Srimati Radharani Worships Tulasi Devi – Garga-samhita

In the enchanting land of Vrindavana, where the divine pastimes of Sri Sri Radha Krishna eternally take place, the story of love and devotion takes center stage. Sri Narada recounts an episode of Krishna’s childhood and Radha’s yearning for the divine rasa dance. As the tale unfolds, the focus shifts to the pivotal role of Tulasi Devi, the beloved plant that is an epitome of devotion. In the heart of a Ketaki forest Madhana-mohana-mohini, Srimati Radharani worships Tulasi Devi with unwavering dedication, following the advice of her dear friend Candranana. The mystical aura of the Tulasi temple, adorned with gold and precious gems, becomes the backdrop for a grand celebration, capturing the essence of divine love. Join us in this sacred journey, as the eternal bond between Radha Krishna unfolds in the midst of transcendental beauty and devotion.

Sri Garga-samhita
Canto Two

Chapter Fifteen
Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa-premodyoga-varṇana
Description of Sri Radha-Krishna’s Falling in Love

Text 1
śrī-nārada uvāca 
idaṁ mayā te kathitaṁ
kāliyasyāpi mardanam
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caritaṁ puṇyaṁ
kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi

Sri Narada said: I have recounted to you Sri Krishna’s sacred pastime of crushing Kaliya. What more do you wish to hear?

Text 2
śrī-bahulāśva uvāca 
śrī-kṛṣṇasya kathāṁ śrutvā
bhaktas tṛptiṁ na yāti hi
yathāmaraḥ sudhāṁ pitvā
yathāliḥ padma-karṇikām

Sri Bahulasva said: As a demigod never tires of drinking nectar and a bee never tires of drinking from the whorl of a lotus, so a devotee never tires of hearing Sri Krishna’s pastimes.

Text 3
rāsaṁ kartuṁ harau jāte
śiśu-rūpe mahātmāni
bhāṇḍire deva-vāg āha
śrī-rādhāṁ khinna-mānasām

When Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was a child, and Sri Radha was unhappy at heart because She yearned to enjoy the rasa dance with Him, in Bhandiravana forest a divine voice said:

Text 4
śocaṁ ma kuru kalyāṇi
vṛndāraṇye manohare
manorathas te bhavitā
śrī-kṛṣṇena mahātmanā

O beautiful one, don’t lament. In beautiful Vrindavana forest, Your desire to enjoy with Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will be fulfilled.

Text 5
itthaṁ deva-girā prokto
manoratha-mahārṇavaḥ
kathaṁ babhūva bhagavān
vṛndāraṇye manohare

After the divine voice spoke these words, how did the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is a great ocean of fulfilled desires, come to the beautiful Vrindavana forest?

Text 6
kathaṁ śrī-rādhayā sārdhaṁ
rāsa-krīḍāṁ manoharām
cakāra vṛndakāraṇye
paripūrṇatamaḥ svayam

In the beautiful Vrindavana forest, how did the Supreme Personality of Godhead enjoy the rasa dance pastime with Sri Radha?

Text 7
śrī-nārada uvāca 
sādhu pṛṣṭhaṁ tvayā rājan
bhagavac-caritaṁ śubham
guptaṁ vadāmi devaiś ca
līlākhyānaṁ manoharam

Sri Narada said: O king, you have asked well. I will tell the Lord’s beautiful and auspicious pastime, which is hidden even from the demigods.

Text 8
ekadā mukhya-sakhyau dve
viśākhā-lalite śubhe
vṛṣabhānor gṛhaṁ prāpya
taṁ rādhāṁ jagmatū rahaḥ

One day Her two most intimate friends, beautiful Lalita and Vishakha, went to Maharaja Vrishabhanu’s palace and approached Radha in private.

Text 9
śrī-sakhyāv ūcatuḥ 
yaṁ cintayasi rādhe tvaṁ
yad-guṇaṁ vadasi svataḥ
so ‘pi nityaṁ samāyāti
vṛṣabhānu-pure ‘rbhakaiḥ

The two friends said: He on whom You meditate and whose virtues You praise, with many boys again and again comes to King Vrishabhanu’s palace.

Text 10
prekṣaṇīyas tvayā rādhe
darśanīyo ‘ti-sundaraḥ
paścimāyāṁ niśīthinyāṁ
go-cāraṇa-vinirgataḥ

O Radha, in the evening, He comes from the west, returning with the cows. You should see Him. He is very handsome.

