Did you know that there are many different types of mala beads for mantra meditation?
You might have seen and noticed beads wrapped around the wrists or necks of people in your yoga studio. You may have even seen a practitioner carrying beads in a small bag.
These beads are called mala beads when used in the practice of mantra meditation. Mala beads are widely used in a lot of traditions such as the Buddhist, Hindu, and Yogic traditions.
Mala beads are made up of 108 beads with one extra bead called the “summit bead”. The beads represent the mantras you recite for your meditation practice. One bead is counted for each mantra recited.
They are widely used by people practicing meditation because it helps the mind focus during the meditation process. It prevents mental distraction and gets you in tune with the meditation practice.
Mala beads are made up of different materials. Each material represents something. The materials are said to affect the mind of the individual chanting the mantra.
What are the types of mala beads preferred by different traditions?
The Hindu’s use mala beads to absorb the body’s negative vibrations and promotes positive energy flow. The mala’s that they often use are Tulsi malas, sandal malas, Chakra malas, and Lotus seed malas.
In the Buddhist traditions, Buddhists prefer using mala’s made from wood. Some examples of the mala beads they use are: Sandalwood mala, Rosewood mala, and the very popular Bodhi seed mala. The Bodhi seed mala has the connection to the Bodhi tree where Buddha attained enlightenment.
In the Yogic tradition there is a tendency to use mala’s from semi-precious stones. Examples are: Pearl mala, Amethyst mala, Garnet mala, Quartz mala and onyx mala.
There are many types of mala beads available to every meditator out there. It depends on your own personal preference as to which type of mala bead you would like to use to enhance your mantra meditation practice.