Hindu Prayer Beads
A Japa mala or mala (Sanskrit:माला; mālā, meaning garland) is a set of beads commonly used by Hindus and Buddhists, usually made from 108 beads, though other numbers, usually divisible by 9, are also used. Malas are used for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of a deity. This practice is known in Sanskrit as japa.
Read more about Hindu Prayer Beads: Usage, In Hinduism, Materials, Exact Usage
Famous quotes containing the words prayer and/or beads:
“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”
—Bible: Hebrew Psalms 90:10.
The Book of Common Prayer (1662)
“With its frame of shaking curls all in disarray,
earrings swinging,
make-up smudged by beads of sweat,
eyes languid at the end of lovemaking,
may the face of the slim girl
who’s riding on top of you
protect you long.
What’s the use
of Vi.s».n»u, iva, Skanda,
and all those other gods?”
—Amaru (c. seventh century A.D.)