Text 11
śrī-rādhovāca 
likhitvā tasya citraṁ hi
darśayāśu manoharam
tarhi tat-prekṣaṇaṁ paścāt
kariṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ

Sri Radha said: Draw a handsome picture of Him. Then I will look for Him in the west. Of this, there is no doubt.

Text 12
śrī-nārada uvāca 
atha sakhyau vyalikhatāṁ
citraṁ nanda-śiśoḥ śubham
nava-yauvana-mādhuryaṁ
rādhāyai dadatus tvaram

The two friends drew a picture, handsome and filled with the sweetness of new youth, of Nanda’s son, Krishna, and gave it to Radha.

Text 13
tad dṛṣṭvā harṣitā rādhā
kṛṣṇa-darśana-lālasā
citraṁ kare prāpaśyantī
suṣvāpānanda-saṅkulā

When Radha saw the picture, She became very happy. Gazing at the picture in Her hand, yearning to see Krishna, and now overcome with bliss, She fainted.

Text 14
dadarśa kṛṣṇaṁ bhavane śayānā
ghana-prabhaṁ pīta-paṭaṁ dadhānam
bhāṇḍīra-deśe yamunāṁ sametya
nṛtyantam ārād vṛṣabhānu-putrī

As She slept in Her home, Vrishabhanu’s daughter Radha dreamed of going to the Yamuna, where She gazed at Krishna, dark as a monsoon cloud, dressed in yellow garments, and dancing in Bhandiravana forest.

Text 15
tadaiva rādhā śayanāt samutthitā
parasya kṛṣṇasya viyoga-vihvalā
sañcintayantī kamanīya-rūpiṇaṁ
mene trilokīṁ tṛṇavad videha-rāṭ

O king of Videha, when Radha rose from sleep, She was filled with the anguish of separation from Krishna. Always thinking of His handsome form, She thought the three worlds had become like a single blade of grass.

Text 16
tarhy āvrajantaṁ sva-vanād vrajeśvaraṁ
saṅkoca-vīthyāṁ vṛṣabhānu-paṭṭane
gavākṣam etyāśu sakhī-pradarśitaṁ
dṛṣṭvā tu murcchāṁ samavāpa sundarī

Going to a window and, as Her two friends pointed to Him, gazing at Krishna, the master of Vraja, as He walked on the narrow path from His own forest to King Vrishabhanu’s palace, beautiful Radha fainted.

Text 17
kṛṣṇo ‘pi dṛṣṭvā vṛṣabhānu-nandinīṁ
surūpa-kauśalya-yutāṁ guṇāśrayām
kurvan mano rantum atīva mādhavo
līlā-tanuḥ sa prayayau sva-mandiram

Glancing at Vrishabhanu’s beautiful daughter Radha, who sheltered a host of transcendental virtues, and deciding in His heart to enjoy with Her, playful Krishna went on to His own palace.

Text 18
evaṁ tataḥ kṛṣṇa-viyoga-vihvalāṁ
prabhūta-kāma-jvara-khinna-mānasām
samvīkṣya rādhāṁ vṛṣabhānu-nandinīṁ
uvāca vācaṁ lalitā sakhī varā

Seeing Her anguished by Krishna’s absence and Her heart tortured by flames of love for Him, beautiful Lalita-sakhi spoke to Vrishabhanu’s daughter Radha.

Text 19
śrī-lalitovāca 
kathaṁ tvaṁ vihvalā rādhe
mūrcchitāti-vyathāṁ gatā
yadīcchasi hariṁ su-bhru
tasmin snehaṁ dṛḍhaṁ kuru

Sri Lalita said: O Radha, why are You unconscious? O beautiful-eyebrowed one, if You wish to attain Krishna, then give all Your love to Him.

Text 20
lokasyāpi sukhaṁ sarvaṁ
adhikṛtyāsti sāmpratam
duḥkhāgni-hṛt pradahati
kumbhakārāgni-vac chubhe

O beautiful one, even now that You have found the person that brings all happiness to the world, Your heart still burns like the fire in a potter’s kiln.

Text 21
śrī-nārada uvāca 
lalitāyāś ca lalitaṁ
vacaḥ śrutvā vrajeśvarī
netre unmīlya lalitāṁ
prāha gadgadayā girā

Sri Narada said: Hearing Lalita’s graceful words, Vraja’s goddess, Radha, opened Her eyes and spoke in a faltering voice.

Text 22
śrī-rādhovāca 
vrajālaṅkāra-caraṇau
na prāptau yadi me kila
kadācid vigrahaṁ tarhi
na hi svaṁ dhārayāmy aham

Sri Radha said: If I cannot attain His feet, which now decorate this land of Vraja, I will not keep My body alive.

