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I had wanted a Tulasi for a long time because she is so auspicious. I received my first one from a devotee from India. I gave a donation for the temple and took her home. She left two days later. I was shocked and disappointed. A couple of weeks later I obtained two more, and in a few days they left. I was devastated. About a month later I heard they had only one baby Tulasi left so I went to get her. I thought this would be my last chance. I would never get another one again. I had no idea what to do. I did what they had said. Put her near a window and water her a little everyday. I got down in front of this Tulasi and prayed to her. I told her that I wanted her very much. I did not know what I should do. I asked her to please not leave me and please guide me in the correct way of taking care of her. I remember the next day, without thinking, I moved her to another window (in Michigan we cannot keep her outside all year). I watered her differently. She started growing. She had definitely guided me. And she had responded to my prayer. She grew to be very beautiful and I grew many, many more. The very best time I had at the Temple in Detroit is when Giri Govardhana dasa, who takes care of the Tulasis there, let me help him. He showed me how to mix and change the soil, fertilize, bathe them and pick the manjaris. I also transplanted most of them, along with about 200 babies. I had so many Tulasis. The purple Syama Tulasis, Tulasis from the Radha Kunda, which I got from Giri, and Rama Tulasis. I had no Pure Rama Tulasi, and I really wanted one. That was my desire. After a long time, one began growing in one of my Tulasi pots. I had no pure Rama Tulasi, and one just came and started growing. To me, she was self manifested. She grew to be the largest and most beautiful Tulasi I have ever seen. She left after only two years. I could never get any of her seeds to grow. And now, a year later, another pure Rama has come on it's own. She is lime green with pure white flowers. Srimati Tulasi-devi belongs to a rare plant family which has what is known as a perfect flower. The flower contains both the male and female developments which allow her to fertilize herself. There is no such thing as a male Tulasi. In the Kanva-sakha branch of the Vedas it is said: "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." |
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Whoever cultivates and cares for a Tulasi plant purifies oneself, gives pleasure to Lord Krishna, and obtains Tulasi Devi's mercy, namely devotional service to and pure love of Krishna. Prabhupada wrote in a letter, 1/6/72: "Tulasi Devi is a pure devotee of Krishna and she should be treated with the same respect given to all Krishna's pure devotees. Simply by worshiping her faithfully a devotee can get himself free from all material miseries. In the Nectar of Devotion I have given two verses from the Skanda Purana: "Tulasi is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by remembering, simply by praying to, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about, or simply by sowing the 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." So from this verse we can understand how pure is the service which Tulasi offers to Sri Krishna. So we should endeavor to become the servant of Tulasi Devi. PRAYER TO TULASI DEVI I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vrinda, Srimati Tulasi Devi, who is very dear to Lord Kesava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord Krishna and possess the highest truth. O Tulasi, beloved of Krishna, I bow before you again and again. My desire is to obtain the service of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. Whoever takes shelter of you has his wishes fulfilled. Bestowing your mercy on him, you make him a resident of Vrindavana. My desire is that you will also grant me a residence in the pleasure groves of Sri Vrindavana-dhama. Thus, within my vision I will always behold the beautiful pastimes of Radha and Krishna. I beg you to make me a follower of the cowherd damsels of Vraja. Please give me the privilege of devotional service and make me your own maidservant. This very fallen and lowly servant of Krishna prays, "May I always swim in the love of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda".
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