CAN DEVOTEES USE MEDICINES & PRODUCTS CONTAINING TULASI?
A devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
Hare Krishna Prabhi ji how are you doi?ng today? I have one question and will be very much oblized if you answer my question, while i was watching one of the food channel, there i saw western people are cooking non veg with Tusli/ basil…. i changed d channel was not able to see anymore…. why our beloved tulsi plant is being used like that.. thanks.
REPLY:
The Question CAN DEVOTEES USE MEDICINES & PRODUCTS CONTAINING TULASI will never be raised among non devotees because they do not know the holiness of Tulasi. They just see the goodness of Tulasi for their body, not about Tulasi’s pains if we commercially use her?
Actually, every material is holy in some countries and ordinary for others.
For example, we do not enter into the temple with footwear since we consider the temple as the house of god. But, churches have no such restrictions.
(TULASI DEVI (VRINDA) – GLORIES AND HER ROLE IN RADHA KRISHNA LILAS AND OUR DEVOTION! READ HERE!)
In India, women are restricted from going to the temples during the Monthly Periods as a mark of respect, but, in other religions, such restrictions are not available.
In ISKCON, using betel leaves and betel nut with chunnam is not allowed, but, in many other sampradhayas, this combination is called auspicious thing to be done during any functions and they are offered to God also. Even Krishna used it as said in Mahabharatha.
In ISKCON, taking coffee, tea, etc., is prohibited whereas, in other sections, taking coffee/ tea is normal.
In India, taking beer is bad whereas in west, taking beer is normal like water.
In India, the women are considered as SHAKTHI whereas in the west, women are not special.
In India, kissing a girl by a boy is seen as a violation whereas, in the west, kissing is the part of welcome and even the leaders of countries kiss when they meet.
Thus, customs vary in different parts of this world.
As far as Tulasi is concerned, she is the holy plant that represents tulasi devi, the Gopi who took major role in the lilas of Krishna and Radharani.
(HOW TO GROW, MAINTAIN AND PLUCK THE TULASI PLANT? READ HERE!)
Whereas, for the west, tulasi is also a herbal plant. That’s all.
So, they do not have any hesitation to add tulasi with all the foods for taste and aroma, including non vegetarian foods.
It is definitely offensive and they will not get the mercy of Krishna unless they stop producing or using such products.
In my view, even non vegetarians have definite rebirth because going back to Krishna as a meat eater is not possible. I am sure about that. They have to take more births and become a vegetarian and Prasadam taker.
Let us now come to the question: CAN DEVOTEES USE MEDICINES & PRODUCTS CONTAINING TULASI?
Tulasi is a very sensitive and holy plant. She can’t bear fire or heat. In fact, tulasi should never be crushed or boiled or fried because it will hurt her. It is like crushing or boiling or frying the servant of God.
Tulasi should be taken ONLY AS LEAF AS IT IS AFTER OFFERING TO KRISHNA. The commercial products have crushed Tulasi using machines to make medicines.
But, Tulasi should not be added in food and cooked– both veg and non veg.
However, some leaves can be added after cooking the food before offering to the Lord because food should not be offered without one or a few tulasi leaves. Atleast dry leaves should be there.
(Krishna Rings, dollars, Tulasi mala, etc. – Necessary or Not? READ HERE!)
The prohibited forms of Tulasi usage:
TULASI MEDICINES – CAN DEVOTEES USE THEM?
However, as far as Medicines are concerned, you need not take commercially sold medicines containing Tulasi because they have crushed the tulasi leaves without offering to Krishna and make medicines and these medicines may also contain some alcohol or any other prohibited materials.
(Disposing the used Puja materials like incense sticks, tulasi leaves, God Pictures, etc.! READ HERE!
If you have any illness and if you feel that Tulasi can cure or control that illness, for example, if you have Blood Pressure variations, cold and lack of immunity, take 10 tulasi leaves daily, offer to Krishna and then honour it as leaves itself.
Tulasi must be offered first to Krishna/ Vishnu before using the same for any reasons.
You can crush the tulasi prasadam thru your teeth. It is allowed.
But, it is not good for the devotees to use commercially used Tulasi. However, some people use Tualsi commercially without knowing the crushing pains for Tulasi. Tulasi will be happy to be gently chewed as Prasadam by the devotees..
Others may violate this principle, but, we the devotees need not follow their way.
GREEN TEA WITH TULASI – CAN DEVOTEES USE IT?
As far as Green Tea is concerned, it is not good to use the Green tea that contains Tulasi and tea leaves. Green Tea too has
(Why Krishna wears a tilak that marks Tulasi and His own Feet? READ HERE!)
Tea leaves are prohibited for the devotees who like to advance in devotion further. Tulasi in Green Tea is unwanted for us as they have crushed commercially and we can directly use Plain Tulasi as prasadam.
Tulasi is very sacred and she is the dear devotee and sagi of Krishna.
So, deal with tulasi with great honours.
Tulasi is very pure and sensitive. If you use Tulasi casually, you will not get the mercy of Krishna.
Tulasi can be used ONLY AS THE LEAVES AFTER OFFERING TO KRISHNA. NOT IN ANY OTHER FORM like Tulasi in medicines and Green Tea.
Keep this in mind.
(Can we offer Tulasi leaves to Other gods except Vishnu/ Krishna? Clear Reasons! READ HERE!)
CAN DEVOTEES USE SOAPS, SHAMPOOS, TOOTHPASTES MADE UP OF TULASI?
Do not use soaps and shampoos made up of Tulasi since they are applied on the prohibited parts of body.
Do not use the tooth paste or powder made up of tulasi because they too have crushed the Tulasi. It is good to avoid them, or, when you buy a herbal paste, check the ingredients to ensure that it does not have tulasi in it and then buy.
Tulasi can be used chewing through mouth with respect as Prasadam only, but, should not be applied on the prohibited parts of body. Hence these restrictions. If you see tulasi leaves on the floor of the temples, just take them and keep them in a safe place. Others may put their feet on those leaves.
Hope this helps you.
(KANTHI MALA (TULASI MALA) -PROCEDURE & RULES TO WEAR THEM! READ HERE!)