Wearing Tulsi Beads Around the Neck

by Srila Bhakti Kusum Sraman Goswami Maharaja

Sri Srila Bhakti Kusum Sraman Goswami Maharaja
Former President Acharya of Akara mathraj
Sri Chaitnya Math and Its branch maths (1900-1986)

[Taken from "Gaudiya Darshane Bhagvat Kathamrita 1"of Sri Srila Bhakti Kusum Sraman Goswami Maharaja]

It is said in Vishnudharmottar : The Lord says that one who wears the beads made out of the wood of Tulsi in one's neck, even if he is untidy and ill- charactered, will undoubtedly attain Me only.

In Garud Purana it is stated: All those people of evil argumentative mentality who say why to wear Tulsi beads, what results are attained by wearing them, and don't wear Tulsi beads around their neck, burn in the fire of anger of Sri Hari and will never get liberated from hell.

Sri Krishna will grant the fruit of being the resident of Dvarka immediately to those who wear Tulsi beads around the neck. The sins of the person who wears neck beads made of Tulsi with devotion after offering to Sri Vishnu will get vanquished and Devakinandan Sri Krishna will always remain pleased with him, he does not need to undergo further atonement, no more sins remain in his body.

In Kaliyuga, one, who is bedecked with the beads made of Tulsi, performs ritual activities and activities pertaining to ancestors and demigods, obtains crores times more results. The messengers of Yama will flee away by the sight of the Tulsi beads just as leaves are blown off by wind.

In Skanda-puran it is stated :- Those who wear neck beads made of Tulsi after offering it to Sri Hari are definitely foremost among the devotees of Lord. Those fools who wear Tulsi beads without offering to Hari will definitely go to hell. After presenting the mala, it should be purified with panca-gavya; after that the mula-mantra should be recited followed by the recitation of the gayatri mantra for eight times. Touching with incense, worship with this Sadyojata-mantra with utmost devotion:

Om sadyojatah prapadyami sadyojataya vai namo namah
Bhave tave nadi bhave bhajeswamam bhavod-bhavaya namah
After that, this prayer should be made, "Oh! Mala ! You are made of Tulsi and are dear to Vaisnavas . I wear you around my neck; you make me dear to Sri Krishna. 'Ma' means 'me', 'La' means 'to give'. Oh Hari-Vallabhe ! You have given me to Vaisnava devotees, hence you are known as mala. Those Vaisnavas who pray in accordance with rituals in this manner and first offer the mala in the neck of Sri Krishna and then puts it to themselves attain the Lotus feet of Sri Vishnu."

It is stated in Padma Purana : either during morning ablutions or bathing or eating or at any state which is clean or unclean, Tulsi mala has to be worn always; that means mala should not be removed under any circumstance.

Shastras say: Tulsi mala should always be worn as yajna-sutra or sacred thread. Those who remove Tulsi mala even for a moment are considered to be Vishnu-drohi.

Notes:

[1] The book "Gaudiya Darshane Bhagvat Kathamrita" is a collection of selected articles published initially in the journal Gaudiya and newspaper Daily Nadiya Prakash (both published by Shri Gaudiya Math). The present article was originally published in the journal Gaudiya, in 465-466, Gaurabd-Era (1951-52 AD).

[2] For more information contact Shri Nitai Das or Ashish Kumar Singh


[Home Page] sbksgm.jpg - 6827 Bytes







Srila Bhakti Kusum Sraman
Goswami Maharaja Page