In Sanskrit Japa means ''to murmur'' while Mala means “garland ”. A mala is ' the garland used for whispering prayers'.
Its origins are Indian and date back millions of years ago.
The use of the mala is present in different cultures and religions of the world both to meditate and to connect with one's spirituality and also to benefit from the beneficial effects of the stones of which it is composed.
A mala is a sacred object, an object which, once it comes into contact with our body, becomes part of us, influences our psychophysical well-being, accompanies us and supports us on the journey of life.
WHAT IS A MALA MADE OF
The mala is made up of 108 stones (or in any case multiples of 9) as well as a larger stone, or a central element, called "guru" or "meru" to which a tassel is often connected.
Why exactly 108?
The answer to this question is infinite: from religion to astrology, from science to linguistics, the recurrence of this number has something incredible about it.
In Indian tradition, 108 is a sacred and symbolic number. The first number, 1, represents Brahma, the Supreme Consciousness; in number 8 we find the eight aspects of nature (the 5 Elements: earth, water, fire, air, ether) plus Ahamkara (the I, individuality or ego), Manas (the reasoning and analytical mind) and Buddhi (superior intellect , intuition, creative intelligence).
The zero represents the cosmos, creation personified in the deity of Shiva. The number 8 is also the Shakti, primordial feminine energy, the power of manifestation, responsible for the expression of the phenomenal world in its many aspects. Number 1 is the union of Shiva and Shakti, the total fusion of the two opposing principles. The number 0 represents the reintegration of the individual Self with the Universal Self. And again the 108 represents reality:
* 1 represents the Ultimate truth
*0 in the center represents the state of Samadhi
* 8 represents creative nature.
But that is not all:
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NUMBER 9
- the number 108 is a multiple of the number 9;
The number Nine is a symbol of completeness and fulfillment and the vibrational energy of this number, encompasses the strength of all that precede it .
- adding the three numbers that compose it 1+0+8 we have again the number 9.
In turn the number 9 is important because it is 3 times 3, considered the perfect number.
HOW I BUILD A MALA
Creating a mala for someone requires attention, presence, energy, love. It is not enough to compose it, the manual skill is not enough. This would reduce everything to a simple necklace.
Having some information on the person for whom the object is intended allows me to focus on a specific intention, on the energy with which to activate it.
I like to create each mala starting from an analysis of Tantric Numerology (a method that analyzes one's date of birth and extrapolates indications on which to dwell in order to grow in one's life path). All supported by the knowledge of crystallotherapy. The final Guru is usually my handcrafted creation of a metal that will be chosen on a personal level and which will support the symbology of the final product.
Each mala is therefore totally personalized and I will be happy to listen to your voice to decide together the most suitable stones.
THE MALA: HOW TO USE IT
The mala can be used both during meditation and worn to benefit from its constant vibrations linked to the specific characteristics of the stones.
If used for meditation, the stones are shelled one by one using the pads of the thumb and middle finger and never the index, which is the finger that represents the ego.
Starting from the first stone after the guru, continue until you reach the last stone (before that of the Guru), from which you start again to retrace the 108 stones in the opposite direction.
Meditating with the japa mala is one of the strongest practices for using mantras that require audible (or silent) repetition.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ONE
In addition to personalized advice, it is good to know that in addition to the choice of stones, a mala must also be defined by its structure.
A Mala is almost always composed of 108 stones (or grains). Depending on the size of the stone, the object will be longer or shorter.
If I use a 6 mm stone the length will be at the chest, if instead I use an 8 mm stone the object will reach the navel. It is therefore essential to understand if you prefer a smaller size rather than a longer object.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Traditionally the mala is made from sandalwood or tulsi grains or Rudraksha seeds.
The Vedas narrate how the god Shiva expressed his compassion for mankind by shedding tears which, once they reached the ground, sprouted and transformed into the Elaeocarpus tree, from which the seeds of Rudraksha are obtained.
These seeds, mentioned very often in the Vedas for their saving powers, are characterized by a balancing function and are able to capture and grasp the energy necessary to continue along the path that leads to spirituality. Elaeocarpus are still planted in India to go and restore the energy balance of the area.
HOW TO CLEAN AND REFILL A MALA
As you know, crystals have the power to absorb and release energy. Before knotting, each grain is washed in running water, purified and reloaded on an Amethyst druse. Therefore, it is not necessary to clean the japamala before using or wearing it.
The best way to recharge your stones is to shell them during your meditations.
Or:
- on a plate covered with dry salt, place your mala and leave it there overnight.
- Expose the grains to the glare of the moon or the indirect rays of the sun
- Burn an incense stick and wave it so as to direct the fumes onto the grains
- Expose your mala to the sound vibration produced by shaman tools that work on the beneficial effects of the vibrational frequencies.
- The small parts and the guru bead can be cleaned with a specific cloth for cleaning silver and precious metals.
- Avoid placing the mala under water as the string it is made of could be damaged.
BE CAREFUL OF...
Water, lotions, body oils, cosmetics, perfumes, excessive exposure to heat which can alter the stones and harm the final guru.
The stones that are used to create the Samsara japamala are natural and some, due to their composition, are porous and absorbent. It is best to always make sure that perfumes and lotions have been completely absorbed by the skin before wearing the japamala.
Do not wear the japamala while sleeping.