Tulasi Arati
description
Transcript of Tulasi Arati
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Sri Tulasi Pranamavrindayai tulasi-devyai
priyayai keshavasya cha
krishna-bhakti-prade devi
satyavatyai namo namaha
vrndayai--unto Vrnda; tulasi-devyai--unto Tulasl Devi; priyayai-- who is dear;
kesavasya--to Lord Kesava; ca-and; krsna-bhakti-- devotional service to Lord
Krsna, prade--who bestows; devi--O goddess; satya-vatyai--unto Satyavati;
namah namah--repeated obeisances.
TRANSLATION
I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vrnda, Srimati Tulasi Devi, who is very
dear to Lord Kesava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord
Krsna and possess the highest truth.
Next, the devotees sing Sri Tulasi Kirtana while one devotee offers arati to
Tulasi-devi with incense, a ghee lamp and flowers. While offering the
articles, the devotee offering Tulasi-arati should stand on a mat (asana) and
ring a bell with the left hand. Just as when offering other aratis, the hands
and paraphernalia should be purified (acamana) with water from pancha-
patra. After offering each item, they may be distributed to the devotees.
Sri Tulasi Kirtananamo namaha tulasi! krishna-preyasi
radha-krishna-seva pabo ei abhilashi
je tomara sharana loy, tara vanchha purna hoy
kripa kori' koro tare brindavana-basi
mor ei abhilash, bilas kunje dio vas
nayane heribo sada jugala-rupa-rashi
ei nivedana dharo, sakhir anugata koro
seva-adhikara diye koro nija dasi
dina krishna-dase koy, ei jena mora hoy
sri-radha-govinda-preme sada jena bhasi
TRANSLATION
O Tulasi, beloved of Krsna, I bow before you again and again. My desire is to
obtain the service of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.
Whoever takes shelter of you has his wishes fulfilled. Bestowing your mercy
on him, you make him a resident of Vrndavana.
My desire is that you will also grant me a residence in the pleasure groves of
Sri Vrndavana-dhama. Thus, within my vision I will always behold the
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beautiful pastimes of Radha and Krsna.
I beg you to make me a follower of the cowherd damsels of Vraja. Please
give me the privilege of devotional service and make me your own
maidservant.
This very fallen and lowly servant of Krsna prays, ''May I always swim in the
love of Sri Radha and Govinda.
When Tulasi-puja Kirtana song is finished, the devotees circumambulate
Srimate Tulasi-devi at least four times, offering her water by pouring some
at her root. (Water is only offered in the morning, not evening.) Use small
spoons to help avoid over watering Her. While circumambulating, chant the
Sri Tulasi Pradaksina mantra.
Sri Tulasi Pradaksina Mantrayani kani cha papani
brahma-hatyadikani cha
tani tani pranashyanti
pradakshinaha pade pade
yani kani--whatever; ca--and; papani--sins; brahma-hatya--killing of a
brahmana; adikani--and so on; ca--also, tani tani--all of them; pranasyanti--
are destroyed; pradaksinah--(by) the circumambulation (of Tulasi Devi);
pade pade--at every step.
TRANSLATION
By the circumambulation of Srimati Tulasi Devi all the sins that one may
have committed are destroyed at every step, even the sin of killing a
brahmana.
Vrnda devi is a pure devotee of Lord Krsna and is responsible for setting up
the wonderful pastimes of Radha and Krsna in Vrndavana. She exists as
Tulasi to benefit the fallen conditioned souls by bestowing devotional
service to Krsna.
Have the words to the Tulasi arati prayers typed and posted so guests can
see them. Encourage all guests to participate in Tulasi-arati. With a little
encouragement, they will join in and enjoy themselves. The devotees should
always bow down when they see Tulasi-devi, and others will follow in
showing her respect.
Tulasi-devi should be kept in a special pot, and the pot should sit upon a
stand, up off the floor. When carrying a potted Tulasi plant, it is traditional
to honor Her by carrying the pot on one's head. If it's too heavy, carry the
pot out in front. For worship, the stand Tulasi-devi sits on should be high
enough so the base of the plant is above the waist of the devotee offering
arati. If it is not possible to keep a live Tulasi plant, one may offer worship
to a picture of Tulasi-devi.
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For one who is Tulasi's servant, that responsibility enters into all the
different aspects of Her existence. You must see that She is being
maintained properly, that Her leaves are always offered in a clean and fresh
manner, and that all the devotees are given the opportunity to worship Her.
Make Tulasi-devi some skirts to fit around Her pot, particularly when She is
being offered arati. If Tulasi is very close to, or on the altar, make sure that
no candles or ghee lamps are placed close enough to burn her leaves. Use
incense sparingly as it tends to make Her sick if burned continually.
Garlands left for more than a day will mold and attract bugs, so if Tulasi is
nearby, she will be affected.
While in Detroit, Srila Prabhupada asked, "Where is Tulasi?". When She was
brought in, Srila Prabhupada put His garland around Her and had Her placed
on the altar, saying "Mother Tulasi is so kind. Treat Her as you would any of
Krsna's pure devotees."