Tibetan Mala, natural

Description

Over two-thirds of the world's population employs prayer beads as part of their religious practices. Prayer beads have a variety of forms and meanings, but the basic purpose is the same: to assist the worshiper in reciting and counting specific prayers or incantations. When medieval crusaders ventured to the East for their 'holy wars' they observed worshippers with their malas, admired the tequnique nd brouht the idea home in the form of the rosary. Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism are the major religions that use prayer beads in important ritualistic roles.

This is a traditional Tibetan Buddhist Akshamala (or mala, or rosary). The string of 108 beads symbolizes the never ending cycle. 108 is a perfect 3-digit multiple of 3, its components adding up to nine, which is three threes. Three is the number representing supreme balance.

It is made of sacred yak bone with turquoise and coral and brass in-lay. There are other various explanations for the significance of the number 108:

• Ancient cosmology included 9 planets & 12 constellations. 9 X 12 = 108. Represents totality, the universe

• The Sanskrit alphabet has 54 letters, each has 2 aspects: male & female. 54 X 2 = 108. Sanskrit letters correspond to energies of the subtle body, 108 recitations purifies them

• After reciting 100 mantras, 8 extra mantras are done to compensate for errors

• 6 senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and consciousness) multiplied by 3 reactions (positive, negative, or indifference) makes 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.

Added on Oct 08, 2009