We are finally ready to build a greenhouse for Tulasi Devi. We plan to lay the foundation of the greenhouse in a few months and hope to be completed by this Summer. In addition to our many Jubilee celebrations, we hope to make Tulasi Devi’s house one of them.
Who is Tulasi Devi?
Vrinda Devi wanted to serve Krishna more intimately, so she expanded herself as Tulasi Devi, a holy plant. Her fragrant leaves and flowers decorated Krishna’s feet and were strewn into garlands that hung around His neck. Tulasi Devi became so dear to Krishna that it was no secret that serving and worshiping her would grant His association. Vrindavan’s residents learned that simply by gazing at her, touching her, remembering her, glorifying her, bowing down before her, offering prayers to her, planting her, watering her, and worshiping her would please Krishna.
They also knew that if one serves Tulasi Devi with great devotion, she opens the doors to Vrindavan for as many ancestors and descendants of the devotee as there are branches, sub-branches, seeds, flowers, and leaves on the Tulasi plant being worshiped. One’s sins are burned to ashes, and at the time of death, Yamaraja’s servants, the agents of the Lord of Death who come to claim the departed soul, will never enter a home in the presence of a Tulasi plant.
Why serve her?
Thus, for our benefit, Krishna arranged that Tulasi Devi manifest on Earth. He descended to Vrindavan on Earth five thousand years ago with His intimate associates, and till now His pastimes are taking place there. Vrinda Devi and her servants are making the same daily arrangements for Radha and Krishna’s pastimes. Tulasi Devi is also present. This Vrindavan is nondifferent from the Vrindavan in the spiritual realm, a higher dimensional reality not perceived by our mundane eyes. But we can see Tulasi Devi, and although she seemingly appears as an ordinary plant, she is glorified throughout the sacred Vedic scriptures as a descendant of the spiritual realm come to give us a great treasure.
The Skanda Purana describes these gems: “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. If someone sows a Tulasi tree somewhere, certainly he becomes devoted to Lord Krishna. And when the Tulasi leaves are offered in devotion at the lotus feet of Krishna, there is the full development of love of Godhead.”
How can you serve?
Lord Krishna is pleased when Tulasi Devi is served and worshiped, and Tulasi Devi is joyful when she is placed at the lotus feet of Krishna. By assisting the Tulasi Greenhouse Project, you will be pleasing Krishna and His beloved devotee. You will also be giving others the opportunity to reap the rewards of connecting with Tulasi Devi. As a result, you will one day receive the eyes to witness the resplendent pastimes of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna and Vrinda Devi in their spiritual abode.
You can also assist with taking care of Tulasi Devi by volunteering your time and skills.
To hear the Tulasi prayers: http://vaishnavsongs.iskcondesiretree.com/2011/05/tulasi-aarti/