A beaded mala or Beaded Necklace is a staple accessory in the east. Malas are traditional necklaces made from joining single units using a thread or string for the curious ones. You can form Mala of virtually anything, including flowers and stones, and if you go back into history far enough, these were the first jewelry humans ever wore.
In modern times, although jewelry made from raw stones is rare, you still have Mala necklaces. They are Malas made from beads from the eastern culture that is widely used in meditation practices and other spiritual and religious purposes.
Along with this, eastern Mala necklaces are also known for their physical healing qualities and aid in different sicknesses. The effect can vary widely between the raw materials of the beads; beaded Malas are considered beneficial for us in a wide range of applications.
What are the benefits of Beaded Mala?
As we mentioned earlier, the most common benefits of beaded Mala are felt during meditation or a spiritual exercise. Since the materials of Mala, be it the beads or the string, are deeply rooted in the spiritual and mental world, you can immediately feel the benefits of Mala necklaces.
Below are some of the benefits of beaded mala you must know.
1) Japa Mala Meditation
In this form of meditation practice, you find a comfortable position to sit in, take the Mala in your right hand between your middle finger and count the beads while reciting the mantra. The menstrual can be anything from well-known ones like “om mane padme hum” to more obscure and specific ones. Regardless of which mantra you chant, you can visibly feel your body relaxing and connecting to the spiritual world.
You must ensure you do not touch the guru mala (the big and exquisitely designed bead) with your thumb.
Mala or similar spiritual accessories have been used in many traditions, including religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, and more.
2) Aid in a Breathing exercise
Another immediate benefit of beaded Mala is its aid in breathing exercises. The use of Mala in breathing meditation/ exercises is similar to that of using this type of Mala in Japa Mala meditation. By aiding you in your meditation practices, mala beads automatically help you to improve your physical health and mental health.
To get the best benefit from beaded Mala in breathing exercises, you need to:
- Find a relaxing position to sit in
- Take the Mala in your right hand
- Take a long breath from your stomach
- Hold the breath in for a count
- Release the breath through your stomach and nose
- After each round, if breathing, count one bead in the beaded necklace
Your breathing exercise is completed once you count all the beads in a 108-beaded mala.
3) Gifting someone special
Beaded Necklaces are some of the most versatile religious, spiritual, and cultural accessories. This is because, unlike many religious and spiritual accessories, this accessory can be used outside this narrow scope. You can easily gift a mala to your loved one.
Now while this activity of gifting mala can mean something spiritual, it can simply be an attractive gift as well. Let’s admit this; beaded necklaces can be extremely attractive. Since you can have beads from virtually anything, including precious gemstones, bones, and even common woods, the choices for design are almost unlimited.
4) Celebration
Similar to gifting, you can wear Mala beads for simply celebrating an accomplishment as well. You can simply browse around the online stores or stores nearby you. After that, you can wear beaded Mala that you feel connected to, buy it, and wear Mala beads around your necklace to celebrate an accomplishment. This benefit of Mala necklaces is similar to treating yourself.
This act, too, can be both spiritual and not. If you want to connect the act of getting yourself a mala to the spirituality of success, then the Mala will naturally aid you in boosting your luck. At the same time, even if you wear Mala beads as a gift to yourself, it will still feel good as the positive energies will still be there.
A beaded Mala has 108 beads. Why?
This is one of the most asked questions regarding beaded necklaces – why are there 108 beads in a beaded mala? Alternatively, this question can also be reworded as “what do the 108 beads mean in a Mala Necklace?”
There are a few different reasons for this, and each relates to a unique element of the Vedas and astrological beliefs. Let’s take a look at some of them.
1) Sanskrit letters
Sanskrit is among the oldest written languages out there, and there are 54 basic letters in this language. The interesting aspect of this language is that each letter has a male and female version. Since Mala necklaces are said to have originated in an era where Sanskrit was prevalent, it would make sense for the beads to represent the letters of Sanskrit, also known as the language of the gods.
