O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord Krishna and possess the highest truth.”, (Sing during the arati. ), namo namah tulasi! Pushpasara: She is the essence of all flowers. It was as if Srila Prabhupada had arranged for us to receive further instruction and opportunity to serve Srimati Tulasi Devi by sending Baba into our midst. namo namaha tulasi! This song is in Bengali. Devotees wear strands of Tulasi beads around their necks. Nandini: She gives happiness to everyone. One of the highly exalted devotees of Lord Krishna is the Tulsi Devi. A gentle smile decorates her lips. Thus, within my vision I will always behold the beautiful pastimes of Radha and Krishna. And I witnessed the Lord’s divine protection of His devotee. In order to understand who Tulasi devi is, one must also understand who Vrinda devi is. Tulasi Devi can be used in many ways to please the Supreme Lord, but never for gratifying one’s senses. Because of your order, the groves where Lord Madhava performs His pastimes appear very splendid, decorated with blossoming flowers, bumblebees, deer, and other auspicious animals, flowers, and birds. (9) vrindashtakam yah shrinuyat pathed va Lord Krishna resides happily in the house where Tulasi-devi is present. Baba’s departure left on indelible imprint on my mind. (2) Whoever takes shelter of you has his wishes fulfilled. It is believed that the soul of Vrinda resides in the plant at night and leaves in the morning. See more ideas about tulsi, devi, krishna. Please give me the privilege of devotional service and make me your own maidservant. STORIES (LEGENDS) BEHIND TULASI VIVAH (MARRIAGE) This Marriage Festival is performed on the 11th day of the bright half of Kartik. The Tulasi branches were beginning to cover the entrance, and people unavoidably brushed up against her. But when I later presented two small Tulasiplants to him in Los Angeles, he was delighted. —Tulasi is the essence of all devotional activities. The parrots serve Vrinda Devi by carrying messages to various parts of Vrindavana. We pressed Baba to tell us his life story so we could tape it for future publication. Make a donation. Because of Srila Prabhupada’s efforts in spreading the glories of Tulasi Devi all over the world, Vrinda Devi led Baba Madhava Dasa to choose ISKCON to continue her service at Vrinda Kunda. Vishvapavani: She is the sanctifier of the whole world. If you worship Lord Krishna with Tulasi leaves daily, you will attain the results of every kind of austerity, sacrifice, and charity. krishna-preyasi Worship Tulasi with nice food, flowers, incense, a ghee lamp, and other traditional articles of worship. In his books, too, Srila Prabhupada called attention to the exalted position of Tulasi Devi. How to worship her. Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani have given Vrinda Devi her role as queen of Vrindavana. (Letter LA 9 July 1971) Learning Respect for Tulasi Tulasi Devi is a pure devotee of Krishna and she should be treated with the same respect given to all Krishna… mrigadibhir madhava-keli- kunjah Pick the leaves one at a time with your fingertips. At one point, Srila Prabhupada told us that Tulasi Devi was a great devotee of Lord Krishna, and that her husband, a demon, was killed by Krishna. Five thousand years ago when Lord Krishna descended on the plant to carry out his pastimes, proper environment for him was created by Vrinda Devi. Srila Prabhupada gave his disciples the following prayers for worshiping Tulasi Devi. I still didn’t know why growing Tulasi was important to Srila Prabhupada or his mission. We were seeing a divine soul depart for the realm of Goloka, and we cried for joy. vrinde namas te caranaravindam. (2) bimbadharoditvara-manda-hasya- sada tvam keshava-priya je tomara sharana loy, tara vanchha purna hoy A mandap (marriage booth) is built around the courtyard of the house where the Tulsi plant is usually planted in centre of the courtyard in a brick plaster called the Tulsi vrindavana. Now, in order to worship Lord Keshava, I am collecting your leaves and manjaris.Please bestow your benediction on me.”