Aspects of Transcendental Service 101
Simply by seeing or touching this tree one can become relieved from
all distresses and diseases. Simply by offering obeisances to and pour-
ing water on the tulasi tree, one can become freed from the fear of
being sent to the court of Yamaraj [the King of death, who punishes
the sinful].” If someone sows a tulasi tree somewhere, certainly he
becomes devoted to Lord Krsna. And when the tulasi leaves are of-
fered in devotion at the lotus feet of Krsna, there is the full develop-
ment of love of Godhead.

In India every Hindu, even those not belonging to the Vaisnava
group, take special care of the tulasi tree. Even in great cities where
it is very difficult to keep a tulasi tree, people are to be found very
carefully keeping this plant. They water it and offer obeisances to it,
because worship of the tulasi tree is very important in devotional
service.

In the Skanda Purana there is another statement about tulasi, as
follows: “*Tulasi is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply
by touching, simply by remembering, simply by praying to, simply
by bowing before, simply by hearing about or simply by sowing this
tree, there is always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in touch
with the tulasi tree in the above-mentioned ways lives eternally in
the Vaikuntha world.”
