Tulasi Devi By: Divya Venkat

Facts.... Tulasi is a dear-most devotees of Lord Krishna. Tulasi should be the first to be offered to the Lord. Tulasi gives us Bhakti. Worshiping Tulasi is superior than worshiping the Lord. Tulasi purifies the heart. Lord does not accept any offering without Tulasi. Having Tulasi at your home keeps away Yama-Dhutas! When Jesus was crucified Tulasi appeared magically at that place.

Heath benefits of Tulasi Plant Blocks dangerous germs Keeps us disease free Increases memory power Reduces fever,common cold,malaria It can cure Cancer Removes Phlegm Nerve tonic And many more benefits

Tulasi Seva Water Tulasi every morning except on dwadasi Make sure Tulasi gets enough sun light Check Leaves for her health Give obeisance to tulasi (bowing down) Vrindaai Tulasi devyai priyasai kesavasya cha Vishnu bhaktiprade devi satyavatyai namo namaha Circumambulate her daily 4 times yani kani cha papani brahmahatya dikani ca tani tani prana syanti pradakshinah pada pade Offer leaves and manjari only to Krishna

Eight Names of Tulasi devi Vrindavani: One who first manifested in Vrndavana. Vrinda: The goddess of all plants and trees. Visvapujita: One whom the whole universe worships. Puspasara: The topmost of all flowers, without whom Krishna does not like to look upon other flowers. Nandini: Seeing whom gives unlimited bliss to the devotees. Krishna-jivani: The life of Sri Krishna. Visva-pavani: One who purifies the three worlds. Tulasi: One who has no comparison.

How should we care for Tulasi Keep her in a large pot You should bath before touching Tulasi Water Tulasi plant ever morning except for Dwadasi Let her get morning sun and fresh air Keep her outside in summer and inside the house during Winter Check leaves for her health, if there is dried leaves gently remove Keep her in a neat place

What should we not do DO NOT water, pick leaves or touch Tulasi on Dwadasi DO NOT water, pick leaves or touch Tulasi at Night DO NOT shake when picking leaves DO NOT keep shoes near Tulasi DO NOT step on Tulasi leaves DO NOT use pesticides on Tulasi

Picking and Offering Leaves 1. Say the Mantra for picking Tulasi amrta janmasi Sada tvam kesava priya Kesavarthe vicinvami Varada bhava sobhane 2. Clap hands few times 3. Pick flower with two leaves 4. Manjari is the best for Lord Krishna 5. When offering to Lord say Etat tulasi Patram Klim Krishnaya Namaha.

One of the Stories: Why did Tulasi Devi Become a plant: The Curse of Sarasvati Sarasvati, Ganga and Laksmi were all, in the beginning, wives of MahaVishnu. The Lord loved all the three equally. One day all the four were sitting together when Ganga sent lustful glances at Vishnu which was immediately noticed by both Sarasvati and Laksmi. Sarasvati got angry and rising up caught hold of the hair of Ganga and dragged her to the ground. Laksmi then caught hold of Sarasvati to prevent further assault but Sarasvati then poured all her rage on Lakshmi and cursed her to be born as a plant on earth. Gangadevi could not bear this and she cursed Sarasvati to be born as a river on earth. Sarasvati retorted with a curse that Ganga also would be born as a river.

Story... (contd) Then Vishnu called Laksmi to his side and said: "Oh Devi, do not worry. Things have happened as pre- destined.” “You go and be born as the daughter of Dharma-dhvaja and grow up there.” “From there you will be transformed into a plant sacred enough to make all the three worlds pure. “ “That plant will be named Tulasi. “When you will be thus living as Tulasi, a demon named Sankhacuda with part of my virile strength will be born and he will marry you. “ “Then you can come back to me. The holy river Padmavati will also be another form of your spirit."

Resources knapp.com/tulasi_devi_the_sacred_tree.htm knapp.com/tulasi_devi_the_sacred_tree.htm Spiritual topics Gokul Bhajan Hari Katha Classes (weeks 68 & 113) Picture from

Quiz Time G1 children only: 1.Can you water, pick leaves, or touch Tulasi during Dwadasi? 2. Name three Health benefits of Tulasi? 3. Most important thing Tulasi can give us is: ______ ? G1 and G2: 4. Why did Tulasi Devi become a plant? 5. When offering Tulasi leaves to Lord what mantra is to be said? Clue: etat Name two other names given to Tulasi Devi.

Hare Krishna