Prayer Beads, A Summary
Prayer beads were first used in Hinduism, and they are known in Hinduism as japa mala. Prayer beads are also used in Christianity, both by Catholics to say the rosary, and also by Eastern Christians. Bahai’s also sometimes use prayer beads to recite 95 times per day. In Buddhism prayer beads are often used, often called the Buddhist rosary, and the number of prayer beads varies with different forms of Buddhism. A strand of prayer beads is called a mala, and the word mala literally means garland or strand.
In Hinduism, where prayer beads began, a mala contains 108 beads. This number, 108, is significant for many reasons. 108 is mathmatically significant because it is divisible by its function. Hindu deities also have 108 names, and these names are often recited during religious ceremonies. Krishna is also said to have danced with 108 “gopis”, cow-herd girls, and later to have married 16,108 wives.
Buddhist prayer beads often have 108 beads as well, and the number 108 is significant in Tibetan Buddhism because there are 108 sins. Tibetan Buddhists often use prayer beads with 111 beads, calculating 100 beads as one mala, with 11 beads left over for errors. In China and Japan Buddhist practitioners also use malas with 27 beads. Malas with 27 beads, or wrist malas, are typically used for prostration. Prostration is where the practitioner works out the strains in the mind and the things that the mind tries to hold onto, anger, greed, jealousy, and so forth.
Typically prayer beads were made from Rudraksha seeds and Tulsi stem. In Buddhism prayer beads are often also made from Bodhi seeds because it is believed that the Bodhisattva first reached enlightenment underneath a Bodhi tree. Prayer beads are often also made from sandalwood, jade, turquoise, plastic, and other materials.
Prayer beads are used by passing one’s finger over each bead in the mala, and saying a prayer or a mantra as your finger passes each bead. The power of Buddhist prayer beads is awakened through prayer and meditation. As you use prayer beads during meditation and think over the words as you say or think them, then each bead becomes significant to you in your heart. Prayer beads are a tool in making you feel closer in your mind to your deity. You should look at your mala with love and let it remind you of the commitment you have made to renounce those things in your life which bind you. Prayer beads are not powerful unless you use them and connect them to your mantras or prayers.
After you begin using prayer beads, treat them as you would any sacred object. Don’t place your prayer beads on the floor, and keep them in a safe place. Prayer bead bags are often used to store prayer beads in a safe place, and a bag will also prevent tangling or kinking of the string used for your prayer bead mala.
Prayer beads should not be passed around after they are used for meditation. Do not allow anyone else to handle your prayer beads after you have used them in prayer or meditation, because this will make the prayer beads less significant for your meditation practice.
About the Author
