Tulsi Malas

Tulsi Malas — 30 pieces in the VIZHEE Malas collection. The 108-bead tulsi mala of holy basil wood, central to Vaishnava devotional identity. A tulsi mala is strung from the wood of Ocimum tenuiflorum (holy basil), a plant sacred to Vishnu and Krishna in Vaishnava tradition, where Tulsi is worshipped as an earthly form of a devotee of Vishnu. Many Vaishnava lineages give a tulsi mala to initiates at diksha. Wearing or using a tulsi mala is traditionally understood as an expression of surrender and devotion to Krishna or Vishnu, kept close through both seated chanting and everyday wear. A garland of 108 beads (plus a 109th guru bead) strung for counting mantra repetitions in japa meditation.