Worshipping Tulasi at Home

What makes Tulasi more than just a sacred plant? Why does Krishna never accept offerings without her holy leaves? If these questions simmer in your heart, then this article is for you.

This article goes into the profound spiritual importance of Tulasi Maharani as depicted in the Vedas. It delves further into several practical suggestions and tactics to assist you in your worship. It also addresses worries about certain common faults to avoid when caring for her.

Who is Tulasi Devi?

The Vedas extensively glorify the holy Tulasi plant. Lord Vishnu created her during the churning of the milk ocean, specially for the spiritual upliftment of all souls.

Devotees revere her as one of Lord Vishnu's greatest devotees and consider her dearer to Him than Lakshmi. This special affection stems from Tulasi's worship of the Lord with outstanding love and devotion, all to have Him as her husband. The Lord, in turn, fulfilled her wish.

The Topmost worship: Offering garlands of Tulasi leaves

Lord Vishnu particularly favours garlands made of Tulasi leaves. He does not accept any offerings without her leaves. Devotees can mix luxuriant Tulasi leaves with fresh sandalwood pulp and use them to decorate the lotus feet of Lord Krishna. The Vedas glorify this act as the highest form of Deity worship.

Devotees must remember that Tulasi leaves exclusively belong to Lord Krishna. Therefore, devotees should never place them at the feet of anyone else, including Srimati Radharani or Srila Prabhupada. However, you can place Tulasi leaves in Radharani's hands for Her to then offer them to Lord Krishna.

Common mistakes to avoid when worshipping Tulasi

Devotees see every part of the Tulasi plant - her leaves, stem, bark, flowers, buds, and even her shadow - as sacred. As a result, it is essential to be mindful of some offences that we may unknowingly commit when worshipping her.

• Devotees avoid cutting or pruning Tulasi Devi.
• They refrain from making tea or juice from Tulasi leaves, even after offering them to Lord Krishna.
• Devotees avoid using Tulasi leaves for mundane purposes, such as medicines and ointments. While Tulasi does possess medicinal properties and healing powers which reduce stress, devotees do not view her as medicine. Devotees honour her as a pure devotee worthy of our sincere service and praise. Devotees grow Tulasi solely to nurture their devotion to Krishna, and for no other reason.
• Devotees are also careful to avoid stepping on the shadow of the Tulasi plant.

Some tips to practically nurture and care for Tulasi Devi

Collection of Leaves: Tulasi leaves are requisite for worshipping Vishnu. Pluck them only in the morning during the daylight hours and never at night. Gently pluck the leaves with your fingers avoiding nails. Do not use scissors.

Circumambulation and watering of Tulasi: When walking around her and providing water, take care not to hurt her in any way. She is a pure devotee of the Lord, not an ordinary and earthly plant.

Manjari care: You can clip Tulasi's manjaris (seed receptacles or buds) as soon as they appear if you desire. This keeps several young Tulasi plants from budding everywhere. Early pruning of manjaris also helps Tulasi grow stronger and healthier, though it is not mandatory.

Placement and Protection: Keep Tulasi in an area where animals will not bother her. Place her away from walkaways to prevent people from brushing against her by mistake. Teach both adults and children to treat her with respect. Tulasi Maharani also dislikes the hot summer sun, so keep her in the shade.

Offer arati to Sri Tulasi Maharani

To reap the highest devotional benefits in Krishna consciousness, one can offer arati to Srimati Tulasi Devi. The Vedic scriptures assert the glories and powerful advantages of Tulasi seva. They recommend worshipping her with incense sticks, ghee lamps and fragrant flowers in the early hours of dawn. Below, you will find the proper steps to worship her:

Before the commencement of the special puja, one must bow down and offer obeisances to Tulasi. While doing so, one should also recite the following pranam mantra thrice with utmost faith and sincerity.

vṛndāyai tulasī-devyai priyāyai keśavasya ca
viṣṇu-bhakti-prade devī satya vatyai namo namaḥ

I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vrnda, Srimati Tulasi Devi, who is very dear to Lord Kesava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord Visnu and possess the highest truth.

Then, one can begin the puja by offering the sacred articles mentioned above. Devotees should perform the Tulasi arati and sing the following kirtan at the same time.

Tulasi Arati Kirtan

(1)
namo namaḥ tulasī kṛṣṇa-preyasi namo namaḥ
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-sevā pābo ei abilāṣī
(2)
ye tomāra śaraṇa loy, tara vāñchā pūrṇa hoy
kṛpā kori' koro tāre vṛndāvana-vāsi
(3)
mora ei abhilāṣa, vilāsa kuñje dio vāsa
nayana heribo sadā yugala-rūpa-rāśi
(4)
ei nivedana dhara, sakhīra anugata koro
sevā-adhikāra diye koro nīja dāsī
(5)
dīna kṛṣṇa-dāse koy, ei yena mora hoy
śrī-rādhā-govinda-preme sadā yena bhāsi
(6)
yāni kāni ca pāpāni brahma-hatyādikāni ca
tāni tāni praṇaśyanti pradakṣiṇaḥ pade pade

1. O Tulasi, beloved of Krishna, I bow before you again and again. My desire is to obtain the service of Sri Sri Radha Krishna.

2. Whoever takes shelter of you has his wishes fulfilled. Bestowing your mercy on him, you make him a resident of Vrindavan.

3. My desire is that you will also give me a residence in the pleasure groves of Sri Vrndavana-dhama. Thus, within my vision I will always behold the beautiful pastimes of Radha and Krsna.

4. I beg you to make me a follower of the cowherd damsels of Vraja. Please give me the privilege of devotional service and make me your own maidservant.

5. This very fallen and lowly servant of Krishna prays, "May I always swim in the love of Sri Radha and Govinda."

6. By the circumambulation of Srimati Tulasi Devi, all the sins that one may have committed are destroyed at every step, even the sin of killing a brahmana.

Devotees usually circle around Tulasi Devi while singing the last verse of this special song. While doing so, they also offer a little water to her.

In the Skanda Purana, there are statements eulogising 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 distress 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 Yamaraj.

If someone sows a tulasi tree somewhere, certainly he becomes devoted to Lord Krishna. And when the tulasi leaves are offered in devotion at the lotus feet of Krishna, there is the full development of love of Godhead.