A mala necklace of 108 beads, each one polished natural carnelian, finished with a red tassel. Laid out, it is about 39 cm long and weighs about 54 g. Made in India.
Orange and red in carnelian
Carnelian is the orange-to-red variety of the mineral chalcedony. The shade changes from bead to bead, with paler orange and deeper red beads side by side. So the necklace never looks exactly like the photo, but its colour always stays within these warm tones.
Hold it up to the light and the beads glow through, looking a deeper orange.
Carnelian in the pharaohs' jewellery
The ancient Egyptians set carnelian in jewellery, and it can be seen in the pectorals from Tutankhamun's tomb. Crystal lovers call it a stone of courage and initiative.
108 beads for mantras
In Hindu and Buddhist tradition, a mala is used to count mantra repetitions. You start at the tassel and move one bead along with your thumb for each repetition. When you come back round to the tassel, you have said the mantra 108 times.
By tradition, you don't step over the tassel. To say more rounds, turn the mala round and carry on in the other direction.
If you don't recite mantras, you can count your breaths on it during a quiet sitting, slowly, bead by bead.
Around the neck or the wrist
Wear it around your neck with the tassel hanging at the front, or wrap it several times around your wrist as a layered bracelet. To clean it, wipe it with a soft, dry cloth. Keep the tassel dry, as water can make it clump and it is hard to comb out again.