Malla Rosary Beads

Brendan

Brendan

Joined
Feb 13, 2002
Messages
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I bought some Malla rosary beads in a shop that specialises in products from the Himalayas and am interested in finding out more about these beads. They are black in colour with 2 extra rows of beeds on the sides and a long straight bead at the bottom - total number of beads equals 108. Uncle you might be able to help me on this quite a bit.

Any info appreciated.

Thanks
Brendan
 
Maybe this site will help until Uncle Bill has a chance to reply

http://pub45.ezboard.com/fmindfulwisdomfrm14.showMessage?topicID=652.topic

Typically the 108 bead necklace is referred to as a malla, not a rosary as far as I know, sometime prayer beads.
The malla is often made from rose wood, sandalwood or rudraksha seeds.
Older ones are blackened with age and wear.
Variations include the addition of seperate strands attached to the 108 bead strand of the malla, used for counting the number of times prayers have been offered.
 
Note also that 108 is a number of volumes in Kanjur- the sacred book of Tibetan Buddhism. Most Buddhists use mallas as counters when reciting mantras. If you're lucky and know a lama (Buddhist spiritual teacher), ask him to bless your malla; it can help;)
 
We have a couple in the home -- one wood but supposedly it's made of the wood or seeds of the tree under which Buddha meditated for seven years. The other is ivory or bone, a family heirloom passed down from Pala's younger brother, Gelbu, who left his body 5 or 6 years ago and no longer has any need for the malla. They are sometimes called "mani" also. 108 count is correct. I think the Catholics use 120 beads. Right or wrong?

Yangdu counts her beads each AM. I have mine hanging on a lamp near my desk to remind me who I am at every opportunity.
 
Excellent info, what mantras do Buddhist's recite. excuse my ignorance but I have very little knowledge on this subject !!

regards
Brendan
 
There are many mantras: OM MANI PADME HUM is one of the oldest and most popular. Even the non-Buddhists are encouraged to recite it to bring some good karma to the world. I often recite the Padmasambhava mantra (Padmasambhava was the man who brought Buddhism to Tibet): OM AH HUM BENZA GURU PEMA SIDDHI HUM. If you're interested in learning more, you may find many ressources at buddhism.org.
Besides, I wonder what's Uncle's favorite mantra?;)
 
OM MANI PADME is the one I use and I think it is by far the most popular. Yangdu has a couple of others she uses. When we thought the plane was going down in the Pacific I noticed she was using OM MANI BAJA GURU while I was jerking life vests from under the seat and eyeing the path to the nearest emergency exit over the wing.
 
Ow, thank you Uncle!
Brendan, the meaning of the mantras isn't as important as their power. Each word has its separate meaning. For example, one of the many translations of OM MANI PADME HUM is "Be saluted o You of a Lotus Flower". The important thing is that the mantras are older than the western civilization, they were repeated zillions of times and they gained a lot of good energy. When you recite them again and again, you join this great circle and add to their strength.
I'm sure Uncle could tell you much more about it, I'm just a beginner;)
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
...When we thought the plane was going down in the Pacific I noticed she was using OM MANI BAJA GURU while I was jerking life vests from under the seat and eyeing the path to the nearest emergency exit over the wing.
Click to expand...
Yikes! :eek:
I hate traveling by plane - drives me crazy. Maybe I'm a control freak, but I have to be within a few feet of the ground to feel comfortable.
 
OM MANI PADME HUM can be literally translated as:

OM (doesn't translate) jewel (=MANI) in the lotus (=PADME) HUM (doesn't translate)

Hindoos also use maalaas, and there are 108 principal upanishads (108 is a special number in Hinduism too)

The Gayatri mantra is another 'popular' mantra which could be used (OM BHUR BHUVAH SVAHA TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGO DEVASYA DHIMAHI DHI YO YO NAH PRACODAYAT)
 
How do you pronounce these mantras, I was thinking today that I should start practising these mantras as I feel drawn to buddhism. I dont want to insult anyone though by following buddhist practises without actually being a buddhist !!
 
I don't think you're going to insult anyone.

I'm not promoting anything but anybody interested in learning more might try snowlionpub.com.
 
The problem with most religions is they tell you to fix your own life first before worrying about how others live theirs. Drat.
 
Originally posted by Brendan
Excellent !! How does one roll the beads, is there a technique !!
Click to expand...

I learned to roll between thumb and middle finger, though I've read that thumb & ring is done too. ONe is _not_ supposed to use the index finger. Miscellany - mala (both vowels long like the vowel of father) actually means 'garland' (and the word 'bead' in English is actually from a word meaning 'to pray')

try this page too on japa yoga: http://www.yogaessentials.com/Product pages/malabeads.htm
 
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