WHAT DO MALA BEADS MEAN?

A Mala, or 'garland', is a sacred prayer necklace made of 108 beads + 1 Guru bead. It originates from Southeast Asian religions and is used in a similar way to a rosary. It has been used for thousands of years in traditions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, yoga and prayer, to keep count during mantra meditations. The word "Mala" is a Sanskrit word and is traditionally used to repeat a mantra or affirmation on each bead to achieve a more calm, connected and spiritual state of mind.

The wreath symbolizes our unity with each other and our higher power. It is a sacred tool that connects you to the divine through prayer, meditation, and mantra practice.

Handmade and tied between each bead, it is a tool to deepen one's meditation or serve as an amulet, a sacred piece of jewelry, to keep you connected to your intention to live more consciously.

THE PEARLS

The 108 beads that make up a mala can be made from many materials such as seeds, wood, or precious metals and stones. Some materials are said to have desirable properties, such as agate, which is said to have an earthy connection, or are associated with a specific chakra, as in the case of jade. The 108 beads in a traditional mala represent the universe (1), nothing (0), and everything (8 or infinity).

WHY 108?

The number 108 is significant for many reasons. The 108 beads in a traditional mala represent the universe (1), nothing (0), and everything (8 or infinity). Many people choose to recite their mantras in Sanskrit during meditation, and within the Sanskrit alphabet there are 54 letters, each of which has a feminine and a masculine version, making a total of 108. Some also believe that there are 108 stages in the journey of the human soul, that there are 108 energy lines that run through the body to the heart, and the amazing thing is that the meaning of the 108 beads on your mala is open to many interpretations. Depending on the belief system in which they are used, malas can also contain 18, 27, or 54 beads.

MARKING BEADS

During meditation, our minds often wander to the stories we tell ourselves, which takes us away from the mantra. When our minds wander, we continue to count the beads but “forget” what we are doing because our minds are elsewhere. When you come to a marker bead that is different from the others, it serves as a reminder to return to the mala, the meditation, and the mantra. The marker bead serves as an “alarm clock” or a check to make sure you are aware of what you are doing.

THE GURU PEARL

The Guru Bead is the bead to which the fringe is attached directly. The Guru Bead is often the 109th bead and is said to symbolize the Guru from whom the disciple has received a mantra, representing the relationship between disciple and Guru. It is said to be disrespectful to cross the Guru Bead, so if you want to do more than 108 repetitions, you can turn back along the mala.

THE KNOTS/SPACE BETWEEN THE BEADS

A telltale sign of a traditionally designed mala is that there is a knot or smaller bead between each bead. This not only makes the mala stronger, but also provides the perfect space for Japa meditation – a meditation that uses each bead to count one repetition of a mantra. A bonus of having a knotted mala is that you won’t lose the beads if the mala breaks! If the mala breaks, it can be a sign that you have new intentions in life and that the mala has completed its task.

TASSEL

The tassel has several meanings. The one that resonates most with us at My Mala Garden is that the threads that run through the mala come together into a whole. This represents our connection to the spiritual, the divine, and to each other. It symbolizes unity.

Pearls can be chosen for their quality or appearance. The best piece of jewelry for you will be the one you feel drawn to, so it's important to let your heart guide you. When choosing your piece of jewelry, follow your intuition, or read about the properties of each necklace and let your intention determine that.