Brahmavaivarta Purana Brahma Khandam Chapter 22

The method of adoration of Tulasi

Narada said—Tulasi is considered to be quite sacred and pious because of her being the beloved of Narayana. I am not aware of her stotra and the method of her worship. You kindly tell me all that.

О sage, in the earlier times one adored the goddess Tulasi and offered prayers to her and how could she become adorable for you? You kindly tell me all this.

Suta said—On hearing the words of Narada, Narayana smiled and started narrating the ancient story.

Narayana said—Lord Vishnu after getting Tulasi with him enjoyed her company and also bestowed on her the glory comparable to Lakshmi.

The Ganga and Lakshmi gracefully welcomed the new company of Tulasi, with her fortune and glory but Sarasvati could not tolerate and was filled with anger.

Thereafter both of them quarrelled in the presence of the lord and Sarasvatl attacked Tulasi. Because of shame and her own disgrace Tulasi disappeared. Tulasi was full of knowledge and the goddess of all the goddesses besides being Siddhayogini. Therefore she concealed herself from the eyes of the lord.

The lord tried to convince Sarasvati with sweet words but finding Tulasi absent from the place, he went to the Tulasivana at the instance of Sarasvati.

Reaching there he took his bath and adored Tulasi with devotion composing a stotra in her favour.

The seed of Lakshmi, (Shrim) the seed of illusion, (Hreem) the seed of desire (Kleem) and the seed of speech is (Aim)- These should be recited first of all followed by the words Vrindavani and the word Svaha should be added at the end. The mantra thus formed would be Shrim Hreem Kleem Aim
He then recited this mantra of ten letters. О Narada, this mantra happens to be a wishful- filling tree; the one who recites this mantra with devotion, meets with all success.

О Narada, one should bum the lamp of ghee and essence offering saffron, sandal-paste, eatables, flower garland and by performing puja one should recite the stolra of Tulasi. Thereafter getting pleased she appeared in the form of Tulasi tree and she took refuge under the feet of the Lord.

Lord Vishnu blessed her saying, “You will be adored by the world and I shall accept your leaf to be placed my head and chest. All the Gods will bear you on their heads”. Thus speaking the lord took Tulasi with him.

Narada said—О great lord, you kindly tell me the Dhyanam, the stuti and the method of adoration of Tulasi.

Narayana said—At the disappearance of goddess Tulasi, the lord went to the Tulasl-vana and expressing grief at her separation, he offered Stuti to her.

The lord said—“When the trees collect in the form of Tulasi, my beloved is then called as Vmda by the intellectuals. I am serving her.

The goddess who appeared in the Vrindavana, was known by the name of Vrindavani I am serving such a fortunate Goddess.

She is adored in the innumerable globes earning her the title of Visvapiijita, 1 am adoring the one who is adored by the universe.

The one who purifies the innumerable globes, I am reciting the name of the same goddess who purifies the universe. Without her the gods do not feel pleased. Even after getting the flowers, I adore the same meritorious Goddess.

By getting her devotees feel delighted. She is known by the name of Nandini. I therefore pray that the same goddess should be pleased with me. О dear, you are the one who is without comparison in the world, that is why you are known as Tulasi. 1 therefore, take refuge under you.

You happen to be the life of Krishna and always are his beloved. Such a Krishnajivani goddess should protect my life. Thus adoring her the lord stood there. Thereafter he found Tulasi standing at his feet in a humble manner who was sobbing because of her pride. Finding her beloved there, the lord embraced her.

Thereafter at the instance of Sarasvati he took Tulasi with him and at that very moment she made friends with Sarasvatl. Thereafter lord Vis nu blessed her with a boon saying, “O goddess, getting adored by the universe, you will be accepted which grace by all and adored by me also.

Thus having been blessed with the boon of lord Vishnu, the goddess felt immensely delighted. Thereafter Sarasvati also embraced her and made her sit beside her.

О Narada, both Lakshmi and Ganga smilingly held the hand of Tulasi and made her enter the palace.

The goddess Tulasi is known by the eight names which are- Vrinda, Vrindavani, VisvapavanI, Visvapujita, Puspasara, NandinI, Tulasi and Krsnajlvanl. All these epithets are turned into the form of a stotra and whosoever adores Tulasi and recites this stotra earns the merit of performing an Asvamedha sacrifice.

On the full moon day of Kartika, Tulasi was bom and she was adored by the lord on the same day. Thereafter whosoever adores her on the same day of the full moon with devotion and perform piija to VisvapavanI, is relieved of all his sins and proceeds to the abode of Visnu. The one who offers a Tulasi leaf to lord Visnu in the month of Kartika, undoubtedly earns the merit of giving away ten thousand cows in charity.

By reciting the stotra, a childless person gets a son, a man without a wife gets a wife, the one having no brother gets a brother. The person suffering from ailment is relieved of the disease and the one who is thrown into bondage is redeemed of it. Those praising her in danger are freed from it, I am the sinner and I intend to get relieved of my sins.

Thus I have told you everything about the stotra; now 1 am repeating to you her dhyanam and the method of her adoration, which you please listen to.» You are well aware of the Vedas. I am now speaking out to you about the method prescribed in the Kanva branch. Without invoking, one should perform the pilja ofTulasI making sixteen types of offerings and should meditate upon her thus, “O TulasI, you are the form of the flowers, you are chaste, adorable, pleasant and are the remover of the sins like the fire flames which burn everything.

О sage, this goddess could not be compared with flowers and other goddesses. Since she happens to be The most sacred one, she has been given the name of Tulasi.

She is held in high esteem, fulfils all the wishes, purifies the universe, frees one from the cycle of birth, grants salivation and devotion to lord Hari. Therefore I am serving her. Thus meditating upon her, offering pilja and stuti, the intellectuals should bow before her. Thus I have narrated to you the story of TulasI; what else do you want to listen to?

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