Śrī Tulasī (Tulsi) Mantras

The worship of Śrīmatī Tulasī in the Temple

Immediately following Maṅgala-āratī, Tulasi-puja is offered. The devotees sing prayers to Tulasī-devī while one devotee offers Her ārati, then all circumambulate Tulasī-devī, offering her water. Preferably, ārati should also be offered to Tulsi in the evening, just before Sandhyā-āratī.

Begin Tulasi-arati by offering obeisances to Tulasīi-devī,
chanting the Tulasī-Praṇāma mantra three times.

Śrī Tulasī Praṇāma
vṛndāyai tulasī-devyai / priyāyai keśavasya ca
viṣṇu-bhakti-prade devī / satya vatyai namo namaḥ

vṛndāyai—unto Vṛndā; tulasī-devyai—unto Tulasī Devī priyāyai- who is dear; keśavasya—to Lord Keśava; ca—and; viṣṇu-bhakti- devotional service to Lord Viṣṇu/ Kṛṣṇa; prade—who bestows; devi-O goddess; satyavatyai—unto Satyavatī; namo namaḥ—repeated obeisances.

I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vṛndā, Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī, who is very dear to Lord Keśava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa and you possess the highest truth.

Next, the devotees sing Śrī Tulasī Kīrtana while one devotee offers ārati to Tulasī-devī with incense, a ghee lamp and flowers. While offering the articles, the devotee offering Tulasi-arati should stand on a mat (āsana) and ring a bell with the left hand. Just as when offering other āratis, the hands and paraphernalia should be purified (ācamana) with water from pancha-patra. After offering each item, they may be distributed to the devotees.

Śrī Tulasī-Kīrtana
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namo namaḥ tulasī kṛṣṇa-preyasi namo namaḥ
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-sevā pābo ei abilāṣī

ye tomāra śaraṇa loy, tara vāñchā pūrṇa hoy
kṛpā kori’ koro tāre vṛndāvana-vāsi

mora ei abhilāṣa, vilāsa kuñje dio vāsa
nayana heribo sadā yugala-rūpa-rāśi

ei nivedana dhara, sakhīra anugata koro
sevā-adhikāra diye koro nīja dāsī

dīna kṛṣṇa-dāse koy, ei yena mora hoy
śrī-rādhā-govinda-preme sadā yena bhāsi

(1) O Tulasī, beloved of Kṛṣṇa, I bow before you again and again. My desire is to obtain the service of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

(2) Whoever takes shelter of you has his wishes fulfilled. Bestowing your mercy on him, you make him a resident of Vṛndāvana.

(3) My desire is that you will also give me a residence in the pleasure groves of Śrī Vṛndāvana-dhāma. Thus within my vision I will always behold the beautiful pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

(4) 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.

(5) This very fallen and lowly servant of Kṛṣṇa prays, “May I always swim in the love of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Govinda.

When Tulasī-pūjā Kīrtana song is finished, the devotees circumambulate Śrīmate Tulasī-devī at least four times, offering her water by pouring some at her root. (Water is only offered in the morning, not evening.) Use small spoons to help avoid over watering Her. While circumambulating, chant the Śrī Tulasī Pradakṣiṇa mantra.

Śrī Tulasī Pradakṣiṇa Mantra
(Sing while circumambulating Tulasī)

yāni kāni ca pāpāni / brahma-hatyādikāni ca
tāni tāni praṇaśyanti / pradakṣiṇaḥ pade pade

yāni kāni—whatever; ca—and; pāpāni—sins; brahma-hatya—killing of a brāhmaṇa; ādikāni—and so on; ca—also; tāni tāni—all of them; praṇaśyanti—are destroyed; pradakṣiṇaḥ—(by) the circumambulation (of Tulasī Devī); pade pade—at every step

Those who circumambulate Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī step by step destro whatever sins they have committed, even the killing of a brāhmaṇa.

Have the words to the Tulasī ārati prayers typed and posted so guests can see them. Encourage all guests to participate in Tulasi-arati. With a little encouragement, they will join in and enjoy themselves. The devotees should always bow down when they see Taulasi-devi, and others will follow in showing her respect.

