Significance of Tulsi Mala in Pushtimarg

Sri Mahaprabhuji throws light on how to follow Vaishnavite tradition and live a good Vaishnavite life. You learn which principles, mantras, and scriptures you should imbibe in your life, when observing fasting, Vratas, parivesha, and observing signs in a Vaishnava life.

According to Sri Mahaprabhuji’s principles, we live the life of a Vaushbavite. Wearing the Vaishnavite symbol for the pleasure of Thakorji, you can always be at his service. Living in Thakorji’s satsang is the essence of Vaishnavite life in their memory. Your body’s adornment must be very dear to God. Sri Mahaprabhuji was told to put on kanthi in the Sarvanirnaya Prakan’s second chapter exactly the way we were told how to do Tilak.

Tulsi, a kashta’s garland, is offered as diksha when taking Vaishnavite diksha. Sri Acharya Charan Shri Mahaprabhuji has given this Tulsi Kanrhi to us. Sri Guru offers Diksha in the shape of Sri Acharyacharam when going to take Vaishnavite Diksha. Once Sriguru recites the naam nivedan mantra to us, we put on Tulsi Kanthi.

Tulsi is also known as Vishnu Priya. Tulsi is evident both in Bhog and Shankh. People chant the Gadhya Mantra to subtly dedicate Tulsi to the Lord’s feet. God also says that if you worship them and want your pleasure, then you will have to wear a tulsi kanthi that they are fond of around your neck. People sacrifice both in soul and body to Charnarvind of Priyaproyatam. They dedicate Tulsidal as a symbol of such dedication. When spreading Tulsi Patra in Doodh Ghar, in Sakhdi and Anasakhdi, when specifying the Panchakshara Mantra, people request that O Krishna, and I am Yours. However, they dedicate to You the Tulsi-touched material that is close to You.

Science also believes bacteria won’t enter your food for some time if you keep basil leaves inside it. Tulsi is a potent conductor of heat. Tulsi Kanrhi attracts body heat and energy. It radiates pure energy within human beings. Tulsi Kanthi is considered wood, which always functions as a great conductor of heat. The throat of a Vaishnava need not be without Tulsi Kanthi. If a tulsi kanthi is destroyed by any chance, you can wear another kanthi. You should first wear a new kanthi and then remove the damaged kanthi as you shouldn’t even breathe without wearing one.

Kanthi symbolizes energy, humility, and servitude. It is the biggest adornment of a Vaishnava. One kanthi was assumed at Namanivedan time when people heard the name from a Guru. The other kanthi was assumed during the time of Atmanivedan when people acquired Brahmasambandh. One initiation gives you the right to remember the Lord’s name. The other initiation gives you the right to serve Lord Krishna in form. When you get two initiations, and thus you should assume two kanthis.

Krishnadasji has very nicely explained Kanthi in a kirtan – “Dhan Dhan Mata Tulsi Badi, Narayanke Charan Chadi” (Kotik sin gets removed if a person delivers tulsiki service. Sahaj would have been successful in birth if anyone gave Tulsik Fera)

“Daan Punyame Tulsi Jo Hoi, Kotik Punya Phal Pave Soi” (When the house Tulsi kare nivasa, so ghar sada Vishnu ko vasa). Krishnadas tend to say that Tulsi ki mahima aparampara. People wear Tulsi Kanthi and take shelter under Sri Thakorji’s feet and pray to the lord that they are ours like the way we are theirs. A human being wears a kanthi as a lucky sign of God exactly the way a married female wears a Mangalsutra as a lucky symbol.

The kanthi you wear on your neck is the most genuine form of God. Once you wear tulsi kanthi on your neck, you are under the radar of Lord Krishna. Numerous questions may arise in your mind even if you imagine Tulsi’s voice. You may have queries, such as how you should wear the Tulsi kanthi when you feel like dying or getting cremated when you should change the kanthi of Tulsi. Tulsi and kasha, i.e., wood are always pure. The sutra, i.e., thread in the tulsi has gotten impure as it goes to the sutra and thus, the kathi had to be changed.

The kanthi of Tulsi gets adopted in the Vaishnavite tradition. People got the voice of Tulsi by the Guru’s divine words. We also get our conscience, intellect, and mind from the divine words of Guru. People always remember that Lord Krishna is the master and they are his servant. We have acquired Tulsi Manthi in our life by the Lord’s grace and getting started by the mantra heard from a Guru’s mouth. Your body and life will never exist together whenever your threat has no Kanthi.

Tulsi’s voice won’t get separated from the throat as long as you breathe in life. Kanthi touches our soul, mind, and body. It always ensures that Lord Krishna is present with you. Tulsi’s song reminds us that Sri Krishna is waiting with us even if we aren’t with him physically. All people resolve the throat of a person who has attained Atmanivedan and Namanivedan initiation won’t be without a tulsi. Today is the lucky symbol and the most beautiful and significant symbol of Bhagavad Bhakta, Vaishnavism, and humility.

Note:

The Blog and FAQs uploaded on the website portal are the compilations of Pushtimargeeya information available on social media and AI resources compiled by the Vaishnav volunteers of Bhaktisetu: Haveli. For proper learning, understanding and practice of Pushtimarg kindly approach Pujya Jejeshri personally.