Fair Trade Boxed Malla (Mala or Mallah) Beads.

Fair Trade Boxed Malla (Mala or Mallah) Beads.

 

Set of Boxed Malla (Mala or Mallah) Beads. In Buddhism, mallas are used as a counting tool whilst reciting a mantra. The most common mantra is "Om mani padme hum" which translates as "Hail Jewel in the Lotus." The beads are held between the thumb and the forefinger and the mantra is recited. The mantra is then repeated for each bead, until every bead has been used. Most mallas have 108 beads, although sometimes more beads are added in case the practitioner skips some beads by mistake. A complete circuit of the malla means that a mantra has been said 108 times. By doing this Buddhists'believe that the invisible thread which links the person to the divine and to their higher self is awakened.