ISKCON Tulsi Mala, Why do ISKCON devotees wear tulsi kanthi Mala around the neck?
ISKCON Tulsi Mala, why do ISKCON devotees wear tulsi kanthi Mala around the neck?
You can read many places in the scriptures that those who want to make spiritual progress should wear the Kanthi Mala. It is said in the Padma Purana - Those who wear the Kanthi Mala of Tulsi and do tilak of sandalwood at 12 places on their body. Worshipers of Lord Vishnu (Krishna) and are called Vaishnavas.
His presence makes the whole universe pure and with his presence such devotees can make any place auspicious like Vaikuntha.
It is also said in Skanda Purana - "Those who rub their foreheads and bodies with gopi sandal and wear a necklace of tulsi garland around the neck, they cannot even find the emissary of Yamraj.
In the context of Ajamil in Srimad Bhagavatam, you must have read that Yamraj says to his messengers - "My angels you are like my sons and I want to make you understand that you people never go to Earth to take a Vaishnava." He is a devotee of God and we do not have any right over him after death
Not everyone can wear a necklace garland, only those devotees who follow the four rules can wear the necklace.
There are four rules -
1) Do not eat meat.
2) Do not have any kind of intoxication.
3) Do not play gambling.
If you follow these 6 rules and chant 14 or some garland Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, then you can wear the necklace.
It is not necessary to take initiation to wear the necklace, to accept the Guru
Those Dixit devotees should wear a necklace in 3 round tulsi mala kanthi, but those who are not initiated can wear a necklace of one or two circles, it was said by Srila Prabhupada.
Our attire affects our thinking, so if you wear a necklace and wear tilak wherever possible, then you will present yourself as a devotee in front of others, thus devotion will be strong and no prohibited deeds.
Hope you gain devotional benefits from this information.
Jai Hare Krishna of Srila Prabhupada.