The trend of wearing malas might be “new” to western travellers, but it actually dates back thousands of years. The history of prayer beads is believed to have originated in India around the eighth century B.C.E. Many of today’s religions also use beaded necklaces — mala, rosary, subha — to help meditate and recite prayers. The English word bead even comes from the Anglo-Saxon words bede and bidden which mean “prayer" and “to pray.” 

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· Why does the Mala have 108 beads ? To do with The heart chakra: The chakras are the intersections of energy lines, and there are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra. One of them, sushumna, leads to the crown chakra, and is believed to be the path to self-realization.      1, 0, and 8: Some say that one stands for God or higher Truth, zero stands for emptiness or completeness in spiritual practice, and eight stands for infinity or eternity. 

A full cycle of 108 repetitions is counted on the mala so the practitioner can focus on the sounds, vibration, and meaning of what is being said. Mala beads serve not only as a spiritual tool for meditation but as a gentle reminder of intentions you set forth while using it. Before wearing your Mala the first time you may want to set your intentions with them, recite a mantra or prayer, or any special blessing, sit for at least five minutes to seal the energetic bond.

Once you have activated your mala beads, you may want to cleanse and clean them from time to time in early morning sunlight (avoid direct exposure). Sunlight has positive, healing energy. So consider keeping your mala in the sunlight for a few hours to cleanse it.

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