Art of Care For Tulasi Devi

FOREWORD
Srimati Tulasi devi is Srimati Vrnda devi's beautiful partial expansion in this
material world. Caring for Tulasi devi is purifying to one's self, pleasing to Lord
Krsna, and, by her mery, bestows upon one the privilege of devotional servie and
the attainment of love of !od. There are atually two types of Tulasis. Those plants
that develop a beautiful purple oloration on their stems and leaves when grown in
diret sunlight and dar" purple to pin" flowers are alled Krsna Tulasis.
These intergrade through a spetrum of intermediates to the #ama Tulasis, whose
leaves and stems never turn purple and their flowers are pure white.
To the sientifi ommunity, Tulasi is a member of the Lamiaeae or mint family,
and is "nown by her Latin name $uminum santum L. The generi name
$uminum means she is related to the herb basil, and the speifi epithet santum
means %holy% in honor of her exalted status, hene she is also alled &oly 'asil. The
robust La"smi Tulasi or Tulsa is the tree basil or $uminum gratissimum var. suave
()ild* &oo" f. She is often used as a substitute in worship when Tulasi is not
avaliable.
The +rt of Care for Tulasi devi
General Growth and Development
Tulasi begins her active life here in this world as a tiny germinating seed. Her first
leaves have rounded tips and squared-off bases. The ovale shaped leaves held
opposite on the stem that are characteristic of Tulasi develop with the second set of
leaves. At the base of every leaf, right at the junction of the leaf stalk with the stem,
is a tiny bud which can develop into a branch, or, sometimes, into a flowering unit.
Tulasis stem tip contains an active growing point that will cause the stem to grow up
and up until that growth point changes into a flower cluster or manjari. !ometimes
Tulasi becomes quite tall before this happens. "n fact, Tulasi may need to be staked
to give her additional support, especially when she is young and her stem has not yet
become woody. #se a rot-resistent stake$ i.e., wooden dowels rot quickly as opposed
to bamboo, and better still are steel rods coated in plastic.
The stake should be placed at the edge of the pot, not ne%t to her stem. &lunging a
stake into the pot right ne%t to her stem is dangerous because a makor root may be
damaged. 'oop a strip of fine clean cloth or kite string around her stem, being
careful not to interfere with the branches, and tie it to the stake. #se as many stakes
as necessary to keep her straight.
!ometimes Tulasi can become too top heavy and will have difficulty supporting
herself, and, even with staking, her stem will bend over rather than remaining
straight. "f Tulasi is becoming quite tall and you feel her height may be a problem for
her, or if you are concerned about her height for another reason (for e%ample, if she
is growing too tall that she will not be able to fit in the window), then you may
carefully pinch away the very tiny apical growing point on the stem ape%. This will
terminate her upward growth, and will cause the little buds at the junction of each
leaf with the stem to develop into branches.
After these branches have developed *-+ sets of leaves, their apical growing points
could be pinched off in like manner, which will trigger more side shoots to develop
on each of these branches. This will produce a very compact growth form for Tulasi.
"t should be stressed that this is the only shaping that can be done on Tulasi devi. !he
can never be pruned like mundane plants$ i.e., branches can never be cut on whim
just because you would like her to be a different shape. To cut a living Tulasi branch
is offensive, and according to the &adma &urana, 'ord ,rsna feels the cutting of a
green (living) Tulasi branch as a pain in His heart.
Always remember that Tulasis receiving unidirectional light, such as through a
window, will tend to lean towards the light and will also tend to develop branches
only on the sunny side of the plant. Thus, it is essential to rotate a potted Tulasi a
quarter turn daily to prevent this leaning and to encourage even branch development.
-
.lower development in Tulasi is dependent upon her health and the environment.
#nder ideal conditions she can bloom year round, but the heaviest concentrations of
flowers develop in the spring through summer months. Tulasis flowers are produced
in clusters or inflorescences called in !anskrit manjaris. /ach manjari is composed of
many whorls of si% flowers each arranged along a central a%is. The flowers do not
open all at once, rather, the flowers of each lower whorl tend to open together and
then blooming proceeds up the stalk to the younger whorls. Thus one large
inflorescence has flowers at all stages of development from young unopened buds to
open flowers to flowers past the blooming stage that have begun to set fruit. 0ften
the two buds at the base of a manjari will themselves develop into manjaris making a
three forked flowering unit. !ome robust Tulasis under a year old can produce any
number of manjari clusters up to 11-parted clusters by developing the two buds
under the three forked unit into additional three forked units, followed by two single
manjaris from the buds below those. The total lenght of the entire cluster is about
123, making an especially beautiful offering.
Tulasi devis flowers contain both male and female parts and can self-fertili4e
themselves, that is, a pollinator is not required to visit the flower in order to trigger
fruit development and seed set (however, various insects are very attracted to her
manjaris and could cross pollinate them). "f Tulasis flowers have been pollinated,
fruit development and seed set may occur under ideal conditions. After the petals
have fallen from the flowers, the green caly% that surrounds the petals may enlarge
and harden slightly.
This is the sign that the ovary inside the flower is developing into seeds. 'ook down
into the caly%, and you will see four yellow spheres. Tulasi and other mint plants
produce a special type of fruit called a 3nutlet3. /ach sphere is actually a nutlet that
contains one seed. 5ecause the seed is nestled in the nutlet so securely that they are
never separated, each sphere can be thought of and referred to as a single seed. 6hen
these 3seeds3 mature, they are dark brown and will fall out of the caly%. /ven though
blooming may be year round, seed production is usually limited to late spring
through summer. Tulasi uses a lot of energy to develop seeds, so allow your plants to
mature seeds only if they are very healthy. To collect seeds from your Tulasi, allow
the seeds to turn brown on the plant, but clip the manjari before the seeds have begun
to fall from the caly%7 !tore the mature manjaris with seeds in a cool, dry airtight
container.
As a young Tulasi matures, she may produce smaller leaves (some types of Tulasi
produce leaves with blades up to *3 long during their first few months), and her stem
will thicken and become woody. Her overall growth rate will slow down with age
until she reaches her adult height which in some types of Tulasi is around 8, but for
most Tulasis is around *-+. !rila &rabhupada said that most Tulasis live about five
years. 0f course this is an average, so some Tulasis live less, some live longer. After
she leaves her body, her wood may be saved for carving beads, or it is e%tremely
auspicious to burn the dried wood in fire sacrifices and cremation ceremonies. The
rest may be buried in a protected spot.
*
Growing Tulasi from Seed
!tarting your own Tulasi from seed can be a very rewarding e%perience, and can also
be easy. &urchasing a seed-starter kit from a local nursery which consists of peat
moss pellets that e%pand into small containers, or peat moss cups with sterili4ed soil,
makes it that much easier. 9ou can also use your own soil mi% of 1:- Tulasis normal
potting soil (see soil section) and 1:- sand, placed into peat moss cups or into flat
containers at least -3 deep.
The Tulasi seeds should never be planted while they are still within the caly%, or this
structure will interfere with their root development. The four seeds should be gently
shaken from the caly%, or gently given a nudge out with the blunt eye of a needle,
taking care not to damage the seeds. The seeds should be placed singly on top of the
soil, and then covered with only a very fine sprinkling of soil equal to the diameter
of the seed. Tulasi seeds prefer light to germinate, and will have difficulty sprouting
if planted too deeply where they cannot receive light. "t is important not to plant an
e%cessive number of seeds. "f you plant 12 seeds and all 12 germinate, you will then
have 12 Tulasis plants to care for. This is easy when they are small, but finding
proper space for 12 mature plants can be a challenge."t is best to plant only 1 or -
seeds at first$ one can always increase the number later if needed.
After planting, its best not to water from above as the water could dislodge the tiny
seeds. "nstead, water the containers from below by setting them in a tray of tepid
water until moist patches appear on the soil surface. Then, allow the containers to
drain thoroughly. .ollow the directions included with peat moss pellets if you have
used these. Tulasi seeds will benefit from high humidity, so a pane of glass can be
placed over the containers, or they can be placed in a clear plastic bag. ,eep them in
a warm place and give them bright lite, but not direct sun. The moisture that collects
on the inside of the pane or bag should be removed daily, and fresh air should be
allowed to circulate around the containers.
The Tulasi seeds should begin to germinate in *-; days, but some seeds can take
longer. <emove the pane or bag when germination begins, but keep the seedlings in
a humid environment (see Humidity section). The planting medium should be kept
moist, but never soggy. The young seedlings will have only the two seed leaves for a
number of days while she concentrates on root development. "f she turns purple at
this stage, she is in too bright a light and should be given more filtered light. .inally,
the seedling will send up a small shoot with two more leaves and then two more. !he
is now old enough to transplant. A word of caution= if Tulasi looks fine one day, but
the ne%t morning has bent over at the soil line where a brown pinched area has
formed on her stem, she has been attacked by a 3damping off3 fungus.
+
0nce this fungus hits, it can spread rapidly through the seedling flats. "mmediatly
improve the air circulation, decrease the humidity, and, if possible, sift fine, hot sand
onto the soil surface to discourage the fungus.
"f you have a single Tulasi growing in a peat moss container or in a peat moss pellet,
you can wait until she is big enough to have roots coming out the bottom and sides
of the container. Then, simply plant the entire container into a slightly larger clay pot
with her normal potting soil. The new soil line should be e%actly the same as the soil
line in the container - never plant her lower or higher, or problems may result.
