The tulsi mala or a rosary made from the holy basil plant, is a beautiful thing to possess and wear. Hindus see the tulsi mala - the light, Chandan-colored one as a way to connect to Vishnu or any of his avatars like Krishna and Rama.

As soon as you wear the tulsi mala, around your neck or around your wrist, you feel protected and focused. It actually goes a long way in helping you deal with the stress of modern life. If time permits, you can simply chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Some people believe that this mere chant is enough for salvation in this dark age called Kali Yuga. Note that Tulsi has a thin stem, hence the natural Tulsi beads are never perfectly round but have imperfections. Always insist on natural Tulsi stems instead of ordinary perfect wood.