You And Your Mala
We want you to find your ideal Mala, a mala that mirrors your expectations, encapsulates your personality, adds to your outfit and karma, and retains your oils and energies when you wear it against your skin. The one that makes you feel positive when you drape it around your neck and run it through your fingers. In any case, before you get your hands-on that dazzling Mala, here are a few basics you must be aware of.
What is Mala?
‘Mala’ in Sanskrit means ‘garland’ or ‘necklace’. A Mala is a string of 108 beads, Guru Bead, and tassel. A guru bead is an extra, often larger, bead on a mala, which indicates the starting and ending point of the prayer beads. This bead is also called a Sumeru. On the other hand, a tassel is an essential and defining part of a yogic mala. It has both a functional purpose as well as a spiritual significance. The color of a mala’s tassel can also have an important spiritual and psychological effect on its wearer. We make all of our malas with tassels, due to the physical and spiritual importance of a mala bead’s tassel as well as the long tradition of including a tassel in a mala’s creation.
How to use them
Traditionally, the beads have been used in prayer and meditation to chanting mantras (Sanskrit prayers) in sets of 108 repetitions. But don't let that intimidate you. Anyone can wear mala beads, whether you meditate or not.
Japa Meditation
The process of chanting Mantras while using a string of beads is called Japa meditation. This technique helps one to empower the mala so it can be worn or lightly placed on oneself or others to transmit the energy of the mantra as well as the energetic qualities of the mala.
Characteristics
- We use the very best nylon mala cord for most semi-precious stone mala designs with tassels; knotted malas use 25lb nylon bead-line or knotting cord.
- All our mala beads are inner polished i.e. the hole inside the bead is also polished so that it doesn’t cut/break the thread or elastic.
- All our gemstones have 1 to 1.5 mm hole to ensure thick thread knotting.
- We use only authentic materials, real semiprecious stones, pure silver and pewter, natural seeds/beads (Rudraksha), genuine Indian-woods. Each strand is hand-selected by our designer, and every bead is checked.
- We buy beads from expert craftspeople that carefully "calibrate" (measure) the beads for better regularity. We prefer not to make your mala with commonly available, inexpensive imported beads that are irregular and have flaws. We are very selective about materials offered in making your special mala. Most of the beads that we choose are measured when they are made, a process called "calibration," to ensure roundness and regularity. Our beads are sustainably harvested, fairly traded, and ethically produced.