The Origin of Mala Beads.
The origin of mala beads has it's roots in the Hindu religion. It is said those who converted from the Hindu faith to Buddhism transferred this devotional practice with them and it soon became a part of the Buddhist faith. This is how the story goes:
Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism paid a visit to King Vaidunya. Sakya directed him to thread 108 seeds of the Bodhi tree on a string, and while passing (them) between his fingers to repeat "Hail to the Buddha, the law, and the congregation" (2,000) times a day. (Dubin).
Another interpretation of this prayer is om mani padme hum. This phrase is repeated over and over again according to how many beads are on a person's strand of mala beads.
Traditionally, there are 108 beads on a strand of mala prayer beads. The significance of this number is that it is the number of mental conditions or sinful desires that one must overcome to reach enlightenment or nirvana. Monks usually have mala beads with 108 beads, where as a lay person may have a strand with 30 or 40 beads. It is suggested that individuals just beginning this prayer ritual begin with a shorter strand of beads.
Just as there is a variety for the number of beads, there is also a variety for the color and material composition. Typically, the mala beads that monks use are made of wood from the Bodhi tree. In Tibet, mala strands often contain parts of semi-precious stones. In this culture, the most valued strands are made of bones of holy men or lamas. Typically there are 108 beads divided by 3 large beads. The end pieces on these strands are dorje (a thunderbolt) and drilbu (the bell). These end pieces represent the Three Jewels, or Buddha, the doctrine, and the community.
The overall purpose of all mala beads is to create a sense of tranquility and inner-peace for the individual and for those around them. In reciting a mantra, a sense of peace will enter making an individual that much closer to nirvana.
How to Use Mala Beads
In Buddhisms the right hand represents the religious world we walk in. The left hand represents the Buddha's pure world. That's why it is said the wrist mala should be worn on right hand when walking and on the left hand when sitting.
The mala can be used in two ways. It is traditionally held in the right hand and beads are moved towards the user one by one synchronized with each mantra recital.
In one method, the mala is hanging between the thumb and the ring (third) finger. The middle (second) finger is used to rotate the mala. The other way to use the mala is to let it hang on the middle finger with the thumb used to move the beads. (the index finger is never used to touch the beads).
To learn about the properties of the different kinds of mala beads, please use our navigation menu to the right. If you are interested in purchasing your own mala beads, we invite you to visit our store where we have a nice selection of Tibetan malas and ritual items straight from Tibet.
