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Re: Tulasi Devi
> From: Bon Giovanni <bongiovanni@delphi.com>
> >guys, by opposition to Tulasi, proved themselves directly opposed to the
> >Vaisnava path.
>
> Rather, by such sayings RK or His beloved disciple V showed that to the
> illumined sage, all life is sacred, and from such a one, Krishna accepts
> even an eggplant fritter as if it were Tulsi.
Dr. Bon, you are speaking about that which you have no understanding.
First of all, neither RK nor V made it a habit of worshipping or making
offerings to Krishna, so your above point is pure speculation and
has no backing in history.
Second of all, you are wrong to suggest that worship of Tulasi is mere
ritual with no love. Have you ever seen a Vaisnava Tulasi Puja? Do you
know anything about Krishna's pastimes with Tulasi? Most of the people who
regard Tulasi as a mere plant, something like an eggplant or basil, have
no knowledge in these matters and make such nonsense verbal speculations.
I'll sketch some brief pastimes below.
"vrndayai tulasi-devyayai
priyayai kesavasyas ca
krsna-bhakti prade devi
satyvatyai namo namah"
I offer my repeated obeisances to Srimati Tulasi Devi, who freely bestows devotion
to Krishna as she is His most beloved.
Vrnda Devi was a great devotee, the Queen of Vrindavan. Although she herself was
a great devotee of Krishna, she was unfortunately married to a demon. Krishna had
to kill that demon, but at the same time He didn't want to upset His devotee, so
He expanded himself into a form that looked just like the husband while meanwhile
the husband was killed. Krishna stayed with Tulasi Devi in disguised form until
she found out, when she cursed Him to become a rock, since he was so hard-hearted.
Krishna gladly accepted His devotee's curse, but Laksmi was not so pleased, so she
begged Tulasi Devi to retract the curse. Tulasi Devi did so, but Krishna promised
to also stay in this rock-like form, as Salagrama-Sila, and in this form his
chief consort is Tulasi Devi. Krishna promised Tulasi that he wouldn't accept worship
without her presence, and she accepted a plant-like form so that way everybody could
make a special offering to Krishna.
Vaisnavas offer the leaves and "manjaris" of Tulasi Devi to Krishna (/Rama/Vishnu) and
decorate all offerings to the Lord with tulasi. Tulasi Devi is worshipped with incense,
ghee lamps, camphor arati, flowers, foodstuffs, and bhajans. The childhood home of
Krishna (Vrindavan) is named after Tulasi Devi. It is said that even Krishna worships
Tulasi Devi, repeating 8 of her names.
Yours,
Vijay
