The Ecstasy of Worshipping Tulasi Devi
A very special devotee of Lord Krishna named Tulasi Devi has appeared in the form of plant so that we can get the special mercy of personally serving and worshipping her for attaining pure love of God. Therefore tulasi worship is a standard part of our daily morning devotional program. After rising early no later than 4am, attending mangala arati, and singing prayers to Lord Nrsimhadeva the devotees then worship this most sacred of all plants. Tulasi is so special that Krishna will not accept any offering of foodstuffs unless it is accompanied by a tulasi leaf.
The tulasi plant is of the topmost importance in the ultimate self realization process of devotional service and is thus described in the Skanda Purana as follows: "Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the tulasi tree, which can immediately vanquish volumes of sinful activities. Simply by seeing or touching this tree one can become relieved from all distresses and diseases. Simply by offering obeisances to and pouring water on the tulasi tree, one can become freed from the fear of being sent to the court of Yamaraja [the King of death, who punishes the sinful]. If someone sows a tulasi tree somewhere, certainly he becomes devoted to Lord Krishna. And when the tulasi leaves are offered in devotion at the lotus feet of Krishna, there is the full development of love of Godhead."
One can visit their nearest ISKCON to attend tulasi worship (usually at 5am.) Or one can sow a tulasi plant at home and worship her at home.
Singing Kirtan to Tulasi Devi
Circumambulating Tulasi Devi
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Shall every devotee take the leadership mentality and responsibility to deliver the suffering souls in this world? Can you quote some of Srila Prabhupada's words on this matter? Shall each one of us become spiritual leaders for humanity and people around us? and how to?
Thank you.
Your humble servant
Jeffrey
"The author of Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, Srila Rupa Goswami, very humbly submits that he is just trying to spread Krishna consciousness all over the world, although he humbly thinks himself unfit for this work. That should be the attitude of all preachers of the Krishna consciousness movement, following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Goswami. We should never think of ourselves as great preachers, but should always consider that we are simply instrumental to the previous acaryas, and simply by following in their footsteps we may be able to do something for the benefit of suffering humanity."
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
The tulasi plant is of the topmost importance in the ultimate self realization process of devotional service and is thus described in the Skanda Purana as follows: "Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the tulasi tree, which can immediately vanquish volumes of sinful activities. Simply by seeing or touching this tree one can become relieved from all distresses and diseases. Simply by offering obeisances to and pouring water on the tulasi tree, one can become freed from the fear of being sent to the court of Yamaraja [the King of death, who punishes the sinful]. If someone sows a tulasi tree somewhere, certainly he becomes devoted to Lord Krishna. And when the tulasi leaves are offered in devotion at the lotus feet of Krishna, there is the full development of love of Godhead."
One can visit their nearest ISKCON to attend tulasi worship (usually at 5am.) Or one can sow a tulasi plant at home and worship her at home.
Singing Kirtan to Tulasi Devi
Kaunas, Lithuania-25 April 2012
Circumambulating Tulasi Devi
Kaunas, Lithuania-25 April 2012
Answers by Citing the Vedic Version
Question: Is Every Devotee the Leader of Humanity?
Dear Guru Maharaja:Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Shall every devotee take the leadership mentality and responsibility to deliver the suffering souls in this world? Can you quote some of Srila Prabhupada's words on this matter? Shall each one of us become spiritual leaders for humanity and people around us? and how to?
Thank you.
Your humble servant
Jeffrey
Answer: Be Instrumental to the Previous Acaryas
Srila Prabhupada has perfectly described the proper attitude for a devotee in the Nectar of Devotion as follows:"The author of Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, Srila Rupa Goswami, very humbly submits that he is just trying to spread Krishna consciousness all over the world, although he humbly thinks himself unfit for this work. That should be the attitude of all preachers of the Krishna consciousness movement, following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Goswami. We should never think of ourselves as great preachers, but should always consider that we are simply instrumental to the previous acaryas, and simply by following in their footsteps we may be able to do something for the benefit of suffering humanity."
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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