Songs and prayers

Sri Tulasi-kirtana

1
namo namah tulasi! krsna-preyasi
radha-krsna-seva pabo ei abhilasi

2
je tomara sarana loy, tara vancha purna hoy
krpa kori' koro tare brndavana-basi

3
mor ei abhilas, bilas kunje dio vas
nayane heribo sada jugala-rupa-rasi

4
ei nivedana dharo, sakhir anugata koro
seva-adhikara diye koro nija dasi

5
dina krsna-dase koy, ei jena mora hoy
sri-radha-govinda-preme sada jena bhasi

(1) O Tulasi, beloved of Krsna, I bow before you again and again. My desire is to obtain the service of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

(2) Whoever takes shelter of you has his wishes fulfilled. Bestowing your mercy on him, you make him a resident of Vrndavana.

(3) 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 beautiful pastimes of Radha and Krsna.

(4) 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.

(5) This very fallen and lowly servant of Krsna prays, "May I always swim in the love of Sri Radha and Govinda.

Being himself an eternal resident of Vrindavana, Srila Prabhupada naturally wanted his followers to gain entrance into Vrindavana, and therefore he introduced the worship of Tulasi-devi in ISKCON. Every morning, all over the world, ISKCON devotees gather around Tulasi-devi at 5 a.m. and sing that bhajan.

Sri Tulasi Pranama

vrndayai tulasi-devyai
priyayai kesavasya ca
krsna-bhakti-prade devi
satyavatyai namo namah

vrndayai--unto Vrnda; tulasi-devyai--unto Tulasi-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.

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.

Sri Tulasi Pradaksina Mantra

yani kani ca papani
brahma-hatyadikani ca
tani tani pranasyanti
pradaksinah 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.

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.

 

Sri Tulasi-arati

by Candrasekhara Kavi

1
namo namah tulasi maharani,
vrnde maharani namo namah
namo re namo re meiya namo narayani

2
jako darase, parase agha-nasa-i
mahima beda-purane bakhani

3
jako patra, manjari komala
sri-pati-carana-kamale lapatani
dhanya tulasi meiya, purana tapa kiye,
Sri-salagrama-maha-patarani

4
dhupa, dipa, naivedya, arati,
phulana kiye varakha varakhani
chapanna bhoga, chatrisa byanjana,
bina tulasi prabhu eka nahi mani

5
siva-suka-narada, aura brahmadiko,
dhurata phirata maha-muni jnani
candrasekhara meiya, tera jasa gaowe
bhakati-dane dijiye maharani

(1) O Tulasi Maharani! O Vrnda! O mother of devotion! O Narayani, I offer my obeisances to you again and again.

(2) By seeing you or even by touching you, all sins are destroyed. Your glories are described in the Vedas and Puranas.

(3) Your leaves and soft manjaris are entwined at the lotus feet of Narayana, the Lord of Laksmi. O blessed mother Tulasi, you performed successful austerities and have thus become the chief consort and queen of Sri Shalagrama-sila.

(4) You engladden and shower your rain of mercy upon one who offers you some incense, a ghee lamp, naivedya, and arati. The Lord does not care for even one of fifty-six varieties of cooked food or thirty-six different curries offered without tulasi leaves.

(5) Lord Siva, Sukadeva Gosvami, Devarsi Narada, and all the jnanis and great munis, headed by Lord Brahma, are circumambulating you. O mother! O Maharani, Candrasekhara thus sings your glories. Please bestow upon him the gift of pure devotion.

 

Asta-Nama-Stava from the Padma Purana The Eight Names of Vrinda-devi

Vrindavani, vrinda, visvapujita, pushpasara, nandini, Krishna-jivani, visva-pavani, tulasi

  • VRINDAVANI - One who first manifested in Vrindavan.
  • VRINDA - The goddess of all plant and trees ( even if one Tulasi plant is present in a forest it can be called Vrindavana.)
  • VISHVAPUJITA - One whom the whole universe worships.
  • PUSHPASARA - The topmost of all flowers, without whom Krishna does not like to look upon other flowers.
  • NANDINI - Seeing whom gives unlimited bliss to the devotees.
  • KRISHNA-JIVANI - The life of Sri Krishna.
  • VISHVA-PAVANI - One who purifies the three worlds.
  • TULASI - One who has no comparison.

Anyone while worshiping Tulasi-devi chants these eight names will get the same results as one who performs the Ashvamedha sacrifice. And one who on the full-moon day of Kartika (Tulasi-devi's appearance day) worships Her with this Mantra will break free from the bonds of this miserable world of birth and death, and very quickly attains Goloka Vrndavan. On the full moon-day of Kartik Lord Sri Krishna Himself worships Srimati Tulasi-devi with this Mantra.

One who remembers this Mantra will very quickly attain devotion to Lord Krishna's Transcendental Lotus Feet.


