| Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads have a wide and | | | | The word mala literally means a garland or strand and |
| varied history. Prayer beads are not unique to | | | | represents the unity of all things in Tibetan Buddhism. |
| Buddhism, believers in Catholicism use prayer beads in | | | | A typical strand of Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads |
| the form of a rosary, and they say the rosary as they | | | | contains 108 beads. This practice of putting 108 beads |
| move their hands over each bead. Prayer beads were | | | | on a strand of Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads came |
| first used in Hinduism, in Hinduism they are called japa | | | | from Hinduism. Hindus began putting 108 beads onto |
| mala. Prayer beads are also used by Muslims. | | | | each strand of prayer beads because there are 108 |
| Believers in the Bahai faith also use prayer beads in | | | | Hindu deities. Krishna also danced with 108 cow-herd |
| their practices. Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads are also | | | | girls and he is rumored to have had 16,108 wives. |
| known as the Buddhist rosary or by the word mala. | | | | |