"Dear TulsÄ«, you are much beloved by Lord Kį¹į¹£į¹a because your leaves are always at His lotus feet. Dear mÄlatÄ« flower, dear mallikÄ flower, dear jasmine flower, all of you must have been touched by Kį¹į¹£į¹a while He was passing this way after giving us transcendental enjoyment. Have you seen MÄdhava passing this way? O mango trees, O trees of jackfruit, O pear trees and Äsana trees! O blackberries and bael trees and trees of the kadamba flowerāyou are all very pious trees to be living on the bank of the YamunÄ. Kį¹į¹£į¹a 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 Krishnaās 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 Krishnaās service via Bhakti Yoga. Tulasiās wood is carved into the Japa beads on which devotees chant Krishnaās holy name.