A mala is a very old answer to a very human problem: the mind wanders. String a hundred and eight beads in a loop, repeat one phrase for each bead as it passes under your thumb, and the hand keeps count so the mind does not have to. That is the whole technology, and it has served Hindu and Buddhist practitioners for well over two thousand years. The practice is called japa, the repetition of a mantra, and the mala is its tool. Malas are also simply beautiful objects, and many people wear one as a reminder of an intention. At Plentiful Earth we carry traditional 108-bead malas in rudraksha seed, with quartz or golden-capped beads, and a carved skull bead mala on the old contemplative theme of impermanence.
What Are Mala Beads Used For?
Mala beads are used to count repetitions of a mantra, a breath, or an affirmation during meditation. One full round is 108 repetitions. The number is sacred across Indian traditions, and explanations for it range from astronomy to the count of the Upanishads; what matters in practice is that it is long enough to settle the mind. The larger bead at the join is the guru bead. It is not counted, and tradition says you do not cross it: when you reach it, you turn the mala around and go back the way you came.
What You'll Find Here
Rudraksha malas. Rudraksha are the dried seeds of a Himalayan tree, deeply textured and naturally grooved, and they are the traditional mala of Shiva's devotees; the name means the tears of Rudra. Ours come strung with clear quartz spacers or with golden caps between the seeds.
Skull bead mala. One hundred and eight carved skull beads. In Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu tantric practice the skull is a reminder that life is short and practice is urgent, not a morbid symbol.
How Do I Use a Mala?
Hold the mala in your right hand, draped over the middle finger. Starting at the bead beside the guru bead, use your thumb to pull each bead toward you as you complete one repetition; by custom the index finger does not touch the beads. Go all the way around, and turn back at the guru bead if you want another round. Any phrase you can say with sincerity will do: a traditional mantra, a line of scripture, a single word, or a slow breath. Malas come from living Hindu and Buddhist traditions and are open to anyone who approaches them with respect; the deeper practices that go with them are best learned from teachers within those traditions.
Explore Related Collections
Malas belong with our meditation tools and meditation and mindfulness collection, next to singing bowls and eye pillows. For guidance see our meditation books. If you like the feel of beads, browse gemstone bracelets and necklaces, and burn sandalwood incense, the classic scent of the meditation room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do mala beads have 108 beads?
108 is a sacred number in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Traditional explanations include the 108 Upanishads, 108 names of deities, and the ratio of the sun's and moon's distances to their diameters. Shorter malas of 54 or 27 beads divide the same count.
What is rudraksha?
Rudraksha is the seed of Elaeocarpus ganitrus, a tree of Nepal, India, and Indonesia. The seeds are sacred to Shiva and have been worn as prayer beads by Hindu ascetics for centuries. The lines running down each seed are called mukhi, or faces.
Can I wear my mala as a necklace?
Yes, and many people do. Tradition asks that a mala used for practice be treated with care: kept off the floor, not worn in the bathroom, and stored in a pouch or on an altar when not in use.
Do I have to use a Sanskrit mantra?
No. A mala counts whatever you give it. An affirmation, a devotional phrase from your own path, or a simple count of breaths all work.
What does the skull mala mean?
Impermanence. In Himalayan Buddhist and tantric Hindu practice, skull imagery reminds the practitioner that death is certain and that the time to practice is now.
How do I care for a rudraksha mala?
Keep it dry, and rub a drop of sandalwood or plain oil into the seeds now and then to stop them from cracking. They darken beautifully with wear.
