SB.(7.5.

23-24purport)
Bathing in the Ganges and serving a pure Vai��ava are also known as tad�ya-
up�sanam. This is also p�da-
sevanam. The word tad�ya means �in relationship with the Lord.� Service to the
Vai��ava, Tulas�, Ganges
and Yamun� are included in p�da-sevanam. All these processes of p�da-sevanam help
one advance in
spiritual life very quickly.

SB. 3.15.19
mand�ra-kunda-kurabotpala-campak�r�a-
punn�ga-n�ga-bakul�mbuja-p�rij�t��
gandhe �rcite tulasik�bhara�ena tasy�
yasmi�s tapa� sumanaso bahu m�nayanti
SYNONYMS
mand�ra�mand�ra; kunda�kunda; kuraba�kuraba; utpala�utpala; campaka�campaka;
ar�a�ar�a
flower; punn�ga�punn�ga; n�ga�n�gake�ara; bakula�bakula; ambuja�lily;
p�rij�t��p�rij�ta;
gandhe�fragrance; arcite�being worshiped; tulasik�tulasi; �bhara�ena�with a
garland; tasy��of
her; yasmin�in which Vaiku��ha; tapa�austerity; su-manasa�good minded, Vaiku��ha
minded;
bahu�very much; m�nayanti�glorify.
TRANSLATION
Although flowering plants like the mand�ra, kunda, kurabaka, utpala, campaka, ar�a,
punn�ga,
n�gake�ara, bakula, lily and p�rij�ta are full of transcendental fragrance, they
are still conscious of the
austerities performed by tulas�, for tulas� is given special preference by the
Lord, who garlands Himself
with tulas� leaves.
PURPORT
The importance of tulas� leaves is very clearly mentioned here. Tulas� plants and
their leaves are very
important in devotional service. Devotees are recommended to water the tulas� tree
every day and collect
the leaves to worship the Lord

SB.10.30. 7
kaccit tulasi kaly��i
govinda-cara�a-priye
saha tv�li-kulair bibhrad
d���as te �ti-priyo �cyuta�
SYNONYMS
kaccit�whether; tulasi�O tulas� plant; kaly��i�O kind one; govinda�of Lord K���a;
cara�a�the feet;
priye�you to whom are dear; saha�together with; tv�you; ali�of bees; kulai�swarms;
bibhrat�
carrying; d���a�seen; te�by you; ati-priya�very dear; acyuta�Lord Acyuta.
TRANSLATION
O most kind tulas�, to whom the feet of Govinda are so dear, have you seen that
infallible one walk by,
wearing you and encircled by swarms of bees?
PURPORT
The �c�ryas explain here that the word cara�a is a term of respect, as in the
expression eva� vadanty
�c�rya-cara���. The bees humming around the garland worn by �r� Govinda were
attracted by the
fragrance of the tulas� ma�jar�s offered to Him. The gop�s felt that the trees had
not replied because they
were male, but that tulas�, being female, would sympathize with their plight.

SB 2.3.23
j�va� chavo bh�gavat��ghri-re�u�
na j�tu martyo �bhilabheta yas tu
�r�-vi��u-pady� manujas tulasy��
�vasa� chavo yas tu na veda gandham
SYNONYMS
j�van�while living; �ava�a dead body; bh�gavata-a�ghri-re�um�the dust of the feet
of a pure devotee;
na�never; j�tu�at any time; martya�mortal; abhilabheta�particularly received; ya�a
person; tu�
but; �r�with opulence; vi��u-pady��of the lotus feet of Vi��u; manu-ja�a descendant
of Manu (a
man); tulasy��leaves of the tulasi tree; �vasan�while breathing; �ava�still a dead
body; ya�who;
tu�but; na veda�never experienced; gandham�the aroma.
TRANSLATION
The person who has not at any time received the dust of the feet of the Lord�s pure
devotee upon his head
is certainly a dead body. And the person who has never experienced the aroma of the
tulas� leaves from
the lotus feet of the Lord is also a dead body, although breathing.

