make your own Mala - asana

Malasana ~ Garland Pose ~ Squat

Mala: Garland or Necklace

A Mala is the name for the buddhist prayer beads. Made from 108 beads, a mala is used as a tool to keep count of the number of times a mantra has been repeated by touching each bead per mantra, slowly moving along the necklace. By using the mala one doesn't have to focus on keeping count, there is a guru bead of different size or texture to signify a full 108 repetitions have been completed. 

In traditional Buddhist thought, people are said to have 108 afflictions or klesas. There are six senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and consciousness) multiplied by three reactions (positive, negative, or indifference) making 18 "feelings." Each of these feelings can be either "attached to pleasure or detached from pleasure" making 36 "passions", each of which may be manifested in the past, present, or future. All the combinations of all these things makes a total of 108, which are represented by the beads in the ojuzu. This same number is also used in Japanese New Year services where a bell is rung 108 times. –– Wikipedia

This mala has numerous marker beads.

Make your own mala necklace with beads or gems you love ~ you certainly do NOT have to don those unsightly brown beads with the red thread! Use the above as a guide or one marker bead is fine too: whatever get you meditating.