Importance of Worshiping Tulasi

ärädhanänäà sarveñäà viñëor ärädhanaà param

tasmät parataraà devi tadéyänäà samarcanam

Of all types of worship, worship of Lord Viñëu is best, and better than the worship of Lord Viñëu is the worship of His devotee.

Sri Tulasi is the eternal consort of Krsna, and the most pure devotee, and therefore, the Tulasi plant is worshiped by Vaiñëavas. She should be treated with the same respect given to all Krsna’s pure devotees. Simply by worshiping her faithfully, a devotee can get himself free of from all material miseries. The following references are from Skanda Puräëa:

Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the tulasé 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 tulasé tree, one can become freed from the fear of being sent to the court of Yamaräja [the King of death, who punishes the sinful]. If someone sows a tulasé tree somewhere, certainly he becomes devoted to Lord Kåñëa. And when the tulasé leaves are offered in devotion at the lotus feet of Kåñëa, there is the full development of love of Godhead.

Tulasé is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by remembering, simply by praying to, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about or simply by sowing this tree, there is always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in touch with the tulasé tree in the above-mentioned ways lives eternally in the Vaikuëöha world.

Offering Tulasé to Deities

Tulasi leaf is very, very dear to Viñëu. All Visnu-tattva Deities require profusely Tulasi leaves. Lord Viñëu likes garland of Tulasi leaves. Tulsi leaves mixed with sandalwood pulp and placed on the lotus feet of the Lord is the topmost worship. But we must be very careful that Tulasi leaves cannot be placed on the feet of anyone else except Lord Viñëu and His different forms. Tulasi leaves cannot be placed even on the lotus feet of Rädhäräni or on the lotus feet of the Spiritual Master. It is entirely reserved for being placed on the lotus feet of Krsna. We can place, however, Tulasi leaves in the hands of Radharani for being placed on the lotus feet of Krsna.

Watering Tulasé Everyday

Devotees are recommended to water the tulasé tree every day and collect the leaves to worship the Lord. One time an atheistic svämé remarked, "What is the use of watering the tulasé plant? It is better to water eggplant. By watering the eggplant one can get some fruits, but what is the use of watering the tulasé?" These foolish creatures, unacquainted with devotional service, sometimes play havoc with the education of people in general. [SB 3.15.19 Purport]