"f two or more Tulasis are in the same container and you wish to separate them into
individual pots, then when the seedlings have only two or three sets of leaves, gently
tease apart the container and tease apart the soil mass until each Tulasi is free. Try to
keep as much soil around the roots as possible, but if two Tulasis just wont untangle,
soak them in room temperature water to facilitate their separation. >arefully plant
them immediatly, and water thoroughly.
!eedlings in seed flats can be lifted out by taking as large a scoop of soil around the
seedling as possible, especially to the bottom of the container, repotting into small
clay pots and watering thoroughly.
&lace all seedlings in light shade for several days, and then gradually introduce them
into stronger light. 0nce they have settled into their new home, they should grow
quite rapidly.
Keeping Tulasi Healthy
!rimati Tulasi devi is native to the tropical climate of "ndia and thrives best in a
tropical environment. "n much of the temperate areas of the world, Tulasi will grow
outside nicely during the summer months but must be given additional protection
during the winter in any area where the night time temperatures consistently dip
below ;2?.. 0ne must always try to create a warm sunny tropical environment
around her at all times, even during the winter, for her to be comfortable. 5ut, the
most important ingredient in caring for Tulasi is not a material need, rather, it is your
devotion. !rila &rabhupada stated many times that !rimati Tulasi devi is the
3spiritual barometer3 of the community or household and where she flourishes,
devotion to 'ord ,rsna is present. However, prayers alone cannot sustain Tulasi, and
her material needs must be met properly. 0ne can show ones devotion to Tulasi devi
by providing the topmost care for her. 0ne should always be conscious of her needs
throughout the day, and should keep her foremost in your mind. .or e%ample, if you
are taking your Tulasi outside daily for sunshine, then do do always at the proper
time. @o not take her out late one day, or skip a day, or forget to bring her inside as
soon as the sun is off her and the temperature begins to drop. Treat her like a pure
;
devotee should be treated, treat her like a wife of 'ord Aarayana, a constant
companion of 'ord ,rsna, and the Bueen of Crndavana should be treated, for this is
who she really is.
Tulasi devis material health throughout the year will depend upon the proper
balance of the following= light, water, temperature, humidity, soil, nutrients, correct
pot si4e, and staying disease and pest free.
All of these eight items must be in proper balance at all times or Tulasi devi will not
maintain her health. 9ellowing leaves, browning leaves, leaves that have reddish
tinges at their edges, shedding of leaves, and small or aborted manjaris are all sings
of stress and a careful analysis of her environment should be made promptly.
ight
Tulasi devi thrives best in natural sunlight. !he should receive *-; hours of direct
sunlight daily, preferably morning to early afternoon sun.
&lants grown without sufficient sunlight are spindly, that is they have thin weak
stems and branches with long stem lengths between the pair of leaves, large pale
green leaves and few if any flowers. "n e%tremely insufficient light, the leaves will
drop off and branches will abort.
Tulasi devi can do quite well inside if given a sunny window that receives the
required hours of sunlight. As stated previously, one should, however, rotate Tulasi
every day a quarter turn to kepp her from 3leaning3 into the light. This will keep her
growing straight and will allow all branches access to sunlight so they will develop
evenly, resulting in a beautifully symmetrical Tulasi.
"f you do not have a window that receives sufficient sunlight, then artificial lighting
must be provided for her. <egular incandescent houselights are virtually useless for
Tulasi$ instead, lights that mimic the wavelenghts of sunshine are required. @aylight
and natural white fluorescent tubes, used together$ or daylight tubes used with 3gro-
lu%3 or 3gro-lite3 tubes, or halogen tubes will provide the wavelengths needed by
Tulasi. "f virtually all her light requirement is to be provided by artificial lights, then
she must be essentially surrounded by an aura of light. @o not try to rely on a single
spotlight to replace the sun. "nstead, you should suspend two +2 watt tubes in one
lighting fi%ture above Tulasi and two more tubes on her right side and two more on
her left side. Aluminum foil can be added between the fi%tures to act as a reflective
hood. 5ecause the efficiency of these lights drops off rapidly, you should have the
lights as close to her as possible, but nor touching her. The lights should be left on
1+-1D hours every day, or less if she is receiving some direct sunlight.
"t is important to remember that all environmental changes concerning Tulasi must
be done gradually. "f you have had Tulasi inside your house all winter and now it is
D
warm enough to take her outside again, please introduce her into the outside
environment gradually. @o so by putting her outside for only an hour or so daily for
a while and then increase the duration of her stay outside until she is fully adjusted to
her new surroundings. 'eaving her outside with no adjustment period may cause her
to sunsclad and go into shock. "f Tulasis leaves are given too much sun too quickly
before they can adjust properly, bron4ed or whitened areas will appear in the leaf
blades, then these areas will die and turn brown. The leaves have actually been
sunburned. <emember, the glass in window panes filter out some of the burning rays
of the sun, and Tulasi must be slowly introduced into the full strength of the sunn to
prevent this burning fro occuring. Any sort of sudden drastic change whether in
duration of sunlight, of temperature or of humidity, may cause Tulasi to go into
shock as she struggles to adjust to the different environmental conditions.
A symptom of shock is that her lower leaves will suddenly fall off, sometimes they
yellow before dropping and sometimes she will drop them while still green. "f this
happens, please try to moderate her environment by introducing any changes
gradually.
Water
The best time to water Tulasi devi is in the early morning as this will insure an
adequate water supply is available to meet the demands of photosynthesis and
increasing transpiration. #sing a watering can with a long spout will allow one to
water gently without disturbing the soil.
6atering with a 3hard3 stream of water may wash the soil away e%posing the roots
and making them susceptible to disease, and will also cause compaction of the soil
interfering with soil aeration. 5ecause city water is full of chemicals, it is best to use
purified or distilled (bottled) water for Tulasi devi. "f this is not possible, then at least
let the city water stand overnight in a non-corrosive container to allow the chlorine
and perhaps other chemicals to dissipate. Aerate the water by pouring it from one
container to another several times allowing it to travel 3through the air3 as much as
possible. Aever use 3hard3 water that has been chemically treated to make it 3soft3.
The amount of water to give Tulasi will depend on her si4e and individual
nature, the soil type, the container and weather conditions, especially the temperature
and humidity. At least once a week water her thoroughly so that water flows freely
from the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. This ensures that water to the lower
levels in the pot is replenished, and prevents the e%cess salts in water from building
up in the soil where they would eventually interfere with water absorption. !he
should be watered again when the topsoil feels dry, this time giving her enough
water to keep her moist all day, but not soggy. @o not keep her so wet that when
more water is added it instantly runs out of the bottom of the pot, as this continued
waterlogged condition decreases the amount of o%ygen in the soil, causing disease
(especially fungal diseases) or even death to the roots. 6hen the roots are not
E
functioning properly, they cannot absorb sufficient water for the leaves and the leaf
tissue begins to die. The leaves will turn pale, and:or develop brown, dry edges
before falling from the plant (Aote= too low humidity will also produce dry brown
leaf edges). The opposite e%treme, that is, soil that is too dry, is also harmful to roots,
even if the plant is not dry enough to wilt. !oil that is kept constantly a little too dry
will cause Tulasi to develop a slightly greyish or bron4ed color to the leaves which
may then turn pale green and her growth may be slow. @ried out soil may 3crust
over3 or physically shrink slightly and will pull away from the sides of the pot.
6hen this happens water will not immediately penetrate the soil, but will puddle up
on the surface or rapidly run down the side of the pot and out the bottom without
wetting the soil ball. "f this happens, plunge the entire pot in a bucket of water to let
the soil absorb water, or if this is not feasible, add small amounts of water to the
surface, allow time for it to soak in and slowly and patiently add more until the soil
is again at a proper moisture level. "f by accident Tulasi does wilt from not enough
soil moisture, remove her from the sun and heat and give her water. 5e prepared that
this may be a shock to her, and may make her drop her lower leaves.
,nowing when and how much to water Tulasi is one of the most difficult
but also one of the most important factors in her maintenance. "t may be helpful to
pick up your potted Tulasi daily to feel how heavy she is, as a pot with ample water
will be much heavier than a pot that is becoming dry. 5y using the weight of the pot,
the dryness of the soil surface and the current weather conditions, one will soon be
able to keep Tulasis soil at the proper moisture level.
Temperature
@uring the growing season Tulasi devi prefers temperatures around F2?. in
the day and D;?. or so in the night. Tulasi can handle temperatures over 122?. but
her growth is slowed with the stress. 'ikewise, Tulasi can do nicely with evening
temperatures into the ;2s, but again her growth will be slower than under ideal
conditions.
"n very hot weather Tulasi devi can overheat and wilt despite sufficient soil
moisture. "f this occurs, do not water her, as this will just waterlog her soil. "nstead,
remove her from the sun into filtered light, and spray a fine mist on her to cool her
down. "f the humidity is very low, raising the humidity around her (see ne%t section)
will help decrease her transpiration rate= i.e., the rate of water loss from her leaves. "f
the humidity is so high that moisture cannot evaporate from her and thus heat cannot
dissipate properly, then try to increase the air circulation around her.
"n the winter it is the night temperatures that are the crucial factor for Tulasi
devi, especially ,rsna Tulasis as they are e%tremely sensitive to cold. Tulasi can still
grow with night temperatures even in the low ;2s, but may have much difficulty
F
surviving night temperatures consistently in the +2s. An older shrubby Tulasi may
lose her leaves and become dormant during this season if subjected to the cold and
cold resprout in the spring. "f the winter temperatures in your area fall into the +2s,
you must be prepared to give your Tulasi adequate protection from the cold.