. Lord Krishna likes garlands of Tulasi leaves. Later she descended here as Tulsi Devi, daughter of Kushadvaja King to perform penances. Then I saw the devotee’s response to death: full surrender at the Lord’s lotus feet with pure love and trust. (1) O Tulasi, beloved of Krishna, I bow before you again and again. tvat-saubhagam kena nirucyatam tad Vivah My intuition was that he had given us as much as we could then understand. —One who puts into his mouth or on his head Tulasi leaves that have been offered to Lord Krishna attains Lord Krishna’s abode. Shri Vasishthaji said that what I have heard in ancient times from Lord Brahma about the marriage of Tulasi I will now describe according to what is written in the Narada-pancaratra. Now tulasi plants are growing in almost every center of our movement. He began to describe such a palace from various scriptural quotations. We see Her in the form of a plant, but She is not a plant. I am delighted to share her story with you. A beautiful smile was on his lips. pradakshinah pade pade, “By the circumambulation of Srimati Tulasi Devi all the sins one may have committed are destroyed at every step, even the sin of killing a brahmana.”. LEGEND-1: TULASI VIVAH STORY FROM ‘PADMA PURANA’ labhya ca pumsam kripaya tavaiva Srila Prabhupada had told us that Vrindavana is named after Vrinda Devi. And I found information on Tulasi Devi—her botanical names, her history, and ways to grow her. But you can tie back the branches obstructing the entrance.”, Even after tying back the branches, Tulasi kept growing, and the problem continued. His last audible words were “Krishna! Put at least one leaf on each preparation. tani tani pranashyanti You have made just the exact replica of Vrinda Devi.”, I told him, “Baba, because you are now unable to walk and go see your beloved deity, Vrinda Devi has arranged to come to see you.”. Not surprisingly, I felt an immediate connection. It was as if he was clearly seeing Krishna and his beloved Vrinda Devi. This is the wedding of Tulsi plant with Vishnu, by placing the images of both of the two. She decides which flowers will bloom, which birds will sing, which songs will be sung, which breezes will blow, which food will be served, which games will be played, which musical instruments will be played. Vrinda Devi may be likened to a grand director or choreographer of the Vrindavana lila, and her parrots are her communication service. vrinde namas te caranaravindam. She is assisted by few confidential associates, and with their help, she ensures everything is pleasing to Lord Krishna. … Without the Tulsi leaves, Krishna does not accept food, flowers or sandalwood paste. She is the essence of all flowers, and the life and soul of Shree Krishna.” One who worships Tulsi Devi, an eternal associate and devotee of Shree Krishna, will quickly attain devotion at Shree Krishna’s lotus feet. In the Western countries, while engaged in propagating the Krishna consciousness movement, we were brought great unhappiness because we could not find tulasi leaves. Lord Krishna, along with all the other demigods lives wherever there is Tulasi Devi. Avoid using cutting tools. Tulasi leaves mixed with sandalwood pulp and placed on the lotus feet of the Lord is the topmost worship. This is the celebration of the marriage ceremony of Srimati Tulsi Maharani and Lord Sri Krishna in the form of Salagrama Sila. Don’t shake or stroke the branch and damage healthy leaves. sa prapya vrindavana-nitya-vasam Pick Tulasi leaves and flowers in the morning, never at night (from sunset to sunrise). vane tvad-ishanghri-saroja- seva We promised Baba that a compound wall will be built around Vrinda Kunda and other improvements will be made. Baba’s passing away was glorious. My fascination with Tulasi Devi began very soon after meeting Srila Prabhupada in 1967. The first set of seeds did not grow. This was the essence and inner meaning of time. tavaiva murtis tulasi nri-loke —One who worships Lord Krishna daily with Tulasi leaves attains the results of all kinds of austerity, charity, and sacrifice. vicitra-ratnabharana-shriyadhye Tulasi Devi is a pure devotee of Krishna and she should be treated with the same respect given to all Krishna’s pure devotees. Tulasi Devi is very, very dear to the Lord. (4) tvad-ajnaya pallava-pushpa-bhringa- It was fierce and final, frightening and overwhelmingly real. When Prabhupada came to Hawaii in 1971, he admired our lush Tulasi garden in front of the entrance to the temple. Simply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by remembering, simply by praying to, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about, or simply by sowing this tree, there is always auspiciousness. If you apply a paste of the Tulasi wood on the deity of Lord