What is a 108 mala?

Malas or Japa beads come in a string of 108 and are used for devotional meditation, mantra and prayer. With each bead a mantra or prayer is repeated to meet a total of 108. This is the guiding bead and marks the beginning and end of the mala/chant/prayer/mantra.

What is the significance of 108?

Renowned mathematicians of Vedic culture viewed 108 as a number of the wholeness of existence. This number also connects the Sun, Moon, and Earth: The average distance of the Sun and the Moon to Earth is 108 times their respective diameters. Such phenomena have given rise to many examples of ritual significance.

What do different mala beads mean?

Wearing orange beads can help you to increase feelings of enthusiasm and joy within yourself. Carnelian: improves motivation, promotes positivity, encourages success. Amber: attracts good luck, eliminates fears. Goldstone: increases energy, encourages ambition, promotes courage and confidence.

Can a mala have more than 108 beads?

Malas always have 108 Beads. There are also variations of malas like pocket malas or mala bracelets and they may have 27 beads or 54 beads, or any multiple of 9, as 9 is a sacred number in Yoga. – Mala Beads are often used as a meditation tool.

Why do mala beads have tassels?

Mala Beads are commonly finished with a tassel, often made of silk or cotton. The tassel represents connection to spirit, or your highest truth. Malas can also be made without a tassel. You may choose to simply finish your mala with the guru bead and skip the tassel, or you may finish your mala with a charm instead.

Does 108 beads include the guru bead?

Also called the “Meru Bead” which translates to “Mountain Bead”, the Guru Bead in your mala is the 109th bead. It is not counted as part of the 108 beads. The Guru Bead is your teacher, it said to hold your prayers and intentions.

Is it offensive to wear mala beads?

Yes, it can most definitely be taboo if mālā beads are used improperly and not intentionally. As with many things in yoga, in order to have respect and appreciation it is important to know the origins of certain things, in this case the mālā beads.

Can we wear more than 108 Rudraksha?

Traditionally, the number of beads is 108 plus one, the bindu. It’s recommended that an adult should not wear a mala with less than 84 beads, plus the bindu – but any number over that is fine!