Tulasi plants and their leaves are very important in
devotional service, and devotees are encouraged to care for and
water the Tulasi tree every day, collecting the leaves for offering
to the Lord. Tulasi leaves may be offered with each food
preparation.
"The Lord does not care for a single one of fifty-six
offerings or thirty-six curries offered without a Tulasi leaf. Lord
Shiva, Subdeva, Narada Muni, Brahma, and all others are paying
their respects unto thee. Candra Sekara (the author)' who is
singing your glories, prays, "Please bestow Prema~bhakti unto me.
My humble obeisances unto thee again and again."
Tulasi's leaves should be washed three times before offering,
and should be kept in a bowl of fresh water inside a refrigerator.
If They are not kept like this, They turn limp and pale. If They
are kept in water, but not in a refrigerator, They will turn brown.
Be sure to change the water in the bowl every day, and clean the
sides of the bowl so no film will grow. (Proof that Mother Ganga is
actually pure is that Ganga water will not become murky if kept
contained.)
Estimate the required amount of leaves needed per day and try
to pick about the same amount each day. In that way you will always
have a supply, and Tulasi will feel the regularity. (Sometimes in
the case of manjaris, there will be an extra amount of mercy.) Don'
t pick Her leaves sporadically, but aim for the same time, same
amount, every day. How many leaves may be safely picked depends on
how healthy and bushy She is. If there are hundreds of leaves on
Her, it won't hurt to take a few. If there are only 13 or 14
leaves, don' t take any at all unless they are about to drop off.
It depends on the size and health of the plant. Use your discretion
in the matter. Srila Prabhupada said that dried leaves are just as
offerable as fresh green ones, and the dried leaves should be sent
to centers having little or no Tulasi. Extra dried leaves,
manjaris, etc., may be distributed as needed.
By offering Lord Krishna a single Tulasi leaf, one attains the
result of offering Him every flower and leaf that exists. Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur said, "Srimati Tulasi Maharani is
our spiritual master. She is the queen of Sri Vrindavana Dhama. It
is only by her mercy that one can be qualified to enter in Sri
Vrindavana Dhama. We wear Tulasi Maharani around our neck, knowing
that she is very dear to Lord Krishna. By our allegiance to her, we
chant the name of Lord Hari."
