The contents of this article are taken from books, scriptures and Acharya’s lectures. It has only been compiled by me.
The Tulasi (holy basil) is very sacred for the Hindus and is very dear to Lord Krishna. In ancient times this plant used to be found in the courtyard of most Hindu homes and even today the Tulasi is kept in many homes, offered obeisance and watered every morning. The Tulasi plant is deeply respected by the devotees of Lord Vishnu and Sri Krishna. Let us see why she is special and considered so auspicious.
Who is Tulasi
Tulasi is actually Vrinda sakhi (gopi) of the spiritual abode of Lord Sri Krishna (Goloka Vrindavan) and she appears here in this world as Tulasi. She exists as Tulasi, right from Bhuloka (earthly plane) upto Vaikuntha (the abode of Lord Vishnu).
Tulasi means one who is unequalled i.e. there is no one like her. She has many more names, some names describe her qualities – Viswa pavani, Viswa pujita, Krishna jivani, Nandini etc. So Tulasi, who with respect is also called Tulasi maharani, is actually Vrinda devi. Smt. Radharani, the queen of Vrindavan (Vrindavaneshwari) awards Vrinda devi the power to maintain and oversee the divine realm of Vrindavan. Vrinda devi very skillfully and expertly manages the affairs of Vrindavan forest as her seva to the Divine couple, in such a manner as to give Them pleasure. Although Lord Krishna spent His childhood here and performed sweet, enchanting pastimes with Smt. Radharani in the forest groves of Vrindavan; this holy place is known not by the names of Radha or Krishna but by the name of Vrinda devi as Sri Vrindavan dham.
Vrinda devi is the yoga maya potency (shakti) who coordinates the playful, loving pastimes of Radha and Krishna in Vrindavan. In Vrindavan, yogamaya is Pournamasi, who is the mother of Sandipani muni - Krishna’s guru and is the grandmother of Madhumangal – Krishna’s gopa friend. Pournamasi arranges for all the Radha-Krishna pastimes which are in the mood of neutrality, servitude, friendship and parental affection (shanta, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya bhava). However, since Pournamasi is elderly, she does not wish to coordinate the conjugal (madhurya bhava) pastimes. For this she expands herself into a younger form as Vrinda devi, and orchestrates the captivating loving pastimes of Radha and Krishna. She writes exciting scripts for these pastimes and coordinates to make them happen. Vrinda devi makes elaborate arrangements for the wonderful seasons, water falls, fresh flowers, fragrances, and also controls the movement of the birds, bees, peacocks, deer etc. She manages all communications and directions expertly, so as to facilitate the transcendental pastimes for the pleasure of the Divine couple. She is like a magician who can make the impossible into possible by her aghatan ghatan pratiyasi shakti.
Scriptures glorify the Tulasi
The Tulasi plant is deeply respected and held in high esteem by the devotees of Lord Krishna and Lord Visnu. Since Tulasi is a great devotee of Krishna, when we seek her shelter and when she is pleased, she bestows her mercy on us and we attain service to Radha and Krishna. The Vaisnava scriptures glorify her with various prayers like the Tulasi Pranam mantra, Tulasi arati, Tulasi pradakshina mantra and Vrinda devi ashtakam.
• It is through these prayers, we seek her shelter requesting for residence in Vrindavan, in the forest groves to behold the vision of the beautiful pastimes of Radha and Krishna. (mora ei abhilasha vilasa kunje dio vasa, nayana heribo sada yugala-rupa-rasi – Tulasi arati verse 3)
• We pray for mercy to assist the sakhis in their service to Radha and Krishna. (ei nivedana dhoro sakhi anugata koro, seva adhikara diye koro nije dasi - Tulasi arati verse 4)
• By circumambulating the Tulasi, sins committed in many life times are destroyed. (yani kani cha papani brahma-hatyadikani cha, tani tani pranashyanti pradakshinaha pade pade - Tulasi pradakshina mantra)
Our Acharyas recommend worship of the Tulasi
In our scriptures there are several instances where worship of the Tulasi has been recommended to deliver one from sins and for the purification of one’s body and mind.
• Advaita Acharya who is the incarnation of Sadashiva and Mahavishnu was deeply lamenting the fallen atheistic mentality of Kaliyuga people and so with great compassion he invoked the appearance of Lord Krishna. He worshiped Saligram sila with Tulasi leaves and Ganga water. His sincere prayers resulted in the descent of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. To propagate the worship of Sri Krishna, Advaita Acharya spoke this verse:
tulasī-dala-mātreṇa jalasya culukena vā
vikrīṇīte svam ātmānaṁ bhaktebhyo bhakta-vatsalaḥ.
(verse from Gautamiya tantra quoted in CC Adi 3.104)
Translation by Srila Prabhupad: “Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is very affectionate toward His devotees, sells Himself to a devotee who offers Him merely a tulasī leaf and a palmful of water.”
• Mrigari was a wicked person who enjoyed killing animals and leaving them half dead. Later he happened to meet the celestial sage Narada muni who tried reforming him and changing his heart. He was advised to chant the name of Hari and worship Tulasi and by doing this, gradually Mrigari was transformed.
• In Navadvip, Madhai the dacoit and great sinner had even hit and injured Lord Nityananda. Later, on receiving Niyananda prabhu’s mercy when Madhai finally surrendered to him, he asked how he should purify himself. Nityananda prabhu advised him to constantly chant Harinam and worship Tulasi.