SRI VRNDADEVY-ASTAKA Eight Prayers Glorifying Sri Vrinda-devi
by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura

gangeya-campeya-tadit-vinindi-
rocih-pravaha-snapitatma-vrnde
bandhuka-bandhu-dyuti-divya-vasu
vrnde namas te caranaravindam

gangeya -- golden; campeya -- campaka flower; tadit -- lightning; vinindi -- chastising; rocih --splendor; pravaha -- with rivers; snapita -- bathed; atma -- own; vrnde -- multitude; bandhuka -- of the bandhuka flower; bandhu -- friend; dyuti -- splendor; divya -- transcendental; vasah -- garments; vrnde -- O Vrnda-devi; namah -- I offer respectful obeisances; te -- to your; carana -- feet; aravindam - the lotus flower.

You are bathed by streams of splendor that rebuke gold, lightning, and the campaka flower. Your splendid garments are friend to the bandhuka flower. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.

bimbadharoditvara-manda-hasya-
nasagra-mukta-dyuti-dipitasye
vicitra-ratnabharana-sriyadhye
vrnde namas te caranaravindam

bimba -- bimba fruits; adhara -- lips; uditvara -- extraordinary; manda -- gentle; hasya -- smile; nasa -- of the nose; agra --on the tip; mukta -- pearl; dyuti -- by the splendor; dipita -- illuminated; asye -- face; vicitra -- amazing and colorful; ratna -- jewels; abharana -- and ornaments; sriya -- with the beauty; adhye -- enriched.

Your face is splendid with a pearl decorating the tip of Your nose and a wonderful gentle smile on Your bimba-fruit lips. You are decorated with wonderful jewel ornaments. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.

samasta-vaikuntha-siromanau sri
krishnasya vrndavana-dhanya-dhamni
dattadhikare vrsabhanu-putrya
vrnde namas te caranaravindam

samasta -- all; vaikuntha -- of the Vaikuntha worlds; sirah-manau -- the crown jewel; Sri Krishna -- of Sri Krishna vrndavana -- Vrndavana; dhanya -- opulent and auspicious; dhamni -- in the abode; datta -- given; adhikare -- dominion; vrsabhanu -- of King Vrsabhanu; putrya --by the daughter (Srimati Radharani)

Vrsabhanu's daughter Radha made you guardian of Krishna's opulent and auspicious abode of Vrndavana, the crest jewel of all Vaikuntha planets. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.

tvad-ajnaya pallava-puspa-bhrnga-
mrgadibhir madhava-keli-kunjah
madhv-adibhir bhanti vibhusyamana
vrnde namas te caranaravindam

tvat -- your; ajnaya -- by the order; pallava -- blossoming; puspa -- by flowers; bhrnga -- by bumble-bees; mrga -- by deer; adibhih -- and others; Madhava -- of Lord Madhava; keli -- for performing pastimes; kunjah -- groves; madhu -- with springtime; adibhih -- and the other seasons; bhanti -- appears very splendid; vibhusyamanah -- being decorated.

By Your order the groves where Madhava enjoys pastimes are splendidly decorated with blossoming flowers, bumble-bees, deer, honey, and other things. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.

tvadiya-dutyena nikunja-yunor
atyutkayoh keli-vilasa-siddhih
tvat-saubhagam kena nirucyatam tad
vrnde namas te caranaravindam

tvadiya -- your; dutyena -- because of the message; nikunja-yunoh -- of Radha and Krishna who perform pastimes in the groves (of Vrndavana); ati-utkayoh -- very enthusiastic (to perform pastimes); keli -- amorous; vilasa -- pastimes; siddhih -- perfection; tvat -- your; saubhajam -- good fortune; kena -- by whom?; nirucyatam -- may be described; tat -- therefore.

Because you became Their messenger the eager and youthful divine couple enjoyed the perfection of transcendental pastimes in the forest. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.

rasabhilaso vasatis ca vrnda-
vane tvad-isanghri-saroja-seva
labhya ca pumsam krpaya tavaiva
vrnde namas te caranaravindam

rasa -- the rasa dance; abhilasah -- the desire; vasatih -- residence; ca -- and; vrndavane -- in Vrndavana; tvat -- your; isa -- of the Lord (Krishna); anghri -- feet; saroja -- of the lotus flower; seva -- service; labhya -- is attainable; ca -- and; pumsam -- by the living entities; krpaya -- by the mercy; tava -- your; eva -- indeed.

By your mercy people attain residence in Vrndavana, the desire to serve your masters' lotus feet, and the desire to assist in the rasa dance. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.

tvam kirtyase satvata-tantra-vidbhir
lilabhidhana kila krishna-saktih
tavaiva murtis tulasi nr-loke
vrnde namas te caranaravindam

tvam -- you; kirtyase -- are glorified; satvata-tantra-vidbhih -- by those who know the Satvata-tantra; lila -- pastimes; abhidhana -- by the name; kila -- indeed; Krishna -- of Lord Krishna; saktih -- the potency; tava -- your; eva -- indeed; murtih -- form; tulasi -- Tulasi; nrloke --in human society.

