108 Beads on a Mala

108 beads on a Mala



Many religions use prayer beads to count the number of times the user says a prayer or a mantra. The earliest recorded use was in Hinduism. The necklace of beads is called a mala, (sanskrit for garland or wreath). Japa mala is the repetition of a mantra or the name of a deity. Often the malas are made from rudraksha seeds.

The beads are fingered in an automated manner leaving the user free to concentrate on the mantra or prayer. Different religions have different numbers of beads in a mala. Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs use malas of 108 beads, or a smaller wrist one of 27 used four times to achieve the 108 count.

Roman Catholics and Anglicans use 54 beads with an extra 5 for prayers. In Islam there are 33 or 99 beads.

There are many explanations given as to why the number 108 is important. These include:

108 is a Harshad (Sanskrit for great joy) number, which is an integer divisible by the sum of its digits.

There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet, each having masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti. 54 times 2 is 108.

It is said that there are 108 Indian goddess names.

It is also said that there are 108 gopis or maid servants of Krishna.

There are 12 houses in astrology and 9 planets. 12 times 9 equals 108.

108 is the number used in Islam to refer to God.

Some Buddhists carve 108 small Buddhas on a walnut for good luck, and ring a bell 108 times to celebrate a new year.

It said that there are a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra. One of them, sushumna leads to the crown chakra, and is considered to be the path to Self-realization.

A mantra is a word or series of words chanted aloud or silently to invoke spiritual qualities. Chanting is used as a spiritual tool in virtually every cultural and religious tradition. In the yogic tradition a mantra is a Sanskrit word that has special powers to transform consciousness, promote healing or fulfil desires.

The practice of chanting a mantra is used as a form of meditation. Sitting in a comfortable position, with the eyes closed, the mantra is repeated silently or aloud. The mind is focused on the mantra, the thoughts are let go of and the breath is slow and deep.

Hold the mala in the right hand and use the thumb to “count” each mantra by touching the bead during the recitation, then lightly pushing the bead away on completion and moving to the next bead. The index finger is extended and should not touch the mala. The large meru (mountain) bead should not be counted or touched by the thumb and is used as a starting and ending point of the recitation.

Using a 27 bead wrist mala repeat three more times for the 108 sequence turning each time to the other direction at the meru.

When not in use, store the mala in a special, clean and preferably sacred space such as on a personal alter or statue of a deity.

copyright David Millner
September 2010