Original Tulsi Mala

In almost every Indian courtyard there is a tulsi plant, watered each morning and lit with a lamp each evening. Tulsi is Vrinda, so dear to Lord Vishnu that no offering to him is complete without her leaf, and every Kartik, families celebrate her marriage to him in Tulsi Vivah.

A mala carved from tulsi wood carries that closeness. For centuries, Vaishnav devotees have worn tulsi beads at the throat as a sign that they belong to Krishna, and chanted his name on them. When you hold this mala, you hold the plant your grandmother prayed to, turned into beads for your own japa.

Wear it, and let Vishnu's own plant stay close to your heart. Devotees who wear tulsi speak of:

• Guru's blessing: tulsi is traditionally worn to strengthen Guru (Jupiter), the planet of wisdom, faith and good fortune, when it is weak in the chart.
• A sharper, steadier mind: it is also linked to Budh (Mercury), and students and working people wear it for memory, clear speech and focus.
• Devotion you can feel: the traditional mala for "Hare Krishna" and "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya", worn as a sign that you belong to Krishna.
• A pure, peaceful home: tulsi has long been kept for purity and protection, and many wear it for a calmer, more sattvic life.
• A sacred gift: for Kartik, Janmashtami, Ekadashi, or for anyone beginning their bhakti.

For Vishnu and Krishna devotees, for students and seekers, and for anyone who wants their day to begin and end with his name.

These are traditional beliefs, lovingly kept, and not guaranteed results.

The first time: on a Thursday, Guru's day, or on an Ekadashi morning:

1. Bathe, light a diya before Vishnu or Krishna, and sprinkle a few drops of Ganga jal on the mala.
2. Hold it in both palms and set your sankalp, the one intention this mala will carry with you.
3. Chant "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" 108 times, one full round on the mala, and wear it.

For japa: rest the mala on your right middle finger and turn one bead with your thumb for each "Hare Krishna", starting beside the guru bead. When you reach the guru bead, turn the mala around; never cross it.

Care for it the way you care for your practice: gently, every day.

• Take it off before bathing, swimming or a workout. Tulsi is natural wood, and water and sweat make it swell and crack.
• Keep it away from perfume, soap and chemicals.
• Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth, and keep it in its pouch or before Thakur ji when you're not wearing it.
• If the thread ever loosens, have it restrung so no bead is lost.
• On Ekadashi, many devotees place their mala before Vishnu with a fresh tulsi leaf and a short prayer. If this is part of your tradition, let it become your ritual.

Many stores sell tulsi malas. Here is what you get only with Arutra:

• Proof: many stores show one common certificate. We show the lab report for your own batch, so your tulsi is 100% authentic and you can check it yourself.
• What was packed: many stores ship with no record. You can watch the video of your own mala being packed.
• Quality check: many stores ship straight from the supplier. We count every bead, check for cracks and test every knot ourselves; if a mala doesn't pass, it doesn't leave us.
• Your practice: most stores just sell. Arutra is the same app you open for the Gita, Naam Jap and your daily Saadhana, trusted by thousands of devotees.