tasy�ravinda-nayanasya pad�ravinda-
ki�jalka-mi�ra-tulas�-makaranda-v�yu�
antar-gata� sva-vivare�a cak�ra te���
sa�k�obham ak�ara-ju��m api citta-tanvo�
SYNONYMS
tasya�of Him; aravinda-nayanasya�of the lotus-eyed Lord; pada-aravinda�of the lotus
feet; ki�jalka�
with the toes; mi�ra�mixed; tulas�the tulas� leaves; makaranda�fragrance;
v�yu�breeze; anta�-
gata�entered within; sva-vivare�a�through their nostrils; cak�ra�made; te��m�of the
Kum�ras;
sa�k�obham�agitation for change; ak�ara-ju��m�attached to impersonal Brahman
realization; api�
even though; citta-tanvo�in both mind and body.
TRANSLATION
When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulas� leaves from the toes of the lotus feet
of the Personality of
Godhead entered the nostrils of those sages, they experienced a change both in body
and in mind, even
though they were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.
PURPORT
It appears from this verse that the four Kum�ras were impersonalists or
protagonists of the philosophy of
monism, becoming one with the Lord. But as soon as they saw the Lord�s features,
their minds changed. In
other words, the impersonalist who feels transcendental pleasure in striving to
become one with the Lord
is defeated when he sees the beautiful transcendental features of the Lord. Because
of the fragrance of His
lotus feet, carried by the air and mixed with the aroma of tulas�, their minds
changed; instead of becoming
one with the Supreme Lord, they thought it wise to be devotees. Becoming a servitor
of the lotus feet of the
Lord is better than becoming one with the Lord.
SB 3.15.44

The goddess of fortune, Lak�m�, is sometimes envious of the tulas� leaves which are
placed at the lotus feet
of the Lord, for they remain fixed there and do not move, whereas Lak�m�j�,
although stationed by the
chest of the Lord, sometimes has to please other devotees who pray for her favor.
Lak�m�j� sometimes has
to go to satisfy her numerous devotees, but tulas� leaves never forsake their
position, and the Lord
therefore appreciates the service of the tulas� more than the service of Lak�m�
sb3.16.21

4.8.55 TEXT
salilai� �ucibhir m�lyair
vanyair m�la-phal�dibhi�
�ast��kur���ukai� c�rcet
tulasy� priyay� prabhum
SYNONYMS
salilai�by use of water; �ucibhi�being purified; m�lyai�by garlands; vanyai�of
forest flowers;
m�la�roots; phala-�dibhi�by different kinds of vegetables and fruits; �asta�the
newly grown grass;
a�kura�buds; a��ukai�by the skin of trees, such as the bh�rja; ca�and; arcet�should
worship;
tulasy�by the tulas� leaves; priyay�which are very dear to the Lord; prabhum�the
Lord.
TRANSLATION
One should worship the Lord by offering pure water, pure flower garlands, fruits,
flowers and vegetables,
which are available in the forest, or by collecting newly grown grasses, small buds
of flowers or even the
skins of trees, and if possible, by offering tulas� leaves, which are very dear to
the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.
PURPORT
It is specifically mentioned herein that tulas� leaves are very dear to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead,
and devotees should take particular care to have tulas� leaves in every temple and
center of worship. In the
Western countries, while engaged in propagating the K���a consciousness movement,
we were brought
great unhappiness because we could not find tulas� leaves. We are very much
obliged, therefore, to our
disciple �r�mat� Govinda d�s� because she has taken much care to grow tulas� plants
from seeds, and she
has been successful by the grace of K���a. Now tulas� plants are growing in almost
every center of our
movement.
Tulas� leaves are very important in the method of worshiping the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. In this
verse the word salilai� means �by the water.� Of course, Dhruva Mah�r�ja was
worshiping on the bank of
the Yamun�. The Yamun� and the Ganges are sacred, and sometimes devotees in India
insist that the Deity
must be worshiped with water of the Ganges or Yamun�. But here we understand de�a-
k�la to mean
�according to time and country.� In the Western countries there is no River Yamun�
or Ganges�water
from such sacred rivers is not available. Does this mean that the arc� worship
should for that reason be
stopped? No. Salilai� refers to any water�whatever is available�but it must be very
clear and collected
purely. That water can be used. The other paraphernalia, such as flower garlands,
fruits and vegetables,
should be collected according to the country and according to their availability.
Tulas� leaves are very
important for satisfying the Lord, so as far as possible an arrangement should be
made for growing tulas�
leaves.

