"Somebody asked me that "Swamiji, why these tulasi beads in your neck or your devotees' neck?" So I replied, "Just like a pet dog has got a collar, similarly we are pet dogs of God. We have got this collar. And Yamaraja will understand that ‘He is God's dog. He should not be shot down." (laughter).

Śrila Prabhupāda, Śrimad Bhāgavatam 6.1.34-39, Surat, December 19, 1970