Religion:Kanthi mala
A kanthi mala, or simply kanthi (Sanskrit: कण्ठी, kaṇṭhī, lit. "necklace"), is a necklace made of beads from the tulasi (basil) plant,[1] threaded on a string worn, and worn by some adherents of Hinduism.
Vaishnavism
Followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism wear kanthi malas made of Ocimum tenuiflorum (known in Hinduism as tulasi).[2] Most Vaishnavas of this sect are given their kanthi by their guru at the time of diksha, or spiritual initiation. It is said Krishna – who is revered as Svayam Bhagavan, or the "Self-Existent Lord," in Gaudiya Vaishnavism – was very fond of tulasi, and as such the plant is worshipped as "Tulasi devi" by followers of Krishna.[2] Tulasi devi is considered to be "one of Krishna's most intimate servants"[3] and provide protection to his devotees, and as such, Gaudiya Vaishnavas try to avoid removing their tulasi kanthis under any circumstances.
Shaivism
Shaivites wear a kanthi made of rudraksha.[2] The name "rudraksha" is derived from the Sanskrit rudrākṣa, meaning "Eye of Rudra".[4]
Other traditions
Kanthi malas are also worn by followers of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and the Kabir panth. Swaminarayan instructed his followers to wear a double-stranded kanthi made of tulasi, symbolising Radha–Krishna, while Kabir instructed his disciples to wear triple-stranded kanthis – symbolising the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva – with one large bead made from either tulasi or rudraksha for Satya Purusha, the "supreme lord who dwells within, who is above all else."[5]
References
- ↑ Chaturvedi, Vinayak (2007) (in en). Peasant Pasts: History and Memory in Western India. University of California Press. pp. 89. ISBN 978-0-520-25076-5. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Peasant_Pasts/MzPlZSOjCpsC?hl=en&gbpv=1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Simoons, Frederick J. (1998). Plants of life, plants of death. Univ of Wisconsin Press. p. 14. ISBN 9780299159047. https://books.google.com/books?id=KEUAbrBoeBAC&dq=kanthi+mala+krishna&pg=PA14.
- ↑ devi dasi, Govinda. "Tulasi Devi, Beloved of Krishna". http://www.krishna.com/tulasi-devi-beloved-krishna.
- ↑ Subramuniyaswami, Sivaya (1997). Dancing with Siva. USA. p. 799. ISBN 9780945497974. https://archive.org/details/dancingwithsivah00subr_0.
- ↑ Behramji Merwanji Malabari; Krishnalal M. Jhaveri; Malabari M. B (1997). Gujarat and the Gujaratis. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-0651-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=Lyd8jPbN218C&q=muktanand+swami. Retrieved May 7, 2009. Page 264
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