"f it is not feasible for you to bring her indoors and your winters are not severely
cold, a simple greenhouse can be built around her using galvani4ed water pipes as a
frame over which is placed +mm clear plastic taped on with weatherproof duct tape.
An electric heater can be placed inside to keep her warm. These mini-greenhouses
must be adequately ventilated to prevent heat buildup in the sunshine.
"f you have Tulasi devi indoors in a heated place, be sure to put her in an
area free from cold or hot drafts. "n severe climates pull her away from windows at
night because the coldness seeping in through a window may cause enough shock
that she may even abort the leaves and branches ne%t to the window. Always be very
careful not to put her in the direct heat from a heater (or, in summer, the cold from an
air conditioner) as this will be too much stress for her. The stress reaction to hot
drafts range in severity from dropping her leaves to the leaves shriveling and turning
black overnight to death of entire branches or even Tulasi herself. A final note about
centrally heated homes= the heated air is usually very dry, so pay special attention to
the humidity around her.
/%treme temperature flu%es between night and day, or abrupt changes in
temperature are also stressful to her. .or e%ample, a low night temperature followed
by a warm sunny morning may cause her to wilt. This happens because her leaves
have warmed up faster than the cold roots can take in water. 0n morning such as
these, it is best to introduce her into the sun gradually and insure a high humidity
level around her that will reduce the transpiration rate and also serve to buffer the
temperature changes, letting her heat up more slowly.
Humidity
Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air. "f the air is very
dry, whether in summer or winter, it may cause Tulasis leaves to lose water to the
air faster then her roots can take water inside her. This will make her leaves curl
and:or the edges of the leaves die turning brown and crispy. "n addition, her flower
buds may dry and fall off without opening, and she may look a little wilted despite
adequate soil moisture. To alleviate these conditions, the humidity must be increased
around her. "f she is in a greenhouse or on a patio, hose down the floor so that the
evaporating water will travel through her leaves. !he can also be placed in a
waterproof tray that has a deep enough lip to hold a layer of gravel or perlite (sponge
rock) and water. The bottom of Tulasis pot should sit on the gravel above the water
level, or better yet, be elevated on slates above the gravel so that air can circulate
freely beneath the pot as well. Gisting Tulasi with a hand held sprayer will help raise
8
the humidity, as will grouping two or more Tulasis together so that each is benefited
by the others water vapor given off during transpiration.
"n very dry conditions, a wire frame can be formed over Tulasi and a clear
plastic bag can be inverted over her to create a mini-greenhouse. "f this is done,
partially remove the bag when Tulasi is in direct sunlight or harmful e%cess heat will
build up. "f the bag steams, it is too hot inside and use of the bag may need to be
restricted to the night and when she is completely out of the sun.
Soil
Tulasi requiers a rich but well draining soil for best growth. Hood drainage
is essential for a healthy Tulasi. !oil is composed of solid particulate matter and the
space around those particles. The space is occupied by water or by air. All plant
roots need o%ygen to remain healthy and they get the o%ygen from the air spaces in
the soil. "n a soil that does not drain properly, or is watered too much or too often,
these spaces fill up with water, thus depleting the roots of needed o%ygen. The roots
then cannot function properly and may begin to die. The leaves may begin to yellow
or to develop brown margins in response to the roots inability to function properly.
.ortunately, Tulasi devi does do well in a goof brand of sterili4ed
commercial potting soil such as #nigro or !upersoil$ stay away from inferior brands
that are mostly sawmill by-products, and also avoid the brands that list 3sludge3 (a
by-product of sewage treatment) as a component. .or large Tulasi pots it is helpful to
form your own soil mi% to improve the drainage capacity and soil richness. To two
parts potting soil add one part compost, leafmold, earthworm castings or other
decomposed organic matter (to supply additional nutrients and to help improve the
soil structure) and one part clean coarse sand such as masons sand (to improve the
soil drainage$ never use beach sand as it is too salty). Adding 1 tablespoon each of
pulveri4ed phosphate rock and potash rock (granite dust or greensand) to each pot
will help insure these essential nutrients to Tulasi. "f there is no compost available,
substitute vermiculite, but be ready to supply additional nutrients to Tulasi (see ne%t
section). &erlite or sponge rock can substitute for coarse sand as both will improve a
soils drainage.
"t should be noted that using soil straight from a garden in her pot is not
such a good idea because disease organisms could be present in the soil. Also, never
make the mistake of putting earthworms in her pot.
/arthworms are a welcome addition to the garden soil, but are very unwelcome
inside a pot with its limited feeding area, and are certain to damage Tulasis roots.
!ometimes even the best of soils will become compacted down due to the force of
watering. This will decrease water and air penetration into the soil. To alleviate this,
every month gently turn over the top inch or so of soil in her pot with a small fork or
other instrument, taking special care not to disturb the roots.
12
!"TR#T#O!
Hood nutrition is just as important in plants as it is in animals.
&lants require 12 nutrients in comparatively large quantities (called macroelements)
and D microelements in small quantities. 0nly three of these elements, namely
o%ygen, hydrogen and carbon are derived from the atmosphere or from water$ the
rest must be present in the soil for plants to be healthy, and this is why having Tulasi
in a good soil mi% is so important.
5ut a Tulasi potted even in the best of soils will require supplemental nutrients to
replenish those elements as she uses them.
"t is usually nitrogen that is the first nutrient that must be replenished in a
pot (nitrogen gas makes up EFI of the atmosphere but cannot be utili4ed by plants$
instead they must derive their nitrogen from nitrate (A0*) or ammonia (AH*) in the
soil). Tulasis lower leaves will turn yellow and fall off when she no longer has
sufficient nitrogen (note= yellowing and shedding of lower leaves is also a sign of
shock from a sudden environmental shift). Aitrogen and most other key nutrients can
be replenished by adding a 13 layer of aged cow manure to the top layer of soil, or by
watering every other week with a tea made by soaking 1 part dried manure or other
composted material overnight in * parts water, diluted to weak tea color. Always use
aged, dried manure and never fresh manure as the latter will burn her. Her leaves
should green up in --* days following the application of fertili4er.
Although the manure and composted organic matter added to her soil will provide
for the majority of good nutrition for Tulasi devi, these may not satisfy her iron
requirement and Tulasi may need additions of iron several times a year. A sure sign
of this is her upper leaves and manjaris being a very pale yellow green rather than
deep green.
Aitrogen is a very volatile element and can evaporate from soil in hot
weather, so be cautious about keeping Tulasi supplied with the necessary nutrients in
the summer, especially since she is rapidly growing at this time. !ometimes in very
hot weather cow manure alone does not supply nitrogen fast enough, and select
commercial fertili4ers can then be used to keep her green. #se only those fertili4ers
such as 3Giracle Hro3 whose nutrients are derived from ground rock and other
natural ingredients$ do not use a fertili4er with slaughterhose or sewer treatment
facility byproducts.
/%treme care must be taken any time supplemental nutrients are added to
the soil of a potted Tulasi. @o not make the mistake of thinking that if a little soil
amendment is good, a lot must be better (6ater is taken up passively by plant roots,
that is, no energy is e%pended by a plant to get the water to enter the roots. 6ater
will flow naturally from an area of low salt concentration into an area of higher salt
concentration. "n healthy soils, the area of higher salt concentration is within the
11
plant cells themselves, thus water will enter the roots. "n over-fertili4ed soils, there
are so many salts in the soil that water will flow out of the roots just as fast as it will
flow into the root, thus the plant essentially cannot absorb water. "n severely
overfertili4ed soils, water will flow out of the roots into the soil, making the plant
wilt.). "f the concentration of nutrients in her soil builds up too high, a condition
called 3fertili4er burn3 will resulut. Tulasi will wilt despite adequate soil moisture
because the high concentration of salts in the soil (nutrients are actually beneficial
types of salts) make it impossible for her to absorb water from the soil. !ometimes
instead of wilting or in conjunction with wilting, the growing points at the tips of the
branches will quickly turn black and die, and black patches will appear at both edges
of her young leaves before they drop. At the first sign of this happening,
immediately flush Tulasi with lots and lots of fresh water to wash these e%cess salts
out of the soil. !pend at lest 1; minutes adding water to the pot, letting it flow out,
etc. This should arrest the spread of the black areas but nothing can be done to save
the blackened tissue. To help prevent fertili4er burn from occuring, be sure to water
her thoroughly once a week allowing water to come out her drainage hole, and
follow all
directions on packaged soil amendments. Tulasi should be given additional nutrients
only when she is actively growing and can use them. Therefore, decrease or even
stop the supplements in autumn and winter when she is not growing. A dosage of
nutrients that was ideal during the summer can burn her in autumn and winter.
TR$!S%$!T#!G
"f Tulasi devi is healthy, she will eventually outgrow her pot and will
require a larger one. Tulasi may need to be transplanted when her roots are coming
out the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. /%aming her roots will precisely
indicate if she needs a larger pot. After watering her and letting her drain thoroughly,
turn her upside down with her stem between your fingers and your palm on the dirt
at the base of the stem and rap the edge of the pot on the edge of a table. Tulasi
should slide out of the pot. "f the roots have not filled the pot, simply repot her back
in the same pot.
