Hare Krishna Movement Mumbai's video: HOW TO WORSHIP TULSI DEVI HG Amitasana Das HKM Mumbai

Tulasi Is Dear To Sri Krishna Krishna has specifically said that among plants, He is the Tulasi . Tulasi, Yamuna River and Govardhana Hill are eternally present in the spiritual world. They appear in this world to benefit the living entities by giving love of Godhead. The goddess of fortune is sometimes envious of the Tulasi leaves which are placed at the lotus feet of the Lord, for they remain fixed there and do not move, whereas Laksmiji, although stationed by the chest of the Lord, sometimes has to go to satisfy Her numerous devotees. But the Tulasi leaves never forsake their position, and the Lord therefore appreciates the service of Tulasi more than the service of Laksmi-devi. The Glories of Tulasi-devi In the Padma Purana there are thirty chapters describing Tulasi’s appearance. Her glorious attributes are recounted throughout the Vedic literature. “Just by looking at Tulasi, all of one’s sins are removed. Just by touching Her, one’s body becomes purified. All diseases are removed by praying to Her. Fear of death is destroyed by watering Her. Just by planting or transplanting Her, one achieves realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If someone offers Her leaves at the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, Tulasi will award liberation and devotion to Lord Sri Krsna.” (SKP) Sri Krishna is very fond of Tulasi, also called Maharani. Vayu Purana states: “The Supreme Lord Hari does not accept anyone’s worship without Tulasi.” The poet Candrasekhara says that Krsna does not care for even one of fifty-six offerings or thirty-six curries if they are offered without a Tulasi leaf. “All the places of pilgrimage on this planet and in the millions of universes, take shelter in a Tulasi leaf.” (PP) “Sri Krsna who is very affectionate toward His devotee, sells Himself to devotee who offers merely a Tulasi leaf and a palmful of water.”(CT) “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 Vishnu-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)----- You can download the audio track of Tulasi arati from the link given below: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g0ek3zxiDrMXtsrHeU8ecK37fQtv_Eg5/view?usp=sharing