| Beads | | | | beads on the strand, and other beads have 50 beads |
| Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads have a wide and | | | | on the strand. |
| varied history. Prayer beads are not unique to | | | | In Chinese and Japanese Buddhism practitioners also |
| Buddhism, believers in Catholicism use prayer beads in | | | | use malas with 27 beads. Malas with 27 beads, wrist |
| the form of a rosary, and they say the rosary as they | | | | malas, are typically used for prostration. Prostration is a |
| move their hands over each bead. Prayer beads were | | | | means for a Buddhist practitioner to rid himself of evil |
| first used in Hinduism, in Hinduism they are called japa | | | | such as anger, envy, and greed and fill himself with |
| mala. Prayer beads are also used by Muslims. | | | | compassion, peace, and love. |
| Believers in the Bahai faith also use prayer beads in | | | | Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads are made from many |
| their practices. Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads are also | | | | different materials including jade, wood, sandalwood, |
| known as the Buddhist rosary or by the word mala. | | | | turquoise, etc. In Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism Bodhi |
| The word mala literally means a garland or strand and | | | | seeds are also used for prayer beads. |
| represents the unity of all things in Tibetan Buddhism. | | | | To use prayer beads you pass your fingers over |
| A typical strand of Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads | | | | each bead as you say a mantra. You should say the |
| contains 108 beads. This practice of putting 108 beads | | | | mantra as you count through each bead until you |
| on a strand of Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads came | | | | reach where you started. Prayer beads have a larger |
| from Hinduism. Hindus began putting 108 beads onto | | | | bead in the middle so you will know when you have |
| each strand of prayer beads because there are 108 | | | | reached the end. |
| Hindu deities. Krishna also danced with 108 cow-herd | | | | Once you begin using your prayer beads, they |
| girls and he is rumored to have had 16,108 wives. In | | | | become sacred. You should not let other people |
| Tibetan Buddhism, 108 prayer beads on a Tibetan | | | | handle your prayer beads. Store your prayer beads in |
| Buddhist mala are important because there are 108 | | | | a special place and do not lie them on the ground. |
| sins. | | | | There are special prayer bead bags to hold your |
| Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads come in other numbers | | | | prayer beads so they will not be harmed. If you are |
| besides 108. There are Tibetan prayer beads with 111 | | | | interested in purchasing a strand of prayer beads |
| beads. In Catholicism some prayer beads have 10 | | | | please click here. |