Text 23
śrī-nārada uvāca 
iti śrutvā vacas tasyā
lalitā bhaya-vihvalā
śrī-kṛṣṇa-pārśvaṁ prayayau
kṛṣṇā-tīre manohare

Sri Narada said: Terrified by hearing these words, Lalita went to Krishna by the Yamuna’s beautiful shore.

Text 24
mādhavī-jāla-samyukte
madhura-dhvani-saṅkule
kadamba-mūle rahasi
prāha caikākinaṁ harim

Finding Krishna all alone under a kadamba tree in a solitary place laced with a network of flowering madhavi vines and filled with sweet sounds, Lalita spoke.

Text 25
śrī-lalitovāca 
yasmin dine ca te rūpaṁ
rādhayā dṛṣṭam adbhutam
tad-dināt stambhatāṁ prāptā
putrikeva na vākti kim

Sri Lalita said: Since the day She first saw Your wonderful form, Radha has been stunned. She is like a motionless puppet. She does not even speak.

Texts 26-27
alaṅkāras tv arcir iva
vastraṁ bharja-rajo yathā
sugandhiḥ kaṭuvad yasya
mandiraṁ nirjanaṁ vanam

puṣpaṁ bāṇaṁ candra-bimbaṁ
viṣa-kandam avehi bhoḥ
tasyai sandarśanaṁ dehi
rādhayai duḥkha-nāśanam

Please know that Her ornaments have become for Her like dazzling suns, Her clothing like a shower of sparks, Her perfumes bitter, Her palace a solitary wilderness, Her flowers sharp arrows, and the moon a pot of poison. O, please give to Radha the sight of You, a sight that will destroy Her sufferings.

Text 28
te sākṣiṇaḥ kiṁ viditaṁ na bhū-tale
sṛjasy alaṁ pāsi harasy atho jagat
yadā samāno ‘si janeṣu sarvatas
tathāpi bhaktān bhajase pareśvara

     You see everything. In this world what do You not know? You create, protect, and destroy the universe. O Supreme Lord. although You are equal to all, You worship Your devotees.

Text 29
śrī-nārada uvāca 
iti śrutvā hariḥ sākṣāl
lalitaṁ lalitā-vacaḥ
uvāca bhagavān devo
megha-gambhīrayā girā

Sri Narada said: Hearing Lalita’s graceful words, Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, spoke with words deep as thunder.

Text 30
śrī-bhagavān uvāca 
sarvaṁ hi bhāvaṁ manasaḥ parasparaṁ
na hy ekato bhāmini jāyate tataḥ
premaiva kartavyam ato mayi svataḥ
premṇā samānaṁ bhuvi nāsti kiñcit

     The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: We both feel this love in Our hearts. O noble girl, it is not that only one of Us feels it. She should love Me. In this world there is nothing equal to the love She bears for Me.

Text 31
yathā hi bhāṇḍīravane manoratho
babhūva tasyā hi tathā bhaviṣyati
ahaitukaṁ prema ca sadbhir āśritaṁ
tac cāpi santaḥ kila nirguṇaṁ viduḥ

The desire She felt in Bhandiravana forest will be fulfilled. Saintly devotees take shelter of pure unalloyed love for Me. Saintly devotees know that love for Me is beyond the touch of matter.

Text 32
ye rādhikāyāṁ mayi keśave manāg
bhedaṁ na paśyanti hi dugdha-śauklavat
ta eva me brahma-padaṁ prayānti tad
ahaituka-sphurjita-bhakti-lakṣaṇāḥ

Pure devotees who see no difference between Sri Radha and Myself, Lord Krishna, attain My spiritual abode, which is pure as the whitest milk.

Text 33
ye rādhikāyāṁ mayi keśave harau
kurvanti bhedaṁ ku-dhiyo janā bhuvi
te kāla-sūtraṁ prapatanti duḥkhitā
rambhoru yāvat kila candra-bhāskarau

Fools who see a difference between Sri Radha and Myself, Lord Krishna, fall onto the string of time. O girl with thighs like banana trees, they are tortured for as long as the sun and moon exist.

Text 34
śrī-nārada uvāca 
itthaṁ śrutvā vacaḥ kṛtsnaṁ
natvā taṁ lalitā sakhī
rādhāṁ sametya rahasi
prāha prahasitānanā

Sri Narada said: After hearing all these words, and after bowing before the Lord, Lalita-sakhi, her face full of smiles, approached Radha in a solitary place and spoke to Her.

