One time, desiring to know what kind of worship would please Krishna, Srimati Radhika approached Her friend Candranana, the best of the knowers of religion. After reflecting for a moment Candranana informed Srimati Radhika that Lord Krishna's association could be achieved through serving Tulasi in nine ways:
drstva sprstva tatha dhyata kirtita namita srta ropita sevita nityam pujita tulasi subha navadha tulasim nityam ye bhajanti dine dine yuga koti sahasrani te vasanti harer grhe
(Hari Bhakti Vilasa 9/126,127 from Skanda Purana, conversation between Lord Brahma and Narada Muni)
1. Sees Tulasi Maharani, 2. Touches Her, 3. Mediates On Her, 4. Narrates Her History, 5. Offers Obeisances To Her, 6. Prays To Her For Her Grace, 7. Plants Her, 8. Worships Her, Or 9. Waters Her
sarveshaam api pushpaanaam / sahasragunam utpalam tasmaat padmam tathaa raajan / padmaat tu shatapatrakam tasmaat sahasrapatram tu / pundareekam tatah param pundareeka sahasraat tu tulasi gunato 'dhikaa (Mahabharata- Ashwamedhika Parva 14.96.15).
"Of all the flowers, O King, the bluish lotus flower (Utpalam) is thousand times more qualified for My worship. Greater than that is the red lotus (Padmam) flower. Of the red lotus, the lotus with hundred petals is more qualified. Better than that is the red lotus with thousand petals. Better than this is the white lotus flower (Pundarika). And better than white lotus flower with thousand petals is the Tulasi leaf, which is even more qualified for My worship".
vrindayai 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.
Sri Tulasi Kirtana
namo namaha tulasi! krishna-preyasi radha-krishna-seva pabo ei abhilashi
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.
Sri Tulasi Pradaksina Mantra
yani 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.
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.
