The tulsi mala or a rosary made from the holy basil plant, is a beautiful thing to possess and wear. Hindus see the tulsi mala - the light, chandan-coloured one (see right photo) as a way to connect to Vishnu or any of his avatars like Krishna and Rama, while the Buddhists prefer the black tulsi mala (see photo below) to chant and usher in good fortune. As soon as you wear the tulsi mala, around your neck or around your wrist, you feel protected and focussed. It actually goes a long way in helping you deal with the stress of modern life.