Rudrākṣa or tulasī mālā — which should I use?

rudrākṣa is traditional for Śiva (and widely used for all japa); tulasī for Viṣṇu, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma.

Rudrākṣa beads come from the seed of a tree, and tradition says they arose from Śiva’s tears of compassion. The Śiva Purāṇa praises them at length. Rudrākṣa mālās are used for Śiva mantras, the Mahāmṛtyuñjaya, and by many people for any japa at all.

Tulasī wood mālās are the mark of Vaiṣṇava devotion and are used for Viṣṇu, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma names, such as the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Vaiṣṇavas often wear a small tulasī kaṇṭhī around the neck too. Many traditions also use sphaṭika (crystal) or red sandalwood for the Devī and Lakṣmī, and lotus-seed mālās for Lakṣmī.

If you are unsure, a simple rudrākṣa or sandalwood mālā suits most practices. Buy from a trustworthy source; the expensive rare-faced rudrākṣa beads sold with big promises are unnecessary for sincere japa.

Source: Śiva Purāṇa (on rudrākṣa) · Tulasī kaṇṭhī — the Vaiṣṇava mark

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