Malas beads are traditionally used in Japa Mala practice to count mantras or the breath in a concentrated meditation practice. Japa means to rotate and involves moving around the seeds of the mala as you take each breath or recite your mantra. They can be made from sandalwood, sacred seeds, or authentic gemstones. At Calm Buddhi we use authentic Sandawood, Rudaksha and gemstones.
Malas help to focus awareness, creating a calm rhythm of the mind. Infusing your personal mala with the energy and intention of your mantra is what gives it significance. Malas are not just jewellery but sacred tools that can be used anywhere and anytime.
Whether you are just beginning or an experienced meditator, japa practice can be a beautiful way to harness the mind with concentrated awareness, using the tactile experience of moving through each bead with repetition of the mantra.
ELEMENTS OF A MALA
Knotting between the mala beads
The knots between each bead provide strength to the mala and space to move through a japa mala practice with more ease.
Guru Bead
The guru bead symbolises the teacher-student relationship and holds the power of recitations. The Guru bead is usually larger than the others- representative of where we begin a cycle of japa mala practice and also when it ends.
The Guru bead, also known as a Meru bead (derived from the Sanskrit word for "mountain"), serves as a reservoir for the potency of your mantra recitations. When the guru bead is worn in proximity to your heart, it becomes a conduit for transmitting the energy of the recitations
Tassel
The tassel serves as a talisman, symbolising power, protection, and spiritual connection. It binds all the beads together.
The intertwining of the primary mala threads with additional threads signifies our connection to the divine and the unity of all existence.
The tassel of a mala can also embody the state of turiya, the realm of pure consciousness. The tassel is also known to represent the lotus plant's roots, serving as a reminder to the wearer of the profound analogy of "no mud, no lotus."
Why 108 Beads
We have come across several compelling teachings that have deeply resonated with us, and have learned that the composition of 108 beads represents sacred numbers and energy lines leading to the heart chakra (also known as Anahata or Hrit Padama in Sanskrit). Anahata is believed to be the place where the true self (the soul) resides. It is from this place that 108 of the major energy channels called nadis radiate out to the subtle body.
By chanting a mantra 108 times we facilitate the infusion of the mantra energy into each of these channels, thereby permeating every part of the subtle body.
Other teachings we have received have included:
- The number 108 is derived from multiplying the number of planets in our solar system by the number of astrological signs in the zodiac.
- Moving further back in history, it is said that the number 108 stemmed from the approximation of the distances between the earth, the sun, and the moon. Both of these distances are approximately 108 times the respective diameters of the Sun and Moon, emphasising the significant relationship between celestial bodies and our earthly existence.
Benefits of using a mala bead in practice
The benefits are vast as each traditional Sanskrit mantra has a different vibration and meaning. You can choose or receive a mantra from your teacher that resonates with the energies you want to cultivate in your life.
- If using a Sanskrit mantra silently or aloud is not for you then repeating an affirmation or an intention that you have created for yourself is a beautiful alternative.
- A mala keeps your meditation in time without being time-focused. You know where you are in your practice as you repeat each round of the 108 beads.
- The mala offers a tactile point of awareness along with the mantra/affirmation or breath.
- It counters the mind's tendency to wander in different directions. As you mindfully move through a japa mala practice the mind calms into the same rhythmic pattern.
- Gemstones, seeds, wood, and the colour of the tassels are also said to support transformation and realisation by holding a concentration of a certain energy.
History of Malas
The history of mala beads in meditation spans centuries and encompasses diverse cultural traditions. In the yogic sense mala beads date back thousands of years with the earliest mention of the beads found in ancient scriptures like the Rigveda. They were used throughout history to the present day to anchor the mind in reciting mantras and/or the sutras.
Mala Beads can be worn close to the heart under clothing following your practice, carrying the energy of the mantra with you throughout the day.
Angela Knight
Calm Buddhi Ma
Yoga, Meditation and Yoga Nidra Teacher