Get Prayers Sent To Your Cell Phone Start Your daily Prayers Today Click here For Details
Wrist mala instructions
|
|
TIBETAN PRAYER BEADS BRACELET WRIST MALA NEPAL-SANDAL W $5.00 |
|
|
Sandalwood Lapis Lazuli Bracelet Wrist Mala 7.5″ B06 $14.95 |
|
|
Tiger Eye and Sandalwood Bracelet Wrist Mala 7.5″ B09 $8.95 |
|
|
QUALITY ADJUSTABLE LOTUS SEED WRIST MALA TIBET BUDDHIST $12.95 |
|
|
CARVED YAK BONE WRIST MALA/ BRACELET FOR MEDITATION $7.00 |
|
|
ROSEWOOD WRIST MALA/ BRACELET FOR MEDITATION $7.00 |
|
|
Wood Carved Lotus Beads Buddhist Prayer Wrist Mala $5.85 |
|
|
Ox Bone Carved Skull Beads Buddhist Prayer Wrist Mala $6.85 |
|
|
Stretchy Tibetan 19 10mm Turquoise Buddhism Prayer Beads Wrist Mala Bracelet -6″ $7.95 |
|
|
Natural Seed Beads Tibetan Buddhist Prayer Wrist Mala $5.85 |
|
|
Green Sandalwood Buddhist Prayer Mediation Wrist Mala $5.87 |
|
|
1 SANDALWOOD ~ WRIST MALA BEND 5MM $10.05 |
|
|
1 LOTUS SEED ~ WRIST MALA BEND 5MM $10.05 |
|
|
1 ROSEWOOD ~ WRIST MALA BEND 5MM $10.05 |
|
|
ROSEWOOD WRIST MALA/ BRACELET FOR MEDITATION 7MM $7.00 |
|
|
SUPERB TIBETAN WOOD WRIST MALA PRAYER BEADS NEPAL $14.99 |
|
|
Rudraksha Black Tiger Eye Bracelet Wrist Mala 7.5″ B13 $8.95 |
|
|
#dtn 700 Yakbone Prayer Mala Wrist Band Nepal $0.99 |
|
|
Rudraksha and Green Agate Bracelet Wrist Mala 7.5″ B14 $8.95 |
|
|
Sandalwood Red Sandalwood Bracelet Wrist Mala 8″ B18 $8.50 |
|
|
Tiger Eye and Red Sandalwood Bracelet Wrist Mala 8″ B19 $8.95 |
|
|
Turquoise Red Sandalwood Bracelet Wrist Mala 7.5″ B21 $10.95 |
|
|
Natural Black Sandalwood 15mm Wrist Prayer Beads Mala $11.24 |
|
|
Bn1 Om Buddhist Tibetan Lotus Seed Turquoise color resin wrist Mala bracelet $11.99 |
|
|
Bnp3 God Buddha Wood bead Turquoise & coral color stone Wrist Mala Tibet Nepal $6.99 |
|
|
BIG BEADS/LARGER WRIST! TIBETAN BUDDHIST 14MM KADAM WOOD WRIST MALA ORNATE KNOT $8.95 |
|
|
T325 AUSPICIOUS RUDRAKSHA WRIST BRACELET MALA HAND CRAFTED in Nepal $8.99 |
|
|
Tibetan Buddhist Bodhi Seed Prayer Beads Wrist Mala $5.85 |
|
|
Tibetan 19 Tri-Color Sandalwood Calligraphy Prayer Beads Wrist Mala Bracelet 7″ $6.60 |
|
|
Wood Carved Beads Tibetan Buddhist Wrist Prayer Mala $4.85 |
|
|
Tibetan Buddhist Wood Prayer Beads Wrist Mala $4.85 |
|
|
Ox Bone Skull Meditation Yoga Prayer Beads Wrist Mala $7.99 |
|
|
BLOOD STONE WRIST MALA/ BRACELET FOR MEDITATION $10.00 |
|
|
Stretch Tibetan 17 12mm Rosewood Buddhist Prayer Beads Wrist Mala Bracelet $5.95 |
|
|
Tibetan Delicate Carved 26 Yak Bone Lulutong Prayer Beads Wrist Mala Bracelet $5.95 |
|
|
Tibetan Buddhist Ox Bone Skull Prayer Beads Wrist Mala $10.85 |
|
|
19mm Sandalwood Carved Kwan-yin Wrist Prayer Beads Mala $7.49 |
|
|
Sandalwood Bracelet Wrist Mala 7.5″ B27 $12.95 |
|
|
Sandalwood and Green Agate Bracelet Wrist Mala 7.5″ B31 $15.95 |
|
|
Sandalwood and Garnet Bracelet Wrist Mala 7.5″ B33 $14.95 |
|
|
LARGE BODHI SEED WRIST MALA/ BRACELET FOR MEDITATION $7.00 |
|
|
B1970 Tribal Green color Resin Beads wrist mala stretch Bracelet Tibet free ship $6.99 |
|
|
CUSTOM DESIGN 7MM HIMALAYAN ICE/NIRVANA QUARTZ ROSE QUARTZ BUDDHIST WRIST MALA $11.95 |
|
|
CUSTOM DESIGN 7MM HIMALAYAN ICE/NIRVANA QUARTZ SANDALWOOD BUDDHIST WRIST MALA $11.95 |
|
|