5ut, if the roots completely fill the soil area so that the root ball is in the shape of the
pot, it is time to transplant. "f the roots are filling the pot and Tulasi looks too big for
her container and she wilts between normal waterings, it is actually past the proper
time for transplanting.
"f a bigger pot is necessary, choose a pot that is only one or two si4es bigger
than her e%isting pot. This should be one that is 13 larger in all dimensions than her
current pot. The only time one would use a pot larger than two si4es is when you are
past the time for normal transplanting and Tulasi has grown so large that she is
completely out of proportion to the pot si4e. "f this has happened, then choose a pot
si4e whose diameter is 1:* to 1:- the height of the plant. Aever plant in a larger si4ed
1-
pot because the 3e%tra3 soil will retain too much water and problems will occur in
root development. The pot should be of ungla4ed clay as they allow air movement
through the sides of the pot$ avoid plastic or gla4ed clay pots, and a drainage hole is
essential.
The process of transplanting can be quite stressful to Tulasi if certain
precautions are not taken. To help prevent Tulasi from wilting, never transplant in
full sun or during the heat of the day. "nstead, transplant only when it is cool outside
such as on an overcast day after +=22 when the heat of the day has dissipated. Also
try to avoid drying winds. 5e sure to have her new pot completely ready for her
before you tap her out of her old pot, and work carefully but quickly to avoid any
damage to her.
The first step in transplanting is to soak the new clay pot in water until it
stops bubbling. Aew pots are very porous and will pull water out of the soil away
from the plant if not watered previously. Ae%t, put broken pottery shards at the
bottom of the pot over the drainage hole to keep the soil from running out the bottom
of the pot, but do not block water drainage. .or large pots, a layer of gravel at the
bottom will also help drainage conditions. &lace a sufficient amount of new soil in
the pot so that Tulasi will be brought up to the proper level. Hently place Tulasi in
her new pot, and if you can, carefully separate and straighten any roots that have
gone around and around in a spiral in the old pot. "f you dont these roots may
continue to spiral around the new pot rather than growing out into the new growing
medium. Add new soil around her, being careful to keep her straight and not
allowing her to lean at an angle, and gently tamp the new soil in place. The new soil
level should not be lower than the previous soil level, or her roots will become
e%posed and they will rot, nor should it be higher than the previous soil level, or her
stem may rot. Always leave a 1:-3 to 13 space between the soil level and the top of
the pot to facilitate watering.
6ater her thoroughly and keep her in a shady spot for a few days before
reintroducing her into the direct sun. 6ater her ne%t only when the soil is dry, as
there is quite a bit of water reserve in the new pot.
D#SE$SE $!D %ESTS
"t is always said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and
this could not be more true in keeping Tulasi devi pest and disease free. Always
maintain her home or area with the topmost cleanliness standard to help ward off the
spread of disease. <emove all fallen leaves from the soil and bench area on a regular
basis and use *=1 bleach=water solution to sterili4e all used pots, trowels, scissors,
and other equipment you may be using in her care.
1*
The best defense in keeping Tulasi disease and pest free is to keep her
healthy. Gany insect pests and diseases prey on a weakened plant first and may
never attack a healthy Tulasi. However, sometimes despite your best efforts, an
infestation of a harmful pest will occur. An attack of any pest should be dealt with
promptly because some insects reproduce at incredible speeds, and can do major
damage rapidly. "n addition, some insects serve as carriers to fungal, bacteria, and
viral diseases that can be deadly to Tulasi devi.
"t should be mentioned that !rila &rabhupada once gave 5havatarini devi
dasi permission to prune back a Tulasi when her roots were partially destroyed
through an insect attack. !he was then pruned back to a si4e that the reduced root
system could properly handle, thus saving her life. "t may be permissible to prune
severely, uncontrollably infested above ground parts to prevent spread to the rest of
the plant. However, this is an emergency measure only, and to have to do so when
the infestation got out of hand through neglect is probably an offence to her. 0ne
must carefully watch your Tulasi daily, as a few days of inattention could allow an
insect population to e%plode out of hand.
!rila &rabhupada said that Tulasi devi will stay healthy if she is kept clean,
and the best way to keep her clean is to give her baths. 0ne may simply spray her off
with a garden hose to keep dust and insects off her leaves or one may need to give
her a bath with soap to cleanse her more thoroughly. The soap you use should be a
vegetable based (castile) soap made with potassium salts. This type of salts is fatal to
insects. There are many 3insecticidal soaps3 sold as such comercially, but even
popular soaps like 3@r. 5ronners3 fit this description and can be used.
"f Tulasi is small, you may want to bathe her by dunking her upside down in
a bucket of room temperature soapy water mi%ed according to directions for
insecticidal soap or at the rate of 1 T:qt. for @r. 5ronners. .irst cover the pot and
soil with plastic so that the soil does not fall out when she is upside down. &lace your
hand on the soil with her stem between your fingers to help support her. Tip her
upside down and immerse Tulasi in the soapy water and swish her gently for ;-12
seconds only, then slowly remove her from the soap. Ae%t rinse her in a bucket of
clean water or under the fine spray of the garden hose. !hake off the e%cess water
and turn her upright slowly. "f she still has water on her leaves when she is turned
upright she may be unable to support herself because of the e%cess weight of the
water, and she will droop or even break.
"f Tulasi is too large to be immersed in a bucket, simply cover the soil with
plastic, wrapping it tightly around the stem, and spray her with a squirt bottle filled
with soap spray. "t is often helpful to tip the pot at a +;? angle to facilitate getting the
undersides of the leaves as this is where most insects hide. "f you have Tulasi inside
where it is difficult to spray her, try spraying each leaf with a squirt bottle or wiping
each leaf with a soft rag to remove dirt and grime. "t may be helpful to purchase a
1+
one gallon pump sprayer available in any garden store and to move her onto a
balcony or even right outside the front door and give her a refreshing bath.
"t is important to bathe Tulasi devi daily with water to keep her very clean
especially in the summer months. !oap baths can be given once a week or every
other week as a preventive measure, or one can wait and use soap only at the first
sign of an insect attack. "t should be noted that using soap as an insect control is a
very popular organic gardening technique, however, most organic gardeners leave
the soapy water on the plant to dry, and either never rinse it off, or do so after several
hours. However, there is a slight danger that this could burn the margins of the
leaves, especially with repeated sprayings, and therefore it is recommended that the
soap spray be washed off of Tulasis delicate leaves before any damage can occur.
"f Tulasi is attacked by insects despite the baths, there are certain sprays one
may turn to for assistance. >hemicals that naturally repel or kill insects have been
isolated from certain plants and are available to the organic gardener as an e%cellent
alternative to the highly to%ic, environmentally damaging chemical sprays prevalent
in western agriculture. &yrethrum is from pulveri4ed >hrysanthemum flowers and is
effective against aphids, whiteflies, and caterpillars. "t should be applied in late
afternoon or evening (i.e., never in thhe sun) and should not be use with soap.
<otenone is from the root of the @erris plant and works as a stomach poison on
aphids, spider mites, ants, and true bugs. @iatomaceous earth is silica fragments
from the skeletal remains of tiny sea animals called diatoms. The tiny slivers of silica
lacerate the insects e%oskeleton and the insect dies from dehydration. Hot chile
peppers mi%ed with water will discourage chewing insects. <ubbing alcohol mi%ed
*=1 or applied full strengh then washed off with water is effective against some soft
bodied insects and fungi. Aeem oil, derived from the "ndian Aeem tree whose leaves
are used as a spice and whose twigs are used as cavity preventing tooth brushes, is
also an appetite suppressant or growth inhibitor to aphids, mites, mealybugs, and
whiteflies. "t has been difficult to find in the #.!., but is now marketed as 5io-Aeem
by !afer, "nc. .inally, a 3dormant oil3 spray refers to a type of oil spray that forms a
physical film around the insect suffocating it. These oil sprays are highly effective,
but cannot be used on leaves$ hence, their use has to be restricted to woody plants
during their dormant (i.e., leafless and resting) stage. Aow, however, an e%tremely
fine paraffin based oil named 3!un!pray 0il3 that can be sprayed onto Tulasi leaves
with no damage to them is available and is very effective against mealybugs, scales,
spidermites and aphids. This spray can be ordered from Hardens Alive7 Ask for !un
!pray #ltra .ine !pray 0il. JHardens Alive7:;122 !chenley &lace:'awrenceburg, "A
+E2-;.K (Aote= This is the only type of spray oil one should use on Tulasi. @o not use
petroleum-based oil sprays.)
0f course not all insects are plant eaters and some insects prey only on
plant-eating insects. Having these types of insects around will assist you in keeping
1;
Tulasi insect free, either by letting them roam on Tulasi directly if you have a
problem with insect pests, or letting them roam the outdoor area around her to try to
keep the pest population (and likewise the probability of attack) at a minimum. The
most famous insect eater is the lady bug or lady bird beetle. There are *;2 species of
this beetle in the #.!. with coloring that varies from red to red:yellow to orange with
black spots with white spots on the thora%. 5oth the adults and larvae eat aphids,
mealybugs, and scales. The larvae hatch from orange oval eggs laid in clusters under
the leaves and grow into black with orange spotted 3dragons3 pupating in about *
weeks into the familiar lady bug.
Hreen or brown lacewings eat aphids, spider mites and mealybugs at both
the adult and larvae stage. The larvae hatch from a white egg laid on a long stalk
attached to the leaf or stem surface and grow into brown alligator-like larvae. 0ther
insects such as assassin bugs, ambush bugs, praying mantis and various spiders all
can provide service to Tulasi devi by helping control insects.
