A 108-bead prayer strand of light wooden beads with nine decorative beads and a silver-coloured dorje (vajra) pendant on an elastic cord – also wearable as a bracelet.
The wooden mala and the silver dorje
The warm wooden beads are light and easy in the hand; the circle is more richly punctuated by nine decorative beads and closed with a silver-coloured dorje. The dorje (vajra in Sanskrit) is a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism: it unites the unbreakable purity of the diamond with the piercing force of lightning, an image of the steady, clear mind. The number nine itself recurs as a sacred number in the tradition. These are traditional, cultural symbols.
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 meru or guru bead closes the 108 beads, standing for wisdom and the completeness of the circle. The beads pass one by one between the fingers while attention rests on the meaning and vibration of the words. This slow, repeating motion has helped practitioners gather their attention to a single point 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 index finger and the thumb; on reaching the guru bead you turn the circle back rather than crossing it. Through the day it can be worn wrapped around the wrist as a quiet reminder.
Material and care
108 wooden beads, nine decorative beads and a silver-coloured dorje pendant on an elastic cord, about 34.5 cm long. The elastic cord lets it wind around the wrist. Keep it dry and wipe it with a soft cloth; wood is natural, so each bead is unique.