Krishna, then you will always remain close to him. Do not place Tulasi leaves on the feet of anyone other than Lord Vishnu in His various forms. O Vrinda Devi, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. krishna-preyasi radha-krishna-seva pabo ei abhilashi. Somehow, by the divine arrangement of the Lord, he ended up at ISKCON’s Krishna-Balaram temple. I recall him saying that in India every-one considers Tulasi plants sacred, and no one will cut or uproot them. It is the shining crest jewel of all the Vaikunthas, and Srimati Radharani, the daughter of King Vrishabhanu, has made Vrinda Devi the ruling monarch of Lord Krishna’s opulent and auspicious abode of Vrindavana.”. Marriage of Shalagrama and Tulasi written by Sri Padmanabha Gosai. Vishvapujita: The whole world worships her. Vrinda Devi is in charge of the Vrindavana lila—the pastimes of Radha and Krishna. He writes in a purport to the Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.16.21): The goddess of fortune, Lakshmi, is sometimes envious of the tulasi leaves which are placed at the lotus feet of the Lord, for they remain fixed there and do not move, whereas Lakshmiji, although stationed by the chest of the Lord, sometimes has to please other devotees who pray for her favor. What may be fearful and horrible for others was for Baba a joyous reunion with his beloved Lord. Without the Tulsi leaves, Krishna does not accept food, flowers or sandalwood paste. Tulasi , my most worshipped devi. Baba’s work at Vrinda Kunda was left unfinished. The living entities who attain the service of the lotus feet of your Lord reside in Vrindavana. vrinde namas te caranaravindam. —One who remembers the glories of Tulasi or tells others about them will never take birth again. “Whoever takes shelter of you has his wishes fulfilled. nasagra-mukta-dyuti-dipitasye There is great spiritual merit accrued from caring for holy places. Maa Tulasi is omnipresent in every Hindu household, especially the Brahmin houses. His breath came in tiny gasps, and with each breath his ecstasy increased. We wear Tulasi beads around our necks; we chant on Tulasi beads knowing she is … Then he was gone. Vidya and I were in the temple making Tulasigarlands when Baba’s nurse rushed in, telling us to come quickly. Madhava Baba knew all the scriptural references to Vrinda Devi, and he carefully supervised the tiniest details of this painting. It is good that they have to bow to Tulasi before entering Krishna’s temple.”. My desire is to obtain the service of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. Tulasi Devi has come to the West to give us the opportunity to serve her for our benefit. My desire to grow Tulasi became an obsession, and somehow I got seeds from India. When I presented them to Srila Prabhupada, he held them and looked at them with scrutiny, then simply said, “No, not Tulasi.” But he chanted on them anyway. (6) rasabhilasho vasatish ca vrinda- tulasy amrita-janmasi Tulsi Devi: The Detailed Story of Goddess, on Tulsi Devi: The Detailed Story of Goddess. O Vrinda Devi, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. “This very fallen and lowly servant of Krishna prays, ‘May I always swim in the love of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda.’ ”, yani kani ca papani You are Lord Krishna’s potency for performing pastimes, and you are known as Tulasi Devi in the human society. Do everything carefully. O Vrinda Devi, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. And of all holy places, Vrinda Kunda is one of the most auspicious. “My desire is that you will also grant me a residence in the pleasure groves of Sri Vrindavana-dhama. vrinde namas te caranaravindam. The second batch of seeds proved fruitful, however, and tiny heart-shaped seedlings spread their delicate leaves in our Honolulu home. vrinde namas te caranaravindam. Bestowing your mercy on him, you make him a resident of Vrindavana. Vrindavani, vrinda, visvapujita, pushpasara, nandini, Krishna-jivani, visva-pavani, tulasi. Later, the Tulsi-puja-kirtan bhajan is sung when Tulsi-Devi is given incense, flowers, and a ghee lamp. She always stays in Vrindavana, absorbed in love for Radha and Krishna. O Vrinda Devi, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. She controls how the wind blows, where and when it rains, how trees bend, etc. Sri-Vrnda-devi in Sri Rupa-Sanatana Gaudiya Matha, Vrndavana. 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