Prayers to Tulasi Devi
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
| Table of contents |
Sri Sri Vrindadevy Astakam
By Visvanatha Cakravarti
- gangeya campeya tadid vininda roci-pravaha snapitatma vrnde bandhuka randhu- dyuti divya vaso vrnde numas te caranaravindam
"O Vrnde, whose very self is showered with the current of beauty,which defeats the golden splendour of the Campaka-flower or thelightning strikes, we offer our obeisances unto Your lotus feet."
- bimbadharoditvara manda-hasya nasagra mukt-dyuti dipitasye vicitraratnabharana sriyadhye vrnde numas te caranaravindam
"O Vrnde, whose lips and face are shining red like Bimba-fruits,that smile slightly, and nose pearl that sparks brightly and whose beauty is enriched with wonderful jeweled ornaments, we offer our obeisances unto Your lotus feet."
- samasta vaikuntha siromanau sir krsnasya vrndavana dhanya dhamni datta dhikare vrsabhanu putrya vrnde numas te caranaravindam
"O Vrnde, who was bestowed the care of Sri Krsna's opulent abode Sri Vrndavana, the crest jewel of all Vaikunthas, by the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, we offer our obeisaces unto Your lotus feet."
- tvad ajnaya pallava-puspa-bhrnga mrgadibhir madhava keli-kunjah madhvadibhir bhanti vibhusyamana vrnde numas te caranaravindam
"O Vrnde, on whose order Madhava's play gardens are being adorned with leaves, flowers, bees, deer and dripping honey, we offer our obeisances unto Your lotus feet."
- tvadiya dutyena nikunja-yunor atyutkayo keli-vilasa-siddhih tvat saubhagamkena nirucyatam tat vrnde numas te caranaravindam
"O Vrnde, through your canvassing Radha and Krsna, Who are very eager to play in the nikunja, have Their desires fulfilled. Who can describe your good fortune? We offer our obeisances unto your lotus feet."
- rasabhilaso vasatis ca vrndavane tvad isanghri-saroja-sevalabhya ca pumsam krpaya tavaiva vrnde numas te caranavarvindam
"Only by your grace can one attain the desired service of thelotus feet of your mistress during the rasa festival in Her abode, Vrndavana. O Vrnde, we offer our obeisances unto your lotus feet."
- tvam vrtyase satvata-tantra vidbhir lilabhidhana kila krsnaªsaktih tavaiva murtim tulasi nr-loke vrnde numas te caranaravindam
"O Vrnde, the knowers of Satvatra-tantra, describe you as Krsna's own partial potency. But in the human world you appear only as Tulasi-devi. We offer our obeisances unto your lotus feet."
- bhaktya-vihina aparadha-laksaih ksiptas ca kamadi-taranga-madhye krpamayi tvam saranam prapanna vrnde numas te caranaravindam
"Because of hundreds of thousands of offenses, devoid of devotion, we were thrown amidst the waves of lust and other urges. O merciful one, we take shelter of you! Vrnde! We offer our obeisances unto your lotus feet."
- vrndastakam yah srnu yat va vrndavana misa padabja bhrngah sa prapya vrndavana nitya-vasam tat-prema-sevam labhate krtarthah
"Anyone who, like a honey bee at the lotus feet of the Lord of Vrindavana, hears or recites this astakam, attains eternal residence in Vrindavana, and becomes blessed with Krishna's loving service."
Glories of Tulasi Worship
Lord Narayana Explains
Lord Narayana continued...
"The sanctifying Tulasi tree will grow in Goloka, on the coast of the Viraja River, on the rasa-dance site, in the forests of Vrindavana, Bhandira, Champaka, Chandana, and in the groves of Madhavi, Ketaki, Kunda, Mallika and Malati. You will live in sacred places and bestow the highest religious merit. All the holy spots will converge and reside at the root of the Tulasi tree, and thus spiritual merits will accrue to all. O fair one, all the demigods and I will wait there to gather the falling Tulasi leaves. "Whoever will be moistened or anointed with the water that has been sanctified by Tulasi leaves, will reap the benefits of having bathed in all the sacred rivers and performed all kinds of sacrifices.