Text 35
śrī-lalitovāca 
tathā tvaṁ madhusūdanaḥ
yuvayor bheda-rahitaṁ
tejas tv aikaṁ dvidhā janaiḥ

Sri Lalita said: As You desire Krishna, so Krishna desires You. There is no difference between You. You are one. Only fools think You are two.

Text 36
tathāpi devi kṛṣṇāya
karma niṣkāraṇaṁ kuru
yena te vāñchitaṁ bhūyād
bhaktyā paramayā sati

O goddess, You should serve Krishna without any other desire. O saintly one, by serving Him with great devotion, Your desire will be fulfilled.

Text 37
śrī-nārada uvāca 
iti śrutvā sakhī-vākyaṁ
rādhā rāseśvarī nṛpa
candrānanāṁ prāha sakhīṁ
sarva-dharma-vidāṁ varām

Sri Narada said: O king, after hearing Her friend’s words, Sri Radha, the goddess of the rasa dance, spoke to Her friend Candranana, the best of the knowers of religion.

Text 38
śrī-rādhovāca 
śrī-kṛṣṇasya prasannārthaṁ
paraṁ saubhāgya-vardhanam
mahā-puṇyaṁ vāñchita-daṁ
pūjanaṁ vada kasyacit

Sri Radha said: Please tell Me what kind of worship I should perform to please Sri Krishna, worship that will bring auspiciousness, piety, and the fulfillment of My desire.

Text 39
tvayā bhadre dharma-śāstraṁ
gargācārya-mukhāc chrutam
tasmād vrataṁ pūjanaṁ vā
brūhi mahyaṁ mahā-mate

     O beautiful one, You heard the religious scriptures from Garga Muni’s own mouth. O noble-hearted one, please tell Me what vow or what worship I should perform.

Chapter Sixteen
tulasi-pujana
The Worship of Tulasi

Text 1
śrī-nārada uvāca 
rādhā-vākyaṁ tataḥ śrutvā
rājan sarva-sakhī-varā
candrānanā pratyuvāca
samvicārya kṣaṇaṁ hṛdi

Sri Narada said: Hearing Radha’s words, and reflecting on them in her heart for a moment, Candranana, the best of all friends, replied.

Text 2
śrī-candrānanovāca 
paraṁ saubhāgya-daṁ rādhe
mahā-puṇyaṁ vara-pradam
śrī-kṛṣṇasyāpi labdhy-arthaṁ
tulasī-sevanaṁ matam

Sri Candranana said: O Radha, service to Tulasi gives the greatest piety, the greatest good fortune, and the greatest benediction. It gives Lord Krishna’s association.

Text 3
dṛṣṭā spṛṣṭāthavā dhyatā
kīrtitā namitā stutā
ropitā siñcitā nityaṁ
pūjitā tulasīṣṭa-dā

You should always gaze on Tulasi, touch her, remember her, glorify her, bow down before her, offer prayers to her, plant her, and worship her. Then she will grant Your desire.

Text 4
navadhā tulasī-bhaktiṁ
ye kurvanti dine dine
yuga-koṭi-sahasrāṇi
te yānti sukṛtaṁ śubhe

They who day after day serve Tulasi in these nine ways attain the result of pious deeds performed in many thousands of millions of yugas.

Texts 5 and 6
yāvac chākhā-praśākhābhir
bīja-puṣpa-dalaiḥ śubhaiḥ
ropitā tulasī martyair
vardhate vasudhā-tale

teṣāṁ vaṁśeṣu ye jātā
ye bhaviṣyanti ye gatāḥ
ā-kalpa-yuga-sāhasraṁ
teṣāṁ vāso harer gṛhe

A person who plants Tulasi liberates his family. As many branches, sub-branches, seeds, flowers, and leaves as are on the Tulasi he has planted, so many ancestors and descendants in his family for thousands of kalpa-yugas will go to Lord Krishna’s transcendental abode.

Text 7
yat phalaṁ sarva-patreṣu
sarva-puṣpeṣu rādhike
tulasī-dalena caikena
sarvadā prāpyate tu tat

O Radha, by offering Lord Krishna a single Tulasi leaf, one attains the result of offering Him every flower and leaf that exists.

Text 8
tulasī-prabhavair patrair
yo naraḥ pūjayed dharim
lipyate na sa pāpena
padma-patram ivāmbhasā

A person who with offerings of Tulasi leaves worships Lord Krishna is not touched by sin, as a lotus leaf is not touched by water.

Text 9
suvarṇa-bhāra-śatakaṁ
rajataṁ yac-catur-guṇam
tat-phalaṁ samavāpnoti
tulasī-vana-pālanāt

By protecting a Tulasi forest, one attains the result of giving in pious charity a hundred bharas of gold or four hundred bhāras of silver.

