Importance of Wearing Tulasi

Mala in Hinduism

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 Bhagavadgita.
Without being swayed by popular beliefs or opinions, Gaudiya Vaisnavas
base their spiritual conduct on the authority of the Gaudiya Smrti titled Haribhakti 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:

1. Destroys greatest of sins (maha pataka samhantrim) Skanda Purana:
HBV: 4.3182.
2. Sri Hari is always with you (deha sada Harih) Garuda Purana: HBV
4.3353.
3. Million times benefit from punya karmas, pitr or devata puja (pitrnam
devata krtam koti gunam) Garuda Purana: HBV: 4.3364.

4. Yamaraja stays far away (preta raja dutakah drstva nashyanti durena)
Garuda Purana: HBV: 4.3375.
5. 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 ones
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,
anyonewho 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
who 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.