By: Mahanidhi Swami
Many religious-minded people throughout India and the rest of the world wear necklaces of Tulasi wood (tulasi-kanthi-mala). Tulasi wood is sacred to Lord Krishna and His followers.
However, there are many popular taboos and misconceptions regarding who can and cannot wear tulasi.
This article will answer this question by citing the infallible authority of the Vedas. It is a fact that all actions, be they secular or spiritual, will be beneficial and successful when done in accordance with transcendental scriptures i.e. Shruti, Smrti and Puranas like Mahabharata and Bhagavad-gita.
Without being swayed by popular beliefs or opinions, Gaudiya Vaisnavas base their spiritual conduct on the authority of the Gaudiya Smrti titled Hari-bhakti vilasa by Srila Sanatana Goswamipada. This book is basically a collection of quotes from various Puranas and Vedas to establish the proper spiritual practices for adherents of the devotional path, bhakti-yoga.
Quoting this pramana, we will describe the glories of wearing tulasi neckbeads and who can wear them.
- Benefits of Wearing Tulasi Kanthi:
- Destroys greatest sins (maha pataka samhantrim) Skanda Purana: HBV: 4.318
- Sri Hari always with you (deha sada harih) Garuda Purana: HBV: 4.335
- Million times benefit from punya karmas, pitr or devata puja (pitrnam devata krtam koti gunam) Garuda Purana: HBV: 4.336
- Yamaraja stays far away (preta raja dutakah drstva nashyanti durena) Garuda Purana: HBV: 4.337
- Gives full protection…from bad dreams, accidents, attack by weapons, and the Yamaduttas (duhsvapnam durnimittam bhayam shastrajam) Garuda Purana: HBV: 4.338
Who Can Wear Tulasi Neckbeads?
The following authoritative quotes should put to rest all rumors, taboos and speculations regarding this question. Bhagavan Sri Krishna Himself states that ANYONE CAN WEAR TULASI kanthi mala. There are no restrictions! The wearing of tulasi neckbeads, (tulasi kanthi mala) simply depends on one’s personal sense of allegiance to his beliefs, duty, or simply as a matter of inspiration if he/she wants to do so. Srila Sanatana Goswamipada calls this a taste or attraction to wear them, (yatha ruchi) HBV: 4.308
In Vishnu Dharmottara, Bhagavan Sri Krishna says, “Without a doubt, ANYONE who wears tulasi neckbeads, even if he/she is unclean or of bad character, will surely attain Me.” (ashauco anacharo mam eva iti na samshaya) HBV: 4.322
The following quote from a book titled, Associates of Sri Chaitanya, says that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gave tulasi neckbeads to a Calcutta industrialist who had neither diksha nor the most exemplary behavior: “Mr. S.K. Ghosh often visited Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura at his residence called “Bhakti Bhavana.” Under the direction of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Mr. Ghosh started wearing a tulasi mala around his neck, although he was not able to accept the principles of Vaishnava behavior in their entirety.”
In addition, an Iskcon publication titled “Vaisnava Etiquette”, quoting Hari-bhakti Vilasa states: “The Padma Purana states regardless of whether one is an impure or pure state, ONE SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR TULASI MALA. And one should never take it off even when bathing, eating or passing stool and urine.” In other words, tulasi beads are always pure and purify anyone who contacts them.
We hope this article will encourage all those who are pious and sincerely trying to progress spiritually to wear tulasi kanthi mala. You will be greatly benefitted by this, and experience some amazing miracles in your life. Tulasi ki jai ho!
Tulasi kanthi mala ki jai! Srimati Tulasi Maharani ki jai!
Jai Jai Sri Radhe!
*footnotes not in net article on mso
OFFERING MALA:
One should then pray, “O necklace! You are prepared out of tulasi wood and you are very dear to the Vaisnavas; I am wearing you on my neck, please make me dear to Krsna. The meaning of the word ‘ma’ is ‘to me’, and the meaning of ‘la’ is ‘to give’; O beloved of Hari! Please offer me to the devotees of Krsna. In this way you are known as ‘mala’.”
—-tulasira hara, na pare je chara, jamalaye basa tara; contemptible person who never wears tulasi neckbeads takes his permanent residence in the abode of Yama,(locan das thakura bhajan Nitai Gaur nama.