'ady bugs and lacewings and other insect eating insects mentioned under their
specific prey below can be obtained at a local nursery or through insectaries such as
<incon Citova (<incon Citova:&.0.5o% 8;:0ak Ciew, >A 8*2--).
6hat follows ne%t is a brief description of some common insect and
arachnid pests, fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases that are known to infest Tulasi in
Aorth America. "f you are unsure about the identity of a pest problem, many garden
nurseries will offer assistance, or your local agriculture e%tension agent (whose job is
to identify pest and diseases in local agricultural crops) will also be of aid. The
nursery and e%tension agents " have dealt with have been e%tremely respectful of
!rimati Tulasi devi when told of her elevated status, so do not be afraid to approach
them for assistance.
$%H#DS
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that may be green, black, brown,
yellow or orange. They are all essentially pear-shaped with long antennae held over
their backs, and - slender tubes protruding from the end of their abdomens. Aphids
reproduce ase%ually, giving birth to live young so a tremendous aphid population can
build up quickly. After a few generations are ase%ually produced, aphids with wings
are born, and these fly to new plants. Gales are produced only at the end of the
season and, after mating, the resulting eggs can overwinter till cool, but not cold
conditions again favor aphid development. Aphids tend to cluster together on a plant
and suck the sap, deforming young shoots and causing leaves to yellow and drop.
They secrete a sweet honeydew which attracts ants and favors the development of a
black sooty mold on Tulasis leaves. Aphids molt as they grow and their whitish,
shriveled shed skins will litter Tulasis lower leaves.
Aphids can be removed with forceful sprays of water, and e%posure to soap,
neem oil, or !un!pray oil are all fatal to them. Aphids are readily eaten by lady bugs
1D
and lacewing adults and larvae, and by the bright orange wormlike larvae of the
aphid midge. !yrphid fly larvae, who are about 1:*3 long with bodies that taper to a
pointed head, also love aphids. The adult syrphid flies look and act like small bees
with yellow striped abdomens and are frequent visitors to Tulasi manjaris.
$!TS
Ants should never be allowed near Tulasi for two reasons. Ants 3farm3
aphids, mealybugs, and scales. That is, they protect these insects and even move
them from plant to plant in e%change for the sugary fluid called honeydew secreted
by these insects. Thus, the presence of ants could mean a future pest problem.
!econdly, ants become detrimental to Tulasi devi when they build nests in her pots.
This interferes with root growth, or ants may even clip through roots to give them
more room for their underground homes.
To encourage ants to move on, water Tulasi thoroughly to make the ants
leave their nest. &lace a stick against the pot to give the ants an escape route or they
will march around and around the pot rim and re-enter the soil when the water has
drained through. @usting the pot rim and table top with rotenone or diatomaceous
earth discourages ants from returning. !ticky traps like 3Tanglefoot3 will also
physically prevent ants from entering Tulasis pot.
&$TER%#$RS
A wide variety of caterpillars find Tulasi leaves to be a very delectable
meal. They have incredibly voracious appetites and must be detected early or will
heavily damage her. There are two general categories of caterpillars= those that stay
in her foliage -+ hours a day, and those that hide in the ground during the day and
emerge to feed at night. The most common e%ample of the foliage living caterpillar
that strikes Tulasi is the cabbage looper. @espite its name, they feed on practically
anything, including cabbage and Tulasi. They are called loopers because the larvae
have front feet and hind feet but no feet in between and they arch their backs up
when they walk, like an inch worm. 6hen a caterpillar such as the looper is very
very small, ha may be able to eat only the bottom layer of the leaf and the tougher
almost clear top layer of the leaf (called the epidermis) is left intact. Thus small clear
or silvery patches are visible on the upper leaf surface. As the caterpillar grows,
however, he will begin to consume entire leaf blades, leaving only the leaf stalk.
Along with his voracious appetite, the caterpillar produces abundant amounts of dark
brown frass, or fecal pellets. Aoticing these is a sure sign that caterpillars are present,
and their location can be used to help pinpoint where the caterpillar is on the plant.
>aterpillars can be e%cellently camouflaged because they can absorb the plants
1E
pigments and appear the identical color as the plant (hence, they are green on <ama
Tulasis, and purple on ,rsna Tulasis). 'ook carefully for them as they will be
motionless if they know you are looking for them. !praying with aa hard blast of
water helps t dislodge a young caterpillar, otherwise, one has to patiently look over
the entire Tulasi plant until the culprit is located. 6hen the cabbage looper is mature,
it will roll leaves around itself and pupate, then emerge as bark-like brown moths
with a silver marking on the wings.
>aterpillars that live in the soil and come up to feed at night include cutworms.
These are brownish, greyish or greenish worms that curl up when disturbed, and
pupate into brown moths. They are especially deadly to seedlings as the tend to eat
through the young seedling stalk or to consume the entire seedling in a single
evening. A roll of cardboard around a seedling pushed a few inches into the ground
and e%tending a few inches above the ground will help deter cutworms. >hecking
Tulasi at night with a flashlight will help spot the worms and they can also be
flushed out of the soil during watering and disposed of.
There are several things you can do if Tulasi is constantly plagued with
loopers, cutworms, or other caterpillars. Hrowing Tulasi under a protective shield of
horticultural fabric such as <eemay, Agronet, or Cispore will physically prevent the
moths from getting to Tulasi to lay eggs. Also, the adults of loopers and cutworms
are night flying moths that are attracted to light. "nstalling a 3bug-4apper3 light near
Tulasi will significantly reduce the adult populations, hopefully before they lay
eggs. .inally there are two different biological controls for caterpillars that can be
used on very severe and continuous population outbreaks. 5acillus thuringiensis is a
bacteria that multiplies only within the caterpillar and causes paralysis. A solution of
this bacteria (sold under the trade names @ipel and Thuricide or as 35t3) is sprayed
onto the leaves where it is ingested by the caterpillar. Also, braconid wasps, tachinid
flies and other insects lay their eggs on the caterpillars and the larvae of the wasp
and fly develop within the dying caterpillar. The mature adults burst out of the skin
of the dead caterpillar and look for other caterpillars in which to lay their eggs.
Fungal Gnats
.ungal gnats are small (-.; mm), slow flying gnats that appear to pop out of
the soil. The larvae do live in the upper * cm of humus rich soils and feed on organic
matter. Although the larvae can feed on plant roots, they appear to be more of a
nuisance than a threat to Tulasi devi.
The adults can be trapped onto yellow sticky paper, placed hori4ontally near the soil
surface, and the larvae population can be lowered by removing and replacing the top
* cm of soil (taking care of course not to damage her roots) or by drenching the soil
with a special H-1+ strain of 5acillus thuringiensis (see >aterpillar section).
'ealy(ugs
1F
Gealys are white or tannish soft-bodied insects with many small legs that
become covered with white wa%y secretions when they are mature. /gg cases are
carried on the back of the female in a mass of white fibers making them look like
little tufts of cotton. Gealybugs tend to nestle in cracks and crevices such as between
the leaf stalk and stem and underneath the small bracts (tiny leaves) on manjari
stalks. They suck the juice from Tulasi and make her weak. !praying Tulasi with
water or soapy water can dislodge them, or placing a drop of alcohol or 3fingernail
polish remover3(acetone) on them will cause them to die. Aeem oil and !un!pray oil
are also useful. !evere infestations could be controlled by the 3mealybug destroyer3
beetle, >ryptolaemus montrou4ieri, a black shiny beetle with a reddish head and
thora% and reddish tips on the wing coverings. The larvae of this beetle look
something like a giant mealybug so care should be taken to distinguish bewteen
these larvae which are beneficial and the mealybugs which are deleterious.
A type of mealybug can live in the soil and suck sap from the roots. These
mealys can be knocked off the roots of an unpotted Tulasi with a spray of water or,
in severe infestations, the soil can be drenched with an insecticidal soap solution.
S)ales
"mmature scale insects do have legs and can crawl around Tulasi, but are
usually too small to be noticed. As they grow, they settle down anywhere on the
leaves or bark and become immobile. 6hen they are first apparent, they appear as
small soft oval brown disks$ when mature, the scale will be a dark brown to white
bump about 1:F3 long. This is the hard shell around the living insect. 'arge
populations of scales aree more often found on the bar rather than leaves and they
suck the plant sap. !ome scales secrete a to%in that kills the branch. !cale insects can
be fairly easily scraped off the branch, then the branch should be bathed in soap to
help destroy the eggs laid underneath the adults. Aeem oil and !un!pray oils should
be effective against scales, and the adults and larvae of the Cedalia beetle feed on
scales.
Spider 'ites
!pider mites are so small that the mature adults appear only as tiny red,
brown or whitish dots on the underside of leaves. They multiply rapidly by laying
eggs along the leaf veins and stems, which hatch in *-; days and reach maturity in a
week. !pider mites do tremendous damage because they inject a substance into the
leaf causing the tissue to break down making tiny yellow dots appear on both sides
of the leaf blade. As the infestation progresses, the leaves become dry and yellow,
then entire branches wither.
5y this stage, the branch is covered with webbing spun by the spider mites.
18
Gites hibernate over severe winters and begin laying eggs in the spring.
