This mala is strung with 108 brown rudraksha seeds and can also be worn as a necklace. It is about 65 cm long, weighs about 20 g and was made in Indonesia. Rudraksha is the seed of the fruit of an evergreen tree that grows in Indonesia and several other Asian countries.
Why 108 beads?
Hindu and Buddhist practice uses the mala to count mantras and prayers, one repetition per bead. Both traditions treat 108 as a sacred number, so a full mala has that many beads. Hindu tradition links rudraksha with Shiva. The name joins two Sanskrit words: Rudra, one of Shiva's names, and aksha, meaning eye.
Counting with the thumb
Traditionally the mala is held in the right hand and drawn along one bead at a time with the thumb, with the mantra said once at each bead. That way you never have to keep count in your head; after the 108th bead the round is complete. You do not need to look at the beads, because you can feel their grooved surface under your fingers.
Many people say their rounds in the morning or evening, sitting quietly. If you do not chant mantras, you can simply wear the mala as a necklace.
Natural seeds, slightly different beads
Rudraksha seeds have a deeply grooved surface, and because they are natural, the beads vary a little in colour and size. Dust can settle in the grooves over time; a soft brush will sweep it out. Keep the mala dry, take it off before bathing or swimming, and if it does get wet, let it dry at room temperature. If you would like one for your wrist too, our brown rudraksha mala bracelet is made from the same seeds.