WHAT ARE MALA BEADS?

THE 108 MALA

Mala beads are a string of beads traditionally used in prayer and meditation. Mala beads have been used by yogis and spiritual seekers for thousands of years to help keep their minds focused during meditation. Malas were first created in India 3000 years ago and used for a special style of meditation called Japa, which means “to recite.” The term ‘mala’ is a Sanskrit word for “meditation garland.” They are also a beautiful reminder of our intentions. Malas are used for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of a deity. This sādhanā (practice) is known in Sanskrit as Japa. Malas are typically made with 18, 27, 54, or 108 beads.

Malas can be made from gemstones that match the intention of your practice, and often malas are placed in shrines as a reminder of affirmations. Malas are also referred to as mala beads, Buddhist beads, or Buddhist prayer beads.

There are several mala styles. Some malas are made with only 108 beads, a guru, and/or a tassel. Our mala necklaces and bracelets come in various counts of auspicious numbers for use in shorter meditations.

Mala beads have been used in Buddhism and Hinduism for centuries. Buddhist malas are often made up of different types of wood, such as sandalwood and rosewood. In Hinduism, you will find malas made with Rudraksha, which is considered a very holy and protective seed.

There are numerous explanations for why there are 108 beads, with the number 108 bearing special religious significance in a number of Hindu and Buddhist traditions. In traditional Buddhist thought, people are said to have 108 afflictions or kleshas. This same number is also used in Japanese New Year services, where a bell is rung 108 times. The number 108 has a very powerful significance in the science and spirituality of India. There are 108 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet! Vedic mathematicians measured the Sun’s diameter to be 108 times larger than the diameter of the Earth and measured the distance between the Sun and Earth to be 108 times the Sun’s diameter. In the yogic tradition, we find 108 sacred texts of the Upanishads, 108 sacred holy sites in India, and 108 marma (acupressure-like) points on the body. In the bhakti yoga tradition, stories are told of 108 gopis dancing with Krishna in Vrindavan, and there are 108 names of the goddess. In tantric yoga, 108 energy lines are described throughout the body, and they all converge and connect at the heart chakra.

Our malas can be used for meditation only, worn as a necklace, or wrapped around your wrist several times. Most importantly, our mala beads are a tool to focus your awareness and concentration during your spiritual practice, meditation, prayer, or reflection. Also, if you wear your mala throughout the day, it serves as a constant reminder of your intentions.