Mala Necklaces

What is a Mala?

Mala is the Sanskrit word for “garland”, and is also known as prayer beads, rosary beads, yoga beads, or japa malas. They are traditionally a string of 108 beads that are used in a practice called japa meditation, and other prayer or meditation practices, to count mantra repetition. The use of prayer beads goes back thousands of years and shows up in countless religions.

Why 108 Beads?

The number 108 is significant in many ways. It is thought to be the numerical equivalent of “Om”, the sound of creation. There are 108 characters in the Sanskrit alphabet. There are 108 energy lines that lead to the heart. It is also said that the number “1” represents the path in life, number “0” represents the cyclical nature of life, and the number “8” represents infinity.

Why are Malas Significant to ME?

I struggle with meditation. I have a humanly over-active mind, coupled with focus issues stemmed from depression, anxiety, PTSD…as do many people. I was introduced to japa meditation during my second Yoga Teacher Training and blessed with a workshop on mala making. I had been practicing different methods of meditation for years, and also have a long history of jewelry making, but those two paths never crossed until this year. Utilizing my mala during meditation has helped significantly to improve my focus by giving me a tangible aspect to my practice. The act of creating these beautiful malas has become a meditative practice all in itself, which is helpful in my journey to find healing from TBIs, as well as being a helpful physical therapy for recovery post carpal tunnel surgery. All in all, malas have become a very important aspect in my daily living.