| Using Mala Beads
(Rosary) For Meditation |
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 What is a Meditation Mala?
A mala is a string of 108 beads with one bead as the summit bead
called a 'sumeru'.
It is a tool used to keep your mind on the meditation practice. Malas
are generally made from different materials such as tulsi (basil)
wood, sandal wood, rudraksh seeds or crystal. Each type of material
has certain properties which subtly affect the subconscious mind of
the practitioner.
Why use the Mala?
Meditation can be quite a tricky practice because the mind is like a
naughty child. By its very nature, the mind tends to wander off during
the meditation practice. If ones energy is low at the time of
meditation, falling asleep can result. If the energy is too high,
fantasy and distraction become the barriers. At such times, the mala
provides the much needed anchor.
The mala beads are moved in rhythm with the breath and the mantra, so
that both-sleep as well as excessive mental distraction-are prevented
by this action upon the beads.
For wearing: A personal mala is a wonderful accessory to
meditation, which when used regularly with a personal mantra, absorbs
the vibrations of the practice. It becomes like a close friend or a
comfortable piece of clothing!
How to Use?
The mala is traditionally held in the right hand and used in two ways
- In one method, the mala is hanging between the
thumb and the ring (third) finger. The middle (second) finger is used
to rotate the mala by one bead towards oneself with each repetition of
the mantra.
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In the other method, the mala is hanging on the middle finger, with
the thumb used to rotate the mala just as explained - one bead at a
time.
Either way, the index finger is never used to touch the mala.
The mala may coil on the floor with the hand
resting on the right knee or used with the hand concealed in the
Mala
Bag.
The practice begins at the summit bead (sumeru) and
continues around the loop until the summit is reached again. The
summit bead is never passed over. So if you plan to do more than 1
round, the mala is turned around to proceed again in the reverse
direction.
Whenever the mala is taken up, it automatically
conditions the mind to the meditative state. The mala that you use for
Mantra Japa meditation should not be exhibited and is best kept
privately in a special Mala Bag.
We provide the following to assist
you in your meditation path.
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Choose Your Mala |
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Mala Bags |
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Tulsi
Mala
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 Tulsi often referred to as the "sacred basil" is the most sacred of
the woods used in Indian worship - the only wood that is considered to
be divinity itself. Likewise, the malas made of tulsi wood are
considered very suitable for meditation.
Tulsi clears the aura. It helps to balance vata and
kapha doshas. Saying the mantra on Tulsi increases the spiritual power
of the prayer, increases devotion and spiritual growth. It protects
and aids in the pursuit of Bhakti Yoga, the Yoga of devotion.
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Superior
Grade Tulsi Mala Smooth well rounded full Tulsi Beads Well knotted for
strength and convenience
108 +1 Beads ; 41 cms.
Bead Size : 8MM
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Item |
Price |
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Tulsi Wood Mala |
US$ 7.95 |
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Mala With Bag (Saffron
Mala Bag) |
US$ 11.95 |
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Also available as a
Bracelet of 27 beads in elastic. |
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Tulsi Wood Bracelet |
US$ 3.95 |
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Crystal Mala
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 Crystal
is a wonderful healing energizer. It stimulates the brain by acting
upon the pituitary and pineal glands. It balances all the energy
Chakras while reciting 'mantras' during meditation. Also believed to
be good for cellulite or cysts. Crystal protects and heals by
neutralizing negative influences.
Length: 50 cms., strung on a strong thread, knotted and with a
tassel.
Bead Size : 8MM
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Item |
Price |
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Crystal Mala |
US$ 17.95 |
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Mala With Bag (Saffron
Mala Bag) |
US$ 23.90 |
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Also available as a Bracelet of 27 beads in elastic. |
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Crystal Bracelet |
US$ 8.95 |
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Sandalwood Mala
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 Fast becoming extinct, sandalwood is naturally fragrant and
exceedingly smooth. Sandalwood has traditionally been regarded as one
of the purest substances and is valued for its cooling properties and
its medicinal value too. It is believed to Promote Tranquility as an
aid to meditation.
Turning the sandalwood beads while chanting is
supposed to have therapeutic properties that enhance calmness and a
positive frame of mind.
Length: 39 CMS, well knotted and with a tassel
Bead Size : 8MM
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Item |
Price |
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Sandal Wood Mala |
US$ 16.00 |
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Mala With Bag (Saffron
Mala Bag) |
US$ 21.95 |
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Also available as a Bracelet of 27 beads in elastic. |
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Sandal Wood Bracelet |
US$ 8.00 |
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"9-planet" astrological (Navgraha) Mala
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 This
is made of 9 semi-precious stones, each stone representing a planet of
our solar system. It has tremendous astrological significance. Wearing
this mala helps to appease any malefic tendencies in the astrology
chart.
Length: 41 CMS (16")
Bead Size : 8MM
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Mala Bags |
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Mala bags are considered very sacred because they
are used to store your mala away from public gaze.
Mala bags are also used to conceal the mala while
doing japa (reciting your mantra) while moving the beads.
Choose from the following Cotton mala bags:
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Using the Yoga Danda |
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 Often,
many practitioners of japa meditation, prefer to support their
forearm on the Yoga Danda, so that they can practice japa on mala
beads without discomfort.
In this case, the
yoga danda is placed in
front of the seated body and the hand supported on it. The mala is
allowed to fall freely from this raised position that facilitates
turning of the beads for japa.
The Yoga Danda is also used for balancing breath
between nostrils. To read more on the Yoga Danda,
click here
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Discover the enormous Benefits of Meditation. |
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