IDENTITY OF A PET DOG
Prabhupada: Somebody asked me,"Swamijl, why are these Tulasl beads on your neck or on your devotee's neck?"So I replied,"Just as a pet dog has got a collar,simila rly we are pet dogs of God.So we have got this collar.And Yamaraja,the Lord of Death will understand that he- the devotee- is God's dog;he should not be shot down." (December 19,1970, Srimad Bhagavatam Class,Surat)
REAL UNDERSTANDING OF TULASI
Devotee: How is it poss ible that Tulasl Devi is a pure devotee,what we might call a plant?
Prabhupada: That you cannot know in your impure state.You just become pure.You will understand … When you become a devotee,you will understand what kind of devotee Tulasi is.So long as you are not a devotee,you cannot understand.Don't expect to.Therefore we have to accept the authority.That is the beginning.The sastra says,"Tulasi is the greatest devotee of Krsna." We have to accept,that 's all.Authority.How she is so great a devotee,that you will understand when you become a devotee.You come to that platform;then you will understand,not before.Now chant.
(February 22,1973,Srimad-Bhagavatam Class,Auckland,New Zealand)
KRSNA LIKES HER
Prabhupada: Just like we worship Tulasi.Why? Because it is very dear to Visnu.tadiyanam.Visnu likes,Krsna likes.When,patram puspam phalam toyam [Bg.9.26] the Tulasileaf is offered to Krsna,He becomes very pleased.Therefore we love Tulasi Because He likes.
(June 28,1974,Room Conversation, Melbourne)
PATH TO LIBERATION
Devotee : Tulasi grows profusely in Hawaii.
Prabhupada: That's a good sign.
Devotee: Yes,many people,hundreds of people,are worshiping Tulasi.Evenm people we don't know,they,some how or other,have gotten Tulasi and they are worshiping.
Prabhupada: Very good.They will become devotees.Wit hout fail,they will become devotees.If they chant Hare Krsna and worship the Tulasi leaf,they will be liberated wit hout fail and they will become devotees.
(February 4,1975,Morning walk,Hawaii)
JUST BY SOWING A TULASI SEED
… Service to the Vaisnava,tulasi,Ganges and Yamuna:are included in pada-sevanam.All these processes of pada-sevanam help on eadvance in spiritual life very quickly . .. .In the same Skanda-Purana,reva-khanda,it is said that one who recites prayers to Tulasi or sows a Tulasi seed is also freed from all offenses.Similarly,one who worships the salagrama-sila can also be relieved of offenses.(Canto 7,Chapter 5,Texts 23-24 Purport)
ETERNAL CONSORT OF KRSNA
Yes,Srimati Tulasi is the eternal consort of Krsna and the most pure devotee,and therefore the Tulasi plant is worshiped by Vaisnavas.
(Letter dated March 26,1968,from San Francisco,to Balai Oils!,New York)
TULASI IS ONLY FOR VISNU-TATTVA
The Tulasi leaf is very,very dear to Visnu.All visnu-tattva Deities require Tulasi leaves profusely.Tulasli leaves mixed with sandalwood pulp and placed on the lotus feet of the Lord is the topmost worship.But we must bevery careful that Tulasi leaves are not placed on the feet of anyone else except Lord Visnu and His different forms.Tulasi leaves cannot be placed even on the lotus feet of Radharani or on the lotus feet of the spiritual master.It is entirely reserved for being placed on the feet of Krsna [Visnu].However,we can place Tulasi leaves in the hands of Radharani for the purpose of being placed on the lotus feet of Krsna.
(Letter dated April 7,1970,from Los Angeles,to Govinda Dasf,Hawaii)