How to Use and Care for Your Tibetan Prayer Beads (Mala) Properly

• Posted on 24 April 2025
• By tibet-markets.ch
• Posted in MindfulnessPractice, PrayerBeads, TibetanSpirituality
• 0

Imagine holding a strand of beads that feels like an anchor, gently grounding your mind as your thoughts begin to slow, and your breath syncs with a sacred rhythm. This is the beauty of working with a mala—a tool that carries both spiritual power and personal presence.

In this guide, we will explore how to properly use and care for your Tibetan mala (prayer beads), honoring its cultural roots and spiritual depth. We'll offer practical guidance, share traditional insights, and show how you can integrate this sacred practice into your daily life. Whether you're new to mala meditation or deepening an existing practice, we’ll also reference special items available in our webshop, carefully selected to support your spiritual journey.

What Is a Mala?

A mala is a strand of 108 beads, traditionally used in Buddhism, Hinduism, and other spiritual paths for counting mantras, prayers, or affirmations. It’s more than a counting tool—it’s a sacred object meant to deepen your meditation and connect you to higher consciousness.

Tibetan malas may also feature marker beads placed at intervals, usually dividing the strand into quadrants. These markers serve as gentle milestones during longer sessions of recitation.

The Spiritual Purpose of a Mala

The mala’s primary use is to help you keep track while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra. Each bead marks a repetition of the sacred phrase. For example, many people chant "Om Mani Padme Hum," a revered mantra of compassion in Tibetan Buddhism.

This repetition helps calm the mind, align thoughts with spiritual intentions, and cultivate mindfulness. It is said that the mala absorbs the energy of the prayers and becomes a sacred companion on your path.

How to Hold and Use a Mala Properly

Unlike some traditions that use the right hand, Tibetan malas are held with the left hand as a sign of respect and tradition.

Here’s how to use it correctly:
• Hold the mala gently in your left hand.
• Start with the bead next to the guru bead (the larger, summit bead).
• Place the first bead between the thumb and index finger.
• With each mantra recitation, use your thumb to pull the next bead over the index finger, moving in a clockwise direction around the mala.

The guru bead is never passed over. Once you reach it again, you reverse direction by flipping the mala and begin counting back in the opposite direction.

This respectful reversal honors the symbolic role of the guru bead, which represents your spiritual teacher or the divine source of wisdom. It serves as both a beginning and an end—a sacred pause to reflect on your intentions.

The Symbolism of the Guru Bead

The guru bead, also known as sumeru, holds special spiritual meaning. It represents the student-teacher relationship, signifying reverence and humility. Starting from the bead next to it, you circle the mala and return to this central point—a reminder of guidance, presence, and learning.

Respect and Care for Your Mala

Just like sacred texts or altar objects, malas are treated with great reverence.

Here are essential care practices:
• Never place your mala on the ground. If it accidentally touches the ground, gently touch it to the crown of your head and recite “Om Ah Hum” three times, a mantra used for purification.
• Avoid water: Don’t wear your mala in the shower or while swimming, as water can weaken the cord.
• Remove your mala before sleeping to avoid tangling or breaking.
• Cleanse energetically on a regular basis: Place your mala overnight on a bowl of Himalayan salt or cleanse it with Tibetan incense smoke.

Your mala is a spiritual companion—treating it with care enhances its sacred energy.

If you're looking for a mala that suits your style and intention, browse our webshop’s mala collection, featuring ethically sourced Tibetan malas in various gemstones and woods.

Wearing a Mala – Is It Okay?

Many people wonder: Do I need to be Buddhist to wear a mala? Absolutely not. While rooted in Buddhist and Hindu traditions, malas are now embraced by seekers from many paths.

Wearing a mala can:
• Serve as a reminder of your spiritual goals.
• Inspire inner peace, focus, and mindfulness.
• Offer energetic support based on the properties of its materials.

You might wear your mala around your wrist or neck, or carry it in a mala pouch. Just be sure to remove it before bathing or sleeping, and keep it off unclean surfaces.

The Energies of Mala Beads: Types of Stones and Their Meanings

Malas are often crafted from natural stones or woods, each carrying symbolic and energetic qualities. Here’s a guide to popular stones and their meanings:
• Amethyst: A stone of spirituality and contentment. It balances emotional, physical, and intellectual energies.
• Garnet: Sparks internal fire and creativity. A powerful ally during difficult transitions.
• Granite: Encourages diplomacy and balance. Known to enhance modesty and prosperity.
• Jade: A classic stone of longevity and wisdom. Aids dreamwork and spiritual transitions.
• Lapis Lazuli: Enhances clarity, creativity, and mental strength. Helps you connect deeply with your truth.
• Malachite: Clears emotional blockages and guides toward growth. Encourages personal responsibility.
• Moonstone: Brings introspection and inner balance. Supports emotional transitions and insight.
• Quartz Crystal: Amplifies thought and energy. A universal stone that enhances spiritual connection.
• Rose Quartz: Cultivates love, gentleness, and harmony—especially in relationships.
• Sandstone: A grounding stone that encourages truth and emotional insight.
• Tiger Eye: A practical stone that brings clarity, strength, and grounded focus.
• Turquoise: Heals and balances energy. Known as a protective stone of peace and spiritual expansion.

Each stone brings a different energy. You can choose your mala based on your personal intention or emotional need.

Want to find the stone that matches your journey? Browse our gemstone mala section in the webshop to discover the perfect match.

Setting an Intention with Your Mala

Before using your mala, take a moment to set an intention. This could be:
• A wish for healing
• A desire for peace
• A focus on compassion

Hold your mala in both hands, close your eyes, and mentally affirm your intention. Your mala becomes a vessel for that energy.

You can use the same intention each time or adapt your prayer depending on your needs. The more you use your mala, the more it carries your vibration.

Making Mala Practice a Daily Ritual

The beauty of mala meditation lies in its simplicity. Just a few minutes a day can transform your mindset.

Try this simple daily practice:
1. Sit in a quiet space.
2. Hold your mala in your left hand.
3. Begin reciting your mantra, starting with the bead next to the guru bead.
4. Let your thumb slide each bead over your index finger.
5. Focus on the mantra. If your mind wanders, gently return.
6. When you reach the guru bead, pause. Reflect. Then flip and go the other way if you wish to continue.

This rhythmic movement becomes a calming heartbeat of your spiritual life.

When Your Mala Breaks – What Does It Mean?

If your mala breaks, don’t worry—it’s not bad luck. In fact, many traditions believe a broken mala symbolizes a spiritual breakthrough, the completion of a cycle, or the letting go of old energy.

You can:
• Have it restrung, either professionally or yourself.
• Keep the beads as part of a sacred object, or place them on your altar.

Gifting or Receiving a Mala

Malas make deeply meaningful gifts. Giving one is like sharing a piece of light and intention.

When gifting or receiving a mala:
• Choose the stone or wood that resonates with the person’s needs.
• Offer it with love, perhaps after setting a positive intention.

Every mala in our webshop is carefully selected, and we offer beautiful mala pouches that are perfect for gifting.

Final Thoughts: Your Mala as a Sacred Companion

Using a mala is a deeply personal and spiritual experience. Whether you’re chanting in front of a home altar or silently meditating in nature, your mala serves as a link to the sacred, to intention, and to the quiet wisdom within.

Treat it with respect, use it with heart, and let it guide you inward.

If you're seeking your first mala or looking to add a new piece to your collection, visit our webshop for authentic Tibetan prayer beads and other tools for your spiritual practice. Every mala we offer is handcrafted with purpose and tradition.

May your mala practice bring you clarity, compassion, and a deeper sense of peace.