Text 10
tulasī-kānanaṁ rādhe
gṛhe yasyāvatiṣṭhati
tad-gṛhaṁ tīrtha-rūpaṁ hi
na yānti yama-kiṅkarāḥ

A home in the midst of a Tulasi forest is a sacred pilgrimage place. Yamaraja’s servants will never enter that home.

Text 11
sarva-pāpa-haraṁ puṇyaṁ
kāmadaṁ tulasī-vanam
ropayanti narāḥ śreṣṭhās
te na paśyanti bhāskarim

They who plant a sacred Tulasi forest, which fulfills desires and removes all sins, are the best of people. They will never see Yamaraja.

Text 12
ropanāt pālanāt sekād
darśanāt sparśanān nṛṇām
tulasī dahate pāpaṁ
vāṅ-manaḥ-kāya-sañcitam

For persons who plant, protect, water, see, or touch her, Tulasi burns the sins committed with the body, mind, and words.

Text 13
puṣkarādyāni tīrthāni
gaṅgādyāḥ saritas tathā
vāsudevādayo devā
vasanti tulasī-dale

On a single Tulasi leaf the holy places beginning with Pushkara, the sacred rivers beginning with the Ganga, and the Deities headed by Lord Vasudeva reside.

Text 14
tulasī-mañjarī-yukto
yas tu prāṇān vimuñcati
yamo ‘pi nekṣituṁ śakto
yuktaṁ pāpa-śatair api

Even though stained with a hundred sins, a person who touches a Tulasi-manjari as he leaves this life does not see Yamaraja.

Text 15
tulasī-kaṣṭha-jaṁ yas tu
candanaṁ dhārayen naraḥ
tad dehaṁ na spṛśet pāpaṁ
kriyamāṇam apīha yat

Sin does not touch the body of a sinner anointed with Tulasi-paste.

Text 16
tulasī-vipina-cchāyā
yatra yatra bhavec chubhe
tatra śrāddhaṁ prakartavyaṁ
pitṛṇāṁ dattam akṣayam

     Wherever is the beautiful shade of a Tulasi forest, there sraddha should be offered. There akshaya should be offered to the pitas.

Text 17
tulasyāḥ sakhi māhātmyaṁ
ādidevaś catur-mukhaḥ
na samartho bhaved vaktuṁ

O friend, as four-faced Brahma cannot describe all the glories of Lord Krishna, who holds the sharnga bow, so he cannot describe all the glories of TulasI.

Text 18
śrī-kṛṣṇacandra-caraṇe
tulasīṁ candanair yutam
yo dadāti pumān strī vā
yathoktaṁ phalam āpnuyāt

A man or woman who offers sandal-paste and Tulasi to Sri Krishnachandra’s feet attains the results I have told to You.

Text 19
tulasī-sevanaṁ nityaṁ
kuru tvaṁ gopa-kanyake
śrī-kṛṣṇo vaśyatāṁ yāti
yena vā sarvadaiva hi

O gopi, serve Tulasi every day. Then Sri Krishna will always be Your submissive servant.

Text 20
śrī-nārada uvāca 
itthaṁ candrānanā-vākyaṁ
śrutvā rāseśvarī nṛpa
tulasī-sevanaṁ sākṣād
ārebhe hari-toṣaṇam

Sri Narada said: O king, after hearing Candranana’s words, Sri Radha, the queen of the rasa dance, in order to please Lord Krishna, began to serve Sri Tulasi.

Texts 21-25
ketakī-vana-madhye ca
śata-hastaṁ su-vartulam
uccair hema-khacid-bhitti-
padmarāga-taṭaṁ śubham

harid-dhīraka-muktānāṁ
prākāreṇa mahollasat
sarvatas tolikā-yuktaṁ
cintāmaṇi-su-maṇḍitam

hema-dhvaja-samayuktaṁ
uttoraṇa-virājitam
haimair vitānaiḥ parito
vaijayantam iva sphurat

etādṛśaṁ śrī-tulasī-
mandiraṁ su-manoharam
tan-madhye tulasīṁ sthāpya
harit-pallava-śobhitam

abhijin-nāma-nakṣatre
tat-sevāṁ sā cakāra ha
samāhūtena gargeṇa
diṣṭena vidhinā satī

 Taking Tulasi, beautiful with many green leaves, to the middle of a ketaki forest, and placing her in a Tulasi-temple that was round, tall, a hundred hastas in size, beautiful with walls of gold and rubies, splendid with an outer wall of emeralds, diamonds, and pearls, decorated with cintamani gems, arched gateways, gold flags, and gold awnings everywhere, and glorious like Indra’s palace, at the time of the star abhijit, saintly Radha, following Garga Muni’s instructions, served Sri Tulasi.

