Japa Mala Beads – Howlite–Sodalite Japa Mala

• Size: total length approx. 65 cm with tassel, and inner circumference approx. 110 cm.
• Number of beads: 108 + guru bead
• Material: hoplite, sodalite, tiger's eye, metal bead, bead string and tassel

A hand-knotted japa mala made from hoplite, sodalite and tiger's eye. In this mala design, each 8 mm bead is separated by a knot, beautifully combining the black lava stone with tiger’s eye. Mala beads are particularly well suited for individuals who have difficulty focusing during meditation.

Mala beads – history, tradition and modern use

The mala is a prayer and meditation bead necklace that has been used in Asia for thousands of years. Its earliest forms are known from the Indian region, where bead strands were used during the Vedic period to maintain rhythm in mantra practice. Later, the mala became an established prayer tool in both Hinduism and Buddhism. Buddhist texts describe the mala as particularly helpful when the mind needs a concrete way to stay present in the practice.

A traditional mala contains 108 beads, used to count repetitions of a mantra or prayer. When 108 repetitions are completed, one cycle of practice is considered finished. The number 108 has been sacred in several Indian numerical systems and is associated with a complete mantra cycle. The bead strand is often completed with a guru bead, which is not passed over; instead, one pauses at this point and reverses direction.

The Guru Bead – the Anchor of the Mala

The guru bead is the distinctive bead located at the end of the strand. Its function is:

• The practice ends at the guru bead. When the practitioner has moved through all 108 beads, they arrive at the guru bead and pause.

• One does not continue past the guru bead. If the practice continues, the strand is turned around, and the next cycle begins from the bead next to the guru bead. This keeps the rhythm consistent and highlights the moment in which attention returns to the breath before the next round.

The guru bead therefore acts both as a finishing point and the beginning of a new cycle. It is not counted among the 108 beads, but serves as the anchor of the mala.

Materials, History, and Symbolism

In the traditions rooted in Asia, malas were originally made from seeds and wood. Rudraksha seeds were considered protective in Hinduism. Buddhists often used bodhi wood, as the Buddha attained enlightenment under the bodhi tree. Gemstone and crystal malas are later variations, but they follow the same structure and use.

Modern Use

The mala has moved beyond its religious origins into meditation, yoga instruction, and everyday focus practices. Its popularity grew in the West in the late 20th century as awareness of breathwork and mental stability became more widespread. Today, the mala serves as a tool for keeping rhythm in meditation, but also as a physical reminder of the importance of calming the mind.

There are many forms of practice. Some follow mantra recitation, others meditate in silence and use the smooth beads to track the flow of the breath. The structure and logic remain the same as they were thousands of years ago.