The Meaning Behind Malas

For Meditation Practice or Beautiful Adornment

A mala is a string of beads traditionally used to count mantras during meditation, much like a rosary. Beyond their practical use, malas can be worn as necklaces to inspire mindfulness and serve as a reminder of your positive intentions.

Most malas are made with 18, 27, 54, or 108 beads, often hand-knotted between each one. A traditional mala includes a guru bead and a tassel, each carrying special meaning.

The Meaning of 108 Beads
The number 108 is considered sacred in many traditions. In Vedic culture, it represents the number of existence. Some schools of Buddhism teach that there are 108 human desires to overcome before reaching Nirvana. There are also 108 sacred sites in India, 108 energy points within the body, 108 channels that converge in the heart chakra, and even the sun’s diameter is 108 times the diameter of the Earth.

The Guru Bead & Tassel
The guru bead is the 109th bead — the place where meditation begins and ends. It represents your teacher, holding your prayers and intentions while guiding and supporting your practice. When meditating, begin at the guru bead, breathing or reciting a mantra with each bead until you return to the guru bead. Traditionally, one does not pass over it, but instead pauses, reverses direction, and rests in intention.

The cord running through each mala symbolizes spirit — our connection to the divine, the earth, and to one another. Knots represent unity and continuity. The tassel is often seen as a symbol of enlightenment, our highest truth, or the roots of the lotus flower.

Stone Gypsy Malas
Every Stone Gypsy mala is hand-knotted with 108 genuine gemstone beads and finished with a handmade silk tassel. Each piece is infused with love and positive intention, cleansed and purified before it comes to you. Your mala arrives in a muslin drawstring bag with a card describing the healing properties of its gemstones.