A mala is a spiritual symbol and sacred object for those on a journey of self-actualization, self-discovery, and self-love. Mala meditation, or Japa meditation, is a powerful tool in your quest for mindfulness and a more peaceful life.
What is a Mala Meditation?
Mala is a Sanskrit word that means garland—more than a necklace—a circular arrangement of intertwined flowers or leaves. I don’t know about you, but the meaning makes the mala even more enchanting to me. Beaded necklaces resembling malas is commonly part of boho or hippy fashion, yet it’s more significant than just a piece of jewelry. A mala’s meaning is profound when used during Japa meditation for deeper meditative practices.
Meditating with a Japamala a great way to experience a relaxed and intense meditative state. My fidgety hands have something to do, and the feeling of the beads working through my fingers is emotionally and tactilely pleasing.
Although created from precious and meaningful gems, seeds, and other earthly materials, a mala’s value is more than its composition. Healing energy infuses your mala with the intentions you imbue it with and how you handle and care for it.
But, at its core, the mala is a tool to assist focus during Japa meditation, count and keep track of breaths and mantras, as a reminder of your intentions, and as a nudge to be mindful throughout your day.
Caring for your mala respectfully and treating it as a precious and sacred object will enrich your life and spiritual practice. Malas have strong spiritual sacredness because they absorb your energy and intentions over time. Of course, this is up to you and your beliefs, but when offered something so meaningful, why not give it a try?
What’s with the 108 Beads?
A mala has 108 beads, a sacred number in many traditions. In Vedic tradition 108 is said to denote the wholeness of the universe. There are 54 characters in the Sanskrit language, each with a masculine and feminine form, thus equaling 108. In yogic tradition, there are 108 chapters of the Rig Veda, 108 Upanishads, and 108 primary Tantras. The 1 stands for God, the 0 for humility in spirit, and the 8 for infinity. Divide 108, and you also get 9 and 12, spiritual numbers in many traditions.
In addition to the 108 counting beads, your mala may have spacer beads which are larger or have a different texture. Spacer beads are placed at equal intervals on the mala to alert you to your place during meditation. I prefer only to have one at the halfway point. These beads are not meant to be counted or a mantra recited; you notice them and go over them.
A guru bead is at the center/beginning/end of your mala. This bead signals that you have come to the final 108 mantras, and you can either go back around (this is explained more in just a bit) or finish your meditation. Guru means darkness remover and is a symbol of your teacher or mentor, and because of this respect and honor, the guru bead is not passed over.
The Beads
For thousands of years, malas have been made from rudraksha beads, a symbol that the wearer has chosen to become a conscious human and is on a spiritual path. Malas are often made from semi-precious gemstones from material created by earth. They hold the metaphysical healing powers of the crystal. If you have a specific intention in mind, choose your mala by considering the metaphysical energies of the stones used to create it.
Often, the beads are 8mm but may also be 6mm. In many traditions, the beads are much larger, making them easier to count and move more smoothly through your fingers. I find that 6mm is far too small of a bead to comfortably count without concentrating too hard, which is counterproductive. I prefer 8mm or even 10mm for more mindful, deeper concentration while meditating.
Knots and Tassels and Cords, Oh My!
Cotton, silk, hemp, or other strong cord strings your mala together. The cord symbolizes the interconnecting and bonding together of the universe as if by a thread. Between each bead is a knot. This knot is meant to keep the beads from touching each other and to allow room for your thumb to move across the beads while counting. It also represents the divine link between all existence.
The knots are also essential to seal the intention of your mala. When I create my malas, I recite a mantra at each knot, sealing the intention of love and goodness at every bead.
As tassel finishes your mala. The tassel should be knotted into the mala, and the mala string should be at the center of the tassel. The tassel symbolizes lotus roots. The lotus flower is a reminder that even in the muck and mud—our challenges and obstacles—beauty exists and finds nourishment in the muddy water. Thus, our challenges foster our most significant growth. When wearing your mala, the tassel helps direct energy from your higher crown area through your heart center and towards the earth.
Only Good Vibes Around Here, Please
Think of all the processes—all the hands—that have touched your mala on its way to you. Many energies have been in contact with your mala from the earth, miners, wholesalers, bead makers, transport, and the creator (me!).
If you believe in energy and vibrations and wish to use your mala on your spiritual journey, you may want to cleanse it before using it and from time to time.
Creating a cleansing ritual you are comfortable with and enjoy is important. You can cleanse your mala by leaving it in the moonlight (especially a full moon), or a window.
You might set your mala on or around a cleansing crystal such as selenite, amethyst, celestite, or clear quartz. Alternatively, store it in a bag or box containing one of these crystals. You may use sound by using a Tibetan singing bowl or even a tinkling multiple crystal tumble near and around your mala. A popular method is cleansing by smoke with sage or incense by gently passing your mala through the smoke.
What Exactly is Japa, or Mala, Meditation?
If you find meditation “difficult” or want to deepen your meditative experience, Japa meditation might be the practice for you. From the Dharmic religions of India, it’s a tradition found in Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Yogic traditions. Japa is Sanskrit for mutter—mantra or prayer. A mantra is a sacred word that is imbued with spiritual significance.
