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Tulasi Devi Instructions
Tulasi Devi Instructions
Tulasisbodyisspiritual.AlthoughTulasiappearsasmanyindividualtrees,sheisoneperson,
andshecomeswhereversheseesdevotiontoKrsna.
EverymorningdevoteesshouldwaterandpraytoTulasideviandcircumambulateherthree
times.
WorshipTulasiwithnicefood,flowers,incense,agheelamp,andothertraditionalarticlesof
worship.
ProtectthedelicateTulasiseedlingsfrombirdsandinsects.Itisanoffensetoturntheseedlings
backintothesoil.
InplaceswhereTulasicannotsurvivethewinterswhenplantedintheground,provideasuitable
houseforher.
EverydayprovideTulasifreshair,water(asneededbecarefulnottowatertoomuch),and
sunshine(orplantlights).
NeglectingtocarefororwaterTulasiproperlyisagreatoffense.Doeverythingcarefully.
WhenpickingTulasileaves,chantthefollowingmantra:
tulasyamrtajanmasi
sadatvamkesavapriya
kesavarthamcinomitvam
varadabhavasobhane
OTulasi,youwerebornfromnectar.YouarealwaysverydeartoLordKesava.Now,inorderto
worshipLordKesava,Iamcollectingyourleavesandmanjaris.Pleasebestowyourbenedictionon
me.
Pickonlytheleavesthatgrownexttothemanjaris(flowers)andtheleavesthatarereadytodrop
(theywillturnapalecolor)notthenew,greenones.Pickthemanjarisassoonastheyblossom.
Avoidlettingthemgotoseed,whichtakesmuchenergyfromtheplantthatcanbeusedtomake
moreleavesandflowersforKrsnasservice.Picktheleavesoneatatimewithyourfingertips.Dont
shakeorstrokethebranchanddamagehealthyleaves.Pickwithcareandattention.Avoidusing
cuttingtools.
NevercutorpruneTulasidevi.Thisisagreatoffense.Removedeadbranchesifabsolutely
necessary.Ifbranchesobstructapassageway,tiethemback,butdontcutthem.
PickTulasileavesandflowersinthemorning,neveratnight(fromsunsettosunrise).
NeverusechemicalspraysonTulasi.
CollectleavesonceinthemorningforworshipingKrsnaandforputtingontheplatesoffoodto
beofferedtoHim.Putatleastoneleafoneachpreparation.NeverpickTulasileavesforany
otherpurposethantooffertotheLord.
LordKrsnalikesgarlandsofTulasileaves.Tulasileavesmixedwithsandalwoodpulpandplaced
onthelotusfeetoftheLordisthetopmostworship.DonotplaceTulasileavesonthefeetof
anyoneotherthanLordVisnuinHisvariousforms.SrimatiRadharanicanbegivenaTulasileaf
inHerhandforofferingtoLordKrsna.
KrsnaacceptsevendryTulasileaves.Tulasiwood(takenafteraplanthasfullydriednaturally)
canbeusedtocarveworshipparaphernalia,suchasbeads.PlaceleftoverTulasiwoodwithin
theearth.
NeveruseTulasileavesorflowerstomaketeasorjuices,evenaftertheyvebeenofferedto
Krsna.ItisagreatoffensetocookorheatTulasi,ortouseherformundanepurposes,suchas
medicinesandointments.
NevercutdownorpulluplivingTulasiplants.Thisisagreatoffense.
AvoidsteppingonTulasidevisshadow.
Tulasideviisvery,verydeartotheLord.Therefore,mostimportantistoserveherwithloveand
devotion.