This handsome mala for meditation and counting is made of 108 sandalwood beads, one guru bead, and three counter beads. Counters, also known as spacers, are beads that help you keep track as you move through your mala. Sandalwood has a subtle but naturally spicy scent, adding a rich sensory layer to your practice. Beads are each about 7-8 mm.
- Beaded mala with lapis counters
- 108 beads with a guru bead and three counter beads
- Made of sandalwood beads
- Beads are each about 7- 8 mm
- Handcrafted: Artistically created by hand where beauty and imperfections go together wonderfully. Please accept and appreciate minor imperfections and variations which are true characteristics of this craft.
design: A traditional 108-bead mala of warm, honey-toned sandalwood, marked by three deep lapis lazuli counter beads and a slightly larger guru bead, finished with a blue tasseled cord.
size: Beads are approximately 7-8 mm each; full mala measures roughly 40+ inches in circumference, sized to wrap several times as a bracelet or worn long as a necklace.
material: Sandalwood beads, lapis lazuli counter beads, blue cord
features: 108 hand-strung sandalwood beads, one guru bead, three lapis counter beads for tracking rotations, natural sandalwood fragrance, knotted cord tassel
care: Keep dry and away from direct sunlight or strong perfumes, and gently wipe beads with a soft cloth to preserve the wood's natural scent and shine.
disclaimer: As a handcrafted piece, slight variations in bead size, wood grain, and stone color are natural and part of its character.
Meaning & Intention
The number 108 has carried spiritual weight across Buddhist and Hindu traditions for centuries, believed to represent the full range of human desires and the path toward transcending them. Each bead marks one repetition of a mantra or breath, guiding the mind gently around the loop until the guru bead signals a return to stillness.
Sandalwood itself has long been prized in meditation practice for its grounding, faintly spiced fragrance, believed to calm the mind and support deeper focus during prayer or contemplation. Its warmth underfoot of touch and scent has made it one of the most enduring materials in mala-making traditions.
The three lapis lazuli counters woven into the strand serve a practical purpose, marking progress through the beads, while lapis itself has long been associated with clarity, truth, and inner wisdom, adding a quiet layer of intention to a piece already built for focus.
Whether draped around the wrist for a quiet reminder throughout the day or held bead by bead during formal practice, this mala invites a small pause of intention into daily life. The natural scent of the sandalwood deepens with wear and warmth, turning routine moments of counting breaths or mantras into something tactile and grounding.
Essence & Elements
- Ideal For: Meditators and mantra practitioners seeking a traditional, fragrant 108-bead mala for daily counting practice
- Purpose: Meditation counting, mantra repetition, japa practice, mindfulness reminder, wearable prayer beads
- Suggested Mantra: One breath, one bead
- Intention: Balance, Calm, Focus, Grounding
- Gemstone: Lapis Lazuli
Lapis lazuli has been treasured since antiquity for its deep, star-flecked blue, long linked to inner truth, clarity of thought, and calm awareness. Used here as counter beads, it lends a quiet visual rhythm to the mala while echoing its role in marking each turn of thoughtful repetition.
Questions & Guidance
Why does this mala have 108 beads?
108 is a sacred number in Buddhist and Hindu traditions, traditionally used to count mantra repetitions or breaths in a single round of meditation practice.
What are the three blue beads for?
Those are lapis lazuli counter beads, or spacers, placed at intervals so you can keep track of your place as you move through the mala.
Can I wear this mala as a bracelet or necklace?
Yes, its length allows it to be wrapped several times around the wrist or worn long as a necklace, in addition to its traditional use as a hand-held counting mala.
Does the sandalwood scent fade over time?
Sandalwood's natural fragrance is subtle and mellows gradually with wear, though it can be gently refreshed as it warms in the hand during use.
How should I care for the beads?
Keep the mala away from water, lotions, and direct sun, and store it in a soft pouch when not in use to protect the wood and stone beads.