Mala meditation can give you another tool to create or build upon your meditation practice. As you count the beads and recite a mantra, your practice has structure. No more worrying about time, how long to meditate, or how long you’ve been at it; your beads keeps track for you.
For many, it is easier to train your mind and body to ease into a meditative state with the kinesthetic feedback of passing beads through your fingers. With this physical reminder, your brain focuses more quickly and hushes the echoes of your mind, and your thoughts quiet more gently. Brushing the beads across your fingers acts as a cognitive touchtone for your brain to kick into mediation mode.
Mala Meditation is Healthy
Scientists have studied meditation extensively; we know it has many mental, physical, and spiritual benefits. It can improve your life by relieving stress, coping with hypertension, improving your mental well-being, and quieting the chatter of our busy lives. Spiritually, it buttresses us against the onslaught of negative thinking patterns, keeps us connected with our intentions and dharma (life’s purpose), and deepens our consciousness.
But this doesn’t mean it’s something new; meditation is an immemorial concept practiced worldwide for thousands of years.
Combining breath, relaxing your mind, the healing feeling of beads in your hand, and repetition of a meaningful mantra makes for a spiritually beautiful meditation. Using a mala in Japa meditation trains your mind to make a graceful transition into concentration and focus. It is a beautiful way to have a peaceful moment throughout the day and a deeper, more significant meditation practice.
Like any discipline, a regular Japa meditation practice cultivates Tapas (self-discipline) in all areas of your life. Using a mantra that is meaningful to you also helps you access your deeper mind and connect to spirit and your spirituality.
Mala meditation is just one type of meditation to add to your toolbox for self-discovery and spiritual growth. So many fascinating types of meditation to explore, but I’d encourage you to try mala meditation.
Mantra 101
A mantra is a meditation tool that allows us to enter a state of deep meditation. In Japa meditation, you recite your mantra 108 times. You can divide this into groups of 27 and do more or less if that’s what time allows or you are just starting.
While this repetition might sound rote or boring, with experience, the repetition and the vibration of the sound help your mind enter a trance-like state, steadies your vritti, and calms your monkey mind. It helps ease your mind’s distraction and open new wonderful meditative layers by centering and focusing and giving your thoughts somewhere to land and rest.
You can start by saying your mantra aloud (Vaikhari Japa) and then whispering or humming (Upamsu Japa). Still, you’ll eventually want to be able to recite your mantra silently in your mind (Manasika Japa). Silent recitation allows the most potent connection to meditation. Fill your inner mind with the sound of your mantra.
Choose a mantra that sounds pleasing to you, has a good vibration or resonance in your mind, and that you connect with on a meaningful level. You can choose your own affirmation or phrase that gives you hope or peace. It can be anything that isn’t too long and can be in any language.
Depending on how spiritual you want to make it, your intentions, and how comfortable you are repeating it, your mantra is a personal choice. It can be as simple as saying “breathe in” on your inhale and “breathe out” on your exhale.
That said, here are the most commonly used mantras for Japa meditation.
Mantras to Try
In yogic belief, Om (or aum) is the sound which created everything in the universe. It is a powerful mantra, and when used, you can access the awareness of all creation.
So’ham means “I am that,” meaning you identify with the whole universe. It is an answer to “Who am I?”
Om namah shivaya is a traditional Japa meditation mantra that means “salutations to Lord Shiva.” This mantra invokes self-realization and deep spiritual states of being. It has more specific religious connotations than others here, but it is an understanding that we are all part of creation and are all part of one and absolute.
If you seek deep and profound peace, Om shanti shanti shanti, might be the most meaningful mantra to try. Shanti means peace, and we repeat it three times for our mind, body, and speech.
A popular mantra in Tibetan Buddhism, Om mani padme hum, is said to contain all the teachings of the Buddha. This mantra roughly translates to the jewel in the lotus and is a mantra all about compassion. It clears the mud and muck away until we are sparkly and pure. But always with the right intention.
Mala Meditation in 10 Steps
1
Find a comfortable seat. It is traditional to sit on the ground, connected to the earth, either in a comfortable sukhasana (easy seat, cross-legged), in half or full lotus (crossing your legs over your thighs), or in a hero’s seat (legs folded under you, resting back on your heals). Root down into the earth through the base of your spine and pull up to the heavens through the back of your neck and crown. Keep your heart area open and your shoulders relaxed.
If sitting on the floor isn’t possible, you may also sit in a chair. Keep your feet on the floor and spine straight, and don’t lean back into the chair. The fewer distractions, the better, especially when first starting out. So, find a quiet time in a quiet environment with a quiet heart.
2
Hold your Japamala in your right hand. This doesn’t matter in Tibet, but most traditions have you holding your mala in your right hand. Drape your mala across your middle finger, your thumb holding the bead immediately after the guru bead. Straighten out your mala, making sure there are no tangles or knots. Getting stuck at a knot brings your focus out of a meditative state.