Tulasī-devī should be kept in a special pot, and the pot should sit upon a stand, up off the floor. When carrying a potted Tulasī plant, it is traditional to honor Her by carrying the pot on one's head. If it's too heavy, carry the pot out in front. For worship, the stand Tulasī-devī sits on should be high enough so the base of the plant is above the waist of the devotee offering ārati. If it is not possible to keep a live Tulasī plant, one may offer worship to a picture of Tulasī-devī.

For one who is Tulasī's servant, that responsibility enters into all the different aspects of Her existence. You must see that She is being maintained properly, that Her leaves are always offered in a clean and fresh manner, and that all the devotees are given the opportunity to worship Her. Make Tulasī-devī some skirts to fit around Her pot, particularly when She is being offered ārati. If Tulasī is very close to, or on the altar, make sure that no candles or ghee lamps are placed close enough to burn her leaves. Use incense sparingly as it tends to make Her sick if burned continually. Garlands left for more than a day will mold and attract bugs, so if Tulasī is nearby, she will be affected.

While in Detroit, Śrīla Prabhupāda asked, "Where is Tulasī?". When She was brought in, Śrīla Prabhupāda put His garland around Her and had Her placed on the altar, saying "Mother Tulasī is so kind. Treat Her as you would any of Kṛṣṇa's pure devotees."

Śrī Tulasī ārati
by Candraśekhara Kavi

(1)
namo namaḥ tulasī mahārāṇī,
vṛnde mahārāṇī namo namaḥ
namo re namo re maiyā namo nārāyaṇi

namo namaḥ–I offer my obeisances to you again and again; tulasi mahārāṇi–O Tulasī Mahārāṇī!; vṛnde–O Vṛndā!; mahārāṇi–O grand Queen!; namo namaḥ–I offer my obeisances to you again and again; namo re–my obeisances unto you!; namo re–my obeisances unto you!; maiyā–O mother!; namo nārāyaṇi–O Nārāyaṇī, wife of Lord Nārāyaṇa!

O Tulasī Mahārāṇī! O Vṛndā! O mother of devotion! O Nārāyaṇī, I offer my obeisances to you again and again.

(2)
jāko daraśe, paraśe agha-nāśai
mahimā beda-purāṇe bākhāni

yāńko daraśe–whoever sees you; paraśe–or touches you; agha-nāśai–all sins are destroyed; mahimā–your glories; veda-purāṇe–in the Vedas and Purāṇas; vākhāni–are described.

By seeing you or even by touching you, all sins are destroyed. Your glories are described in the Vedas and Purāṇas.

(3)
jāko patra, mañjarī komala
śrī-pati-caraṇa-kamale lapaṭāni
dhanya tulasī maiyā, purāṇa tapa kiye,
śrī-śālagrāma-mahā-paṭarāṇī

yāńko–whose; patra–leaves; mañjarī komala–and soft mañjarīs; śrī-pati– of Lord Nārāyaṇa, the husband of Lakṣmī caraṇa-kamale–at the lotus feet; lapaṭāni–are entwined; dhanya tulasi meiyā–O blessed mother Tulasī!; pūraṇa–you successfully completed; tapa kiye–performing austerities; śrī-śālagrāma–of Srī śālagrāma-śīlā; mahā-pāṭarāṇī–and have thus become the chief consort and queen.

Your leaves and soft mañjarīs are entwined at the lotus feet of Nārāyaṇa, the Lord of Lakṣmī. O blessed mother Tulasī, you performed successful austerities and have thus become the chief consort and queen of Śrī śālagrāma-śilā.

(4)
dhūpa, dīpa, naivedya, ārati,
phulanā kiye varakhā varakhāni
chappanna bhoga, chatriśa byañjana,
binā tulasī prabhu eka nāhi māni

dhūpa–incense; dīpa–a ghee lamp; naivedya–edibles; ārati–the ārati ceremony; phulanā kiye–offering to you; varakhā–you shower; varakhāni–your rain of mercy; chāppānna bhoga–the fifty-six varieties of cooked food; chatriśa byañjana–or the thirty-six different curries; vinā tulasī–without tulasī leaves; prabhu–the Lord; eka nāhi māni–does not care for even one of them.

