Benefits of Worshipping Tulasi – from Padma Purana - Bhakti ...

<strong>Benefits</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Worshipping</strong> <strong>Tulasi</strong> <strong>–</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>Padma</strong> <strong>Purana</strong><br />

"Every home with a <strong>Tulasi</strong> plant is a place <strong>of</strong> pilgrimage, and no diseases,<br />

messengers <strong>of</strong> Yama, the God <strong>of</strong> Death, can enter it."Skandapurana 2, 4, 8, 13<br />

<strong>Padma</strong>purana Uttarakhanda. Wherever the aroma <strong>of</strong> <strong>Tulasi</strong> is carried by the wind,<br />

it purifies the atmosphere and frees all animals <strong>from</strong> all baser<br />

tendencies." <strong>Padma</strong>purana, Uttarakhanda. "Vishnu, the Lord <strong>of</strong> the Three Worlds,<br />

takes up abode in the village or the house where <strong>Tulasi</strong> is grown. In such a house<br />

no one suffers calamities like poverty, illness or separations <strong>from</strong> dear<br />

ones." <strong>Padma</strong>purana, Uttarakhanda, 6-24-31-32.<br />

<strong>Benefits</strong> <strong>of</strong> Worshiping <strong>Tulasi</strong>-devi <strong>–</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>Padma</strong> <strong>Purana</strong><br />

Although we can never fully describe the glories <strong>of</strong> <strong>Tulasi</strong>-devi, an eternal associate <strong>of</strong> Lord Krsna.<br />

The scriptures give us a hint <strong>of</strong> the value <strong>of</strong> worshiping her. The following list comes <strong>from</strong> the <strong>Padma</strong><br />

<strong>Purana</strong>.<br />

<strong>Tulasi</strong> is the essence <strong>of</strong> all devotional activities. The leaves, flowers, roots, bark, branches, trunk,<br />

and shade <strong>of</strong> <strong>Tulasi</strong>-devi are all spiritual.<br />

One who with devotion applies the paste <strong>of</strong> <strong>Tulasi</strong> wood to the Deity <strong>of</strong> Krsna will always live<br />

close to Krsna.<br />

One who puts mud <strong>from</strong> the base <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Tulasi</strong> tree on his body and worships the Deity <strong>of</strong> Lord<br />

Krsna gets the results <strong>of</strong> one hundred days worship each day.<br />

One who <strong>of</strong>fers a <strong>Tulasi</strong> manjari to Lord Krsna gets the benefit <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>fering all other varieties <strong>of</strong><br />

flowers, and he goes to the abode <strong>of</strong> Krsna.<br />

One who sees or comes near a house or garden where the <strong>Tulasi</strong> plant is present gets rid <strong>of</strong> all<br />

his sinful reactions, including that <strong>of</strong> killing a brahmana.<br />

Lord Krsna happily lives in the house, town, or forest where <strong>Tulasi</strong>-devi is present.<br />

A house where <strong>Tulasi</strong>-devi is present never falls on bad times, and it becomes purer than all holy<br />

places.<br />

The fragrance <strong>of</strong> <strong>Tulasi</strong>-devi purifies all who smell it.<br />

Lord Krsna and all the demigods live in a house where mud <strong>from</strong> the base <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Tulasi</strong> tree is<br />

found.<br />

Without <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaves, Lord Krsna does not like to accept flowers, food, or sandalwood paste.<br />

One who worships Lord Krsna daily with <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaves attains the results <strong>of</strong> all kinds <strong>of</strong> austerity,<br />

charity, and sacrifice. In fact, he has no other duties to perform, and he has realized the essence<br />

<strong>of</strong> the scriptures.<br />

One who puts into his mouth or on his head <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaves that have been <strong>of</strong>fered to Lord Krsna<br />

attains Lord Krsna's abode.<br />

In Kali-yuga, one who worships, remembers, plants, keeps, or performs kirtana before <strong>Tulasi</strong><br />

burns up all sinful reactions and quickly attains Lord Krsna's abode.<br />

One who worships Lord Krsna with <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaves releases all his ancestors <strong>from</strong> the realm <strong>of</strong> birth<br />

and death.<br />

One who remembers the glories <strong>of</strong> <strong>Tulasi</strong> or tells others about them will never take birth again.<br />

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Quick Morning <strong>Tulasi</strong> Devi Worship<br />

1. Perform Sri <strong>Tulasi</strong> Devi Pranama by reciting this mantra.<br />

vrndayai tulasi-devyai<br />

priyayai kesavasya ca<br />

krsna-bhakti-prade devi<br />

satyavatyai namo namah<br />

vrndayai--unto Vrnda; tulasi-devyai--unto <strong>Tulasi</strong>-devi; priyayai-- who is dear; kesavasya--to Lord<br />

Kesava; ca-and; krsna-bhakti-- devotional service to Lord Krsna, prade--who bestows; devi--O<br />

goddess; satya-vatyai--unto Satyavati; namah namah--repeated obeisances.<br />

I <strong>of</strong>fer my repeated obeisances unto Vrnda, Srimati <strong>Tulasi</strong>-devi, who is very dear to Lord Kesava. O<br />

goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord Krsna and possess the highest truth.<br />

