Beads made from Nepalese Gabets malas //
What is a MALA? //
A mala is a meditation necklace that has been worn by yogis, Hindus and Buddhists for thousands of years. It can be of different sizes and lengths and usually consists of 108 individual beads and an additional larger bead, the guru bead.
The term MALA is Sanskrit and means meditation wreath. The mala used to be given by yoga masters to their students to support them on the path to enlightenment.
Mala necklaces are traditionally made from special materials and are used to support Japa meditation. In this type of meditation, a mantra is repeated over and over again. In order not to be distracted, the meditator uses the chain to count the repetitions.
This type of meditation is mentioned as early as the Mahabharata around 400 BC. However, the origin of the chain probably dates back much further, as knowledge in India was only passed on orally for a long time.
In Hinduism, each of the 108 beads represents the name of a god to whom the devout Hindu offers his request. Worshipers of Shiva and Kali often use Rudraksha seeds, the dried, supposedly particularly healing fruits of the Bodi tree, under which Buddha found his enlightenment. Refined leg beads with inlays of coral and turquoise can also be found in Nepalese malas.
In Buddhism, the 108 beads represent the 108 volumes of the Buddha's collected teachings. The 4 areas symbolize that 27 passions have to be transformed into 27 mental qualities and 27 heartbreaks have to be overcome in order to achieve 27 qualities.
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