Vrnda Devi The Beautiful Yoga Of Devotion

"Dear Tulsi, you are much beloved by Lord K???a because your leaves are always at His lotus feet. Dear malati flower, dear mallika flower, dear jasmine flower, all of you must have been touched by K???a while He was passing this way after giving us transcendental enjoyment. Have you seen Madhava passing this way? O mango trees, O trees of jackfruit, O pear trees and asana trees! O blackberries and bael trees and trees of the kadamba flower—you are all very pious trees to be living on the bank of the Yamuna. K???a must have passed through this way. Will you kindly let us know which way He has gone?" The Srimad Bhagavatam

Tulsi Devi (Vrinda - Holy Basil) is a sacred plant in Hindu belief. She is regarded as an earthly manifestation of the goddess Srimati Tulsi Devi, and is as an avatar of Lakshmi, and thus the consort of Vishnu. The offering of her leaves is mandatory in the worship of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. Tulsi is regarded as the holiest of all plants and a bridge between heaven and earth. A traditional prayer teaches the creator Brahma and the Ganges resides in her branches, all holy pilgrimage centers in her roots, all deities are in her stem and leaves, and the Vedas are found in the upper part of her branches. The Tulsi herb is a center of household devotion, and is often referred to as the "women's deity" and "a symbol of wifehood and motherhood." Vaishnavites consider it as the manifestation of god in the plant kingdom. Tulsi Devi is one of Krishna’s most intimate servants coming to bless us all with extraordinary fortune. She has delicate purple and green leaves, flower tassels (like miniature temple spires), and an arresting, sweet fragrance famous for attracting the minds of yogis to Krishna’s service via Bhakti Yoga. Tulasi’s wood is carved into the Japa beads on which devotees chant Krishna’s holy name.