What Is A Mala?

Elite Harmony Mala

A Mala means ‘heavenly garland’ and can be used for reflection, yoga practice, meditation or as part of your unique style. Stated that they can be worn by anyone who wants a more mindful, beautiful and peaceful life.

A Mala is known by many names and can also be referred to as yoga beads, meditation beads, prayer beads, mala necklaces, Japa Mala, yoga necklaces, yoga jewellery, rosary and Mala beads.

Malas, in Buddhist cultures and communities, are frequently given as gifts, for example, to celebrate a birthday, marriage, or holiday. They are also given as keepsakes and a source of protection to loved ones, of any denomination and work with healing and birthstones. If you have a spiritual teacher, it is traditional for you to request that he or she “bless” your Mala to ensure that your meditation practice is free from obstacles.
Anyone of any religion can wear malas. If wearing a mala resonates with you and makes you feel good, you should wear it!

Sac Geo MalaWHAT IS A MALA COMPRISED OF?

  • The 108 beads (crystals, wooden beads or seeds)
  • Counter or spacer beads at certain numerical intervals
  • The thread or wire
  • The knots between the beads ( not all Mala’s have knots though)
  • The Guru Bead
  • The Tassel, Bead or Charm

108 BEADS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE

So what makes the number 108 so special?
Here are some of the interesting ideas that can be found….

There are said to be 108 earthly desires in humans

There are 108 lies that humans tell

Some say humans have 108 feelings; 36 are related to the past, 36 are related to the present, and 36 related to the future

There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each has a masculine and feminine side, Shiva and Shakti. 54 times two is 108

There are said to be 108 paths to God

Hinduism
108 in Hinduism refers to the number of deities. Some say that each of the deities has 108 names

Islam
The number 108 is used in Islam to refer to God or Allah
Jain

In the Jain religion, 108 are the combined virtues of five types of holy ones, including 12, 8, 36, 25, and 27 virtues.

Sikh
The Sikh faith has a Mala of 108 knots tied in a string of wool rather than beads.

Buddhism
Buddhists sometimes carve 108 small Buddhas on walnuts to bring good luck or ring a bell 108 times to celebrate a new year. There are said to be 108 virtues to nurture and 108 sins to avoid

Chinese
The Chinese Buddhists and Taoists use a 108-bead mala – called su-chu. It has three spacer beads, dividing the mala beads into three parts 36 each. Chinese astrology says that there are 108 sacred stars.

There are many more beliefs around the number 108; these are but a few!

THE COUNTER BEADS

Counter beads placed in Malas are a popular choice for those learning to meditate. They are there to help us and can sometimes almost whisper to us, ” Come back” when the mind starts to wander.

Shungite Harmony Mala 8mmTHE THREAD

The thread itself represents the bond that we have with the Universe. It holds the beads together and is sometimes called “The Thread of the Universe”. The thread symbolises that everything is interconnected; nothing is separate.

THE KNOTS

One reason why the knots are placed in between each bead is that they symbolise our connection to the divine Universe and help us to keep our distractions separate from ourselves in the same way that the beads do not touch each other.

THE GURU BEAD

The Guru bead is the 109th bead. This bead symbolises the Divine or God. When practising meditation, you must never cross over the Guru bead – as it would show extreme disrespect and is looked upon as stepping over the Divine. Instead, you should turn the mala around 180 degrees and return the way you came, in the reverse direction. Since the Guru bead is not counted during meditation and is separate from the rest of the Mala, it illustrates that God or The Divine is beyond ourselves and our Universe.

THE TASSEL

The tassel represents our connection to the Divine as it links our meditation and Guru beads and holds all the threads and beads together.

WHAT IS NEXT?

Once you have your own set of Mala Beads, you generally need to cleanse and bless them. Here are a few ways to do this or what feels right for you!

HOW TO BLESS YOUR MALA

You can “bless” or activate your mala by creating a sacred space, for instance- lighting a candle and then holding your Mala over sage, incense or juniper smoke. While you are doing this, say a quiet prayer. You can also use a crystal or metal singing bowl to cleanse your Malas; this brings sound and crystals together.
Malas can be left in the sunlight or the moonlight to re-energize them, and then they can be programmed with your intention to bring Light and Love to all. Each set of mala beads has its unique qualities and personality, so it is important to take your time when choosing your mala beads.
So now you know the history and significance of Mala Beads, you can choose to use them to enhance your meditation practice or to wear them as a beautiful necklace that will remind you of your innate power and wisdom.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this, and if you want to look at some of our handcrafted Mala Beads, pop over to our website page for Mala Beads and Necklaces.
www.theshungiteexperience.com.au
MalaLove

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