You gladden and shower your rain of mercy upon one who offers you some incense, a ghee lamp, naivedya, and ārati. The Lord does not care for even one of fifty-six varieties of cooked food or thirty-six different curries offered without tulasī leaves.

(5)
śiva-śuka-nārada, āur brahmādi ko,
ḍhūrata phirata mahā-muni jñānī
candraśekhara maiyā, terā jaśa gāwe
bhakati-dāna dījiye mahārāṇī

śiva-śuka-nārada–Lord Siva, Sukadeva Gosvāmī, Devarṣi Nārada; aur– and; brahmādiko–demigods headed by Lord Brahmā; ḍh rata phirata–are circumambulating you; mahā-muni jñānī–and all the wise jñānīs and great munis; candraśekhara–this Candraśekhara; meiyā–O mother!; terā yaśa–your glories; gāowe–thus sings; bhakati-dāna–the gift of pure devotion; dijiye–please bestow upon me; mahārāṇi–O Mahārāṇī!

Lord Śiva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Devarṣi Nārada, and all the jñānīs and great munis, headed by Lord Brahmā, are circumambulating you. O mother! O Mahārāṇī, Candraśekhara thus sings your glories. Please bestow upon him the gift of pure devotion.

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Aṣṭa-nāma-stava from the Padma Purāṇa
The Eight Names of Vṛndā-devī

Vṛndā Devī, Vṛndāvanī, Viśvapūjitā, Viśvapāvanī,
Puṣpasāra, Nandinī, Tulasī Devī, Kṛṣṇa-jīvanī

Anyone while worshiping Tulasī-devī chants these eight names will get the same results as one who performs the Aśvamedha sacrifice. And one who on the full-moon day of Kartika (Tulasī-devī's appearance day) worships Her with this Mantra will break free from the bonds of this miserable world of birth and death, and very quickly attains Goloka-Vṛndāvan. On the full moon-day of Kartik Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself worships Śrīmati Tulasī-devī with this Mantra.

One who remembers this Mantra will very quickly attain devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa's Transcendental Lotus Feet.

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Śrī Vṛndādevy-aṣṭakam
"Eight Prayers Glorifying Śrī Vṛndā Devī",
by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura

Translation by Bābā Mādhava Dāsa.
Printed in Back To GodHead Magazine, 1993

श्री वृन्दा-देव्यष्टकम्
Śrī Vṛndādevy-aṣṭakam

TEXT 1
गाङ्गेय-चाम्पेय-तडिद्-विनिन्दि-
रोचिः-प्रवाह-स्नपितात्म-वृन्दे ।
बन्धूक-बन्धु-द्युति-दिव्य-वासो
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ १॥

gāṅgeya-cāmpeya-taḍid-vinindi-
rociḥ-pravāha-snapitātma-vṛnde
bandhūka-bandhu-dyuti-divya-vāso
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (1)

gangeya -- golden; campeya -- campaka flower; tadit -- lightning; vinindi -- chastising; rocih --splendor; pravaha -- with rivers; snapita -- bathed; atma -- own; vrnde -- multitude; bandhuka -- of the bandhuka flower; bandhu -- friend; dyuti -- splendor; divya -- transcendental; vasah -- garments; vrnde -- O Vrnda-devi; namah -- I offer respectful obeisances; te -- to your; carana -- feet; aravindam - the lotus flower.

O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. You are bathed in your own splendour, which defeats the effulgence of lightning and the golden champaka flower. The luster of your transcendental garments is the friend of the leandhilia flower. (bandhūka flower)

TEXT 2
बिम्बाधरोदित्वर-मन्द-हास्य-
नासाग्र-मुक्ता-द्युति-दीपितास्ये ।
विचित्र-रत्नाभरण-श्रीयाढ्ये
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ २॥

bimbādharoditvara-manda-hāsya-
nāsāgra-muktā-dyuti-dīpitāsye
vicitra-ratnābharaṇa-śrīyāḍhye
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (2)

bimba -- bimba fruits; adhara -- lips; uditvara -- extraordinary; manda -- gentle; hasya -- smile; nasa -- of the nose; agra --on the tip; mukta -- pearl; dyuti -- by the splendor; dipita -- illuminated; asye -- face; vicitra -- amazing and colorful; ratna -- jewels; abharana -- and ornaments; sriya -- with the beauty; adhye -- enriched.