They who are learned in the Satvata-tantra glorify you. You are Krishna's pastime-potency. The Tulasi plant is your form in the world of men. O Vrnda, I bow to your lotus feet.

bhaktya vihina aparadha-laksaih
ksiptas ca kamadi-taranga-madhye
krpamayi tvam saranam prapanna
vrnde namas te caranaravindam

bhaktya -- of devotional service; vihinah -- devoid; aparadha -- of offenses; laksaih -- with thousands; ksiptah -- thrown; ca -- and; kama -- of lust; adi -- and other inauspicious qualities; taranga -- of the waves; madhye -- in the midst; krpamayi -- O merciful one; tvam -- you; saranam -- shelter; prapannah -- attain.

O merciful one, I have no devotion and have committed millions of offenses. I am drowning in the turbulent ocean of lust. Thus I take shelter of you. O Vrinda, I bow to your lotus feet.

vrndastakam yah srnuyat pathed va
vrndavanadhisa-padabja-bhrngah
sa prapya vrndavana-nitya-vasam
tat-prema-sevam labhate krtarthah

vrinda -- glorifying Vrnda-devi; astakam -- eight verses; yah -- who; srnuyat -- may hear; pathet -- may read; va -- or; vrndavana -- of Vrndavana; adhisa -- of the monarchs (Radha and Krishna); pada -- feet; abja -- at the lotus flowers; bhrngah -- a bumble-bee; sah -- he; prapya -- attaining; vrndavana -- at Vrindavana; nitya -- eternal; vasam -- residence; tat -- of Lord Krishna; prema -- in pure love of Godhead; sevam -- devotional service; labhate -- attains; krita-arhah -- and his spiritual desires are satisfied.

A person who is like a bumblebee at the lotus feet of Vrindavana's king and queen, and who reads or hears this Vrindastaka, will eternally reside in Vrindavana and attain loving service to the divine couple.

108 names of Tulasi-devi

om shri tulasyai namah
om nandinyai namah
om devyai namah
om shikhinyai namah
om dharinyai namah
om dhatryai namah
om savitryai namah
om satyasandhayai namah
om kalaharinyai namah
om gauryai namah
om devagitayai namah
om draviyasyai namah
om padminyai namah
om sitayai namah
om rukminyai namah
om priyabhuushanayai namah
om shreyasyai namah
om shrimatyai namah
om manyayai namah
om gauryai namah
om gautamarchitayai namah
om tretayai namah
om tripathagayai namah
om tripadayai namah
om traimuurtyai namah
om jagatrayayai namah
om trasinyai namah
om gatrayai namah
om gatriyayai namah
om garbhavarinyai namah
om shobhanayai namah
om samayai namah
om dviradayai namah
om aradyai namah
om yagyavidyayai namah
om mahavidyayai namah
om guhyavidyayai namah
om kamaksyai namah
om kulayai namah
om shriyai namah
om bhuumyai namah
om bhavitryai namah
om savitryai namah
om saravedavidamvarayai namah
om shankhinyai namah
om chakrinyai namah
om charinyai namah
om chapaleksanayai namah
om pitambarayai namah
om prota somayai namah
om saurasayai namah
om aksinyai namah
om ambayai namah
om sarasvatyai namah
om samshrayayai namah
om sarva devatyai namah
om vishvashrayayai namah
om sugandhinyai namah
om suvasanayai namah
om varadayai namah
om sushronyai namah
om chandrabhagayai namah
om yamunapriyayai namah
om kaveryai namah
om manikarnikayai namah
om archinyai namah
om sthayinyai namah
om danapradayai namah
om dhanavatyai namah
om sochyamanasayai namah
om shuchinyai namah
om shreyasyai namah
om pritichinteksanyai namah
om vibhuutyai namah
om akrityai namah
om avirbhuutyai namah
om prabhavinyai namah
om gandhinyai namah
om svarginyai namah
om gadayai namah
om vedyayai namah
om prabhayai namah
om sarasyai namah
om sarasivasayai namah
om sarasvatyai namah
om sharavatyai namah
om rasinyai namah
om kalinyai namah
om shreyovatyai namah
om yamayai namah
om brahmapriyayai namah
om shyamasundarayai namah
om ratnaruupinyai namah
om shamanidhinyai namah
om shatanandayai namah
om shatadyutaye namah
om shitikanthayai namah
om prayayai namah
om dhatryai namah
om shri vrindavanyai namah
om krishnayai namah
om bhaktavatsalayai namah
om gopikakridayai namah
om harayai namah
om amritaruupinyai namah
om bhuumyai namah
om shri krishnakantayai namah
om shri tulasyai namah
In service to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-acarya, International Society for Krishna Consciousness
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