Text 26
śrī-kṛṣṇa-toṣaṇārthāya
bhaktyā paramayā satī
iṣu-pūrṇāṁ samārabhya
caitra-pūrṇāvadhi vratam

Beginning with the full moon of the month of Ashvina (September-October), and ending with the full moon of the month of Caitra (March-April), to please Sri Krishna, saintly Radha followed a vow with great devotion.

Texts 27 and 28
kṛtvā nyasiñcad dugdhena
tathā cekṣu-rāsena vai
drakṣayāmra-raseṇāpi
sitayā bahu-miṣṭayā

pañcāmṛtena tulasīṁ
māse māse pṛthak pṛthak
udyāpana-samārambhaṁ
vaiśākha-pratipad-dine

Month after month She sprinkled Tulasi with milk, sugar-cane juice, grape-juice, mango-juice, pancamrita, and many kinds of sweet and cool juice. On the first day of Vaishakha (April-May), She ended the vow.

Note by Nandini Tulasi das:

If devotees feel inspired to worship Tulasi Devi in a similar way, we see Tulasi puja explained in quite a few places in sastra. One may offer a standard set of upacaras found in the rules of Pancaratrika-vidhi to worship Tulasi Devi, just as one would with any other deity, either physically or mentally. In the Agastya-samhita, as quoted in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa (9.98-100) it is stated,

bhūtvātha bhaktimān śrīmat 
tulasyā kānane prabhum
sampūjyābhyarcayet taṁ ca 
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa-priyam

After completing the worship of Lord Krishna, one should go to the garden and worship Srimati Tulasi Devi’s plant, which is very dear to Him.”

prāg dattvārghyaṁ tato ’vyarcya 
gandha-puṣpākṣatādinā
stutvā bhagavatīṁ tāṁ ca 
praṇamet prārhtya daṇḍavat

First, one should offer arghya to Srimati Tulasi Devi’s plant and then, one after another, sandalwood paste, flowers, rice paddy, and so on. After the worship is finished, one should offer his obeisances to Srimati Tulasi Devi and also offer some nice prayers.”

śriyaḥ śriye śriyāvāse 
nityaṁ śrīdhāra-satkṛte
bhaktyā dattaṁ mayā devi 
arghyaṁ gṛhṇa namo’stu te

O Goddess Srimati Tulasi Devi, You are the shelter and residence of Srimati Lakshmi Devi. Lord Sridhara always respects You. I offer You this arghya with devotion, kindly please accept it. My obeisances unto You.”

Similarly one could offer milk and other articles:

kadācit tulasīṁ dugdhaiḥ 
secayed yo narottamaḥ
tasya veśmani viprarṣer 
lakṣmīr bhavati niścalā

That person is the best of humans who occasionally sprinkles Srimati Tulasi Devi’s plant with milk. O Brahmana sage, Goddess Lakshmi is always present in that person’s house. (Padma Purana 7.24.17)

One more glorification of sprinkling Tulasi Devi can be found in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.203:

atha tadīyānāṁ sevanam, tulāsyaḥ, yathā skānde—
yā dṛṣṭā nikhilāgha-saṅga-śamanī spṛṣṭā vapuḥ-pāvanī rogāṇām abhivanditā nirasanī siktāntaka-trāsinī
pratyāsatti-vidhāyinī bhagavataḥ kṛṣṇasya saṁropitā nyastā tac-caraṇe vimukti-phaladā tasyai tulasyai namaḥ

Regarding service to things related to the Lord, service to Srimati Tulasi Devi, it is stated in the Skanda Purana: Seeing Srimati Tulasi Devi destroys all sins. Touching Her purifies the body. Bowing to Her destroys all sufferings. Sprinkling Her with water delivers one from death. Planting Her bestows attachment of the mind to Lord Krishna. Offering Her to Krishna’s lotus feet bestows special liberation in the form of prema. I offer my respects to Srimati Tulasi Devi.