O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Your face is illuminated by the splendour of the pearl decorating the tip of your nose, and by the extraordinary gentle smile on the two bimba fruits which are your lips. You are enriched by the beauty of the amazing and colourful jewels and ornaments you wear.

TEXT 3
समस्त-वैकुण्ठ-शिरोमणौ श्री-
कृष्णस्य वृन्दावन-धन्य-धाम्नि ।
दत्ताधिकारे वृषभानु-पुत्र्या
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ३॥

samasta-vaikuṇṭha-śiromaṇau śrī-
kṛṣṇasya vṛndāvana-dhanya-dhāmni
dattādhikāre vṛṣabhānu-putryā
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (3)

samasta -- all; vaikuntha -- of the Vaikuntha worlds; sirah-manau -- the crown jewel; Sri Krishna -- of Sri Krishna vrndavana -- Vrndavana; dhanya -- opulent and auspicious; dhamni -- in the abode; datta -- given; adhikare -- dominion; vrsabhanu -- of King Vrsabhanu; putrya --by the daughter (Srimati Radharani)

O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Srīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the daugther of King Vṛṣabhānu, has made you the ruling monarch of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s opulent and auspicious abode of Vṛndāvana, which is the crest jewel of all the Vaikunṭh planets.

TEXT 4
त्वद्-आज्ञया पल्लव-पुष्प-भृङ्ग-
मृगादिभिर् माधव-केलि-कुञ्जः ।
मध्वादिभिर् भान्ति विभूष्यमाणा
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ४॥

tvad-ājñayā pallava-puṣpa-bhṛṅga-
mṛgādibhir mādhava-keli-kuñjaḥ
madhv-ādibhir bhānti vibhūṣyamāṇā
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (4)

tvat -- your; ajnaya -- by the order; pallava -- blossoming; puspa -- by flowers; bhrnga -- by bumble-bees; mrga -- by deer; adibhih -- and others; Madhava -- of Lord Madhava; keli -- for performing pastimes; kunjah -- groves; madhu -- with springtime; adibhih -- and the other seasons; bhanti -- appears very splendid; vibhusyamanah -- being decorated.

O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Because of your order, the groves where Lord Mādhava performs His pastimes appear very splendid, decorated with blossoming flowers, bumblebees, deer, and other auspicious animals, flowers, and birds.

TEXT 5
त्वदीय-दूत्येन निकुञ्ज-यूनोर्
अत्युत्कयोः केलि-विलास-सिद्धिः ।
त्वत्-सौभगं केन निरुच्यतां तद्
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ५॥

tvadīya-dūtyena nikuñja-yūnor
atyutkayoḥ keli-vilāsa-siddhiḥ
tvat-saubhagaṁ kena nirucyatāṁ tad
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (5)

tvadiya -- your; dutyena -- because of the message; nikunja-yunoh -- of Radha and Krishna who perform pastimes in the groves (of Vrndavana); ati-utkayoh -- very enthusiastic (to perform pastimes); keli -- amorous; vilasa -- pastimes; siddhih -- perfection; tvat -- your; saubhajam -- good fortune; kena -- by whom?; nirucyatam -- may be described; tat -- therefore.

O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Who can describe your good fortune? You were the messenger who brought about the perfection of the amorous pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, the youthful couple, who enthusiastically sport in the groves of Vṛndāvana.

TEXT 6
रासाभिलाषो वसतिश् च वृन्दा
वने त्वद्-ईशाङ्घ्रि-सरोज-सेवा ।
लभ्या च पुंसां कृपया तवैव
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ६॥

rāsābhilāṣo vasatiś ca vṛndā
vane tvad-īśāṅghri-saroja-sevā
labhyā ca puṁsāṁ kṛpayā tavaiva
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (6)

rasa -- the rasa dance; abhilasah -- the desire; vasatih -- residence; ca -- and; vrndavane -- in Vrndavana; tvat -- your; isa -- of the Lord (Krishna); anghri -- feet; saroja -- of the lotus flower; seva -- service; labhya -- is attainable; ca -- and; pumsam -- by the living entities; krpaya -- by the mercy; tava -- your; eva -- indeed.

