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.
Vrndavani – One who first manifested
in vrindavan.
Vrnda – The goddess of all
plants.
Visvapujita – One who the whole
universe worships.
Puspasara – The topmost of all
flowers, without whom Krsna does not like to look upon other
flowers.
Nandini – She gives happiness to
everyone.
Krsna-Jivani – The life and soul of
Lord Krsna.
Visva-Pavani – One who purifies the
three worlds.
Tulasi – One who has no
comparison.
Any one while worshipping Tulasi
Devi chants these eight names will get the same result as one who
performs the Asvameda Yagna and one who on the full moon-day of
Kartik (Tulasi Devi’s appearance day) worships Her with this mantra
will break free from the bonds of this miserable world of birth and
death, and very quickly attain Goloka Vrindavan. On the full
moon-day of Kartik Lord Krsna Himself worships Tulasi Devi with
this mantra.
One who remembers this mantra will
very quickly attain devotion to Lord Krsna’s Lotus Feet.
[Gita-Mahatmya and Tulasi devi Mahatmya of Padma Purana.]
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.
Srimati Tulasi Devi is Srimati Vrnda
Devi’s beautiful and graceful, partial expansion in this material
world.
There are two types of Tulasi, Krsna
Tulasi, which has purple colouring in the leaves and stems and Rama
Tulasi with green leaves and stems. Both of these Tulasi are used
in the worship of Lord Krsna.
Service to Srimati Tualsi devi is
performed with the same high level standard that is used to serve
the Deities on the altar. Srimati Tualsi devi is a pure devotee of
Lord Krsna. Pujaris are requested to shower and wear clean clothes
when performing any service for Tulasi in the temple, greenhouse or
grown at home.