TRANSLATION
While He was thinking about how to propitiate K���a by worship, the following verse
came to His mind.

CCAdi 3.104
tulas�-dala-m�tre�a
jalasya culukena v�
vikr���te svam �tm�na�
bhaktebhyo bhakta-vatsala�
SYNONYMS
tulas�of tulas�; dala�a leaf; m�tre�a�by only; jalasya�of water; culukena�by a
palmful; v�and;
vikr���te�sells; svam�His own; �tm�nam�self; bhaktebhya�unto the devotees; bhakta-
vatsala�
Lord K���a, who is affectionate to His devotees.
TRANSLATION
��r� K���a, who is very affectionate toward His devotees, sells Himself to a
devotee who offers Him merely
a tulas� leaf and a palmful of water.�
PURPORT
This is a verse from the Gautam�ya-tantra.

especially tulas� leaves and Ganges water, are offered to K���a with devotion, He
is very satisfied. It is said
that K���a is so pleased by such devotional service that He offers Himself to His
devotee in exchange for it.
�r�la Advaita �c�rya knew this fact, and therefore He decided to call for the
Personality of Godhead K���a
to descend by worshiping the Lord with tulas� leaves and the water of the Ganges.
The Supreme Lord is
causelessly merciful upon His devotee, so much so that even the poorest of men can
offer Him a little
water and a flower in devotion and thus please Him. This is due to His affectionate
dealings with His
devotees.

Madhya 24.260
nad�-t�re eka-kh�ni ku��ra kariy�
t�ra �ge eka-pi��i tulas� ropiy�
SYNONYMS
nad�-t�re�on the bank of the river; eka-kh�ni�just one; ku��ra�a cottage;
kariy�constructing; t�ra
�ge�just in front of the cottage; eka-pi��i�one raised platform; tulas�a tulas�
plant; ropiy�growing.
TRANSLATION
�N�rada Muni continued, �Leave your home and go to the river. There you should
construct a small
cottage, and in front of the cottage you should grow a tulas� plant on a raised
platform.

C.C. Antya 3.100

nirjana-vane ku�ira kari� tulas� sevana
r�tri-dine tina lak�a n�ma-sa�k�rtana
SYNONYMS
nirjana-vane�in a solitary forest; ku�ira�a cottage; kari��making; tulas�the tulas�
plant; sevana�
worshiping; r�tri-dine�throughout the entire day and night; tina�three;
lak�a�hundred thousand;
n�ma-sa�k�rtana�chanting of the holy name.
TRANSLATION
Harid�sa �h�kura constructed a cottage in a solitary forest. There he planted a
tulas� plant, and in front of
the tulas� he would chant the holy name of the Lord 300,000 times daily. He chanted
throughout the entire
day and night.
PURPORT
From his personal Example we can understand that chanting the Hare K���a mantra and
becoming highly
elevated in K���a consciousness is very simple. Without difficulty one can sit down
anywhere, especially
on the bank of the Ganges, Yamun� or any sacred river, devise a sitting place or
cottage, plant a tulas�, and
before the tulas� chant the Hare K���a mah�-mantra undisturbed.
Harid�sa �h�kura used to chant the holy name on his beads 300,000 times daily.
Throughout the entire
day and night, he would chant the sixteen names of the Hare K���a mah�-mantra.

We can follow his example, however, by chanting sixteen rounds of the Hare K���a
mah�-mantra on
beads every day and offering respect to the tulas� plant. This is not at all
difficult for anyone, and the
process of chanting the Hare K���a mah�-mantra with a vow before the tulas� plant
has such great spiritual
potency that simply by doing this one can become spiritually strong. Therefore we
request the members of
the Hare K���a movement to follow Harid�sa �h�kura�s example rigidly. Chanting
sixteen rounds does
not take much time, nor is offering respects to the tulas� plant difficult. The
process has immense spiritual
potency. One should not miss this opportunity.

tulas� sevana kare, carva�a, upav�sa

indriya-damana haila, premera prak��a
SYNONYMS
tulas�the tulas� plant; sevana kare�she worshiped; carva�a�chewing;
upav�sa�fasting; indriya-
damana�controlling the senses; haila�there was; premera prak��a�manifestations
symptomizing love
of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
She worshiped the tulas� plant, following in the footsteps of her spiritual master.
Instead of eating
regularly, she chewed whatever food she received as alms, and if nothing was
supplied she would fast.
Thus by eating frugally and fasting she conquered her senses, and as soon as her
senses were controlled,
symptoms of love of Godhead appeared in her person.
Antya 3.142

Taking shelter of Srimati Tulasi devi burns away material desires and
purifies anyone.
This is due to Her special characteristics as an nitya-parsada (eternal associate
of the
Lord).

