MALA BEADS 101

Simply put, mala beads are prayer beads commonly used in spiritual practices to keep the mind focused and clear from thoughts. A ‘mala’ is a simple string of beads used in meditation to enhance concentration and count breaths.

With the surge of yoga-infused travel and retreat tourism, there is an increased popularity of these extra long beaded necklaces to give the look of exotic beach vibes, yogi-surfer style and mindfulness. You don’t have to be religious to wear a mala, though it’s important to honour the lineage of this sacred tool and respect its significance by understanding where mala beads come from + why they’re worn.

the crash course

Mala Beads have been around for thousands of years and appear to have originated in India around the 8th century BCE. These prayer beads are commonly used in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and are powerful tools that enhance spiritual awareness by helping you remain focused during seated meditation practice. The oldest beads found to date are approximately 42,000 years old (wait, what?!) which just goes to show that ancient cultures were really onto it! These simple practices have proven to to be SO transformative that this sacred tool has hung around for millennia.

why 108 beads?

For those of you who have yet to closely inspect your beads - FYI a mala traditionally has 108 beads. The 109th bead, found at the bottom of the mala where the beads intersect, is called the ‘guru’ bead. Generally, this bead is not counted among the repetitions but used as a marker for the start and end of a cycle. It’s believed that the ‘guru’ holds the energy generated during the practice. You can also find mini-malas for a quick practice in the form of 54 or 27 beads or an extra-long mala with 216 beads for the seasoned meditation practitioner.

Underneath the guru bead of a traditional mala you will find a tassel, symbolizing eternity, which is usually pointed towards you when you begin meditating with the mala necklace. At Passion Pilgrim, we like to use quartz crystal in most of our mala bead designs instead of a tassel for added mental clarity and spiritual cleansing. Not to mention they’re just so darn pretty!

So why 108 beads? This is a question with so many answers. The number 108 is widely known as an auspicious number as it has a powerful significance with several meanings across various philosophical, scientific and religious beliefs. Some of our faves are: 

• Heart Chakra - 108 lines of energies connect to form the heart chakra.

• Marma Points - There are 108 marma (acupressure-like) points in the body.

• Sun and Earth - The Sun’s diameter is 108 times the diameter of the Earth, and the Sun’s distance to the Earth is 108 times greater than the Sun’s diameter.

• Moon and Earth - The Moon’s distance to the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon.

• Planets and Houses - In Astrology, there are 12 houses and 9 planets. 12 times 9 equals 108.

What are Malas made from? 

Traditionally, mala beads are made from Rudraksha seeds that occur in nature, growing naturally on Rudraksha trees as well as in sustainable plantations.  These sacred seeds are found in the Himalayas in India and Nepal, as well as in Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia, Guam and Hawaii. If you’ve ever seen an image of the devout and dreadlocked Yogi Baba draped in rudraksha, that’s because they are commonly known in Hinduism, and in particular Shaivism, as “the seed of Shiva” and are highly revered as they are said to connect the wearer directly to the source of existence and to pure consciousness itself.

That being said - malas can be made from different types of materials! The most common being wood, semi-precious gemstones, rare crystals and, of course, rudraksha seeds. Mala beads exhibit specific energies depending upon the material used so choose a material that aligns with your needs.

At Passion Pilgrim, each mala is intuitively designed using crystals for a double-dose of healing. Our mala beads are a tool for energy transformation, meditation, protection, contemplation, and a pathway back home to yourself. Although some traditions encourage a more private relationship with the beads strictly for the use of meditation - we design our beads to be worn as a talisman for your journey.

Mala beads hold abundant energy.

Perhaps we’re a little biased, but whether you use your mala for reciting mantra or simply wear it as a piece of healing jewelry, we wholeheartedly believe that you will deeply benefit from having mala beads in your life.

Looking for the perfect gift for yourself or another special soul?

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