The eight names of Tulasi devi:
- Vrndavani – One who first manifested in Vrindavan.
- Vrnda – The goddess of all plants.
- Visvapujita – One who the whole universe worships.
- Puspasara – The topmost of all flowers, without whom Krishna does not like to look upon other flowers.
- Nandini – She gives happiness to everyone.
- Krsna-Jivani – The life and soul of Lord Krishna.
- Visva-Pavani – One who purifies the three worlds.
- Tulasi – One who has no comparison.
Any one while worshipping Tulasi Devi chants these eight names will get the same result as one who performs the Asvameda Yagna and one who on the full moon-day of Kartik (Tulasi Devi’s appearance day) worships Her with this mantra will break free from the bonds of this miserable world of birth and death, and very quickly attain Goloka Vrindavan.
One who remembers this mantra will very quickly attain devotion to Lord Krishna’s Lotus Feet. [Gita-Mahatmya and Tulasi devi Mahatmya of Padma Purana.]
Quotes from Srila Prabhupada on Srimati Tulasi Devi and picking leaves.
“Tulasi leaf is very, very dear to Vishnu. All Vishnu-tattva Deities require profusely Tulasi leaves. Lord Vishnu likes garlands of Tulasi leaves. Tulasi leaves mixed with sandalwood pulp and placed on the lotus feet of the Lord is the top most worship. But we must be very careful that Tulasi leaves cannot be placed on the feet of anyone except Lord Vishnu and His different forms. Tulasi leaves cannot be placed even on the lotus feet of Radharani or on the lotus feet of the Spiritual Master. It is entirely reserved for being placed on the lotus feet of Krishna. We can place, however, Tulasi leaves in the hands of Radharani for being placed on the lotus feet of Krishna, as you have seen on the Govinda album.”
I am giving herewith three mantras for Tulasi devi as follows:
Mantra 1)
vrndayai tulasi devyai, priyayai kesavasya ca
krsna-bhakti-prade devi, satyavatyai namo namah
I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vrnda, Srimati Tulasi Devi, who is very dear to Lord Kesava [Krishna]. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Krishna and possess the highest truth.
This is offering obeisances, bowing down (pancanga pranam). And when collecting leaves from the plant, the following mantras should be chanted:
Mantra 2)
tulasi amrta-janmasi, sada tvam kesava-priya
kesavartham cinomi tvam, varada bhava sobhane
O Tulasi devi, you are born from nectar, and you are always very dear to Lord Kesava. Now in order to worship Lord Kesava I am collecting your leaves and manjaris. Please bestow your mercy upon me.
Mantra 3)
yani kani ca papani, brahma-hatyadikani ca
tani tani pranasyanti, pradaksinah pade pade
“So there are three mantras, one for bowing down, one for collecting the leaves. The collecting of leaves should be done once in the morning for worshipping and for putting on the plates of foodstuffs to be offered. On each bowl or plate there should be at least one leaf. So you follow and practice these Tulasi affairs and you try to distribute your experience to all the other centre’s, that will be a new chapter in the history of the Krishna consciousness movement.”
(Srila Prabhupada to Govinda dasi, 7th April, 1970)
There are two types of Tulasi: Krishna Tulasi, which has purple colouring in the leaves and stems and Rama Tulasi with green leaves and stems. Both of these Tulasi are used in the worship of Lord Krishna.
Also read about five types of Sadhana Bhakti:
http://krishnaseva.blogspot.com/2014/09/sadhana-bhakti-five-types-of.html