Tulasé Devé is very, very dear to the Lord. Kåñëa accepts even dry Tulasé leaves. Therefore, one must serve her with love and devotion. One should know that the body of Tulasé is spiritual. Although Tulasé appears as many individual trees, she is one person, and she comes wherever she sees devotion to Kåñëa. The following list was compiled from scriptures and from Çréla Prabhupäda's instructions.
Neglecting to care for or water Tulasé properly is a great offense. Devotees should worship Tulasé with nice food, flowers, incense, a ghee lamp, and other traditional articles of worship.
Çréla Prabhupäda mandates: All the devotees should pour water at least once in the morning before taking prasadam. The watering should not be very much large in quantity, but it should be poured just to keep the ground soft and moist. Sunlight also should be allowed. [Letter to: Govinda, Los Angeles, 7 April, 1970]
Pick Tulasé leaves and flowers in the morning, never at night (from sunset to sunrise).
Pick only the leaves that grow next to the maïjarés (flowers) and the leaves that are ready to drop (they will turn a pale color) not the new, green ones.
First utilize the dead leaves or leaves which have fallen down, and if more leaves are required for worshiping Krsna, you may take them from Tulasi plant in this way: First approach Tulasi Devi and offer your obeisances, requesting her that for worshiping Krsna you want to take some leaves. Then if she allows you may take. [Çréla Prabhupäda’s letter to Jagamohini Dasi]
Pick the maïjarés as soon as they blossom. Avoid letting them go to seed, which takes much energy from the plant that can be used to make more leaves and flowers for Kåñëa's service.
Pick the leaves one at a time with your fingertips. Don’t shake or stroke the branch and damage healthy leaves. Pick with care and attention. Avoid using cutting tools.
Never cut down or pull up living Tulasé plants.
Çréla Prabhupäda says: …we should always endeavor after becoming servant of Tulasi Devi. I do not know who has taught you that part of a Tulasi plant may be cut off and then replanted? From the Tulasi plant you can cut off only leaves for offering them to Krishna, never for cutting and planting. That is an offense. The manjaris (seeds) can be offered in water and it makes the water fragrant and tasteful. And the manjaris can be planted for growing new Tulasi plants. [Letter to: Radhavallabha, Bombay, 6 January, 1972]
Never prune Tulasé Devé. This is a great offense. Remove dead branches if absolutely necessary. If branches obstruct a passageway, tie them back, but don’t cut them. Tulasé wood (taken after a plant has fully dried naturally) can be used to carve worship paraphernalia, such as beads. Place leftover Tulasé wood within the earth.
In his letter to Jagamohini Dasi Çréla Prabhupäda writes: …no, there is no question of pruning. But you can take for worshiping Krsna leaves from the Tulasi. … There is no question of pruning in the manner of gardeners just to make nice beautiful plant for ornamental purposes. And if there are any dead branches, these may be made into beads, like neck beads, and if they are large branches you can make japa beads.
Never use chemical sprays on Tulasé.
Çréla Prabhupäda mentions this in his letter to Vrnda (Los Angeles, 26 July, 1975): …no sprays can be used, not at all. Tulasi is a worshipable plant so there is no question of using any sprays. The best thing is to simply daily water tulasi devi and keep her clean. Nothing else is required.
Protect the delicate Tulasé seedlings from birds and insects. It is an offense to turn the seedlings back into the soil. In places where Tulasé cannot survive the winters when planted in the ground, provide a suitable house for her.
Çréla Prabhupäda writes: If it is not possible for Tulasi to survive the winters when planted in the ground, then a suitable house should be provided for her. Even in the Canadian temples which are in a much colder climate are keeping Tulasi nicely. Why should there be so much difficulty in Los Angeles, which has such a nice climate. Just do everything very carefully. Tulasi flourishes where there is love and devotion. [Letter to: Vidya, Vrindaban, 25 October, 1976]
Never use Tulasé leaves or flowers to make teas or juices, even after they’ve been offered to Kåñëa. It is a great offense to cook or heat Tulasé, or to use her for mundane purposes, such as medicines and ointments. Also, avoid stepping on Tulasé Devé’s shadow.
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