Hare Krishna!All glories to guru and gaurang!Can anyone plz tell me why don't we offer tulsi on lotus feet of radharani and only to Krishna?We gaudiya vaishnavas consider radharani as direct expansion of Krishna and non different from him.....so when even his partial expansions are offered tulsi on their lotus feet why not Radharani's?Even in CC it is mentioned that they both are one........plz answer...Jay Radhe!!!!sorry if I have commited any offenses by asking this question.....
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Shrimati Tulasi devi is one of the most exalted devotees of the Shri Krishna. All scriptures stress on the importance of getting the mercy of Tulasi devi if one has to make progress in the path of devotion.
Tulasi Devi is eternal consort of the Lord:
It is stated in the 9th Skandha of Devi Bhagavata that due to a curse of Radha, Sudama, the cowboy, was born on earth as a demon named Sankhachuda. He did penance sitting at Badarikashrama and obtained the Vishnu Kavacha. Another object of his was to marry Tulasi. He obtained a boon from Brahma that his death would occur only when the Vishnu Kavacha was removed from his body and the chastity of his wife was lost. At that time Sankhachuda and Tulasi met each other in the forests and were married. Sankhachuda, brilliant and majestic, went about with Tulasi in amorous sports creating jealousy even among the devas. His arrogance gave innumerable troubles to the devas, and they along with Brahma and Shiva approached MahaVishnu for a remedy. Vishnu then sent Shiva with his spike to kill Sankhachuda, and he himself started to molest the chastity of his wife Tulasi. Sankhachuda took leave of Tulasi to go and fight with Shiva. When Tulasi was thus left alone, MahaVisnu in the form like Sankhachuda approached Tulasi and after some preliminary talks entered into intimate acts. Tulasi found some difference in the usual affairs and suspecting foul play jumped up to curse the impostor. At once MahaVishnu appeared in his true form and said, "You have been doing penance for a long time to get me as your husband. Your husband Sankhachuda was the chief of my Parsadas, Sudama. It is time for him to go back to the spiritual abode of Goloka, getting himself released from the curse. By this time Shiva would have killed him and he would have gone to Goloka as Sudama. You can now abandon your body and come with me to Vaikuntha as my wife.
The Lord said, "Your body will decay and become a holy river named Gandaki; your hair will become the Tulasi plant, the leaves of which will be held sacred in all the three worlds."
Tulasi then changed herself into the form of Laksmi and went to Vaikuntha with MahaVishnu.
Lord’s instruction regarding worship of Tulasi devi:
Once, in the presence of Lord Hari, the dignified Sarasvati quarreled with Tulasi and hurt her. Tulasi, humiliated and insulted, disappeared. Then, out of anger, the wise and adept Tulasi became invisible even to Lord Hari.
When Lord Hari did not see Tulasi, he appeased Sarasvati and, obtaining her permission, proceeded to the Tulasi forest–Vrndavana. He was very much disturbed by separation from her. There, he took a bath; then, with proper rites, he worshiped the chaste Tulasi with His whole heart, and then meditated on her with devotion, and uttered, “Obeisances to Tulasi Devi, Queen of Vrndavana forest.” During the worship, Tulasi was offered a lighted ghee lamp, frankincense, sandal flowers and sacrificial offerings. Anyone who worships Tulasi in this way will achieve complete perfection.
The Lord then began to praise His glorious devotee. “The Tulasi trees collect in many groups, thus the pandits call it Vrinda. I praise that dear Tulasi. Long ago she appeared in the Vrindavana forest and is thus known as Vrindavani. I adore that auspicious and glorious one. She is always worshiped in countless universes and so is known as Visvapujita–one who is worshiped throughout the world. I worship that Visvapujita".
“Countless universes are made pure and holy by her contact. She is therefore called Visvapavani–one who purifies the whole universe. Remembering her, I am suffering from separation from her. Though other flowers be heaped upon the demigods, they are not satisfied unless Tulasi is offered. Thus she is considered the essence of all flowers and is called Puspasara. Now I am anguished and troubled and very eager to see her–she who is purity incarnate. I crave the favor of that goddess. Because attainment of her brings faith and joy, she is called Nandini. O may she be pleased with Me. In the whole world she is incomparable, thus she is called Tulasi. I take refuge of that dear Tulasi. Very chaste and dear, she is the life of Krsna and so is known as Krsnajivani. O may that goddess save my life.”
After Lord Hari finished the ceremony and prayers, Tulasi was pleased and came out of the tree. She immediately took refuge at Lord Hari’s lotus feet. He blessed her by saying, “O Tulasi, you will be worshiped by all throughout the world. Dearest, I will hold you on my head and in my heart; and all the demigods will hold you on their heads.”
When Lord Hari saw that the dignified Tulasi was weeping because her feelings had been hurt by Sarasvati, He clasped her to His breast, took her to Sarasvati and reconciled their differences. Then He blessed Tulasi, saying, “You will be worshiped by all, honored by all and respected by all. And all will carry you on their heads. I also will worship, honor and respect you and carry you on My head.”
Tulasi was now very happy. Sarasvati then embraced her and seated her by her side. Laksmi and Ganga, smiling, also hugged her, and then took her home.
