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Malas, or to use their Tibetan name 'tenwa', are strings of beads with a variety of uses. Their main use in Tibetan Buddhism and Nepalese shamanism is to help count the number of mantras recited during Buddhist meditation or shamanic invocation practice, but they are also worn as 'power beads' in both Mongolian and Nepali shamanism. In addition both Buddhists and Shamanists use them in methods of divination. Most malas have 108 beads in, often with marker beads at the 27, 54 and 81 bead points - but other numbers are used too in different practices. The large bead at the end and start of a mala is not counted and is generally called a guru bead.
Over time, and through repeated sacred use, malas are said to develop spiritual power and they are used to bless with by touching people or objects by touching the mala upon them.
For more information about malas, including a way to use them for divination, you can read an article HERE
BONE AND CONCH SHELL MALA (Mala A01)
Price including postage: £85 (UK) £95 (World)
Origin: Nepal
Age: 5-15 years approx
Diameter of Beads: 12mm approx
A bone mala, dyed dark, with conch shell guru bead and quarter beads.
SMALL RUSRAKSHA MALA (Mala A02)
Price including postage: £38 (UK) £ 45 (World)
Origin: Nepal
Age: 5-15 years approx
Diameter of Beads: 10mm approx
A traditional, extra large Rusraksha seed mala with 108 beads.
BONE MALA (Mala A03)
Price including postage: £28 (UK) £33 (World)
Origin: Nepal
Age: 5-10 years approx
Diameter of Beads: 8mm approx
A bone mala with bone counters and faux coral and turquoise quarter beads.
BONE MALA (Mala A04)
Price including postage: £22 (UK) £26 (World)
Origin: Tibet or Nepal
Age: 5 - 20 years approx
Diameter of Beads: 6mm approx
A bone set of prayer beads, with counter beads. The beads are in good 'used' condition with nice patina on them.
GLASS BEAD MANTRA MALA (Mala A05)
Price including postage: £18 (UK) £22
Origin: Tibet or Nepal
Age: 5 - 20 years approx
Diameter of Beads: 9mm approx
An attractive glass bead mala with a mantra on each bead.
TIBETAN BUDDHIST METAL MALA COUNTERS (Mala A06)
Price including postage: £22 (UK) £25
Origin: Nepal
Age: 5 - 20 years approx
Diameter of Beads: 6mm approx
A set of counters, one ending in a bell and other in a dorje. Counters are tied to malas and used to count (a little like an abacus) the number of mantras said with the male.
The counters are in good condition with a nice patina. They are fixed on an old leather strap.
For more information about malas read the article about them on the articles page of this website.