Buddhist prayer beads, also known as mala beads, are used by Buddhists and other religious followers to recite mantras, prayers, or other sacred texts.
Popular legend on the origins of Buddhist mala practice says, King Vaidunya once said to the Buddha: “In recent years, disease and famine have swept my country. The people are distressed, and I worry about this night and day without interruption. Ours is a pitiful condition. The totality of the dharma is too profound and extensive for us to practice, given these circumstances. Please teach me just the main point of the dharma so that I may practice it and teach it to others.”
The Buddha replied: “King, if you want to eliminate earthly desires, make a circular string of 108 bodhi seeds and, holding them always to yourself, recite, ‘I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the dharma. I take refuge in the Sangha.’ Count one bead with each recitation of these three.”
The Ebony Wood Mala Necklace is made with Ebony wood, each bead is are 8mm wide. The longer versions have 108 beads.
Ebony is a dense black/brown hardwood finely textured and has a mirror finish when polished, making it valuable as an ornamental wood. It is often cited as one of the most expensive woods in the world.
