ja_koniga

All Vaisnavas, and even non-vaisnavas, pray to Tulasi. If there is anything to offer to Krsna, they offer it with tulasi leaves. And, before beginning to do bhajana and sadhana, they do pranama to Vrinda devi and then beg her mercy. In all auspicious activities, such as arcana etc., Tulasi devi is kept. Even those who are not Vaisnavas offer her water and circumambulate her. The question may be posed as to why this is so.

“Even those persons who have no relation with transcendental devotion and transcendental moods, whether in India or elsewhere, worship Tulasi.”
Even those persons who have no relation with transcendental devotion and transcendental moods, whether in India or elsewhere, worship Tulasi. For instance, in America, people are planting Tulasi everywhere–in their gardens, rooftops and so on. They have discovered that if Tulasi is planted somewhere, then, by her influence, any dangerous germs in that vicinity are automatically killed. Also, by wearing tulasi beads around the neck, blood pressure is automatically controlled. Nowadays there is no medicine for cancer. However, they are now researching and finding out, that if one takes Tulasi with Ganges water, and touches it to a salagram sila, it manifests a potency that can reduce the effects of cancer. In fact, it has even been stated in scripture that all types of diseases can be eradicated just by the aroma of Tulasi. These are all worldly things, but nevertheless they are extremely helpful for the body.

If anyone is wearing Tulasi around his neck, various diseases will automatically be checked. Not only that, even on the subtle platform so much benefit can be derived by wearing Tulasi. For instance, one may have many problems that would normally cause so much mental agitation. However, by the potency and grace of Tulasi devi, these problems become inconsequential. Again, these are all material considerations, but nevertheless Tulasi is so helpful in these matters.

As for transcendental matters, Tulasi gives so much knowledge. She purifies our heart and words. If Tulasi is present, she also imbues in one the tendency to chant Krsna’s names and remember His pastimes, along with the tendency to serve Him. Why? Because Vrinda devi is one of the dearest sakhis of Krsna in Vrndavana. She is so powerful that she manages to keep Vrindavana very beautiful. Therefore, the name of that forest where Radha and Krsna play has been named after Vrinda devi.

Tulasi is so sweet and fragrant that even the bees don’t go to any other flowers–including the lotus flower. Rather, they always go to the tulasi manjaris and leaves, because there is so much madhu, honey, there. That honey helps our heart, body, mind and soul. That honey is beneficial on all levels, and that is why Krsna doesn’t accept any foodstuffs without tulasi leaves or manjaris. If there is nothing to offer Krsna, you can offer tulasi manjaris with a glass of water. That is why Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami, "You are renounced, and therefore you have nothing to give. You eat rotten, rejected rice, and so you can’t offer that to Salagram or Giriraj. But you can give very fresh tulasi leaves with soft manjaris, and Krsna will happily accept that above anything else. Advaita Acarya desired Krsna to descend into this world and He discovered a way. What was that? He offered tulasi leaves, manjaris, and Ganga jal (water) to Salagram. He then began weeping to Krsna. With loud crying He said, "You should please be merciful. If You don’t come by My worshipping You, then I will destroy the whole world". By this offering, Krsna became so pleased that He descended in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was the result of worshipping Krsna with tulasi. But we do not know all these things.

If anyone wants to serve Krsna, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu, and wants to chant hari-nama, then he should surely wear tulasi. Our neck beads should be pure tulasi. Don’t put any pearls in between the tulasi beads. Only use tulasi. And they should not be too small. Ladies prefer small beads, but they should be the proper size, and then it will be powerful. Sometimes I see devotees put Ganges water and ghee on the beads; but Tulasi is as sacred as Ganges and Yamuna water. There is no need to purify the beads with water or ghee.

Therefore, if anyone wants Krsna bhakti, then–tulasi dekhiya jurao prana, madhava tosani jani. Have you heard this before? Tulasi, or Vrinda, is always serving Radha and Krsna conjugal in Goloka Vrindavana. Vrndavana is named after Vrinda. All of Vrindavana was the property of Vrinda, and she offered it to the lotus feet of Srimati Radhika. So, if anyone wants to have pure bhakti, then they should certainly keep tulasi plants, wear tulasi beads, chant on tulasi, do parikrama of her at least four times [daily], and water her as needed. If you put too much water while watering her, then you are committing an offense. Don’t water her on dvadasi, and don’t pick her leaves on dvadasi. We should not touch her in the night-time, because she sleeps at night. She wakes up in the brahma muhurta, at about 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. From that time on one can touch her, but in the evening from about 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m., one should not touch her. We should quickly develop so much honour and sraddha for Tulasi.