Your index finger is the accusing finger and is also associated with the fire element, so avoid using it so you don’t destroy your intentions with fire. The middle finger, where your mala rests, also has an acupressure point connected to your spine.
Your left hand can rest on your knee, palm up to receive inspiration and energy from the universe, palm down to ground into the earth. You can use a mudra (hand gesture) like the chin mudra. Chin is Sanskrit for unrestricted consciousness, and this well-loved mudra brings calmness and harmony. Create a circle by touching your thumb tip to the tip of your index finger. Relax your other fingers. Or, you can hold a crystal in your left hand like I enjoy.
3
Close your eyes or allow them to go soft, depending on what you find comfortable.
4
Begin diaphragmic breathing. Breathing is the foundation of all meditation. It is vital to breathe in through your nose using your diaphragm to fill your lungs and then slowly allow the breath to leave your nose. This is slow breathing, concentrated breathing, and life breathing. (To learn diaphragmic breathing techniques, read here.)
5
When you’re ready, pull the first bead toward you using your thumb, allowing your mala to move across your middle finger.
6
Recite your chosen mantra. Remember, this can be audible, whispered, or hummed, but preferably it is said silently in your mind. You may go as fast or as slow as you want or need. I prefer to breathe quite slowly and deeply, so I usually breathe in, recite a mantra, move a bead, breathe out, recite a mantra, move a bead. So when I’ve finished one trip around, I’ve had 54 breaths and recited a mantra 108 times.
7
Continue to breathe and recite your mantra, bead to bead. When you get to the guru bead, you can stop; you’ve completed 108 breaths and mantras! Or, you can continue. If you choose to continue, do not cross the guru bead, but carefully turn your mala around in your hand and go back the way you came—bead by bead.
8
When you have completed the amounts of breaths and mantras that you want, take a moment to let yourself come back into the present world slowly. Let your breath be natural, and your eyes slowly open.
9
Consistency is key. If you can only fit in a few minutes regularly, this is better than a one-hour session occasionally. It is a practice. It gets easier with time. The most important thing is that you do it. (If you want help on getting and staying motivated, click here.) This brings me to the final step…
10
Take off the pressure to get it “right” and do it how it feels best to you. None of the traditions or “rules” matter. What matters is that you are spending time taking care of yourself and your mind. And if while you are sitting in meditation and your Japamala falls out of your hands, your dog comes running in for a kiss, you forget your mantra, you find yourself wandering through the possible conversation you can have with your boss about your coworker, simply return to your breath. Be gentle with yourself. No judgment. Return to your breath. Return to your breath. Again and again and again.
How to Care for Your Mala
Avoid wearing your mala if you’re sweating a lot, or are swimming or showering. Also, if you’re going to engage in intense physical activity, removing your mala is suggested, especially because you don’t want it to get hung up on something. Your mala is strong, and that’s a good thing, unless you’re hung up and can’t break free.
Excessive sunlight can bleach many gemstones. And it’s also best to avoid heavy perfumes around any jewelry, especially your mala.
Storing your mala in a pouch or box to store is a sign of respect, to avoid dust, and to keep it safe and secure. Another reason for this added layer of security is that if you drop your mala, your gemstones may break or chip.
If your mala needs cleaning, a wipe with a soft cloth, possibly a little damp, is usually enough. Getting too wet will weaken the cord, so use moderation. If it needs a good wash, just a bit of soapy water should do it. First, check the water safety of your mala material. Lay it on a lint-free towel or paper towel to dry.
I find that the tassels are the most abused part of any mala. One of the first malas I ever purchased has a hemp cord tassel that is pretty much just a blob now. But I still love it. Most tassels can be gently combed with a toothbrush or a hair comb. If your tassel is dirty, submerge it in a small bit of plain or soapy water, gently swish it, and rinse it off. Comb it out nicely, being careful not to pull any strands out, and lay it out to dry completely before storing it again.
You Knotty Thing
Over time, the knots between your mala beads may get loose, or you could have a broken cording; at this point, it is up to you whether you have your mala restrung. The knots are often tight at first and then loosen to a nice space for your fingers to work the beads, but if the cording stretches a lot or the beads move too much between the knots, you can consider restringing.
If your mala breaks, you can also get it restrung, but tradition states a broken mala means you have had a spiritual breakthrough, and storing the broken mala is a symbol of your journey.
Final Thoughts on Mala Meditation
The more you use your mala in your meditation, the more it becomes imbued with your intention and energy and becomes an integral part of your practice. Holding or wearing your mala increases your gratitude for life and the deeper realms of your spirit and envelops you in a sense of inner peace.
Using your mala is mentally grounding, bringing you to the present while opening your spirit. It symbolizes your commitment to a more mindful life approach and connection to your spiritual path. To top it off, they are beautiful.
Have you tried meditating with a mala? How did it go for you? How would a physical reminder of mindfulness and your spiritual journey enhance your life?
To purchase a handmade, knotted mala from Salted Moon visit the shop website at Salted Moon Rocks or the Salted Moon Rocks Etsy shop.
