This 108-bead mala alternates rudraksha seeds with seven chakra gemstones – amethyst, lapis lazuli, sodalite, green aventurine, yellow jasper, carnelian and red jasper. It works equally well for counting mantras during meditation and as an everyday necklace; at 44 cm it slips easily over the head.
What is a mala?
A mala is originally a prayer and meditation tool from the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, used to count mantras. A mantra is a string of words, often in Sanskrit, repeated traditionally 108 times; while repeating, attention rests on the meaning and vibration of the words, so thoughts settle and the body relaxes. Today a mala is also widely worn as an accessory.
Why 108 beads?
In the Hindu and Buddhist traditions 108 is a sacred number. It recurs in the doubling of the 54 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet, in the traditional count of subtle energy channels (nadis) in the body, and across many sacred texts. That is why a mala is traditionally strung with 108 beads, often finished with a larger guru bead.
Rudraksha and the chakra stones
Rudraksha are the naturally ridged seeds of the Elaeocarpus tree, long valued across Asia as material for meditation strands. The seven gemstones strung alongside them echo the traditional colours of the seven main chakras, from root to crown. Every bead is a natural material, so seed size and stone shade can vary a little.
Use and care
It serves as a companion to meditation practice, a wearable reminder, or a thoughtful gift for anyone drawn to Eastern traditions. Keep it away from water and perfume and wipe it with a soft cloth, so the natural seeds keep their character for a long time.