Mala Beads

A mala is a string of 108 beads with one bead as the summit bead called a 'sumeru' 'buddha' or 'Guru'. It is a tool used to keep your mind on the meditation practice. Malas are most often made from different materials such as basil wood (Tulsi), sandal wood, rudraksh seeds or crystal. Each type of material has certain properties which may subtly affect the subconscious mind of the practitioner.

For Mediation: The mala beads are moved in rhythm with the breath and the mantra, so that both-sleep as well as excessive mental distraction-are prevented by this action upon the beads.

For wearing: A personal mala is a wonderful accessory to meditation, which when used regularly with a personal mantra, absorbs the vibrations of the practice. It then becomes like a comfortable piece of clothing.

ACCU-FLEX WIRE

Note: Our Mala Prayer Beads are strung with 0.19" Accu-Flex Clear Beading wire. This beading wire is flexible and resists kinking unless severely bent. It can be knotted and crimped, yet is twice as strong as regular tigertail. We guarantee our work, all malas have a 30 day craftsmanship guarantee. If your mala, (either cord or material)  breaks by normal use within 30 days of purchase date, we'll restring it with the same design, free of charge. Just send it right back to us! We do also offer redesigning if requested.

To Use
The mala is traditionally held in the right hand and used in two ways :

In one method, the mala is hanging between the thumb and the ring (third) finger. The middle (second) finger is used to rotate the mala by one bead towards oneself with each repetition of the mantra.

The other method is to hang the mala on the middle finger, with the thumb used to rotate the mala as explained before - one bead at a time.

Either way, the index finger is never used to touch the mala.

The mala may be coiled on the floor with the hand resting on the right knee or used with the hand concealed in a Mala Bag.
The practice begins at the summit bead (sumeru, buddha or guru) and continues around the loop until the summit is reached again. The summit bead is never passed over. So if you plan to do more than 1 round, the mala is turned around to proceed again in the reverse direction.

Whenever the mala is taken up, it automatically conditions the mind to the meditative state. The mala that you use for Mantra Japa meditation should not be exhibited and is best kept privately in a special Mala Bag.

Using the Mala with a Yoga Danda
Often, many practitioners of japa meditation, prefer to support their forearm on the Yoga Danda, so that they can practice japa on mala beads without discomfort.

In this case, the yoga danda is placed in front of the seated body and the hand supported on it. The mala is allowed to fall freely from this raised position that facilitates turning of the beads for japa.

The Yoga Danda is also used for balancing breath between nostrils. To read more on the Yoga Danda, click here

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