2. Water Sri <strong>Tulasi</strong> Devi, <strong>of</strong>fer incense and flowers, and perfom Pradaksina reciting this Mantra<br />

while doing it<br />

yani kani ca papani<br />

brahma-hatyadikani ca<br />

tani tani pranasyanti<br />

pradaksinah pade pade<br />

yani kani--whatever; ca--and; papani--sins; brahma-hatya--killing <strong>of</strong> a brahmana; adikani--and so on;<br />

ca--also, tani tani--all <strong>of</strong> them; pranasyanti--are destroyed; pradaksinah--(by) the circumambulation (<strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Tulasi</strong>-devi); pade pade--at every step.<br />

By the circumambulation <strong>of</strong> Srimati <strong>Tulasi</strong>-devi all the sins that one may have committed are<br />

destroyed at every step, even the sin <strong>of</strong> killing a brahmana.<br />

3. When picking <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaves, chant the following mantra:<br />

tulasy amrta janmasi<br />

sada tvam kesava-priya<br />

kesavartham cinomi tvam<br />

varada bhava sobhane<br />

O <strong>Tulasi</strong> devi, you are born <strong>from</strong> nectar, and you are always very dear to Lord Kesava. Now in order<br />

to worship Lord Kesava I am collecting your leaves and manjaris. Please bestow your mercy upon<br />

me.<br />

4. Offer normal pooja to Lord Krishna with incense, flowers. Then <strong>of</strong>fer <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaf on the feet<br />

<strong>of</strong> Shri Krishna with some water in a small lota. Lord Krishna likes <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaves.<br />

Chant 'Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama<br />

Rama, Hare Hare’ and be Happy.<br />

This article has been taken <strong>from</strong> the following website, where more information about <strong>Tulasi</strong>-devi and her worship<br />

can be found. http://www.vrindavan-dham.com/vrinda/worshiping-tulasi.php<br />

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<strong>Worshipping</strong> <strong>Tulasi</strong> Devi<br />

The following list was compiled <strong>from</strong> scriptures and <strong>from</strong> Srila Prabhupada's instructions.<br />

<strong>Tulasi</strong>'s body is spiritual. Although <strong>Tulasi</strong> appears as many individual trees, she is one person,<br />

and she comes wherever she sees devotion to Krsna.<br />

Every morning devotees should water and pray to <strong>Tulasi</strong> Devi and circumambulate her three<br />

times.<br />

Worship <strong>Tulasi</strong> with nice food, flowers, incense, a ghee lamp, and other traditional articles <strong>of</strong><br />

worship.<br />

Protect the delicate <strong>Tulasi</strong> seedlings <strong>from</strong> birds and insects. It is an <strong>of</strong>fense to turn the seedlings<br />

back into the soil.<br />

In places where <strong>Tulasi</strong> cannot survive the winters when planted in the ground, provide a suitable<br />

house for her.<br />

Every day provide <strong>Tulasi</strong> fresh air, water (as needed be careful not to water too much), and<br />

sunshine (or plant lights).<br />

Neglecting to care for or water <strong>Tulasi</strong> properly is a great <strong>of</strong>fense. Do everything carefully.<br />

Pick only the leaves that grow next to the manjaris (flowers) and the leaves that are ready to drop<br />

they will turn a pale color not the new, green ones. Pick the manjaris as soon as they blossom.<br />

Avoid letting them go to seed, which takes much energy <strong>from</strong> the plant that can be used to make<br />

more leaves and flowers for Krsna's service. Pick the leaves one at a time with your fingertips.<br />

Don't shake or stroke the branch and damage healthy leaves. Pick with care and attention. Avoid<br />

using cutting tools.<br />

Never cut or prune <strong>Tulasi</strong> Devi. This is a great <strong>of</strong>fense. Remove dead branches if absolutely<br />

necessary. If branches obstruct a passageway, tie them back, but don't cut them.<br />

Pick <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaves and flowers in the morning, never at night (<strong>from</strong> sunset to sunrise).<br />

Never use chemical sprays on <strong>Tulasi</strong>.<br />

Collect leaves once in the morning for worshiping Krsna and for putting on the plates <strong>of</strong> food to be<br />

<strong>of</strong>fered to Him. Put at least one leaf on each preparation. Never pick <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaves for any other<br />

purpose than to <strong>of</strong>fer to the Lord.<br />

Lord Krsna likes garlands <strong>of</strong> <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaves. <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaves mixed with sandalwood pulp and placed<br />

on the lotus feet <strong>of</strong> the Lord is the topmost worship. Do not place <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaves on the feet <strong>of</strong><br />

anyone other than Lord Visnu in His various forms. primate Radharani can be given a <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaf<br />

in Her hand for <strong>of</strong>fering to Lord Krsna.<br />

Krsna accepts even dry <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaves. - Tulsa wood (taken after a plant has fully dried naturally)<br />

can be used to carve worship paraphernalia, such as beads. Place leftover <strong>Tulasi</strong> wood within the<br />

earth.<br />

Never use <strong>Tulasi</strong> leaves or flowers to make teas or juices, even after they've been <strong>of</strong>fered to Krsn.<br />

a. It is a great <strong>of</strong>fense to cook or heat Tulas~, or to use her for mundane purposes, such as<br />

medicines and ointments.<br />

Never cut down or pull up living Tulsi plants. This is a great <strong>of</strong>fense.<br />

Avoid stepping on <strong>Tulasi</strong> Devi's shadow.<br />

<strong>Tulasi</strong> Devi is very, very dear to the Lord. Therefore, most important is to serve her with love and<br />

devotion.<br />

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