You have probably seen a mala before, and you may even own one. They are often worn around the neck or wrist, kept beside a yoga mat or meditation cushion, and have become familiar objects in yoga spaces.

But what is a mala actually for, and how do you use one?

A mala is traditionally used during japa, the repeated recitation of a mantra, either silently or aloud. Japa can be used as a form of meditation, bringing the attention back to the mantra each time the mind wanders. It is one of the ways in which mantra, meditation and the wider practice of yoga come together.

The mala itself is essentially a counting tool. You repeat the mantra once for each bead, moving through the mala as you go. This means you don’t have to keep count in your head and can concentrate instead on the mantra and the practice itself.

Why 108 beads?

A traditional japa mala usually has 108 counting beads and one larger or different bead, known as the guru bead or meru bead.

The number 108 has significance across Hindu traditions, yoga and Indian philosophy, although there isn’t one agreed explanation for why. The number appears in sacred texts, mantra practices and other aspects of Indian tradition, and has been considered significant for centuries.

The guru bead marks the beginning and end of one complete round of the mala. It isn’t included in the 108 repetitions and, traditionally, should not be crossed. If you want to continue for another round, you turn the mala around and work back in the opposite direction.

How do you use it?

You begin with the bead next to the guru bead.

Repeat your mantra once and then move to the next bead. Continue in this way around the mala, repeating the mantra once for each of the 108 beads.

When you reach the guru bead again, you have completed one round. If you want to continue, turn the mala around and begin again in the opposite direction.

The point isn’t really to count to 108. The mala does the counting so that your attention can stay with the mantra.

Which fingers should you use?

In many Hindu japa traditions, the mala is held in the right hand and the beads are moved using the thumb and middle finger. The index finger is generally kept away from the beads.

In some traditions, the index finger is associated with the individual ego, or ahamkara, and this is one explanation given for why it is kept apart during japa.

There are different ways of using malas across Hindu, Buddhist and other traditions, and practices can also vary between teachers and lineages. These aren’t universal rules, but they are useful to understand if you have a mala and have never been shown how it is traditionally used.

Why do some Vaishnavas keep their beads in a bag?

You may have seen Vaishnavas, such as Hare Krishna devotees, chanting with one hand inside a small cloth bag. Their mala is inside the bag.

In some Vaishnava traditions, japa malas are made from Tulsi wood, which is considered sacred. The beads are therefore treated with respect and are traditionally kept and used inside a cloth bead bag. This also prevents them from touching the floor or other unclean surfaces.

Hare Krishna devotees, for example, use the beads to count repetitions of the Hare Krishna mantra, with one complete round of the mala counting 108 repetitions. Practitioners may complete several rounds as part of their daily practice.

This doesn’t mean that every mala needs to be kept in a bag. It is an example of how the way a mala is used and treated can vary between traditions.

More than a string of beads

Today, malas are often worn as jewellery and are made from materials ranging from rudraksha seeds and Tulsi wood to gemstones and crystals.

But traditionally, their purpose is quite practical. They allow a mantra to be repeated a set number of times without having to keep count in your head.

If you own a mala but have never known how to use it, it really can be as simple as that. Choose your mantra, start beside the guru bead and repeat it once for each bead until you return to where you started.

The mala keeps count, allowing your attention to remain with the mantra and your meditation.