The 108 Beads in a Japa Mala and Prayer Beads

A Japa mala is used by Hindus, Buddhists and some Sikhs for their spiritual practice. Japa in Sanskrit means prayer and Mala is garland. A rudraksha Japa mala is a string of prayer beads used during prayer or meditation. A prayer mala usually comprises of 108 beads; however other number of beads is also used as per belief or convenience. A Japa mala is generally used for concentration while chanting mantra, chanting the names of the deity and counting the mantras while mental recitation.

The Reason Behind 108 Beads in Japa Mala

While praying, a specific mantra is repeated many times, sometimes hundred and sometimes thousand. A Japa mala is a way to focus on the mantra, its sound and its meaning; it is not always used to count the number of times the mantra is repeated. The usual norm is to chant one mantra for one bead before turning the bead with the thumb. The beads are mainly turned in the clockwise direction; however some traditions or sects believe in turning it in the counterclockwise direction. Also, specific fingers other than the thumb are used to turn the beads, as per tradition. After reaching the head bead, the mala is turned and the mantra is recited while turning the beads in the opposite direction. The beads are separated by knots that help a devotee use the mala with ease. For the easy movement of the beads through the fingers, the beads of a Japa mala will not be strung tightly.

When it is required to chant the mantra or the deity’s name ancient Tibetan culture has its own method. They make use of grains of rice; for each 108 repetition one grain is placed in a bowl. These grains are counted before the chanting begins. Every time the chanting complete one full round of the mala, a rice grain is removed from the bowl.

There are also different methods by which the malas are strung. Sometimes the mala has extra counters positioned differently as per tradition. These counters are generally in strings of ten. This is just another way of keeping track of the numbers which in case of monks and sadhus goes in to millions.

The Japa mala has another bead, the 109^th bead called the Stupa, or Sumeru or bindu or guru bead. The counting should always start with a bead adjacent to the bindu. As per Vedic Hindu tradition, when a devotee completes one cycle of chanting and reaches the bindu the direction of the repetition should be reversed rather than crossing the bindu.

There are many explanations given as to the use of 108 beads in the prayer mala, the most common one is that the number 108 holds religious significance to Hindus and Buddhists.

The Beads Used in Japa Mala

The mala beads can be made from a wide variety of materials. Although the most common and ancient form of Japa mala is the Rudraksha mala made from the highly revered Rudraksha beads of Nepal, Indonesia and India. These beads are preferred by the devotees of Lord Shiva. The devotees of Lord Vishnu prefer the Tulsi Mala made from the seeds of the tulasi plant. Other beads in a Japa mala are from the sandalwood plant and the seeds of the lotus plant. Tibetan Buddhists sometimes make use of animal bones (or even human bones) for chanting.

The material and the color of the Japa Mala have certain significance in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. 

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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