Stretchy Tibetan 18 10mm Turquoise Buddhism Prayer Beads Wrist Mala Bracelet -6″ $6.95 |
|
|
Stretchy Tibetan 19 10mm Energy Goldstone Prayer Beads Wrist Mala Bracelet -6″ $6.45 |
|
|
Sandalwood 18 Arhats Beads Buddhist Prayer Wrist Mala $4.85 |
|
|
Big Stretchy Tibetan 16 Colorful Jade Prayer Beads Wrist Mala Bracelet -6 1/2″ $8.50 |
|
|
Tibetan 19 10mm Black Sandalwood Carved Buddha Prayer Beads Wrist Mala Bracelet $6.60 |
|
|
Sandalwood 18 Arhats Beads Buddhist Prayer Wrist Mala $4.85 |
|
|
MANTRA JAPA AMBER WRIST MALA BEADED BRACELET NEPAL $11.95 |
|
|
GENUINE CAMEL BONE WRIST MALA Yin Yang 10mm Prayer Bead Bracelet Stretch White $10.88 |
|
|
BLACK WOOD WRIST MALA 12mm Prayer Bead Bracelet Stretch Carved Buddha Jewelry $5.88 |
|
|
BROWN WOOD WRIST MALA 10mm Prayer Bead Bracelet Stretch Carved Buddha Jewelry $5.88 |
|
|
BLACK CARNELIAN WRIST MALA 12mm Prayer Bead Stone Bracelet Stretch Etched Lotus $8.88 |
|
|
HAND CARVED SKULL BEAD BRACELET Ox Bone Prayer Wrist Mala 12mm Tibetan Stretch $6.88 |
|
|
TIBETAN RUBY MOTHER OF PEARL WRIST MALA BEADS BRACELET NEPAL $21.99 |
|
|
Tibetan QUARTZ Crystal SPATIK Wrist Mala Bracelet NEPAL $11.99 |
|
|
7 CHAKRAS TIBETAN BUDDHIST WRIST MALA 7 GEMSTONES $14.25 |
|
|
TIBETAN MIXED YAK BONE WRIST MALA/ BRACELET $7.00 |
|
|
Lotus Seed Wrist Mala (Prayer Beads) Brown 18 Beads $9.99 Lotus seed represents purity and the 18 Bead Lotus Seed Wrist Malas are used by His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Lotus Seed Wrist Mala – Brown -18 Prayer Beads are meditation tools used for balance in your everyday life, spiritual life, emotional life. Mala’s have been used for centuries to count one’s breath and/or prayers during meditation. When one absentmindedly touches the mala throughout the d… |
|
|
Asian Yin Yang a Pair Sandalwood Prayer Beads, Wriste Malas, with Buddha Carvings, and a Free Buddha Eye Magnet $5.99 This set of wrist malas is made with sandalwood. Each bead has a Buddha carving. The string is elastic. It goes with a free Buddha eye fidge magnet. The wrist malas are handmade…. |
|
|
Tibetan Bodhi Seed Wood 12mm Yoga Meditation Prayer Beads Wrist Mala and a Copyrighted Tibetan Buddha Eye Magnet $5.99 This Tibetan wrist mala is made with Bodhi seeds and wood beads. The bead size is 12mm. It is handmade in Nepal. It comes with a free copyrighted Buddha eye magnet…. |
|
|
Tibetan Carved Yak Bone Wrist Mala $7.00 This listing is for a Professionally carved Yak bone Wrist mala. Hand strung in Nepal. This wrist mala contains total of 25 bone beads. Malas are usually used for meditation, counting mantras, and prostration and those counters are especially for counting when you do prostration or in a retreat for counting mantras. Each bead measures 7mm approximately. Please email me for more detail and i will b… |
|
|
Bodhi Root Wrist Mala Prayer Beads and a Free Copyrighted Buddha Eye Magnet $9.99 This wrist mala is made from the bodhi root. There are 19 beads on this mala. The band is made from elastic. Each bead is 10 mm. This bodhi root wrist mala was handmade in Nepal. The prayer beads come witha free copyrighted Buddha Eye Tibtan Mantra magnet…. |