They are prevalent when the weather is hot and dry. 6hen these conditions prevail,
pay special attention to each leaf, looking closely at the lower surface, hopefully
with the assistance of a hand lens. <emember that yellowish dots on a leaf are a sure
sign of spider mites. "f you find spider mites, immediately take action. 5athe your
Tulasi with soap, and twice daily bathe her with water. <epeat the soap baths once a
week and continue the water baths daily until the population is brought under
control.
/%pect spider mites to be a problem as long as the weather remains hot and dry, but
special care for your Tulasi will get her through the outbreak with little or no
damage. 0thers have used a slurry of 1:- >. buttermilk, + >. whole wheat or white
flour, and ; gallons water to smother the mites. Aeem oil and !un!pray oils also
work very well. &redator mites (tiny tiny mites that feed on spider mites) are
available commercially, and lacewings and lady beetles (!tethorus picipes and other
species$ these are different than lady bugs) also are known to eat spider mites.
Stem *orers and eaf 'iners
There are several types of moths or beetles that lay eggs on the stem of
plants and whose larvae chew their way inside to feed on the internal stem tissue.
This causes sudden wilting of otherwise healthy branches. "f one of Tulasis branches
wilts overnight, and you can see a little hole in the stem right below the area of wilt,
the culprit is probably a stem borer larva. This stem should be clipped at this point to
dispose of the larva. "f stem borers become numerous, Tulasi may have to be
protected under horticultural fabrics that will prevent the adults from gaining access
to Tulasi to lay their eggs.
'eaf miners are insect larvae of various moths or flies that live and feed
inside a leaf. !ome chew circular holes, and some chew tunnels through the internal
leaf tissue$ both kinds of damage can usually be noticed as tracings on the leaf
surface. &ull off any infected leaves, and if infestation is severe, protect Tulasi under
a tent of horticultural fabric.
Whiteflies
Adult whiteflies are 1:F3 long insects with white bodies and pure white
wings. The adults tend to conglomerate on the lower surface of the upper leaves and
will fly off the plant all at once when disturbed. The females lay up to *22 eggs that
hatch into small white to greyish instars. 5y the time the instars are visible, they
have become immobile and have settled on the lower leaf surface where they suck
sap before pupating to the adults. These instars are covered by a wa%y layer
protecting them from the soap sprays that are fatal to the adults.
-2
They can, however, be blasted from the leaf with a hard spray of water, or gently
rubbed off a wet leaf, but care should be taken not to damage the leaves. !un!pray
0il can offer some help in controlling the immature whiteflies. 6hiteflies do best in
cool, humid weather and cannot survive when the humidity is very low, especially if
temperatures are high. "n optimum conditions, they reproduce at an incredible speed
and are very difficult to control. The adults are attracted to neon yellow or lime
green colors and traps are available commercially that have these colors on a square
of cardboard coated with a sticky substance. These traps should be placed vertically
beside Tulasis foliage. 6hiteflies can also be controlled by the wasp /ncenia
farmosa that lays its eggs in the instars, although time is needed for this control
method to work.
*a)terial+ Fungal+ , -iral Diseases
5oth bacteria and fungi can invade all parts of a plant with fatal
consequences. !oil that lacks proper drainage and aeration either through poor soil
structure or through overwatering is an invitation to bacterial of fungal root rot.
Tulasis roots will be attacked by these organisms and will turn brownn and rotten.
Her leaves will yellow and her growth will be stunted and branchhes will begin to
die. "f lef unchecked, Tulasi will die$ however, root rot is e%tremely difficult to
control. 'etting the soil dry out as much as possible while keeping her under high
humidity to prevent wilting may be of some help, but the best defense is to always
maintain proper soil drainage and aeration to prevent the disease from occuring.
Carious diseases called 3wilts3 occur when stem tissues become infected
with bacteria or fungi. 6hen their populations build they clog the plants vascular
system preventing water transport. Tulasi may show a slight stunting, then wilting at
midday and recovery overnight, followed by more severe and lasting wilting. !treaks
and lesions may appear on the stems. "f the wilted branch is cut, the internal tissue
looks dark and is gooey rather than healthy white. #sually the plant cannot be saved.
!everal other forms of fungi are also known to attack Tulasi devi.
&owdery mildew and downy mildew appear as pale fu44y patches on the leaves that,
if left untreated, completely cover the leaf which subsequenty turns brown and dies.
Gildews tend to attack during periods of high humidity especially if the air is still.
"mproving the air circulation around an infested Tulasi and dusting with sulphur or
copper powder can usually arrest the spread of the fungus. <ust fungi grow
internally within the leaf or stem tissue and send up pustules (fruiting bodies)
through the leaf surface that appear as red, yellow, orange or brown bumps. This
type of fungi may not be so readily controlled with sulphur or copper and may
require a stronger fungicide. >heck with your agricultural e%tension agent or local
nursery man.
>ertain viruses attack plants and are often spread from plant to plant
through insect vectors. Cirus infections appear mainly as discolored spots or streaks
-1
on leaf or stem tissue or as curling and stunting of the affected tissue. >ontrol is
difficult$ check with your agricultural e%tension agent or local nursery man for
indentification and assistance.
&olle)ting eaves and 'an.aris
Tulasi devi is blessed with the benediction of always being present on the
'ords lotus feet and on all preparations offered to Him. Tulasi can be offered only to
,rsna and His Cisnu-tattva e%pansions$ i.e., 'ord 5alarama, 'ord Aityananda, 'ord
Cisnu, 'ord Arsimhadeva, etc., but never to anyone else. To collect leaves for this
purpose, chant this mantra=
tulasy amta-janmsi sad tva keava-priy
/
keavrtha cinomi tv varad bhava
obhane //
30 Tulasi devi, your birth is from nectar, and you are always dear to 'ord
,esava. "t is for 'ord ,esava that " collect your leaves. 0 beautiful Tulasi, please
grant us this boon to serve the 'ord.3
Take only older leaves near the stem, preferably those that she is ready to
release with only a slight tug. Aever pull many leaves off a small plant, or she will
suffer. Always remember that any leaves are offerable, even dry, brown leaves, or, in
emergencies, pieces of her wood. Haudiya Caisnavas refrain from clipping on
@vadasi day (the day after /kadasi, or the 1-th day after a new or full moon),
therefore clip e%tra on /kadasi day.
After picking, please chant=
cayanodbhava-dukha ca yad dhdi tava
vartate /
tat kamasva jagan-mtar vnd-devi namo
'stu te //
30 Tulasi devi, " offer my respectful obeisances unto you. ,indly forgive
me if " have caused you pain by picking your leaves and manjaris, 0 mother of the
universe.3
,eep the leaves in a bowl of fresh water in the refrigerator, or store them in
plastic, air tight containers (Tupperware) also in the refrigerator. "f the latter is used,
the leaves should be washed and patted dry before being placed in the bo%, as e%cess
moisture will cause them to rot quickly.
--
To clip manjaris, chant the mantras before and after you clip. >lip the stalk
below the first set of leaves at the base of the manjari or manjari unit (these may be
small leaves) but as close as you can to the second set of leaves. 6ith practice it will
be easy to tell if the buds at the base of the manjari will themselves be manjaris and
hence a manjari unit is forming, or will be branches. "f the buds will be manjaris,
they will look like little pyramids with hashed lines on them$ if branches, they will
look like tiny leaves. "f she has begun to branch, let her do so, and clip right above
the tiny branches. "t is important when you clip that you do not leave a little twig on
her as she will have to e%pend energy to abort this now useless tissue. !toring
manjaris in large Tupperware containers where they can 3breathe3 but not dry out is
best, and they will keep for several days.
6hether one should use scissors to clip manjaris is slightly controversial. "n
"ndia, traditionally scissors are not allowed, instead, the manjaris are broken off with
the fingers of the right hand. .ingernails can never be used. However, this technique
requires a great deal of practice, and most 6esterners have difficulty achieving a
3clean break3. .or this reason, very sharp, small scissors used e%clusively for Tulasi
are recommended so as to cause her the least amount of pain. 5ut, please, never use
a needle to pierce Tulasi to make a garland. ,not or warp the thread around the
manjaris instead.
*enefits of Worshipping Tulasi Devi
3,arttikeya once asked his father, 'ord !iva= Gy dear father, which tree or
plant is capable of giving love of HodL
3'ord !iva replied, Gy dear son, of all trees and plants, Tulasi @evi is the
topmost$ !he is all auspicious, the fulfiller of all desires, completely pure, most dear
to 'ord ,rsna, and the topmost devotee. 'ong ago, 'ord ,rsna for the welfare of all
conditioned souls brought Crnda-devi in Her form of a plant (Tulasi) and planted
Her in the material world. Tulasi is the essence of all devotional activities. 6ithout
Tulasi 'eaves, 'ord ,rsna does not like to accept flowers, foodstuffs, sandalwood
paste$ in fact, anything without Tulasi-leaves is not looked upon by 'ord ,rsna. 0ne
who worships 'ord ,rsna daily with Tulasi leaves attains the result of all kind of
austerities, charities, and fire sacrifices. "n fact, he does not have any other duties to
perform, and he has reali4ed the essence of all scriptures. Must as the Hanges <iver is
purifying all who bathe in her, so Tulasi @evi is purifying the three worlds. "t is not
possible tp describe the full benefit of offering Tulasi Ganjaris (flowers) to 'ord
,rsna. 'ord ,rsna, along with all the other demigods, lives wherever there is Tulasi
@evi. .or this reason, one should plant Tulasi @evi at ones home and offer worship
daily. 0ne who sits near Tulasi @evi and chants or recites prayers will attain the
results much faster.3 JHita Gahatmya and Tulasidevi Gahatmya of &adma &urana,
&admalocan das, <atan &ress, Crndavana, 1882K
-*
!rila &rabhupada wrote about Tulasi-devi in a letter to <adhavallabha dasa,
Manuary D, 18E-=
3Tulasi-devi is a pure devotee of ,rsna, and she should be treated with the
same respect given to all ,rsnas pure devotees. !imply by worshipping her
faithfully, a devotee can get himself free from all material miseries. "n The Aectar of
@evotion " have given two verses from the !kanda &urana, one of which is, Tulasi is
auspicious in all respects. !imply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by
remembering, simlpy by praying, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about,
or simply by sowing the tree, there is always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in
touch with the Tulasi tree in the above-mentioned ways lives eternally in the
Caikuntha world.