• Even Namacharya Haridas Thakur, recommended Tulasi worship. When the prostitute Lakshashira came to distract and defame Haridas Thakur; he remained unaffected and instead the prostitute became a devotee. Later she repented and asked Haridas Thakur how she could overcome her sinful nature, and she was advised Harinam chanting and taking shelter of the Tulasi.
nirantara nāma lao, kara tulasī sevana
acirāt pābe tabe kṛṣṇera caraṇa” [CC Antya 3.137]
Translation by Srila Prabhupad - “Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra continuously and render service to the tulasī plant by watering her and offering prayers to her. In this way you will very soon get the opportunity to be sheltered at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.”
• Again, when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave Srila Raghunath Das Goswami the Govardhan sila, he advised that he should worship the sila with eight Tulasi majaris, two on each side.
So, we see how worship of Tulasi and taking her shelter brings all auspiciousness.
Importance of the Tulasi
The Tulasi is very dear to Lord Krishna and so she is dear to the devotees of the Lord. The Tulasi is practically indispensable for the Vaishnavas whether it is the tilak, bhoga offering or Deity worship; the Tulasi is required at every step.
Tilak – This is an auspicious mark made with gopi chandan on the forehead of a devotee to remind him that he is an eternal servant of Vishnu. It comprises of two vertical lines and a leaf at the base. The two lines represent Krishna’s lotus feet and the leaf represents the Tulasi leaf. Marking the body with Tilak brings auspiciousness and gives protection.
Japa mala – Vaishnavas chant the Hare Krishna mahamantra on the 108 beads japa mala made of Tulasi wood. This is pleasing to Krishna, purifies the practitioner’s mind and attracts His mercy. Even when we chant our rounds, we do so before Tulasi maharani. This helps us to be attentive and focussed while chanting.
The Vaishnava kanthi mala is also made of Tulasi wood. Wearing this protects the devotee and reminds him of his surrender to Krishna.
Bhoga offering - When bhoga is offered to the Lord, it must be offered with a washed Tulasi leaf on every item. When offered with devotion, the Lord accepts it only when the offering has a Tulasi leaf.
Worshiping the Lord – During Deity worship, Tulasi leaves must be placed at the lotus feet of the Lord. Tulasi leaves are offered only to all the Vishnu tattvas and not to the other Deity forms. On Ekadashi also called Madhava tithi, we can offer Tulasi manjaris to Krishna which are even more dear to Him. Also, a garland can be made of Tulasi leaves by knotting the leaves on a string. To show respect and love for Tulasi devi, Tulasi leaves are never pricked with a needle but the garland is made by knotting the leaves on a string. On the day after Ekadashi, one should not disturb the Tulasi by plucking her leaves as she has fasted on Ekadashi so is weak the next day. It is said that even if one decorates the Lordships very beautifully, but if the Tulasi is missing, the worship is incomplete; such is the importance of the Tulasi.
Glories of Tulasi Maharani
Our scriptures (Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu) mention several glories of Tulasi maharani. When we take darshan of Tulasi, offer obeisance and water her; she bestows her mercy on us.
• When we take her darshan – our sins from many life times are destroyed
• When we touch tulasi beads our body and mind is purified.
• Offering obeisance, helps cure disease
• When we plant a Tulasi plant, she attaches our heart to Krishna
• When we offer her to the lotus feet of Krishna, she will give us the fruit of Krishna prema
Krishna Tulabhara pastime
Queen Satyabhama was one of Krishna’s Queens in Dwarka. She had immense wealth, was very beautiful but was proud. The sage Narada muni noticed her pride and wanted to teach her a lesson. He approached her and said she could give Krishna in charity (dana) to him as he was a brahmana sage, and then buy Him back by performing the ancient tulabhara ritual. In this custom a person’s physical weight is matched against valuables. Narada muni claimed that if Satyabhama performed this ritual, Krishna would have exclusive devotion to her only. Queen Satyabhama being desirous of Krishna’s undivided attention, readily agreed. Soon a massive weighing balance was arranged and Krishna went and sat on one side. Satyabhama ordered her servants to stack the other side of the balance with her gold, diamonds and precious jewellery. To her surprise the balance would just not budge. Narada muni warned her that if she failed in her attempt to balance Krishna with jewels and gold, she would lose Krishna to Narada muni forever. Satyabhama panicked and begged the other queens to add their gems and jewellery. Yet when the balance did not move, Satyabhama in desperation approached Queen Rukmini, the queen most surrendered to Krishna. Queen Rukmini approached the balance in a mood of complete devotion and first removed the heaps of gold and jewellery from the pan. Then with a heart full of devotion, she picked a single Tulasi leaf and placed it on the empty pan. Immediately the balance tilted, the Tulasi leaf had out-weighed Krishna. This completely humbled Satyabhama and she realized that Krishna cannot be purchased by material wealth but is purchased only by devotion and love. In this way Narada muni subdued Queen Satyabhama’s pride and humbled her.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says –
patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ
yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ [BG 9.26]
Translation by Srila Prabhupad - If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.
manye dhanābhijana-rūpa-tapaḥ-śrutaujas-
tejaḥ-prabhāva-bala-pauruṣa-buddhi-yogāḥ
nārādhanāya hi bhavanti parasya puṁso
bhaktyā tutoṣa bhagavān gaja-yūtha-pāya. [SB 7.9.9]
Translation by Srila Prabhpad - Prahlāda Mahārāja continued: One may possess wealth, an aristocratic family, beauty, austerity, education, sensory expertise, luster, influence, physical strength, diligence, intelligence and mystic yogic power, but I think that even by all these qualifications one cannot satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, one can satisfy the Lord simply by devotional service. Gajendra did this, and thus the Lord was satisfied with him.
Tulasi devi is a pure devotee of Sri Krishna. She is very dear to the Lord and without Tulasi leaves, Krishna does not accept worship, flowers or our offerings. When we seek shelter of Tulasi maharani, it is with her mercy we can engage in the service of Smt. Radharani and Lord Krishna. She is indispensable for devotees of Krishna.
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