The standard guidelines followed within ISKCON temple worship can be found in the Arcana-Paddhati:

In the morning, after the mangala-arati, all the assembled devotees should attend to the worship and circumambulation of Srimati Tulasi-devi. First, the devotees should offer obeisances to Tulasi-devi with the tulasi-pranama-mantra (given at the end of this section), which is chanted three times. Then the tulasi-puja-kirtana song should be sung while Tulasi-devi is offered incense, ghee lamp, and flowers. When the song is finished, the assembled Vaishnavas should circumambulate her four times and offer her water. During the circumambulation, the mantra: yāni kāni ca pāpāni brahma-hatyādikāni ca/ tāni tāni praṇaśyanti pradakṣiṇaḥ pade pade should be chanted. After this the devotees should offer obeisances again with the  tulasi-pranama-mantra and then all the devotees should circumambulate the temple four times with kirtana.

The following worship of Tulasi-devi should be performed by the Tulasi pujari after the morning worship of the other Deities is completed, or, if that is not possible, another time during the morning.

1. First one should recite the prayer:

nirmitā tvaṁ purā devair
arcitā tvaṁ surāsuraiḥ
tulasi hara me ‘vidyāṁ
pūjāṁ gṛhna name ‘stu te

O Srimati Tulasi-devi, you were previously created by the demigods and worshiped by both them and the demons. O Tulasi-devi kindly take away my ignorance and accept my worship. I offer you my humble obeisances again and again.

2. Then, while sprinkling water on Śrīmatī Tulasī-devī one should chant the following mantra:

oṁ govinda-vallabhāṁ devīṁ
bhakta-caitanya-kāriṇīm
snāpayāmi jagad-dhātrīṁ
kṛṣṇa-bhakti-pradāyinīm

I am bathing goddess Tulasi Devi, who is very dear to Govinda and who brings life to all the devotees. She is the mother of the universe and the bestower of devotion to Lord Krishna.

3. Then, taking some arghya mixture from the arghya-pātra with a kuśī and pouring some on her soil, one should chant:

śriyaḥ śriye śriya-vāse
nityaṁ śrīdharaṁ sat-kṛte
bhaktyā dattaṁ mayā devi
arghyaṁ gṛhna namo ‘stu te

O goddess Tulasi, I offer my obeisances unto you, who are the shelter and residence of beauty and opulence. You are even worshiped by the Supreme Lord. O Tulasi, please accept this arghya water which is offered by me with devotion.

4. Then one should chant the following:

a)  One should offer a flower mixed with sandalwood pulp to Srimati Tulasi-devi with the mantra: 

idam sagandha-puṣpaṁ oṁ tulasyai namaḥ.

b) One should offer the bath water of Sri Krishna to Tulasi-devi with the mantra: 

idam sri-kṛṣṇa-caraṇāmṛtaṁ oṁ tulasyai namaḥ.

c) One should offer garlands and flowers offered to the Lord with the mantra:

idam mahā-prasāda-nirmālyādikaṁ sarvaṁ oṁ tulasyai namaḥ.

d) One should offer acamana to Srimati Tulasi-devi with the mantra:

idaṁ ācamanīyaṁ oṁ tulasyai namaḥ.

5. Then one should sing the praise of Srimati Tulasi-devi as follows:

mahā-prasāda-janani
sarva-saubhāgya-vardhiṇi
ādhivyādhi-hare nityaṁ
tulasi tvāṁ nano ‘stu te

O Srimati Tulasi-devi I offer my repeated obeisances unto you. You are the mother of maha-prasada, the increaser of the good fortune of all, and you take away all diseases and mental anxi­eties. 

6. Following this one should offer obeisances to her with the tulasi-pranama-mantra:

oṁ vṛndāyai tulasī-devyai
priyāyai keśavasya ca
kṛṣṇa-bhakti-prade devi
satyavatyai name namaḥ

I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vrinda, Srimati Tulasi-devi, who is very dear to Lord Kesava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Krishna and you possess the highest truth.

— End of the Arcana-Paddhati reference —

As said above, one should generally worship Tulasi Devi after worshipping Krishna; one can better yet offer her his mahaprasad. Milk, juices, pancamrita, etc., can be offered in a spoon and set aside, or can be lightly sprinkled on her leaves. No matter how complicated or simple one’s worship is, the most important thing to remember is to offer one’s love and devotion.

— End Note —

Text 29
garga-diṣṭena vidhinā
vṛṣabhānu-sutā nṛpa
ṣaṭ-pañcāśattamair bhogair
brāhmaṇānāṁ dvi-lakṣakam

O king, following Garga Muni’s instructions, King Vrishabhanu’s daughter Radha then pleased two hundred thousand brahmanas with a great feast of fifty-six courses.

Text 30
santarpya vastra-bhūṣādyair
dakṣiṇāṁ rādhikā dadau
divyānāṁ sthūla-muktānāṁ
lakṣa-bhāraṁ videha-rāṭ

O king of Videha, then Radha gave them dakshina of a hundred-thousand splendid large pearls and many costly garments and ornaments.