O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. The living entities who attain the service of the lotus feet of your Lord reside in Vṛndāvana. And the desire to understand the Lord’s amazing pastimes of the rasa dance is only by your mercy.

TEXT 7
त्वं कीर्त्यसे सात्वत-तन्त्र-विद्भिर्
लीलाभिधाना किल कृष्ण-शक्तिः ।
तवैव मूर्तिस् तुलसी नृ-लोके
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ७॥

tvaṁ kīrtyase sātvata-tantra-vidbhir
līlābhidhānā kila kṛṣṇa-śaktiḥ
tavaiva mūrtis tulasī nṛ-loke
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (7)

tvam -- you; kirtyase -- are glorified; satvata-tantra-vidbhih -- by those who know the Satvata-tantra; lila -- pastimes; abhidhana -- by the name; kila -- indeed; Krishna -- of Lord Krishna; saktih -- the potency; tava -- your; eva -- indeed; murtih -- form; tulasi -- Tulasi; nrloke --in human society.

O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Those who have studied the Sātvata-tantra glorify you. You are Lord Kṛṣṇa’s potency for performing pastimes, and you are known as Tulasī Devī in the human society.

TEXT 8
भक्त्या विहीना अपराध-लक्षैः
क्षिप्ताश् च कामादि-तरङ्ग-मध्ये ।
कृपामयि त्वाम् शरणं प्रपन्ना
वृन्दे नमस् ते चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ८॥

bhaktyā vihīnā aparādha-lakṣaiḥ
kṣiptāś ca kāmādi-taraṅga-madhye
kṛpāmayi tvām śaraṇaṁ prapannā
vṛnde namas te caraṇāravindam (8)

bhaktya -- of devotional service; vihinah -- devoid; aparadha -- of offenses; laksaih -- with thousands; ksiptah -- thrown; ca -- and; kama -- of lust; adi -- and other inauspicious qualities; taranga -- of the waves; madhye -- in the midst; krpamayi -- O merciful one; tvam -- you; saranam -- shelter; prapannah -- attain.

O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Those who are devoid of devotion to Lord Hari, and who are thrown by their offenses into the waves of lust and other inauspicious qualities, may take shelter of you.

TEXT 9
वृन्दाष्टकं यः शृणुयात् पठेद् वा
वृन्दावनाधीश-पदाब्ज-भृङ्गः ।
स प्राप्य वृन्दावन-नित्य-वासं
तत्-प्रेम-सेवां लभते कृतार्थः ॥ ९॥

vṛndāṣṭakaṁ yaḥ śṛṇuyāt paṭhed vā
vṛndāvanādhīśa-padābja-bhṛṅgaḥ
sa prāpya vṛndāvana-nitya-vāsaṁ
tat-prema-sevāṁ labhate kṛtārthaḥ (9)

vrinda -- glorifying Vrnda-devi; astakam -- eight verses; yah -- who; srnuyat -- may hear; pathet -- may read; va -- or; vrndavana -- of Vrndavana; adhisa -- of the monarchs (Radha and Krishna); pada -- feet; abja -- at the lotus flowers; bhrngah -- a bumble-bee; sah -- he; prapya -- attaining; vrndavana -- at Vrindavana; nitya -- eternal; vasam -- residence; tat -- of Lord Krishna; prema -- in pure love of Godhead; sevam -- devotional service; labhate -- attains; krita-arhah -- and his spiritual desires are satisfied.

O Vṛnda Devī, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. Let a person who becomes like a bumblebee at the lotus feet of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, and who reads or hears these eight verses describing the glories of Vṛndā Devī, eternally reside at Goloka Vṛndāvana. He attains devotional service in pure love of Godhead, and all his spiritual aspirations become fulfilled.

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॥ श्रीतुलसी अष्टोत्तरशतनामावली ॥
|| śrī tulasī aṣṭottaraśatanāmāvalī ||
108 names of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī