A classic rudraksha prayer strand of 108 seeds with a vivid orange tassel, arriving in a colourful pouch – an intimate, traditional companion to practice.
The rudraksha seed
Rudraksha is the hard, ridged seed of the Southeast Asian tree Elaeocarpus ganitrus; this mala is strung from five-faced (5 mukhi) seeds. Its name means "the tears of Rudra" in Sanskrit, and Hindu tradition links it to the god Shiva. The orange tassel and colourful pouch recall a traditional, festive look. The meaning attached to the seeds comes from tradition, not from any medical claim.
The 108-bead prayer strand
A mala is the prayer strand of the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, originally used to count mantras in meditation. A larger guru bead closes the 108 beads, standing for wisdom and the completeness of the circle; the practitioner repeats a mantra at each bead and, on reaching the guru bead, turns the circle back. This slow, repeating motion has helped focus attention for centuries.
How to use it
Hold the mala in your hand during meditation or mantra recitation and move from bead to bead between the thumb and index finger. Through the day it can be worn wound around the wrist as a quiet reminder.
Material and care
108 natural five-faced rudraksha seeds with an orange tassel, about 57 cm long; it arrives in a colourful pouch. The seeds are natural, so their colour, size and shape vary slightly. Keep it dry; it can occasionally be cared for with a little natural oil.