Tulsi Malas
Tulsi wood japa malas and kanthi malas for Vaishnava devotees, in round and drum-shaped beads, for chanting and for wearing around the neck.
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Walk into any ISKCON temple and you will notice the thin strands of pale wooden beads at every devotee's throat. Tulsi malas are made from the wood of the holy basil plant, sacred to Vishnu and Krishna, and they come in two forms.
The japa mala of 108 beads is used for chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra or other Vishnu mantras, often carried in a cloth bag. The kanthi mala is a close-fitting necklace of one, two or three strands of small beads, worn all the time by many initiated Vaishnavas as a sign of surrender. Beads may be round, oval or drum-shaped, and some families prefer Vrindavan-style carving.
Natural tulsi beads are light and slightly uneven, and they darken gently with years of handling. Check that tulsi malas are knotted firmly and that the guru bead sits straight. Avoid soaking the wood, wipe it after sweaty days, and follow your sampradaya's guidance on when to remove a kanthi.