LAPIS MEDITATION MALA

Mala is the original Sanskrit word for the prayer beads used for counting mantra recitations. Tibetan Buddhist communities all over the world, wrapped MALA around wrists or dangling from fingers, accompanying the humming recitations of mantras. In Tibetan we call them trengwa.

The most common type of mala is a string of 108 beads, made of precious or semi-precious stones, wood, seeds, or bone. Each time you work your way around the mala, saying a mantra for each bead, you are considered to have completed 100 mantra recitations. The extra 8 beads are “spare” to make up for any miscounts or mistakes you may make along the way.

There is also a head bead, one that is larger than the others, and it is often called a “guru bead.” Some believe that this bead has a special significance, as representing one’s guru, for example, but very practically, this bead is the starting point for the circuit, and is not counted among the 108 total. Lapis is one of the most sought after stones in use since man's history began. Its deep, celestial blue remains the symbol of royalty and honor, gods and power, spirit and vision. It is a universal symbol of wisdom and truth. It is said that this stone boosts the immune system, stimulates metabolism, keeps your heart and blood vessels healthy, enhances circulation, lowers blood pressure and protects heart attacks and strokes.