suddhabhakti

  Asta-Naam-Stava Eight names of Tulasi Devi Vrindavani, vrinda, visvapujita, pushpasara, Nandina, krsna-jivani, visva-pavani, tulasi   Vrindavani – one who first manifested in Vrindavan. Vrinda – The goddess of all plants and trees (even if one Tulasi plant is present in a forest it can be called Vrindavan.). Visvapujita – one whom the whole universe worships. Pushpasara – the top most 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 Krishna. Visva-pavani – one who purifies the three worlds. Tulasi – one who has no comparison.         Anyone while worshipping Tulasi Devi chants these eight names will get the same result as one who performs the Asvamed Yagna and one who on the full moon day of Karttik (Tulasi Devi’s appearance day) worships her with this mantra will break free from the bonds of this miserable world of birth ...

  The Marriage of  Tulasi Devi And Significance of  Shalagrama-shilas As Elaborated from  Brahma- Vaivarta   Purana ,  Prakriti-Khanda , Chapters 21 & 22 Compiled by Stephen Knapp           This explains the marriage between Lord Vishnu and Tulasi, how Tulasi became both the Gandaki River and the sacred Tulasi tree, and how Lord Vishnu accepted the form of the sacred stones found in the Gandaki River known as shalagram-shilas.   CHAPTER 21         Narada said: "O Lord, please narrate how You (Lord Narayana) impregnated Tulasi."         Narayana answered: "Hari, in order to accomplish the design of the gods, took the form of Sankhachuda and cohabited with Tulasi. He took the amulet of the demon and approached the house of Tulasi. At the threshold he played upon a drum and through a spy announcing these words, ‘May victory crown the King,’ he...

  Glories of Tulasi Devi From Patalakanda of the Padma Purana         Lord Shiva said: "My dear Narad Muni, kindly listen now I will relate to you the wonderful glories of Tulasi Devi.         One who hears Tulasi Devi’s glories will have all his sinful reactions, stored from many births, destroyed and very quickly attain the lotus-feet of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna.         The leaves, flowers, roots, bark, branches, trunk and the shade of Tulasi Devi are all spiritual.         One, whose dead body is burnt in a fire, which has Tulasi wood as fuel, will attain the spiritual world, even if he is the most sinful of sinful persons, and the person who lights up that fire, will be freed from all sinful reactions.         One who at the time of death takes the name of Lord Krishna and is touching the wood of Tulasi Devi...

This chapter describes Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s   rāsa   dance, which He enjoyed with His beloved girlfriends in the forests along the Yamunā River. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is most expert in the knowledge of transcendental moods. In the company of the  gopīs,  who were tightly bound to Him by the ropes of affection and totally dedicated to His service, the Lord expanded Himself into numerous forms. The  gopīs  became intoxicated with their enthusiasm to enjoy the  rāsa  dance, and thus they began satisfying Kṛṣṇa’s senses by singing, dancing and gesturing amorously. The sweet voices of the  gopīs  filled all the directions. Even after Lord Kṛṣṇa manifested Himself in numerous forms, each  gopī  thought He was standing next to her alone. Gradually the  gopīs  became fatigued from the continuous dancing and singing, and each of them placed her arm on the shoulder of the Kṛṣṇa standing beside her. Some...

The Tulasi tree is a most important plant, and is often seen at numerous Vedic temples, especially those dedicated to Vishnu and Krishna. At such temples you are  likely to find one or more in the courtyard wherein pilgrims circumambulate it, water it, or even offer prayers to it. Some temples will even have Tulasi groves, wherein you will see numerous Tulasi plants growing in a garden. Some temples will even have a special greenhouse just for taking care of Tulasi plants. At such temples, they may even prepare large garlands of Tulasi leaves and manjaris (the ends of the branches) for the Deity of Lord Krishna to wear. It is said that Tulasi will not grow well where there is no devotion to the Lord. In fact, how well Tulasi grows is said to be like a barometer that indicates how high the devotional attitude is of the devotee community around the temple.         Vaishnava devotees also use the wood to make neck beads and wear two or three strands ...