2) Ratio of the earth to the sun
This is a simple one. According to this explanation, the beads of a beaded mala represent the diameter ratio between the sun and the earth, which is a little over 1:108.
3) Distance between Moon and Earth
The ratio of the distance between the moon and earth is roughly 108 times the diameter of the moon. According to the Veda, Moon is also known as the lord of love, and the earth is directly related to life; therefore, to enhance the benefits of both these heavenly bodies, there are 108 beads.
4) Pranayama
According to the pranayama, if you are calm and fit enough to sustain your life with 108 breaths per day, you are said to have achieved enlightenment. The 108 beads mean the 108 breaths here.
Along with this, the 109th bead, i.e., guru bead, symbolizes the guru, i.e., teacher. In ancient times, a teacher was said to be second only to parents, even higher than one’s siblings and family members.
5) Lords and houses
In Veda, 12 houses and nine lords determine your fate. They are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Sun, and Moon. Along with this, as per astrology, the universe can be divided into 13 houses that determine traits and state of being, such as the house of personalities, the house of family, the house of misfortunes, and the house of wealth. At any given time, there are 108 possible outcomes of your activity on the fate (9 lords in 12 possible houses is 108); hence the 108 beads mean each possible fate.
6) Heart chakra point
It is said that in any human body, there are 108 meridians (energy lines) that meet at seven major chakra points. As per this belief, they originate from the heart chakra point, also known as Anahata. This chakra point is associated with unconditional love, compassion, and joy, which is the primary goal of spiritualism and meditation practice i,e, to feel unconditional love, joy, compassion, and be free from all the evils of the world. Mala’s are used to represent the 108 meridian lines that connect to the heart.
What is the best way to use a beaded mala?
You can use Mala necklaces in many ways, most of which involve meditation practices, breathing meditation/ exercises, and prayer. You can also use Mala necklaces as a good luck charm or fashion wear.
Having said this, we have already covered this in greater detail in a separate article. If you want to learn about it, please do give it a read on how to use beaded mala.
How to choose Mala beads?
This is another of the most frequently asked questions regarding beaded necklaces, but the best answer is surprisingly simple. Choose the beads that you feel connected with. Now, while looking for beaded necklaces or beads, you will constantly look for the one you feel connected with, even if you don’t know that.
When you find the one, you automatically have the urge to stop and stare at it for a while. The bead may or may not be aesthetically appealing, but you will feel a strange attraction. This is the Mala bead that you should purchase.
On the flip side of the coin, if you are specifically looking for the bead for effect, you can research it for a bit and find the Mala that fits your spiritual and aesthetic needs.
Where can you buy the best beaded Mala?
You can buy beaded necklaces just about anywhere in Nepal. That said, if you want the best Mala necklaces for an affordable price, then Nirvana Mala is the place for you. Nirvana Mala is one of the best wholesalers and distributors in Nepal, exporting handmade mala beads at wholesale prices to different countries. It is home to some of the best artisans in the country. Our artisans pour their hearts out to produce the best Mala beads and string them together.
How much Does a beaded Mala Cost?
The simplest answer to this is “it depends”. This is because the cost of Beaded Mala will vary depending on the materials. Furthermore, the cost of the materials will also vary depending on their rarity and design as well. Because of this, you can get the best beaded Mala at Nirvana Mala in the price range of $1 to $110.
As for the Mala price in Nepal, depending on the material, quality and design, you can get one for anywhere from Npr 100 to Npr 10,000 .
Conclusion
Beaded Malas are among some of the most versatile and important religious, spiritual, and cultural accessories. Along with its versatility and importance, this simple-looking beaded necklace carries a lot of hidden meanings. Some of which include the representation of Anahata and your fate.
Therefore, there are bound to be many uses for this simple but mysterious beaded necklace. That said, you can simply use this as a fashion accessory. You can choose from hundreds of color and material combinations, including Rudraksha beads.
We hope you found this helpful. And as always, thank you for reading till the end!