A 108-bead bone prayer strand with black-and-white beads and a guru bead – a clean, contrasting strand for mantra recitation.
The black-and-white bone beads
This mala consists of bone beads alternating black and white, closed with a guru bead. Bone is a long-used, natural material in Tibetan and Hindu prayer strands. The contrast of black and white recalls the recurring visual language of duality and balance in tradition. This is a cultural, symbolic meaning, not a medical effect.
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
A 108-bead bone strand with black-and-white beads and a guru bead, about 37 cm long. Bone is a natural material, so each bead's pattern is unique. Keep it dry, wipe it with a soft cloth and avoid moisture.