Meditation and prayers have become popular practice for anyone seeking inner peace and spiritual growth . As you may know, meditation and prayers are not a new trend and have been in continuation for centuries. Although it dwindled a bit with the modern era, these practices have seen a boom over the past few decades. This coincides with the onset realization of inner peace and strength.
Among many essential tools used in meditation practices, Wooden Mala is one of the essential ones. It is a traditional tool used for counting prayer chants or breaths. Because of their natural and grounding properties, these mala are a perfect choice. But how to choose the perfect wooden mala for you?
How to choose the right wooden mala for you?
With the sheer number of wooden types, bead sizes, bead counts, and price margins, it can be a bit of a daunting task to choose your mala. You don’t need to worry, though. Here we will cover everything you need to consider before choosing the right mala for you.
So without any further ado, let’s get started!
Choose the right Wood
Different types of wood are used to make mala, each with its own properties. So when choosing the right mala, you should choose the wood that resonates with you the most. Additionally, you can also look for the specific effects that the wood used for the mala has on you as well.
For instance, sandalwood has a nice natural fragrance. Sandalwood mala is said to provide the wearer with a sense of awareness and tranquility and promote relaxation.
Another popular choice of wood is palmwood. This mala improves energy circulation, enhances your stress dealing ability, and protects you from negative energy. If you are seeking these properties, then Palmwood Mala is a decent choice for you.
Bayong wood, on the other hand, has grounding properties and helps us adapt to any situation. Therefore, if you seek adaptability, then choosing Bayong wood mala for your next mala is the way to go.
Besides the effect of the wood, you can also go for the aesthetics of the wood as well. Rosewood has a creamy or reddish hue, sandalwood has a rich earthy look, and ebony wood has a dark color.
Of course, your choice is not limited to only these woods for your mala bracelets and wrist mala necklaces. You can browse on the internet and search for the wood that resonates with you for your next mala bracelet and necklaces. Once you are done with choosing the right wood mala, then you can move on to other factors.
Check for quality
So you have chosen the wood that you like; what’s next? It’s time to check for the quality of the wood and wooden beads. It goes without saying that a good quality mala is devoid of cracks and is made of even beads. As such, when looking for the quality of the beads, you should look for cracks, smoothness, sturdiness of the cord/string and security of the knots.
That said, there are some wooden beads that are naturally textured. Before checking for the smoothness of the mala beads, be sure you know the natural texture of the wood.
If your mala has a tassel, you should also give it a look to ensure that it is well made. Make sure that the tassel is straight and even.
If possible, you should also check the weight of the mala. A good quality wooden mala should feel substantial but not too heavy or uncomfortable. If the mala feels too light or flimsy, then it can be a sign that the mala is not of good quality.
Now that you have chosen the wood and confirmed the quality of the wood, the next step is checking the size of the beads.
Choose the Size of the beads
Choosing the size of the beads is a matter of personal preference and is entirely up to you. Smaller beads are generally lighter and more portable, which makes them suitable for general use. However, they can be a bit too small if you have larger hands. The larger beads feel more solid and have a grounding feel to them. That said, they can be a bit inconvenient for the long duration of meditation and for carrying around.
Along with this, some cultures and traditions may have specific requirements regarding the size of the beads. So your background and location may affect your choice of bead size when choosing the right mala.
Besides this, the size of the beads indirectly affects the length of the mala. The larger the beads, the less number you need for them to be of a specific length. The smaller the bead, the more of it you will require.
Speaking of which, the bead number is another one of the factors that you should consider when you choose your mala.
Side note: The common sizes for mala beads are 6mm, 8mm, and 10mm.
Choose the Bead Number
The total number of beads in a mala will vary depending on the specific use of the mala and the type of mala. For instance, a wooden wrist mala generally has 27 beads. However, the range of beads in a wrist mala can also be 19, 21, 36 and 54. Additionally, prayer bead mala necklaces generally have 108 and 216 beads.
These bead counts may have significance in different spiritual traditions and practices. So when choosing a mala, choose one that has the bead number that aligns with your intention, beliefs and practices.
On the flip side, if you want a mala purely for its aesthetic value, you can also make a custom order. Regardless, bead number is still an integral aspect of choosing the right wooden mala for you.
Select the price range.
Depending on the type of wood, bead number, bead size, and quality of the wood, the prices for wooden mala will vary. So before you make a purchase, you should ensure that the mala of your choice fits within your budget. To select the budget range, you can implement the following procedure:
- Prioritize your preferences and consider what type of Mala is most important to you.
- Compare the options between two types of mala that you like
- Consider the long-term value of the mala of your liking
- Set a realistic budget for the mala
Once you have followed these steps, you should have filtered out most of the mala. If you have only one mala on your list, then that is precisely the right mala for you. If you have more than one mala on your list, then pick the one that you feel most connected with.
Choose the mala that you feel connected with
Last but not the least, let’s talk about the simplest method to choose the mala; going with your intuition. This is probably the simplest method. This process is all about emptying your mind, forgetting all about the external factors, and letting your intuition guide you. While this process may require you to browse for a while, it is undoubtedly one of the best methods.
Trust your gut feeling and choose your mala based on what feels right for you, even if it doesn’t fit any of your preconceived notions.
Conclusion
Wooden mala is one of many traditional tools used to achieve inner peace and spiritual clarity during yoga and meditation. And in this era where many of us are getting aware regarding the importance of inner peace, it is undoubtedly gaining popularity in use. That said, choosing the right mala for your personal use can be a bit hard, especially with a wide range of options at our disposal.
However, you can follow the simple steps that we have mentioned here to choose the right mala for you. Regardless of if you go through the technical route or the intuitive route, you can always find the right mala for you.
We hope you found this helpful. If you did, do check out other blogs for insights regarding mala and other religious accessories. And as always, thank you for reading till the end.
FAQ
Q: What is a wooden Mala?
A: A mala is a string of beads made from woods such as sandalwood, ebony, rosewood and Bayong wood. These malas are used in meditation and other forms of religious and spiritual practices.
Q: What are the benefits of using a wooden mala?
A: Although the specific benefits will be based on the type of wood, mala have calming and grounding properties. These properties of malas make them highly suitable for mediation and spiritual practices.
Q: How do I choose the right wooden mala?
A: To choose the right mala, you should consider the following:
- Wood Type
- Wood Quality
- Beads Size
- Bead number
- Price