Mala beads are beautiful aides to meditative practice. Just breathe deeply and move through the beads, one by one, as you repeat a chosen mantra or intention. The mala is made of rich walnut wood accented with Lapis counter beads
- Bead size: 8mm
- Knotted between each bead
- Lapis counter beads
- Bead Configuration: 108 walnut beads + 3 lapis counter beads + 1 Guru bead
- Mala length: About 42" + tassel (3 inches)
- Handmade in India
Due to the nature of natural stones, this piece will feature exquisite variations in surface patterns and overall appearance. Such details enhance the unique beauty of each piece.
design: A traditional japa mala of 108 rich, dark walnut wood beads, each hand-knotted in sequence and set apart by three deep-blue lapis lazuli counter beads and a lapis guru bead, finished with a flowing golden tassel.
size: Bead size 8mm; mala length about 42 inches plus a 3-inch tassel.
material: Walnut wood beads with lapis lazuli counter and guru beads, hand-knotted on cord with a silk-style tassel.
features: 108 beads for a full mantra cycle, individually knotted between each bead, 3 lapis lazuli counter beads marking quarter points, lapis guru bead, flowing tassel, handmade in India
care: Keep away from water, perfume, and prolonged direct sunlight, and store in a soft pouch when not in use to preserve the wood's finish and the tassel's shape.
disclaimer: Because the wood grain and lapis lazuli are natural materials, each bead varies slightly in tone and pattern, making every mala one of a kind.
Meaning & Intention
The number 108 sits at the center of mala tradition, long held to represent the wholeness of existence — some traditions count it as the number of earthly desires to be quieted, others as the sum of sacred numbers across Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. Moving through all 108 beads, one at a time, mirrors a complete cycle of practice: a beginning, an unbroken middle, and a return to the guru bead where it started.
Walnut wood grounds this mala in something quietly earthy and enduring — a material shaped by seasons and rings, chosen for meditation tools across cultures for its warmth and its weight in the hand. Set against it, the lapis lazuli counter beads bring a contrasting note: a stone prized since antiquity for its deep celestial blue, long associated with clear sight, inner truth, and the kind of wisdom that comes from looking inward rather than out.
The guru bead, marked here in lapis, is traditionally never counted or crossed during a full recitation — a small pause built into the practice as a gesture of gratitude toward the teachers, seen and unseen, who guide the path. Together, the wood and stone form a mala meant less for ornament than for use: something to return to, again and again, until its rhythm becomes familiar.
Worn or held during meditation, this mala becomes a quiet companion for repetition — each bead a small anchor for breath, mantra, or intention as the mind settles. Its length also allows it to be looped and worn as a necklace between sessions, a subtle reminder throughout the day to return, even briefly, to stillness.
Essence & Elements
- Ideal For: Meditators and mantra practitioners seeking a grounding, natural mala for daily practice
- Purpose: Mantra counting, meditation, prayer practice, mindfulness reminder, everyday wear
- Suggested Mantra: Om Ara Pa Ca Na Dhih
- Intention: Wisdom, Intuition, Clarity, Grounding
- Chakra Connection: Third Eye (Ajna)
- Zodiac: Sagittarius
- Gemstone: Lapis Lazuli
Lapis lazuli has been valued for millennia, ground into pigment for sacred art and worn as a stone of insight by scholars and seekers alike. It is often associated with the third eye and the pursuit of inner truth — a companion stone for quieting mental noise so that intuition and clarity can surface.
Questions & Guidance
Why does this mala have 108 beads?
108 is the traditional count in mala practice, allowing a full mantra or breath cycle to be completed once around the strand, ending back at the guru bead.
What is the guru bead for?
The guru bead marks the start and end point of the mala and is traditionally not counted through — it's a moment to pause and acknowledge the teachers behind the practice before beginning again.
Can I wear this mala as a necklace?
Yes. At about 42 inches plus tassel, it's long enough to wear looped as a necklace between meditation sessions.
Will the beads look exactly like the photo?
Close, but not identical — the walnut grain and lapis lazuli are natural, so each mala has its own subtle variations in pattern and tone.
How should I care for the wood and lapis beads?
Keep the mala dry and away from perfumes or lotions, and store it in a pouch when not in use to protect the wood finish and tassel.
