Prayer Beads (Mala)

A mala is a string of 108 prayer beads that has been used for many centuries in the Buddhist and Hindu traditions. The number 108 has deep spiritual significance and appears in many Eastern traditions, for example in the 108 volumes of the Tibetan Kangyur, the collection of the Buddha's teachings.

In practice, the mala counts mantras. One bead, one mantra. The hand glides from bead to bead, the breath slows, the mind gathers. Only the hand, the beads and the silence. In calm times as in difficult ones, the mala gives the hand something to hold and the mind a rhythm. A good mala rests comfortably in the hand. The beads are even, the thread is strong and the guru bead, which marks the beginning and end, is clearly recognisable.

In the tradition, each material is given its own meaning. Rosewood and sandalwood are considered especially suited to meditation and compassion practice. Rudraksha seeds have been the preferred material of many practitioners for centuries. Beads of tiger's eye, amethyst and other stones each carry their own symbolism. Our malas are hand-strung by Tibetan artisans in the Himalayas, and we have held and checked each one ourselves.