Srila Visvanath Chakravarti's Vrndadevi-astakam, text 7

Tvam kirtase satvata-tantra-vidbhir lilabhidhana kila krsna-saktih

tavaiva murtis tulasi nr-loke vrnde namas te caranaravindam

tvam-you; kirtase-are glorified;-satvata-tantra-vidbhih-by those who know the

Satvata-
Tantra; lila-pastimes; abhidhana-by the name; kila-indeed; krsna-of Lord Krsna;
saktih-the
potency; tava-your; eva-indeed; murtih-form; tulasi-tulasi; nr-loke-in human
society: vrnde-
unto Vrnda-Devi; namah-obeisances; te-unto you; caranaravindam-lotus feet.

They who are learned in the Satvata-tantra glorify you. You are Krsna's pastime
potency.
The Tulasi plant is your form in the world of men. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus
feet.

Srila Visvanath Chakravarti's Vrndadevi-astakam, text 8

bhaktya vihina aparadha-laksaih ksiptas ca kamadi-taranga-madhye

krpamayi tvam saranam prapanna vrnde namas te caranaravindam

bhaktya-of devotional service; vihinah-devoid; aparadha-of offenses; laksaih-with

thousands; ksiptah-thrown; ca-and; kama-of lust; adi-and other inauspicious
qualities;
taranga-of the waves; madhye-in the midst; krpamayi-O merciful one; tvam-you;
saranam-
shelter; prapannah-attain.vrnde-unto Vrnda-Devi; namah-obeisances; te-unto you;
caranaravindam-lotus feet.

O merciful one, they who have no devotion and they whom millions of offenses
have
thrown into the waves of lust and other vices take shelter of you. O Vrnda, I bow
to your
lotus feet.
Bhakti-Rasamrta sindhuh 1.2.203)
Atha Tadiyanam sevanam, Tulasyah, yatha Skande-

ya drsta nikhilagha-sangha-samani sprsta vapuh pavani,

roganamabhivandita nirasani siktantakatrasini
pratyasatti-vidhayini bhagavatah krsnasya sanropita
nyasta taccarane vimukti-phalada tasyai tulasyai namah

In the Skanda Purana there is a statement praising the tulasi tree as follows:
 "Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the tulasi tree, which can immediately

vanquish volumes of sinful activities. Simply by seeing or touching this tree one
can
become relieved from all distresses and diseases. Simply by offering obeisances to
and
pouring water on the tulasi tree, one can become freed from the fear of being sent
to the
court of Yamaraja [the King of death, who punishes the sinful]. If someone sows a
tulasi
tree somewhere, certainly he becomes devoted to Lord Krsna. And when the tulasi
leaves
are offered in devotion at the lotus feet of Krsna, there is the full development
of love of
Godhead." (NOD page 99)

In India all Hindus, even those not belonging to the Vaisnava group, take
special care of
the tulasi tree. Even in great cities where it is very difficult to keep a tulasi
tree, people are
to be found very carefully keeping this plant. They water it and offer obeisances
to it,
because worship of the tulasi tree is very important in devotional service. (NOD
PAGE
100)

In the Skanda Purana there is another statement about tulasi, as follows:

Bhakti-Rasamrta sindhuh 1.2.204-205)

(Tatha ca tatraiva-there is another statement)

drsta sprsta tatha dhyata kirtita namita stuta

ropita sevita nityam pujita tulasi subha
navadha tulasim devim ye bhajanti dine dine
yuga-koti-sahasrani te vasanti harergrhe

"Tulasi is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching,

simply by re-
membering, simply by praying to, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about
or
simply by sowing this tree, there is always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in
touch
with the tulasi tree in the above-mentioned ways lives eternally in the Vaikuntha
world."
(NOD PAGE 100)