India, June 14 -- At the IPL 2026 qualifier between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans earlier this month, it wasn't just the cricket that got people talking. Actor Anushka Sharma's tulsi kanthi mala quietly became the accessory everyone wanted to decode. In the days that followed, brands selling the sacred bead necklace reported a rise in searches, inquiries and sales, with many customers asking for the exact piece she wore. Traditionally, tulsi bead necklaces are associated with devotion to Lord Krishna and are worn as symbols of faith and discipline. Made from the woody stems of the sacred tulsi plant, they are hand-carved and strung by artisans. Prices typically range from Rs.150 to Rs.700. Anushka and her husband, cricketer Virat Kohli are followers of Vrindavan-based spiritual guru Premanand Govind Sharan. The actor is often seen wearing a two-round tulsi necklace. "In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, one round and two round generally worn by those who have faith in Krishna consciousness and wish to identify themselves as devotees or followers of the Vaishnava tradition," explains Tusht Gaur Das from Matchless Gifts, ISKCON Dwarka, Delhi. He adds, "It signifies one's desire to remain under the shelter and protection of Lord Krishna and Tulsi Maharani. However, three round Tulsi kanthi mala is traditionally worn by devotees who have formally accepted initiation (Harinaam Diksha) from a bona fide spiritual master. It represents a deeper commitment to following the spiritual practices and principles received from one's guru."...