Japamala

Japamala
Different types of Japa mala (prayer beads) selling in Varanasi, India
Chinese name
Chinese	佛珠
Literal meaning	"Buddha pearls"
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Fózhū Gwoyeu Romatzyh Forju Wade–Giles Fo2-chu1 IPA [fwǒ.ʈʂú] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization faht-jyū Jyutping Fat6-zyu1 Southern Min Tâi-lô Hu̍t-tsu
Japanese name
Kanji	念珠, 数珠
Transcriptions Romanization nenju ("mindfulness beads"), juzu ("counting beads")
Sanskrit name
Sanskrit	mālā (माला)

A japamala, jaap maala, or simply mala (Sanskrit: माला; mālā, meaning 'garland'^[1]) is a loop of prayer beads commonly used in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. It is used for counting recitations (japa) of mantras, prayers or other sacred phrases. It is also worn to ward off evil, to count repetitions within some other form of sadhana (spiritual practice) such as prostrations before a holy icon. They are also used as symbols of religious identification.^[2][3]

The main body of a mala usually consists of 108 beads of roughly the same size and material as each other, although smaller versions, often factors of 108 such as 54 or 27, exist.^[2] A distinctive 109th "guru bead" or mother bead, which is not counted, is very common.^[2]

Mala beads have traditionally been made of a variety of materials such as wood, stone, gems, seeds, bone and precious metals—with various religions often favouring certain materials—and strung with natural fibres such as cotton, silk, or animal hair. In the modern era, synthetic materials can also be used, such as plastic or glass beads, and nylon cords. Malas are similar to other forms of prayer beads used in various world religions, such as the misbaha in Islam and the rosary in Christianity.