Buddhist Prayer Beads

About Buddhist Prayer Beads    

    Tibetan Buddhist Prayer Beads Malas are also known as japa malas or as the Buddhist rosary. Buddhist rosaries commonly have 108 beads, although there are also wrist malas with 16 to 19 beads. The japa mala is traditionally used in Tibetan Buddhism and in Hinduism. Prayer beads are used to count mantras. When using the japa mala, your fingers pass over one prayer bead for each time you recite the mantra. Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads come from Hindu prayer beads, and in both religions the number 108 is important.

Material used to make Buddhist Prayer Beads

    Prayer beads are made from any number of materials, including wood, sandalwood, bodhi seeds, bodhi wood, amber, coral, jade, bone, etc. The string for prayer beads can be made from silk, cotton, twine, and even hemp. Different materials used in prayer beads can have different purposes. Appeasing mantras should be recited while using white colored mantras. This can include malas made from crystal, tridacna shell, or white jade material. When reciting increasing mantras, you should use malas made from silver, copper, bodhi seeds, or lotus seeds. When reciting mantras for overcoming you should use a mala made from sandalwood or other forms of wood including elm wood, peachwood, and rosewood. Rudraksha beads, or bone beads, should be used for mantras to tame by forceful means.

Why is 108 commonly used to make Prayer Beads?

   

Japa malas commonly have 108 beads. There are many different theories on why the number 108 is significant in Buddhism and Hinduism. One reason is because you have to overcome 108 evils on your way to enlightenment. Another reason is that Avalokiteshvara assumed 108 human passions when telling the beads. In Mahayana Buddhism, lesser numbers of beads are also common, including 27 beads. The numbers can usually be divided by three. Some Chinese prayer beads only have 18 beads. In Vajrayana Buddhism, there are 108 beads on the mala so that one can recite the mantra 100 times, and there are 8 extra beads in case mistakes are made. Another explanation is that in Tibetan Buddhism there are 108 beads so that 100 mantras can be recited, with the 8 extra beads going out as prayers for all sentient beings.

How to Use Prayer Beads 

   

During meditation, it is important to fully focus on the meaning of each mantra without any distractions. Prayer beads help the practitioner to focus on the mantra without having to keep track of how many repetitions have been said. The correct way to hold a mala, in Hinduism, is to place the mala over your fingers and count with your thumb. The index finger was thought to be rude, and so you should leave that finger out when counting. In Buddhism, it is common to use the prayer beads with your left hand, and any finger can be used. In Tibetan Buddhism, the style of holding the mala in your hand depends on the practice.