Share the joy A Japa mala or mala (meaning garland) is a set of beads commonly used by Hindus and Buddhists, usually made from 108 beads, though other numbers, usually divisible by 9, are also used. Malas are used for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of
A Japa mala or mala (meaning garland) is a set of beads commonly used by Hindus and Buddhists, usually made from 108 beads, though other numbers, usually divisible by 9, are also used. Malas are used for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of a deity. This practice is known in Sanskrit as japa. Malas are typically made with 19, 21, 27, 54 or 108 beads.
In Tibetan Buddhism, traditionally malas of 108 beads are used. Some practitioners use malas of 21 or 28 beads for doing prostrations. Doing one 108-bead mala counts as 100 mantra recitations, the extra repetitions done to amend any mistakes in pronunciation or other faults of recitation.
Malas are mainly used to count mantras. These mantras can be recited for different purposes linked to working with mind. The material used to make the beads can vary according to the purpose of the mantras used. Some beads can be used for all purposes and all kinds of mantras. These beads can be made from the wood of the Bodhi tree (ficus religiosa), or from ‘Bodhi’ seeds, which is a misnomer as the seeds are from a tree related to the Rudraksha (Elaeocarpus ganitrus) and not the Bodhi tree (being a fig tree, its seeds are inside a tiny fig, and are minuscule). The scientific name of this tree, native to Nepal, is yet to be determined. Another general-purpose mala is made from another unknown seed, the beads themselves called ‘Moon and Stars’ by Tibetans, and variously called ‘lotus root’, ‘lotus seed’ and ‘linden nut’ by various retailers. The bead itself is very hard and dense, ivory coloured (which gradually turns a deep golden brown with long use), and has small holes (moons) and tiny black dots (stars) covering its surface.
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Lovely beads These beads are a lovely color and transclucence. The smoothness runs through my hands easily and the tassels give a nice starting and ending point. The cord between the beads has streached out a bit with use – not much maybe a half of a centimeter, it has not made a big difference though.
View CommentQuality These beads are ab. fab. They cost solittle and are the finest jewelry storequality. Every one I give them tojust loves them.
View CommentA Great Big Bang for Your Very Few Bucks I find myself wearing this necklace every single chance I get. The quality at the price point is wonderful. These are stone, not plastic, and the stringing is adequate, though not terribly strong. I have not used it as a bracelet because the tassels are overlong for that, but that, so far as I can tell, is this necklace’s only drawback. I would heartily recommend not only this item but any from Ovalbuy, as I own several, and all are of the same high quality for the very low price point.
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