3!o from this verse we can understand how pure is the service which Tulasi offers to
!ri ,rsna. !o we should always endeavor after becoming the servant of Tulasi-
devi... Tulasi-devi never goes back to Hodhead, she is always with Hodhead. !he is a
pure devotee and thus she has appeared on this planet to render service to ,rsna by
being offered in all temples throughout the world by being offered up to the lotus
feet of ,rsna.3
All parts of Tulasi @evi, her leaves, her flowers, her wood, her shade, and
even the soil around her roots are auspicious and worshipable.
5ecause of this, devotees of 'ord ,rsna wear necklaces of Tulasi wood at all times,
signifying their devotion to 'ord ,rsna and also deriving great benefit for
themselves.
!rimati Tulasi @evi is an e%pansion of !rimati Crnda-devi, the Crndavan
gopi in charge of arranging the details of <adha and ,rsnas lila. A beautiful
synopsis of Crnda-devis role is given by Hovinda dasi=
3Crnda @evi is in charge of the Crndavana-lila N the pastimes of <adha
and ,rsna. !he decides which flowers will bloom, which birds will sing, which
songs will be sung, which bree4es will blow, which food will be served, which
games will be played, which musical instruments will be played.
'ord ,rsna and !rimati <adharani have given Crnda @evi her role as queen
of Crndavana. Crnda-devi may be likened to a grand director or choreographer of
the Crndavana lila, and her parrots are her communication service. !he always stays
in Crndavana, absorbed in love for <adha and ,rsna. Her great yearning is to
e%pertly arrange Their meeting, and by doing this she feels the greatest joy.3 JTulasi-
devi, 5eloved of ,rsna, by Hovinda dasi, 5ack to Hodhead, Man:.eb 188*.K
-+
5y her mercy, Crnda-devi has appeared in this material world as the plant
Tulasi @evi, giving us a chance to serve her and to beg her to bestow upon us her
greatest boon N love of 'ord ,rsna and the privilege of devotional service to Him.
Formal Worship of Srimati Tulasi Devi
!rila &rabhupada has outlined a formal worship program for Tulasi @evi
that is standard at all "!,>0A temples. This worship begins with the offering of
obeisances to Tulasi and the chanting of the tulasi-pranama mantra three times=
vndyai tulas-devyai priyyai keavasya ca /
ka-bhakti-prade devi satyavatyai namo nama //
3" offer my repeated obeisances unto Crnda, !rimati Tulasi @evi, who is very dear to
'ord ,esava J,rsnaK. 0 goddess, you bestow devotional service to ,rsna and
possess the highest truth.3
An artik of incense, ghee lamp, and flowers is then performed while the following
prayer is sung=
!ri Tulasi ,irtana
namo nama tulas ka-preyas
rdh-ka-sev pbo ei abhil
ye tomra araa loy tara v!ch p"ra hoy
kp kori' koro tre vndvana-vsi
mora ei abhil vils ku!je dio vs
nayane heribo sad jugala-r"pa-ri
ei nivedana dhara sakhr anugata koro
sev-adhikra diye koro nija ds
dna ka-dse koy ei yena mora hoy
r-rdh-govinda-preme sad yena bhsi
30 Tulasi, beloved of ,rsna, " bow before you again and again. Gy desire is to
obtain the service of !ri !ri <adha-,rsna.
36hoever takes shelter of you has his wishes fulfilled. 5estowing your mercy on
him, you make him a resident of Crndavana.
-;
3Gy desire is that you will also grant me a residence in the pleasure groves
of !ri Crndavana-dhama. Thus, within my vision " will always behold the beautiful
pastimes of <adha and ,rsna.
3" beg you to make me a follower of the cowherd damsels of Craja. &lease
give me the privilege of devotional service and make me your own maidservant.
3This very fallen and lowly servant of ,rsna prays, 3Gay " always swim in
the love of !ri !ri <adha and Hovinda.33
Tulasi is then circumambulated in a clockwise direction while the
pradaksina mantra is chanted=
yni kni ca ppni brahma-hatydikni ca /
tni tni praayanti pradakia pade pade //
35y the circumambulation of !rimati Tulasi @evi all the sins one may have
committed are destroyed at every step, even the sin of killing a brahmana.3
/ach devotee then waters Tulasi with three drops of water, offers her
obeisances again, and repeats her pranama mantra.
!rila &rabhupada has mentioned in his correspondence (!&' E2-11-*2, E1-
+-11) that a ghee lamp should be offered to Tulasi-devi in the evening, thus arati
should again be offered to her at this time.
The Arcana-&addhati JArcana-&addhati, by Mayatirtha dasa Adhikari, ed.
5haktivedanta 5ook Trust, 18EF.K outlines a program of worship for the Tulasi
pujari to perform after the worship of the other @eities is completed=
1. .irst one should recite the prayer=
nirmit tva pur devair arcit tva sursurai /
tulas hara me 'vidy p"j gha namo 'stu te //
30 !rimati Tulasi @evi, you were previously created by the demigods and
worshiped by both them and the demons. 0 !rimati Tulasi @evi, kindly take away
my ignorance and accept my worship. " offer you my humble obeisances again and
again.3
-. Then, while sprinkling water on Tulasi @evi, one should chant the
following mantra=
-D
o govinda-vallabh dev bhakta-caitanya-krim
/
snpaymi jagad-dhtr ka-bhakti-pradyinm //
3" am bathing Hoddess Tulasi @evi, who is very dear to Hovinda and who
brings life to all the devotees. !he is the mother of the universe, and the bestower of
devotion to 'ord ,rsna.3
*. Then, taking some arghya mi%ture from an arghya-patra with a kusi and
pouring some on her soil, one should chant=
riya riye riyvse nitya rdhara sat-kte /
bhakty datta may devi arghya gha namo 'stu
te //
30 goddess Tulasi, " offer my obeisances unto you, who are the
shelter and residence of all beauty and opulence. 9ou are even worshiped by
the !upreme 'ord. 0 Tulasi, please accept this arghya water which is offered
by me with devotion.3
+. Then one should chant the following=
a) 0ne should offer a flower with sandalwood pulp to Tulasi with the mantra=
ida sagandha-pupam o tulasyai nama#
b) 0ne should offer the bath water of !ri ,rsna to Tulasi with the mantra=
ida r-ka-caramtam o tulasyai nama#
c) 0ne should offer garlands and flowers offered to the 'ord with the mantras=
ida mah-prasda-nirmlydika sarvam o tulasyai
nama#
d) 0ne should offer acamana to Tulasi with the mantra=
idam camanyam o tulasyai nama#
;. Then one should chant=
mah-prasda-janan sarva-saubhgya-vardhin /
dhi-vydhi-hare nitya tulasi tva namo 'stu
te //
30 Tulasi @evi, " offer my repeated obeisances unto you. 9ou are the
mother of maha-prasada, the increaser of the good fortune of all, and you take away
all diseases and mental an%ieties.3
D. 0ne should then offer obeisances to her while reciting her pranama
mantra=
-E
vndyai tulas-devyai priyyai keavasya ca /
ka-bhakti-prade devi satyavatyai namo nama //
A special Tulasi-!tava to be chanted on @vadasi (the 1-th day after the full
or new moon) is given in the Tulasi-devi Gahatmya of the &adma &urana.
munaya siddha-gandharv ptle nga-r$
svayam /
prabhava tava devei gyanti sura-sattam //
% //
na te prabhava jnanti devat keavdte /
gun parima tu kalpa-ko$u tair api //
& //
knandt samudbh"t kroda-mathanodyame /
uttam'ge pur yena tulas viun dht // ( //
prpyaitni tvay devi vior a'gni sarvaa /
pavitrat tvay prpt tulasi tv nammy aham //
) //
tvad-a'ga-sambhavai patrai p"jaymi yath harim
/
tath kuruva me vighna yato ymi par gatim //
* //
ropit gomat-tre svaya kena plit /
jagad-dhitya tulas gopn hita-hetave // + //
vndvane vicrit sevit viun svayam /
gokulasya vivddhy-artha kasasya nidhanya
ca // , //
vasi$ha-vacant p"rva rmea saray"-ta$e /
rkasn vadhrthya ropit tva jagat-priye /
ropit tapaso vddhyai tulasi tv nammy aham //
- //
viyoge rghavendrasya dhytv tv janaktmaj
aoka-vana-madhye tu priyena saha sagat // . //
a'karrth pur devi prvaty tva himlaye /
-F
ropit sevit siddhyai tulasi tv nammy aham //
%/ //
dharmraye gayy ca sevit pitbhi svayam /
sevit tulas puy tmano hitam icchat // %% //
ropit rmacandrea sevit lakmaena ca /
stay plit bhakty tulas daake vane //
%& //
trailokya-vypin ga'g yath streu gyate /
tathaiva tulas dev dyate sa-carcare // %( //
yamukhe ca vasat kapi-rjena sevit /
tulas bali-nya tr-sa'gama-hetave // %) //
pramya tulas dev sgarotkramaa ktam /
kta-krya prah$a ca hanumn punar gata //
%* //
tulas-grahaa ktv vimukto yati-ptakai /
atha v muni-rd"la brahma-haty vyapohati //
%+ //
tulas-patra-galita yas toya iras vahet /
ga'g-snnam avpnoti daa-dhenu-phala-pradam //
%, //
prasda devi devei prasda hari-vallabhe /
kroda-mathanodbh"te tulasi tv nammy aham //
%- //
dvday jgare rtrau ya pa$het tulas-
stavam /
dvtriad-apardh ca kamate tasya keava //
%. //
0ne who worships Tulasi @evi on the @vadasi (1-th day) and chants this
Tulasi-stava destroys all *- kinds of sinful reactions. 'ord ,rsna becomes very
happy with that person.
