Many religious-minded people throughout India and the rest of the world wear necklaces of Tulasi wood (tulasi kanthi mala). Tulasi wood is sacred to Lord Krishna and His followers. However, there are many popular taboos and misconceptions regarding who can and cannot wear tulasi.
This article will answer this question by citing the infallible authority of the Vedas. It is a fact that all actions, be they secular or spiritual, will be beneficial and successful when done in accordance with transcendental scriptures i.e. Shruti, Smrti and Puranas like Mahabharata and Bhagavad-gita.
Without being swayed by popular beliefs or opinions, Gaudiya Vaisnavas base their spiritual conduct on the authority of the Gaudiya Smrti titled Hari-bhakti vilasa by Srila Sanatana Goswamipada. This book is basically a collection of quotes from various Puranas and Vedas to establish the proper spiritual practices for adherents of the devotional path, bhakti-yoga. Quoting this pramana, we will describe the glories of wearing tulasi neckbeads and who can wear them.
Benefits of Wearing Tulasi Rosary: 1. Destroys greatest of sins (maha pataka samhantrim) Skanda Purana. 2. Sri Hari is always with you (deha sada Harih) Garuda Purana. 3. Million times benefit from punya karmas, pitr or devata puja (pitrnam devata krtam koti gunam) Garuda Purana.
4. Yamaraja stays far away (preta raja dutakah drstva nashyanti durena) Garuda Purana. 5. Gives full protection from bad dreams, accidents, attack by weapons, and the Yamaduttas (duhsvapnam durnimittam bhayam shastrajam) Garuda Purana.
