Talk:Japamāla

By Vishal Agarwal

External aids like a japamāla (mala used to count japa) are often used to keep a count of the repetitions. A common version of the rosary has 108 similar beads with an oversized, extra 109th bead. The Sanskrit alphabet has 54 letters. Turning the japamālā once in the hand means remembering the name of Bhagavān with all the 54 letters forwards and backward (54 + 54 = 108). The number 108 represents Bhagavān. The central bead at which we turn the japamālā around is larger than the other beads and is called the Meru bead. In the Śāstra called the Puranas, the Meru is a giant mountain at the center of the Universe.

According to O. R. Krishnaswami in his book Open Your Heart to God Through Bhakti Yog – Yog of Devotion (Dev Publishers & Distributors, 2014, pp. 288–289), the practice of japa with a mālā is a powerful aid in keeping the mind alert and anchored to the mantra. In the Hindu tradition, the japa-mālā typically consists of 108 beads made from tulasī root, glass, or sandalwood. The number 108 is considered highly auspicious: the digit 1 symbolizes the path of spiritual evolution toward non-duality, while 8 represents Māyā—the divine illusion that facilitates the soul's journey of evolution. Interestingly, when we look at the multiples of 8 (such as 16, 24, 32), the sum of their digits decreases (e.g., 1+6 = 7, 2+4 = 6, 3+2 = 5), indicating that even as the numerical value increases, the inner essence appears to reduce. The digit 0 signifies the world, which gains its true value only when the evolving soul, represented by 1, is added to it. Together, 108 represents the Absolute, or Brahman—unchanging amidst all modifications—and serves as the symbolic goal of all spiritual practice. Additionally, the digits of 108 sum to 9, and this pattern of digit-sum totaling 9 is consistent across all its multiples, making 9 a symbol of the highest attainment.

Krishnaswami further explains that the point where the two ends of the mālā meet is marked by a larger bead called the Meru, which is revered as the seat of the mantra-devatā (mantra deity). Japa should begin from the bead next to the Meru, proceeding clockwise. Upon returning to the Meru, one should reverse the mālā and continue again in a clockwise direction. Traditionally, the mālā is held on the ring finger, using the thumb and middle finger to count and rotate the beads.