,
Tulasi leaves in the hands of Radharani for being placed on the
lotus feet of Krsna, as you have seen on the Govinda album.”
I am giving herewith three mantras for Tulasi devi as
follows:
Vrndayai
tulasi devyai, priyayai kesavasya ca
Krsna-bhakti-prade
devi, satyavatyai namo namah
I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vrnda, Srimati Tulasi Devi, who
is very dear to Lord Kesava [Krsna]. O goddess, you bestow
devotional service to Krsna and possess the highest truth.
This is offering obeisances, bowing down (pancanga pranam). And
when collecting leaves from the plant, the following mantras should
be chanted for picking leaves and manjaris:
Tulasi
amrta-janmasi, sada tvam kesava-priya
Kesavartham
cinomi tvam, varada bhava sobhane
O Tulasi devi, you are born from nectar, and you are always very
dear to Lord Kesava. Now in order to worship Lord Kesava I am
collecting your leaves and manjaris. Please bestow your mercy upon
me.
Then the mantra for circumambulating the Tulasi tree:
Yani kani
ca papani, brahma-hatyadikani ca
Tani tani
pranasyanti, pradaksinah pade pade
By the circumambulation of Shrimati Tulasi Devi all the sins that
one may have committed are destroyed at every step, even the sin of
killing a brahman.
So there are three mantras, one for bowing down, one for collecting
the leaves & one for circumambulation.
The collecting of leaves should be done once in the morning for
worshipping and for putting on the plates of foodstuffs to be
offered.
On each bowl or plate there should be at least one leaf.
So you follow and practice these Tulasi affairs and you try to
distribute your experience to all the other centre’s, that will be
a new chapter in the history of the Krsna consciousness
movement.
(Srila Prabhupada to Govinda dasi, 7th April, 1970)
No sprays can be used, not at all. The best thing is to simply
daily water tulasi devi and keep her clean. Nothing else is
required.
(Letter from Srila Prabhupada, July 26, l975, Los
Angeles)
Please take care of the tulasi plants in the following way.
This is the best season for growing tulasi plants. From 15 April to
15 June is the best season for growing this plant (this is
obviously for the Northern Hemisphere!!!). Now I understand that
the seedlings are coming out, so the whole spot if possible may be
covered by some net because the seedling stage creeepers, being
very delicate, are sometimes eaten up by the sparrows, so we have
to give a little protection from attack of the sparrows. All the
devotees should pour water at least once in the morning before
taking prasadam. The watering should not be very much large in
quantity, but it should be poured just to keep the ground soft and
moist. Sunlight also should be allowed. When the creepers are grown
at least 7 inches high, then you can take them out from the
planting soil and transplant them in a row in a different place.
Then go on watering and they will grow like anything. I think this
plant cannot grow in cold countries, but if the plants are
dispatched from your place and if the devotees take care of the
plant with a little care in a flower pot then it may grow.
(Letter from Srila Prabhupada, April 7, 1970, Los
Angeles)
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