Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Worships Tulasi Devi

Extracted from Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, this article, adorned with insights from the Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s commentary, unravels the divine connection between the Lord and Tulasi Devi. Witness as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu meticulously tends to Tulasi Devi, and how his heart melts in her presence. This narrative transcends rituals, revealing expressions of divine love. Join us in exploring the spiritual emotions that unfold when the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, worships a plant, Srimati Tulasi Devi.

The following article is taken from Sri Vrndavana Dasa Thakura’s Sri Caitanya-bhagavata with the Gaudiya-bhasya commentary of Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja Prabhupada

2.1.186
snāna kari’ gṛhe āilena viśvambhara
calilā paḍuyā-varga yathā yāṅra ghara

After completing their bath, Visvambhara and His students returned to their own homes.

2.1.187-188
vastra parivarta’ kari’ dhuilā caraṇa
tulasīre jala diyā karilā secana
yathā-vidhi kari’ prabhu govinda-pūjana
āsiyā vasilā gṛhe karite bhojana

The Lord changed His clothes, washed His feet, and then offered water to Tulasi. Then, after properly worshiping Govinda, the lord came inside and sat down to take His meal.

Gaudiya-bhasya:

Unless a person properly initiated in chanting of Visnu mantras includes Tulasi manjaris in his offering of foodstuffs, Lord Visnu will not accept the offering, because Tulasi is the eternal maidservant of Krsna, and therefore her leaves and flowers, or manjaris, are certainly dear to Kesava. It is prescribed that one should offer Tulasi manjaris in worship to the Deity form of Sri Govinda, for Tulasi has incarnated in the form of a tree. The arrangement for offering Tulasi manjaris in worship to the Deity form of Lord Visnu is confirmed by all transcendental Vaisnava smrtis. After worshiping Sri Tulasi in her manifested worshipable form as tadiya by sprinkling water on her, Sri Gaurasundara worshiped His family deity, Sri Govinda; in other words, He offered pure worship to the deity form of Visnu. By performing this pastime, the Lord set the ideal example of mandatory daily duties for God-conscious householders. Every Vaisnava householder should follow this ideal example of the lord by engaging in the worship of the Deity form of Lord Visnu and accepting with faith and humility the remnants of foodstuffs offered to the Lord.

2.1.189
tulasīra mañjarī-sahita divya anna
mā’ye āni’ sammukhe karilā upasanna

Mother Saci brought fine cooked rice with a Tulasi flower on top and placed it before the Lord.

3.8.154
tulasīra bhakti ebe śuna mana diyā
ye-rūpe kailena līlā tulasī laiyā

Now hear attentively the pastime of how Lord Caitanya exhibited devotion for Tulasi

3.8.155
eka kṣudra-bhāṇḍe divya mṛttikā pūriyā
tulasī dekhena sei ghaṭe āropiyā

One day the Lord took a small clay pot, filled it with choice dirt, and planted Tulasi in it.

3.8.156
prabhu bale,—“ami tulasīre nā dekhile
bhāla nāhi vāsoṅ yena matsya vine jale”

The Lord then said, “If I don’t see Tulasi, I cannot survive, just as a fish cannot survive out of water.”

3.8.157
yabe cale saṅkhyā-nāma kariyā grahaṇa
tulasī laiyā agre cale eka-jana

Whenever the Lord would chant japa while walking in the street, He would have someone carry a Tulasi plant before him.

3.8.158
paścāte calena prabhu tulasī dekhiyā
paḍaye ānanda-dhārā śrī-aṅga vahiyā

As the Lord followed behind looking at Tulasi, tears of ecstasy would flow down his body.

3.8.159
saṅkhyā-nāma laite ye sthāne prabhu vaise
tathāya rākena tulasīre prabhu pāśe

When the Lord would sit to chant japa, a Tulasi plant would be placed next to Him.

Gaudiya-bhasya:

The phrase sankhya-nama is explained as follows: It is the injunction that one should chant the holy names a prescribed number of times on Tulasi beads. In this case it is understood that the Lord chanted a fixed number of names while sitting next to a Tulasi plant. Sri Gaurasundara exhibited the pastime of associating with kesava-priya tulasi to teach those who do not consider the association of krsna-priya tulasi as favorable to devotional service but rather accept her as an ordinary plant. Tulasi is tadiya, or related to Krsna. The endeavors of those who are eager to serve Krsna by transgressing His dear servants are futile. In this regard on should discuss the following verse:

abhyarcayitvā govindaṁ tadīyān arcayanti ye
na te viṣṇu-prasādasya bhājanaṁ dambhikā janāḥ

“Proud persons who worship Krsna but do not worship the Lord’s devotees do not attain Lord Krsna’s mercy.”

3.8.160
tulasīre dekhena, japena saṅkhyā-nāma
e bhakti-yogera tattva ke bujhibe āna

The Lord would constantly look at Tulasi while chanting. Who can understand this principle of devotional service?

3.8.161
punaḥ sei saṅkhyā-nāma sampūrṇa kariyā
calena īśvara saṅge tulasī laiyā

After chanting the holy names a fixed number of times, the Lord would return with Tulasi again carried in front.

We welcome you to check out our other articles about Tulasi Devi from sastra.

Bibliography

• Thakura, Vrindavana Dasa. Sri Caitanya-bhagavata. New Delhi: Vrajraj Press, 2005. Print.