In this way we see that since Shrimati Tulasi devi is the eternal consort of Lord Krishna in Vaikuntha which is the same position of Shrimati Radharani in the holy dham of Vrindavana. Thus, Tulasi devi cannot be placed on anyone else’s feet apart from the Supreme Lord Krishna.
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Hare Krishna!
Shrimati Tulasi devi is one of the most exalted devotees of the Shri Krishna. All scriptures stress on the importance of getting the mercy of Tulasi devi if one has to make progress in the path of devotion.
Tulasi Devi is eternal consort of the Lord:
It is stated in the 9th Skandha of Devi Bhagavata that due to a curse of Radha, Sudama, the cowboy, was born on earth as a demon named Sankhachuda. He did penance sitting at Badarikashrama and obtained the Vishnu Kavacha. Another object of his was to marry Tulasi. He obtained a boon from Brahma that his death would occur only when the Vishnu Kavacha was removed from his body and the chastity of his wife was lost. At that time Sankhachuda and Tulasi met each other in the forests and were married. Sankhachuda, brilliant and majestic, went about with Tulasi in amorous sports creating jealousy even among the devas. His arrogance gave innumerable troubles to the devas, and they along with Brahma and Shiva approached MahaVishnu for a remedy. Vishnu then sent Shiva with his spike to kill Sankhachuda, and he himself started to molest the chastity of his wife Tulasi. Sankhachuda took leave of Tulasi to go and fight with Shiva. When Tulasi was thus left alone, MahaVisnu in the form like Sankhachuda approached Tulasi and after some preliminary talks entered into intimate acts. Tulasi found some difference in the usual affairs and suspecting foul play jumped up to curse the impostor. At once MahaVishnu appeared in his true form and said, "You have been doing penance for a long time to get me as your husband. Your husband Sankhachuda was the chief of my Parsadas, Sudama. It is time for him to go back to the spiritual abode of Goloka, getting himself released from the curse. By this time Shiva would have killed him and he would have gone to Goloka as Sudama. You can now abandon your body and come with me to Vaikuntha as my wife.
The Lord said, "Your body will decay and become a holy river named Gandaki; your hair will become the Tulasi plant, the leaves of which will be held sacred in all the three worlds."
Tulasi then changed herself into the form of Laksmi and went to Vaikuntha with MahaVishnu.
Lord’s instruction regarding worship of Tulasi devi:
Once, in the presence of Lord Hari, the dignified Sarasvati quarreled with Tulasi and hurt her. Tulasi, humiliated and insulted, disappeared. Then, out of anger, the wise and adept Tulasi became invisible even to Lord Hari.
When Lord Hari did not see Tulasi, he appeased Sarasvati and, obtaining her permission, proceeded to the Tulasi forest–Vrndavana. He was very much disturbed by separation from her. There, he took a bath; then, with proper rites, he worshiped the chaste Tulasi with His whole heart, and then meditated on her with devotion, and uttered, “Obeisances to Tulasi Devi, Queen of Vrndavana forest.” During the worship, Tulasi was offered a lighted ghee lamp, frankincense, sandal flowers and sacrificial offerings. Anyone who worships Tulasi in this way will achieve complete perfection.
The Lord then began to praise His glorious devotee. “The Tulasi trees collect in many groups, thus the pandits call it Vrinda. I praise that dear Tulasi. Long ago she appeared in the Vrindavana forest and is thus known as Vrindavani. I adore that auspicious and glorious one. She is always worshiped in countless universes and so is known as Visvapujita–one who is worshiped throughout the world. I worship that Visvapujita".
“Countless universes are made pure and holy by her contact. She is therefore called Visvapavani–one who purifies the whole universe. Remembering her, I am suffering from separation from her. Though other flowers be heaped upon the demigods, they are not satisfied unless Tulasi is offered. Thus she is considered the essence of all flowers and is called Puspasara. Now I am anguished and troubled and very eager to see her–she who is purity incarnate. I crave the favor of that goddess. Because attainment of her brings faith and joy, she is called Nandini. O may she be pleased with Me. In the whole world she is incomparable, thus she is called Tulasi. I take refuge of that dear Tulasi. Very chaste and dear, she is the life of Krsna and so is known as Krsnajivani. O may that goddess save my life.”
After Lord Hari finished the ceremony and prayers, Tulasi was pleased and came out of the tree. She immediately took refuge at Lord Hari’s lotus feet. He blessed her by saying, “O Tulasi, you will be worshiped by all throughout the world. Dearest, I will hold you on my head and in my heart; and all the demigods will hold you on their heads.”
When Lord Hari saw that the dignified Tulasi was weeping because her feelings had been hurt by Sarasvati, He clasped her to His breast, took her to Sarasvati and reconciled their differences. Then He blessed Tulasi, saying, “You will be worshiped by all, honored by all and respected by all. And all will carry you on their heads. I also will worship, honor and respect you and carry you on My head.”
Tulasi was now very happy. Sarasvati then embraced her and seated her by her side. Laksmi and Ganga, smiling, also hugged her, and then took her home.
In this way we see that since Shrimati Tulasi devi is the eternal consort of Lord Krishna in Vaikuntha which is the same position of Shrimati Radharani in the holy dham of Vrindavana. Thus, Tulasi devi cannot be placed on anyone else’s feet apart from the Supreme Lord Krishna.
Your Servant,
Mathura Vasi Devi Dasi.