A mala is a string of prayer beads used in Hindu and Buddhist practice to count mantras, breaths or intentions during meditation. In Nepal and India, one of the most traditional materials for a mala is rudraksha.
What is rudraksha?
Rudraksha beads are the dried seeds of the Elaeocarpus tree, which grows in the foothills of the Himalayas. Each seed has natural grooves, called mukhi, running from top to bottom. A five-mukhi bead, with five grooves, is the most common type.
Why 108 beads?
108 is considered a sacred number in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. A full mala has 108 beads plus a larger guru bead, so one round of the mala equals 108 repetitions of a mantra or breath.
How to use a mala
- Hold the mala in your right hand, draped over the middle finger.
- Start at the bead next to the guru bead and use your thumb to move one bead per mantra or breath.
- When you reach the guru bead, either stop or turn the mala around and go back the other way, rather than crossing over it.
Caring for a rudraksha mala
Keep it dry, store it in a cloth pouch, and wipe it gently if it gets dusty. Natural seeds can darken a little with use, which many people like.
Browse our rudraksha malas and prayer beads from Nepal.