- "Lord Hari will not be as pleased with the gift of a thousand jars of honey as with one Tulasi leaf.
- "Offering one such leaf as a gift will bring the same reward obtained by offering millions of cows.
- "If one offers Tulasi leaves during the month of Kartika, he gets the same rewards as those just mentioned.
- "If, at the time of death, one drinks or gets the Tulasi-leaf water, one will be freed of all his sins and proceed to Vaikuntha.
- "Whoever drinks the Tulasi-leaf water daily will be redeemed in his lifetime and receive the benefit of a dip in the Ganges.
- "Whoever plucks a Tulasi leaf, keeps it on his person, and then leaves his body in a holy place, will go to Visnuloka.
- "Anyone who worships Me with this leaf daily will reap the blessings of a hundred thousand horse sacrifices.
- "Anyone who leaves his body holding a Tulasi leaf in his hands will be saved from all sins.
- "Anyone who wears a necklace composed of Tulasi wood, will surely, at every step, get the reward of a horse sacrifice.
- "Whoever breaks his promise while holding the Tulasi leaf will go to the Kalsutra hell for as long as the sun and moon last.
- "Anyone who gives false evidence in the presence of the Tulasi leaf, will go to the Kumbhipaka hell for as long as the lifespans of fourteen Indras.
- "Whoever at the time of death drinks or gets a little Tulasi-leaf water will certainly proceed to Vaikuntha, leaving in a jeweled airplane.
- "Lord Hari will decapitate that person who, on the day of the new moon or the full moon, or on the twelfth or last day of the lunar month, or after being anointed with oil just before taking a bath, or at noon, night, daybreak or sundown, or in a state of impurity or in one's night dress--will cull or pluck the Tulasi leaf.
- "O chaste one, even if such a leaf is kept for three nights and becomes dry, it can still be employed in connection with funeral ceremonies, vows, gifts, consecration of temples and the worship of demigods.
- "If Tulasi leaves that were offered to Lord Visnu have fallen on the ground or on water are then properly washed, they may still be used for other sacred purposes.
- "You will always be the presiding deity of the Tulasi plant here on Earth, and at the same time you will always sport with Sri Krsna in solitude in Goloka. You will also be the presiding deity of the Gandaki River, and thereby shower India with religious merit. You will further be the wife of the ocean of salt, which is My partial expansion. O chaste goddess, you will always remain personally by My side and enjoy My company, as Laksmi does
Benedictions of Tulasi Worship
Whoever worships Tulasi Devi with her eight names and their meanings--Vrinda, Vrindavani, Viswapavani, Visvapujita, Tulasi, Puspasara, Nandini, and Krsna Jivani--and properly sings this hymn of eight verses, acquires the merit of performing an Asvamedha (horse) sacrifice.
Because Tulasi was born on the lunar day of the full moon in the month of Kartika, Lord Hari prescribed this day for her worship. Whoever worships her on this day will be freed from all sins and go to Vaikuntha.
Whoever, out of reverence, gives Lord Visnu a Tulasi leaf in the month of Kartika, will gain the same benefit obtained by giving the gift of ten million cows.
By hearing or recalling the Tulasi hymn, a son will be born to the sonless woman, a wife will be obtained by the wifeless man, health will be restored to a diseased person, freedom will be given to a prisoner, fearlessness will be bestowed upon the terrified, and salvation will be given to the sinners.
In the Kanva Sakha branch of the Vedas, the method of worshiping and meditating on Tulasi Devi is described. Without invoking the goddess, one can reverentially meditate on her and adore her with sixteen ingredients in the following way:
"Of all flowers, Tulasi is the best. She is worshipable and beautiful, and burns up the fuel of sins like a flame of fire. Of all the goddesses, she is the most sacred. Because no one can compare to her, she is called Tulasi. I worship this goddess who is entreated by all. She is placed on the heads of all, desired by all, and makes the universe holy. She bestows liberation from this world and devotion to Lord Hari. I worship her."
After this meditation and worship, the wise should read her praises and bow down to her.