Sri Tulasi Pranamavrindayai tulasi-devyai

priyayai keshavasya cha

krishna-bhakti-prade devi

satyavatyai namo namaha

vrndayai--unto Vrnda; tulasi-devyai--unto Tulasl Devi; priyayai-- who is dear;

kesavasya--to Lord Kesava; ca-and; krsna-bhakti-- devotional service to Lord

Krsna, prade--who bestows; devi--O goddess; satya-vatyai--unto Satyavati;

namah namah--repeated obeisances.

TRANSLATION

I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vrnda, Srimati Tulasi Devi, who is very

dear to Lord Kesava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord

Krsna and possess the highest truth.

Next, the devotees sing Sri Tulasi Kirtana while one devotee offers arati to

Tulasi-devi with incense, a ghee lamp and flowers. While offering the

articles, the devotee offering Tulasi-arati should stand on a mat (asana) and

ring a bell with the left hand. Just as when offering other aratis, the hands

and paraphernalia should be purified (acamana) with water from pancha-

patra. After offering each item, they may be distributed to the devotees.

Sri Tulasi Kirtananamo namaha tulasi! krishna-preyasi

radha-krishna-seva pabo ei abhilashi

je tomara sharana loy, tara vanchha purna hoy

kripa kori' koro tare brindavana-basi

mor ei abhilash, bilas kunje dio vas

nayane heribo sada jugala-rupa-rashi

ei nivedana dharo, sakhir anugata koro

seva-adhikara diye koro nija dasi

dina krishna-dase koy, ei jena mora hoy

sri-radha-govinda-preme sada jena bhasi

TRANSLATION

O Tulasi, beloved of Krsna, I bow before you again and again. My desire is to

obtain the service of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

Whoever takes shelter of you has his wishes fulfilled. Bestowing your mercy

on him, you make him a resident of Vrndavana.

My desire is that you will also grant me a residence in the pleasure groves of

Sri Vrndavana-dhama. Thus, within my vision I will always behold the

beautiful pastimes of Radha and Krsna.

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.

This very fallen and lowly servant of Krsna prays, ''May I always swim in the

love of Sri Radha and Govinda.

When Tulasi-puja Kirtana song is finished, the devotees circumambulate

Srimate Tulasi-devi 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

Sri Tulasi Pradaksina mantra.

Sri Tulasi Pradaksina Mantrayani kani cha papani

brahma-hatyadikani cha

tani tani pranashyanti

pradakshinaha pade pade

yani kani--whatever; ca--and; papani--sins; brahma-hatya--killing of a

brahmana; adikani--and so on; ca--also, tani tani--all of them; pranasyanti--

are destroyed; pradaksinah--(by) the circumambulation (of Tulasi Devi);

pade pade--at every step.

TRANSLATION

By the circumambulation of Srimati Tulasi Devi all the sins that one may

have committed are destroyed at every step, even the sin of killing a

brahmana.

Vrnda devi is a pure devotee of Lord Krsna and is responsible for setting up

the wonderful pastimes of Radha and Krsna in Vrndavana. She exists as

Tulasi to benefit the fallen conditioned souls by bestowing devotional

service to Krsna.

Have the words to the Tulasi arati 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 Tulasi-devi, and others will follow in

showing her respect.

Tulasi-devi should be kept in a special pot, and the pot should sit upon a

stand, up off the floor. When carrying a potted Tulasi 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 Tulasi-devi sits on should be high

enough so the base of the plant is above the waist of the devotee offering

arati. If it is not possible to keep a live Tulasi plant, one may offer worship

to a picture of Tulasi-devi.

For one who is Tulasi'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 Tulasi-devi some skirts to fit around Her pot, particularly when She is

being offered arati. If Tulasi 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 Tulasi is

nearby, she will be affected.

While in Detroit, Srila Prabhupada asked, "Where is Tulasi?". When She was

brought in, Srila Prabhupada put His garland around Her and had Her placed

on the altar, saying "Mother Tulasi is so kind. Treat Her as you would any of

Krsna's pure devotees."