Text 31
koṭi-bhāraṁ suvarṇaṇaṁ
gargācāryāya sā dadau
śata-bhāraṁ suvarṇānāṁ
muktānāṁ ca tathaiva hi
bhaktyā paramayā rādhā
brāhmaṇe brāhmaṇe dadau

Radha gave ten million bharas of gold to Garga Muni. With great devotion, She gave a hundred bharas of gold and pearls to each brahmana.

Text 32
deva-dundubhayo nedur
nanṛtuś cāpsaro-gaṇāḥ
tan-mandiropari surāḥ
puṣpa-varṣaṁ pracakrire

The demigods’ drums sounded, and the apsaras danced. The demigods showered flowers on the Tulasi temple.

Text 33
tadāvirāsīt tulasī hari-priyā
suvarṇa-pīṭhopari śobhitāsanā
caturbhujā padma-palāśa-vīkṣaṇā
śyāmā sphurad-dhema-kirīṭa-kuṇḍalā

Then, seated on a glorious throne on a gold pedestal, her eyes lotus petals, and her gold crown and earrings glittering, beautiful four-armed Tulasi, who is dear to Lord Krishna, appeared.

Text 34
pītāmbarāc chādita-sarpa-veṇīṁ
srajaṁ dadhānaṁ nava-vaijayantīm
khagāt samuttīrya ca raṅga-vallī
cucumba rādhāṁ parirabhya bāhubhiḥ

Descending from the sky, Tulasi, beautiful as a flowering vine, with her four arms embraced and then kissed Radha, who wore a new Vaijayanti garland, and whose snake-braids were covered with a yellow cloth.

Text 35
śrī-tulasy uvāca 
ahaṁ prasannāsmi kalavatī-sute
tvad-bhakti-bhāvena jitā nirantaram
kṛtaṁ ca loka-vyavahāra-saṅgrahāt
tvayā vrataṁ bhāmini sarvato-mukham

Sri Tulasi said: O daughter of Kalavati, I am pleased with You. I am eternally conquered by Your loving devotion. O beautiful one, as if You were an ordinary human being, You very carefully followed this vow.

Text 36
manorathas te sa-phalo ‘tra bhūyād
buddhīndriyaiś citta-manobhir agrataḥ
sadānukūlatvam alaṁ pateḥ paraṁ
saubhāgyam evaṁ parikīrtanīyam

The desire that fills Your heart, mind, intelligence, and senses will be attained. Lord Krishna will be kind to You. You are very fortunate.

Text 37
śrī-nārada uvāca 
evaṁ vadantīṁ tulasīṁ hari-priyāṁ
natvātha rādhā vṛṣabhānu-nandinī
pratyāha govinda-padāravindayor
bhaktir bhaven me viditā hy ahaitukī

Sri Narada said: To Tulasi, who has spoken these words and who was dear to Lord Krishna, Radha, the daughter of King Vrishabhanu, bowed down and said: May I have unalloyed devotion for Lord Krishna’s lotus feet.

Text 38
tathāstu coktā tulasī hari-priyā-
thāntardadhe maithila rāja-sattama
tathaiva rādhā vṛṣabhānu-nandinī
prasanna-cittā sva-pure babhūva ha

Saying, “So be it,” Krishna’s beloved Tulasi disappeared. O ruler of Mithila, O best of kings, then Radha, King Vrishabhanu’s daughter, went home happy at heart.

Text 39
śrī-rādhikākhyānām idaṁ vicitraṁ
śṛṇoti yo bhakti-paraḥ pṛthivyāṁ
traivargya-bhāvaṁ manasā sametya
rājaṁs tato yāti naraḥ kṛtārthatām

O king, a devotee who hears this wonderful story of Sri Radha attains first the three goals of material life and then the supreme spiritual goal of life.

Surely this lila of how Srimati Radharani worships Tulasi Devi has churned your heart, we welcome you to read our other articles on Tulasi Devi as found in sastra.

Bibliography

• Muni, Garga. Sri Garga-samhita (Dananvir Goswami, Kushakratha dasa trans.) USA: Rupanuga Vedic College Publishing. Source: https://radha.name. PDF. dasa,
• Jayatirtha. The Process of Deity Worship (Arcana-Paddhati) (Jayashacinandana dasa trans.) USA: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1978. Print.
• Swami, Bhakti Visrambha Madhava. Tulasyamrta, The Nectar of Srimati Tulasi Devi. Vrindavan: Author, 2012. Print.