Malas offer wonderful assistance for meditation and chanting, and the addition of counter beads can help you to keep track of counting as you recite a mantra or intention. This mala of animal bone has metal counter beads that are both functional and beautiful with small inlays of coral, lapis lazuli and reconstituted turquoise stone.
- Bone bead mala with inlaid counter beads
- Made of bone beads and metal alloy
- Contains reconstituted coral, lapis and turquoise fragments
- 108 Bead count with a guru bead and three counter beads
- Beads are approximately 8 mm, mala is about 28β long
- Made in Nepal
- For meditation use only, not recommended as a jewelry item
This item is handmade and may display slight variation in color, design and finish. Such characteristics enhance the unique beauty of each piece.
design: A traditional 108-bead mala of smooth, rounded bone beads in a warm off-white hue, finished with a red hand-knotted tassel cord and accented by three metal counter beads and a guru bead, each set with small turquoise inlays.
size: Beads are approximately 8 mm; the full mala measures about 28 inches long.
material: Bone beads with metal alloy counter beads and guru bead, inlaid with reconstituted coral, lapis lazuli, and turquoise fragments; strung on a red cord.
features: 108 bead count, guru bead, three inlaid counter beads for mantra tracking, hand-strung red cord tassel, handmade in Nepal
care: Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth and store away from moisture and direct sunlight to preserve the bone's natural finish.
disclaimer: This mala is handmade, so slight variations in bead color, shape, and inlay placement are natural and add to each piece's individuality.
Meaning & Intention
Bone malas hold a distinct place in Himalayan meditation traditions. Carved from animal bone rather than wood or seed, they carry an old reminder of impermanence β the truth that the body is temporary, and that spiritual practice is what endures. Carrying or reciting on a bone mala has long been used as a quiet meditation on mortality, one that encourages practitioners to hold each moment, and each breath, with greater presence.
The 108 beads follow the count sacred to Buddhist and Hindu mantra practice, a number linked to the completion of a full cycle of recitation. The three counter beads set into the strand are not merely decorative: they allow the fingers to track multiple full rounds of 108 repetitions without breaking concentration to count aloud, so the mind can stay with the mantra rather than the math. The guru bead marks the strand's beginning and end, traditionally honoring the teacher or lineage from which the practice is received.
Set into the counter beads, the small inlays of coral, lapis lazuli, and turquoise draw on their own long history in Himalayan adornment β stones traditionally carried for protection and vitality during travel and practice. Together with the bone, they turn a simple counting tool into a strand meant to accompany real devotional use.
Slipped over the wrist between sessions or held bead by bead during seated practice, this mala turns meditation into something tactile β a strand you return to each morning to settle the mind before the day takes over, or each evening to close it with a few quiet rounds of breath and mantra.
Essence & Elements
- Ideal For: Meditators and mantra practitioners who want a traditional counting mala for focused daily practice
- Purpose: Meditation, mantra counting, mindfulness practice, spiritual ritual
- Suggested Mantra: Om Mani Padme Hum
- Intention: Grounding, Mindfulness, Balance, Protection
- Chakra Connection: Root
- Gemstone: Coral, Lapis, Turquoise
The reconstituted coral, lapis lazuli, and turquoise set into this mala's counter beads each carry their own place in Himalayan tradition. Coral has long been associated with vitality and protection on journeys, lapis lazuli with clarity and inner wisdom, and turquoise with well-being and safeguarding the wearer. Combined in small inlaid fragments, they add a layer of intention to a strand built primarily for steady, grounded practice.
Questions & Guidance
What is this mala made from?
The 108 beads are carved from bone, strung on a red cord, with metal counter beads and a guru bead inlaid with small fragments of coral, lapis lazuli, and reconstituted turquoise.
How do I use the counter beads?
The three counter beads let you track completed rounds of the 108-bead cycle as you recite a mantra, so you can keep your attention on your practice instead of counting in your head.
Can I wear this mala as jewelry?
It's designed for meditation use rather than everyday jewelry wear, so it's best kept as a practice tool you hold or drape during meditation and mantra recitation.
Will the color or pattern match the photo exactly?
Each mala is handmade, so natural variation in the bone's color and the inlay placement is normal and part of what makes every piece one of a kind.
Where is this mala made?
It is handmade in Nepal, following traditional methods for stringing and finishing prayer mala beads.
