Question: What is the significance of wearing a complete tulasi kanti mala as it is? In recent years, we have seen different models featuring gold and silver lining in tulasi beads. Are they okay to wear these fashionable kanti mala? What are the recommendations from our acaryas and scriptures? Could you please provide some inspiration and insight on this topic?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
While some devotees get a little carried away by replacing some Tulasi mala neck-beads with some gold or silver beads, or they ‘enhance’ the tulasi beads with silver casing on either side of each bead, that’s not the purpose of wearing Tulasi mala. You and I should not strive to ‘enhance’ Tulasi with valuable silver or sometimes interspersing tulasi beads with jewels. This cheapens Tulasi mala to becoming a mere decoration or a type of jewelry, is ostentatious and detracts from the devotional purpose of Tulasi mala.
