Re: worshiping Tulasi Maharani - 07-21-2009, 11:17 AM

Posts: 245 Letter from Vidya Dasi to Srila Prabhupada written on 27

Join Date: Feb 2009 september 1976:
Location: 220 feet above
the material world... (top of Questions:
Hare Krishna Hill)
1. Is each tulasi a separate jiva soul or an expansion of one pure
devotee?

2. Where does her spirit soul go when she leaves this body?

3. Suddenly He Felt a Firm Slap

4. When tulasi is being cared for by householders in their homes,

must two aratis still be offered?

5. When tulasi is being cared for by householders in their homes,

may they use her leaves and manjaris on their home offerings or
should they take them to the temple?

6. When tulasi is being offered arati by the householders, must

she have a ghee lamp?

7. Is it offensive to turn the baby tulasis back into the soil when
they appear?

8. There are even questions concerning tulasi’s aratis. We have

always offered her incense, ghee lamp, and a flower. Is this
correct?

9. In the manual, it states that tulasi should not be pruned. Does

this mean trimming the branches which no longer have leaves or
life fluids flowing through them?

10. We were told you once spoke the “four regulative principles of
tulasi care” which will keep her from getting sick: (a) keep her
moist; (b) keep her clean; (c) give her morning sunlight (at
least); (d) give her two aratis a day. Is this bona fide?

11. May tulasi be made into a tea after she has been offered?

12. May devotees carve tulasi wood for Deity paraphernalia?

13. When tulasi leaves her body and the body is too soft for
carving beads, how should she be used? Should a small fire
sacrifice be performed?

14. We have a letter from you requesting that no sprays be used

on Tulasi-devi . May we use a spray of buttermilk and whole
wheat flour dissolved in water which coats her leaves to keep
spider mites from causing tulasi to leave her body?

15. Does tulasi sleep? Should she be left undisturbed after

nightfall?

16. Is it permissible to use scissors to cut her manjaris, and when

transplanting, to use knives to loosen her from her pot?
 17. Is it an offense to step on or across her shadow (or the
shadow of any pure devotee)?

18. For two years we have been waiting permission to use the
following two prayers plus translations and a translation of the
already existing prayer. Please tell us if these are bona fide:

om govinda-vallabham devim
bhakta-caitanya-karinim
snapayami jagad-dhatrim
hari-bhakti-pradayinim

“Now I am bathing the mother of the universe, the bestower of

Krsna bhakti, the enlivener of the living force of the devotees and
the dear one of Govinda.”

cayanodbhava-duhkham ca
yad hrdi tava vartate
tat ksamasva jagan-matah
vrnda-devé namo stu te

“O mother of the universe, please forgive whatever misery exists

in your heart caused by the cutting of your leaves. O Vrinda-
devi , let me offer my obeisances unto you.”

om tulasy amrta-janmasi
sada tvam kesava-priya
kesavartham cinomi tvam
barada bhava sobhane

“O Tulasi, you are born from nectar and always dear to Lord
Kesava. Now, for the service of Krishna, I am picking your leaves,
O one who is shining brightly.”

Reply from Srila Prabhupada vide letter dated 25 October 1976

In answer to your questions: (1) Tulasi is one devotee who

appears wherever there is devotion to Krishna. (2) Tulasi’s body
is spiritual. (3) Yes, jewelry is all right. (4) If possible. (5) Tulasi
leaves should be offered to the Deity. (6) If possible. (7) Yes. (8)
Yes. (9) You may cut the dead branches, but what is the
necessity? (10) I never said that. (11) No. (12) Yes. (13) Use the
wood for beads as far as possible, the balance may be placed
within the earth. (14) I said no chemical sprays. (15) Undisturbed
means what? (16) Use common sense and if you have none then
consult with others. (17) No. (18) Don’t try to introduce
something new. The most important thing is the love and
devotion.

குைறொயொன்றும் இல்ைல மைறமூூர்த்தி கண்ணொ

குைறொயொன்றும் இல்ைல கண்ணொ
குைறொயொன்றும் இல்ைல ோகொவிந்தொ
Kurai ōnrum illai, Maraimūrthi kanna!
kurai ōnrum illai, Kanna!
kurai ōnrum illai, Gōvinda!
Kannukku theriyāmal nirkinrāy kanna;
kannukku theriyāmal ninrālum enakku
kurai ōnrum illai maraimūrttik kanna.
Vendiyadhai thandhida Venkatesan enrirukka,
Vendiyadhu ver illai maraimūrthi kanna-
Manivannā! Malaiyappā! Gōvinda! Gōvinda!

Tiraiyinpin nirkinrāy kanna - unnai

marai ōdum gnaniyar mattume kanpar,
enralum kurai onrum enakku illai kanna.
Kunrin mel kallākki nirkinra varadā
kurai onrum illai, Maraimūrthi kanna!
Manivannā! Malaiyappā! Gōvinda! Gōvinda!

Kalinālukkirangi, kallile irangi,

nilaiyāka kōvilil nirkinrāy kesavā
Yādum marukkāda malaiyappā – un mārbil
Edum tara nirkum karunai kadal annai
enrum irundhida ædu kurai enakku
ōnrum kurai illai maraimūrthi kanna
Manivannā! Malaiyappā! Gōvinda! Gōvinda!
Sri Krsna-Chaitanya-Dvadasa-Nama-Stotram
by Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya:
Twelve principal names of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are:

(1) caitanyah krsna-caitanyo gaurango dvija-nayakah

yatinam dandinam caiva nyasinam ca siromanih

(2) raktambara-dharah sriman navadvipa-sudhakarah

prema-bhakti-pradas caiva sri-saci-nandanas tatha.

