Care For Tulasi!

Mahanidhi Swami

In India, Tulasi plants are often seen in the homes of the pious. But unfortunately, many home dwellers take little if any interest in Tulasi-devi. The little known fact is that daily Tulasi care promotes one’s physical and spiritual health.

On the path of love divine, the bhakti-marga, daily darshana and puja are very favorable for cultivating one’s love for Radha and Krishna. In the very least, after morning bath one should offer a few drops of water and respects to Tulasi-devi.

In Hari Bhakti Vilasa (9.126), Srila Sanatana Goswamipada describes 9 ways of serving Srimati Tulasi-devi.

See, touch and meditate upon Tulasi-devi;

Hear about, praise and offer obeisances to Tulasi-devi;

Plant [includes plucking leaves and flowers for Krishna’s seva], serve and worship Tulasi-devi. All these actions award incalculable benefit.

Sri Haridasa Thakura extols the power of serving Tulasi-devi thus: “By always chanting the Holy Names of God and by serving Tulasi-devi, very soon one will attain the lotus feet of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, nirantara nama lao kara tulasi sevana, acirat pabe tabe krsnera carana.“ (Cc. 3.3.137)

By reading this short article, we hope that everyone will deepen their appreciation for Tulasi-devi, and increase their loving care of this greatest of pure lovers of Radha Govinda Yugala.

Tulasi Maharani ki jai! Namo Namo Tulasi Krishna Preyasi ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!