Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c10.s1.44

c10.s1.44

The next topic is that of the wearing of garlands, made of Tulasi leaves, Tulasi beads, lotus seeds or Āmalaki fruits, after dedicating them to Kṛṣṇa. These should be purified with the Pañcagavya, with the uttering of the Mūla-mantra over them, and with repeating eight times the Gāyatrī, accompanied by certain eulogistic formulas addressed to the garlands themselves. With the garlands on, the devotee performs his prayers and offers libations of water to the deity. He can attain supreme merit even by merely wearing them.