துளசி தேவி
பல்லவி
துளசி தேவியுன் அரவிந்த பதம்தனை
உளமாரத்துதித்தேன் எனக்கருள் புரிவாய்
அனுபல்லவி
விளக்கொளிப்பெருமாள் கேசவன் மணிமார்பில்
துளபமாலையாய் விளங்கிடுமன்னையே
சரணம்
வளமான வாழ்வும் நலன்களனைத்தும்
அளவிலாக்கருணையுடன் பணிவோர்க்கருள்பவளே
ஒளிதரும் மறைகளும் தேவரும் பணிந்திடும்
தளிர் வடிவான தாயே சரணம்
Thulasi
The Skanda Purana says that one gets rid of the sins of as many lives as the number of Tulasi plants one grows. The Padma Purana asserts that wherever there is a garden of Tulasi plants, that place is like a pilgrimage. Representatives of Yama, the God of Death, cannot enter this home. Homes plastered with soil in which the Tulasi grows are free from disease.
Ancient religious texts have praised the Tulasi plant in many ways. Air that carries the fragrance of Tulasi benefits people it comes in contact with. Planting and caring for Tulasi helps people get rid of their sins. Even if one Tulasi is grown, the presence of Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, and other gods is assured. Benefits of pilgrimages such as going to Pushkar and that of sacred rivers like the Ganga are also available there. By offering prayers to Tulasi, one automatically prays to all gods and it is akin to a pilgrimage, therefore, the benefits accrue accordingly.
During the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov), when prayers are offered to Tulasi, or new plants are grown, the accumulated sins of many births are absolved. Tulasi affords auspicious opportunities generously. Simultaneously, it removes worries and tension. By offering Tulasi leaves to Lord Krishna one achieves liberation. Without Tulasi, religious ceremonies remain incomplete. When charity is given along with Tulasi, it ensures great benefits. And when shraddha is offered to forefathers near a Tulasi plant, it pleases them immensely. At the time of death, it is customary to mix Tulasi with Ganga water and put this in the mouth of the dying person.
It is customary to offer prayers to the Tulasi plant in the evening and light a lamp to offer the Tulasi tree or perform an arati to Tulasi. One then attains the blessings of Vrinda and Lord Vishnu. It is believed that the penance of Vrinda and her surrender and devotion to Lord Vishnu became a part of
the fragrance and leaves of the Tulasi. It is customary to circumambulate the Tulasi plant 108 times
on Somapati Amavasya (Monday that coincides with the dark night or new moon of the month) to get rid of insufficiency.
In the Brahma Vaivarta Purana (Prakriti Khand, 21/40) it is said: Lord Hari is not so pleased after bathing with thousands of pots filled with celestial nectar, as he is when even a single leaf of Tulasi is offered to him.
It is also said that whoever offers even a single Tulasi leaf to Lord Vishnu and prays to him daily attains the benefits of a hundred thousand Ashwamedha yajnas. And, at the time of death, even if a single drop of Tulasi water enters the mouth of a dying person, Vishnu Loka (the abode of Lord Vishnu) is attained definitely.
The Padma Purana says that whoever bathes with water in which Tulasi is added attains the virtues of having bathed in the Bhagirathi Ganga (Ganges River).
It is also described in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana that her last birth Tulasi was Vrinda Devi, married to an asura named Jalandhar. To gain victory over him, Lord Vishnu persuaded Vrinda to give up devotion to her husband. Pleased with her, Vishnu gave her his blessings. Through his blessings she became Tulasi and is worshipped by people all over the world.
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.
