Ever wonder where the use of the rosary came from?  The story of Holy Mother Mary giving the rosary to Dominic in the thirteenth century has been a belief I have held my whole life.  But is that where it started?  It looks like these prayer beads have an earlier existence.  This article is the first in a series of three exploring how they are used in other religious traditions. Today, I begin with the origins of prayer beads and their meaning, followed by a deeper dive into the mala used in Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

Beads have been used in prayer and meditation for thousands of years. Using beads or a string of pebbles aids the seeker in keeping track of chants, mantras, passions, defilements, or prayers. There is a possibility it goes WAY BACK in time. Archeologists have discovered ostrich eggshells on a string dating back to 10,000 BCE, probably used as more than just ornaments but as social symbols and rituals.[i] 

The word “bead” comes from the Middle English word “bede,” which means “prayer.” Custom had it that small round balls were placed on a string, helping the prayer keep track of the prayers. Eventually, the word “b-e-d-e” became “b-e-a-d” and now refers to the round bobbles on a string rather than prayer.[ii]

It is believed that around the 8^th century BCE, Hindu seekers began using beads to meditate and pray. The string of 108 beads is called a jaba mala, or mala. On the string of beads is a medallion, tassel, or amulet, which designates where meditation begins and ends. Eventually, Buddhism adopted the same tradition; only the 108 beads held a slightly different meaning. Both approaches are considered sacred. 

In the Hindu tradition, 108 holds a mathematical equivalent that “represents the universe and the wholeness of existence and the ultimate consciousness that we are all one.”  [iii] The prayer can be a mantra, naming the different gods within, the 108 sacred sites in India, the 108 Ancient Verta texts, or the 108 sacred life forces within the body.  Certain Hindu sects believe the beads hold a unique energy based on the mantra they have been used for, thus having a collection of malas for different meditations.[iv] Another connection to 108 is within the Sanskrit alphabet.  There are 54 letters.  Each letter holds a Shakti (feminine) and Shiva (masculine) quality, totaling 108 (54×2=108)

In the Buddhist tradition, 108 is the number of passions that can hinder enlightenment.  This number is also calculated by multiplying the six senses by the three stances of neutral, pleasant, and unpleasant (6×3=18) and applying it to the past, present, and future (18×3=54).   Finally, the two ways of handling these sensations gets us to 108 (54×2=108).

Today, the mala is not always religiously connected.  It is often worn as a fashion item.  In prayer, however, it can be used to “count a mantra, a grounding for meditation, worry beads for anxiety, healing grief, self-love, setting positive affirmations, manifesting intentions and goals, among other intentions.”[v]

I found it interesting that math and spirituality were intertwined too closely in ancient religious traditions.  What struck you about the mala prayer bead history? 

Our next article will examine the Muslim tradition of praying with the “Misbaha” or “Tasbeen.” Stay tuned!

[i] Sciama, Lidia and Joanne Eicher, editors “Bead and Bead Makers: Gender, Material Culture, and Meaning, 1998, Berg Publishers, P 1

[ii] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bead [Accessed 11.4.2024]

[iii] https://www.goldenlotusmala.com/pages/history-of-mala-beads [Accessed 11.4.24]

[iv] https://www.britannica.com/topic/rosary#ref337920 [Accessed 11.4.24]

[v]  https://www.goldenlotusmala.com/pages/history-of-mala-beads [Accessed 11.4.24]