Japa mala

A Japa mala or mala (Sanskrit: _sa. माला; IAST|mālā, meaning "garland" [Harvnb|Apte|1965|p=758.] ) is a set of beads commonly used by Hindus and Buddhists, usually made from 108 beads, though other numbers, usually divisible by 9, are also used. Malas are used for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of a deity. This practice is known in Sanskrit as "japa".

Usage

Mantras are often repeated hundreds or even thousands of times. The mala is used so that one can focus on the meaning or sound of the mantra rather than counting its repetitions. One repetition is usually said for each bead while turning the thumb clockwise around each bead, though some traditions or practices may call for counterclockwise motion or specific finger usage. When arriving at the head bead, one turns the mala around and then goes back in the opposing direction. This makes using the mala easier as the beads will not be so tight on the string when you use them.

If more than 108 repetitions are to be done, then sometimes in Tibetan traditions grains of rice are counted out before the chanting begins and one grain is placed in a bowl for each 108 repetitions. Each time a full mala of repetitions has been completed, one grain of rice is removed from the bowl. Often, practitioners add extra counters to their malas, usually in strings of ten. These may be positioned differently depending on the tradition; for example some traditions place these strings after every 10th bead. This is an alternative way to keep track of large numbers, sometimes going into the hundreds of thousands, and even millions.

The 109th bead on a mala is called the sumeru, bindu, stupa, or guru bead. Counting should always begin with a bead next to the sumeru. In the Hindu, Vedic tradition, if more than one mala of repetitions is to be done, one changes directions when reaching the sumeru rather than crossing it.

There are numerous explanations why there are 108 beads, with the number 108 bearing special religious significance in a number of Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

In Hinduism

Hindu tradition holds that the correct way to use a mala is with the right hand, with the thumb flicking one bead to the next, and with the mala draped over the middle finger. The index finger represents ego, the greatest impediment to self-realization, so it is considered best avoided when chanting on a mala.

Regional Variations

In Northeast India, particularly those in the Shakta traditions in Bengal and Assam, the mala is often draped on the ring finger of the right hand, with beads moved by the middle finger with aid of the thumb and avoiding the use of the index finger. However, draping the mala over the middle finger and using the thumb to move the beads is also acceptable in these regions.

In Buddhism

Malas are also used in many forms of Mahayana Buddhism, often with fewer beads (usually a divisor of 108). In Pure Land Buddhism, for instance, 27-bead malas are common. Such malas are called "shu zhu" (数珠) in China and "juzu" in Japan. These shorter malas are sometimes used for counting repeated prostrations, as they are easier to hold while prostrations are performed. In Tibetan Buddhism malas are also 108 beads: one mala counts as 100 mantras, and the 8 extra are meant to be dedicated to all sentient beings.

Materials

A wide variety of materials are used to make mala beads, though there are common standards. Beads made from the seeds of the rudraksha tree are considered sacred by Saivas, devotees of Siva, while beads made from the wood of the tulasi plant are used and revered by Vaishnavas, follwers of Vishnu. Some Tibetan Buddhist traditions call for the use of animal bone (most commonly yak), but sometimes human bone is used, those of past Lamas being the most valuable. Others use wood or seeds from the Bodhi tree or seeds of the Lotus plant. Semiprecious stones such as carnelian and amethyst may be used, as well. The most common and least expensive material is sandalwood. In Hindu Tantra, as well as Buddhist Tantra (or Vajrayana), materials and colors of the beads can relate to a specific practice.

Notes

References

*Harvard reference
last=Apte
first=Vaman Shivram
year=1965
title=The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary
place=Delhi
publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
edition=Fourth revised and enlarged
volume=
isbn=81-208-0567-4

ee also

*Japa (spiritual discipline)
*Prayer Beads
*Aum Namah Shivaya mantra
*Hare Krishna mantra
*Mahayana Buddhism
*Kombolói
*Tasbeeh
*Kora (pilgrimage)

External links

* [http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/b_beeds.htm General Buddhist use of mala]
* [http://www.krishna.com/node/631 How to Chant using Japa beads - Hare Krishna]
* [http://www.japagroup.blogspot.com Japa Group - discussing all aspects of chanting Hare Krsna Japa]
* [http://www.thejaparoom.com Japa Room - A friendly and constructive way to improve your Japa online in an audio/visual chatroom environment]
* [http://www.dlshq.org/teachings/japayoga.htm Japa Yoga - Sivananda Swami]
* [http://www.hinduism.co.za/japa.htm More On Japa, by Ramana Maharshi]