Tulasi-stava (translated by ,usakratha @asa, ,rsna "nstitute)
-8
1. 0 goddess, the munis, siddhas, gandharvas, the naga kings in &atala, and
the great demigods sing your glories.
-. /ven though they have counted many millions of your virtues, the
demigods, e%cept for 'ord ,esava, do not understand the full e%tent of your powers
and glories.
*. 5orn from 'ord ,rsnas bliss as He churned the milk ocean, Tulasi was
carried by 'ord Cisnu on His head.
+. 0 Tulasi, " offer obeisances to you. 6hen you are placed on 'ord Cisnus
limbs, you purify everyone.
;. As with your leaves " worship 'ord Hari, please remove the obstacles
before me. " take shelter of you.
D. To bring auspiciousness to the world and to benefit the gopis, 'ord
,rsna planted you and cared for you on the shore of the Homati <iver.
E. To bring opulence to Hokula and to become able to kill ,amsa, 'ord
Cisnu served you in Crndavana.
F. 0 you who are dear to the worlds, in order to become able to kill the
raksasas, by Casisthas order, 'ord <ama planted you on the shore of the !arayu
&lanting you is like performing great austerities. To you, 0 Tulasi, " offer my
respectful obeisances.
8. 6hen in the grove of asoka trees !ita-devi was separated from 'ord
<ama, she meditated on you and for this reason she attained the company of her
beloved.
12. To attain 'ord !iva, &arvati planted you, 0 goddess, in the Himalayas.
To you, 0 Tulasi, " offer my respectful obeisances.
11. 9ou are served by the pitas in the @harmaranya forest of Haya. 9ou, 0
sacred Tulasi, are served by they who desire auspiciousness.
1-. 0 Tulasi, you were planted by 'ord <ama, served by 'aksmana, and
with great devotion protected by !ita-devi in the @andaka forest.
1*. As the Hanges, which flows through the three worlds, is glorified in the
sastras, so Tulasi @evi is seen by the moving and unmoving creatures.
*2
1+. To meet Tara and kill Cali the king of monkeys served you Tulasi, in
<syamukha.
1;. 5owing down to Tulasi @evi, Hanuman crossed the ocean, and, happy
and his mission accomplished, returned home again.
1D. 5y touching Tulasi, one becomes free of all sins. 0 tiger of sages, in this
way, one becomes free of the sin of killing a brahmana.
1E. "f one hold on his head the water that has washed a Tulasi leaf, he
attains the result of bathing in the Hanges or the result of giving ten cows in charity.
1F. 0 goddess, 0 queen of the demigods, please be kind7 0 beloved of 'ord
Hari, please be kind7 0 Tulasi born from the churning of the milk ocean, " offer my
respectful obeisances to you.
18. 'ord ,esava forgives *- offenses for one who, staying awake on
@vadasi night, recites this prayer to Tulasi.
.inally, a very nice meditation on Tulasi is in reciting her eight names and
their meanings. "t is said that 'ord ,rsna Himself worships Tulasi with her eight
names on Tulasis Appearance @ay on the full moon day in the month of ,artik.
$sta/!ama/Stava 0 The Eight !ames of Tulasi Devi
0ndvan 0nd 0ivap"jit 1upasra 2andin
3a-jvan 0iva-pvan 4ulas#
0ndvan 5 one 6ho 7irst mani7ested in and never
leaves 0rndavana#
0nd 5 the goddess o7 all plants and trees#
0ivap"jit 5 one 6ho the 6hole 6orld 6orships#
1upasra 5 the topmost o7 all 7lo6ers 6ithout 6hom
3rsna does not like to
look upon other 7lo6ers#
2andin 5 she gives happiness to everyone#
3a-jvan 5 the li7e and soul o7 8ord 3rsna#
0iva-pvan 5 one 6ho puri7ies the 6hole 6orld#
4ulas 5 one 6ho has no comparison#
!rimati Tulasi @evi ki jaya7
*1
9 :;< 0=2>?>@0A-BCDB3B 9
E@ight 1rayers Flori7ying :rmat 0nd >evE by
0ivantha Gakravart Dhkura
H4ranslation by Ib Jdhava >saK
*-
%# g'geya-cmpeya-taid-vinind-roci-pravha-
snapittma-vnde /
bandh"ka-bandhu-dyuti-divya-vso vnde namas te
cararavindam // % //
EL 0nd >ev M o77er my respect7ul obeisances to your
lotus 7eet# Aou are bathed in your o6n splendor 6hich
de7eats the e77ulgence o7 lightning and the golden
campaka 7lo6er# 4he luster o7 your transcendental
garments is the 7riend o7 the leandhilia 7lo6er#E
&# bimbdharoditvara-manda-hsya- nsgra-
mukta-dyuti-dpitsye /
vicitra-ratnbharaa-riydhye vnde namas te
cararavindam // & //
lotus 7eet# Aour 7ace is illuminated by the splendor o7
the pearl decorating the tip o7 your nose and by the
eNtraordinary gentle smile on the t6o bimba 7ruits 6hich
are your lips# Aou are enriched by the beauty o7 the
amaOing and color7ul je6els and ornaments you 6ear#E
(# samasta-vaiku$ha-iromaau r- kasya
vndvana-dhanya-dhmni /
dattdhikre vabhnu-putry vnde namas te
cararavindam // ( //
lotus 7eet# :rmat ;dhr the daughter o7 3ing
0abhnu has made you the ruling monarch o7 8ord
3a's opulent and auspicious abode o7 0rndavana 6hich
is the crest je6el o7 all the 0aiku$ha planets#E
)# tvad-j!ay pallava-pupa-bh'ga-
mgdibhir mdhava-keli-ku!j /
madhv-dibhir bhnti vibh"yam vnde
namas te cararavindam // ) //
lotus 7eet# Iecause o7 your order the groves 6here 8ord
Jdhava per7orms Pis pastimes appear very splendid
decorated 6ith blossoming 7lo6ers bumblebees deer and
other auspicious animals 7lo6ers and birds#E
**
*# tvadya-d"tyena niku!ja-y"nor
atyutkayo keli-vilsa-siddhi /
tvat-saubhaga kena nirucyata tad vnde
namas te cararavindam // * //
lotus 7eet# Qho can describe your good 7ortuneR Aou 6ere
the messenger 6ho brought about the per7ection o7 the
amorous pastimes o7 ;dh and 3a the youth7ul
couple 6ho enthusiastically sport in the groves o7
0ndvana#E
+# rsbhilso vasati ca vndvane tvad-
'ghri-saroja-sev /
labhy ca pus kpay tavaiva vnde
namas te cararavindam // + //
lotus 7eet# 4he living entities 6ho attain the service
o7 the lotus 7eet o7 your 8ord reside in 0ndvana# Bnd
the desire to understand the 8ord's amaOing pastimes o7
the rsa dance is only by your mercy#E
,# tva krtyase stvata-tantra-vidbhir l
lbhidhn kila ka-akti /
tavaiva m"rtis tulas n-loke vnde
namas te cararavindam // , //
lotus 7eet# 4hose 6ho have studied the Stvata-tantra
glori7y you# Aou are 8ord 3a's potency 7or per7orming
pastimes and you are kno6n as 4ulas >ev in the human
society#E
-# bhakty vihn apardha-lakai kipt
ca kmdi-tara'ga-madhye /
kpmayi tv araa prapann vnde
namas te cararavindam // - //
lotus 7eet# 4hose 6ho are devoid o7 devotion to 8ord
Pari and 6ho are thro6n by their o77enses into the
*+
6aves o7 lust and other inauspicious Tualities may take
shelter o7 you#E
.# vnd$aka ya uyt pa$hed v
vndvandha-padbja-bh'ga /
sa prpya vndvana-nitya-vsa tat-
prema-sev labhate ktrtha // . //
lotus 7eet# 8et a person 6ho becomes like a bumblebee at
the lotus 7eet o7 ;dh-3a and 6ho reads or hears
these eight verses describing the glories o7 0nd >ev
eternally reside at Foloka 0ndvana# Pe attains
devotional service in pure love o7 Fodhead and all his
spiritual aspirations become 7ul7illed#E
*;

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FOREWORD

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