Chaitanya -- The living force

Krsna-Chaitanya -- The all-attractive Supreme living force
Gauranga -- He of fair bodily complexion
Dvija-Nayaka -- The hero amongst the twice-born brahmanas
Yatinam Siromani -- The crest jewel of sannyasis (who wander freely)
Dandinam Siromani - The crest jewel of sannyasis (who carry staffs)
Nyasinam Siromani -- The crest jewel of sannyasis (who renounce everything).
Raktambara-Dhara -- He Who wears red cloth
Sriman -- The supreme opulent one
Navadvipa-Sudhakara -- The source of nectar in Navadvipa
Prema-Bhakti-Prada -- The bestower of ecstatic loving devotion
Sri-Sachi-Nandana -- The delightful son of mother Sachi.

"That person who recites these twelve holy names of the Lord three times a
day (at dawn, noon and dusk) will achieve the perfection of all their best
desires, and will attain pure devotion unto the divine lotus feet of Lord
Chaitanya."

Chaitanya has left one written record in Sanskrit called Siksastaka.

Chaitanya's epistemological, theological and ontological teachings are summarized as ten

roots or maxims dasa mula:[26]

1. The statements of amnaya (scripture) are the chief proof. By these statements the
following nine topics are taught.

2. Krishna is the Supreme Absolute Truth.

3. Krishna is endowed with all energies.

4. Krishna is the ocean of rasa (theology).

5. The jivas (individual souls) are all separated parts of the Lord.
6. In bound state the jivas are under the influence of matter, due to their tatastha nature.

7. In the liberated state the jivas are free from the influence of matter, due to their tatastha
nature.

8. The jivas and the material world are both different from and identical to the Lord.

9. Pure devotion is the practice of the jivas.

10. Pure love of Krishna is the goal.

11. Krishna is the only lovable blessing to be received.

This is an interactive (clickable) image-map. Click on lotus feet. Sri Krishna Chaitanya
(centre), Sri Nityananda Prabhu (wearing blue), Sri Advaita Acharya (with beard), Sri
Gadadhara Pandit (purple dhoti), Sri Srivas Pandit (with shaven head and saffron dhoti).
Pancha-Tattva deities: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda, Advaita Acharya,
Gadadhara and Srivasa, installed on a Vaishnava altar.

According to beliefs of orthodox followers Caitanya Mahaprabhu united in

The first eight verses of the following are the complete text of the Siksastaka, as written
in Sanskrit by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and as translated by Srila Prabhupada. They are
found in Krishnadasa Kaviraja's Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita (Antya-līlā, verses 12, 16, 21,
29, 32, 36, 39 and 47).[4] The final verse is a Bengali quotation from Sri Caitanya
Charitamrita, Antya-līlā 20.65 - it is not part of the actual Siksastaka, but is often
appended to the end when it is recited, describing the result of reciting the Siksastaka
faithfully.[5][6]
[edit] 1
ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaḿ

śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaḿ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam

ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaḿ prati-padaḿ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaḿ

sarvātma-snapanaḿ paraḿ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-sańkīrtanam

[edit] Translation

Glory to the Sri Krishna sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated
for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This
sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads
the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It
increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for
which we are always anxious.

[edit] 2
nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis

tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ

etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi

durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgah

[edit] Translation

O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus
You have hundreds and millions of names like Krishna and Govinda. In these
transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not
even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You
enable us to easily approach You by chanting Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate
that I have no attraction for them.

[edit] 3
tṛṇād api sunīcena

taror api sahiṣṇunā

amāninā mānadena

kīrtanīyaḥ sadā harih

[edit] Translation

One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself
lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all
sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one
can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.

[edit] 4
na dhanaḿ na janaḿ na sundarīḿ

kavitāḿ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye

mama janmani janmanīśvare

bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi

[edit] Translation

O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women,
nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service
birth after birth.

[edit] 5
ayi nanda-tanuja kińkaraḿ

patitaḿ māḿ viṣame bhavāmbudhau

kṛpayā tava pāda-pańkaja-

sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaḿ vicintaya

[edit] Translation

O son of Maharaja Nanda (Krishna), I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I
have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death
and place me as one of the atoms of Your lotus feet.

[edit] 6
nayanaḿ galad-aśru-dhārayā

vadanaḿ gadgada-ruddhayā girā

pulakair nicitaḿ vapuḥ kadā

tava nāma-grahaṇe bhaviṣyati

[edit] Translation

O my Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing constantly when I
chant Your holy name? When will my voice choke up, and when will the hairs on my
body stand on end at the recitation of Your name?

[edit] 7
yugāyitaḿ nimeṣeṇa

cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam

śūnyāyitaḿ jagat sarvaḿ

govinda-viraheṇa me

[edit] Translation

O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years

or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant
in the world in Your absence.

[edit] 8
āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāḿ pinaṣṭu mām

adarśanān marma-hatāḿ karotu vā

yathā tathā vā vidadhātu lampaṭo

mat-prāṇa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparah

[edit] Translation

I know no one but Krishna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me
roughly in His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is
completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord
unconditionally.

[edit] 9
prabhura ‘śikṣāṣṭaka’-śloka yei paḍe, śune

kṛṣṇe prema-bhakti tāra bāḍe dine-dine

[edit] Translation

If anyone recites or hears these eight verses of instruction by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
his ecstatic love and devotion for Krsna increases day by day.