Japa Mala ~ Prayer Beads. Now available @ The Bookery Mala beads can be worn by anyone seeking a calmer mind, body, and spirit and are perfect for japa meditation. The secrets of the Japa Mala These days in yoga and meditation circles, and even in the broader community, it’s almost become a fashion statement to adorn oneself with Japa beads. Attractively fashioned from a variety of materials including sandlewood, crystal, shell, coral, tulsi, and rudraksha (blue-marble tree) seed, it’s not surprising that these beads have become a ‘must-have’ for many yogic-‘organici’ inspired, fashionistas! Jokes aside though, what is the deeper significance of these Japa Malas? Japa anusthana is a devotional meditation practice that involves repeatedly reciting a mantra, a word or phrase with specific sacred resonance, as a means of achieving ‘pratayahara’ (sense-withdrawal), and ultimately, ‘samadhi’ (enlightenment). According to Swami Satyananda Saraswati, the three great obstacles to meditation are impurity, ignorance and mental distraction, and these can easily be removed through dedicated practice of japa yoga. The word ‘japa’ means ‘to rotate’. One way the rotation of consciousness is achieved is by use of the tool of a ‘mala’, a garland or string of beads. A practitioner either audibly or silently chants a mantra corresponding to each of the beads of the mala, this helps her track the number of her repetitions, and literally, stay on track, with her meditation practice. “Japa yoga means union of the self with the highest existence through the rotation of consciousness,” summarises Swami Satyananda. Japa can be performed in three main ways: Baikhari (audible) , Upanshu (whispered), and the most sophisticated is, Manasik (mental) recitation. American yoga researcher and author, George Feuerstein, says that the most important ingredients for success in japa or mantric recitation is “mindfullness, regularity and a large number of repetitions”. It is therefore generally recommended that the yogi recites his mantra from 108 to 1,080 times daily. Significance of the sacred number: 108 Most commonly malas are comprised of 108 beads. This number repeatedly arises in yoga and other traditions like Buddhism. This then begs the question: what is the meaning behind this highly symbolic number? Well…. when I looked into it, I unearthed a number of fascinating possible explanations. George Feuerstein says that the key lies in astronomy – the Vedic sages were aware that the sun and the moon’s average distance from the earth is 108 times their respective diameters. “Symbolically speaking, 108 is the number signifying the midregion (antariksha) the space between heaven and earth,” writes Feuerstein. “Thus, the 108 beads can be taken to represent an equal number of steps from the material world to the luminous realm of the divine Reality – India’s version of Jacob’s ladder”. 27 constellations x 4 padas(parts) = 108 12 zodiac houses x 9 planets = 108 Upanishats Scriptures of the Vedas = 108 In other words, 108 beads represent the entire universe. When we count the mantra using the mala, we are remembering the presence of the deity who is the Universal Self in every part of the universe. So, after each cycle of repetition, we cover the entire universe by feeling and touching the presence of deity of the mantra in it. 108 beads symbolize the universe and repetition on each reminds us the omnipresence of the Universal Self(a.k.a God)! It suggests the immanent nature of the Universal Self. Another explanation claims that each one of the 108 beads corresponds to each of the earthly desires to be transcended. Swami Sivananda’s interpretation of the symbology is that a person breathes, on average 21,600 times every day, and if one does 200 malas, or rounds of japa, it totals this same number: 21,600. Therefore, the yogi is performing one repetition for every breath! “If he does 200 malas of japa every day, that amounts to remembrance of God throughout the day,” says Swami Sivananda. He also says malas may contain beads which form divisions of 108 also, so that the same calculation can be maintained. Elizabeth Gilbert, in her popular book, “Eat, Pray, Love”, suggests that the number 108 is “a perfect three-digit multiple of three, its components adding up to nine, which is three threes”. She concludes that three is the number representing “supreme balance” and the holy trinity. In the yogic tradition this corresponds to the tri-murti, the three deities: Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer). The 109th Bead Those who have practiced Japa Mala will know that there is in fact a 109th bead. There are almost as many explanations of the meaning of this extra bead as there are for the significance of the number 108. This bead is sometimes called the ‘sumeru’ or summet of the mala (alluding to the sacred Mount Meru), and hangs outside, separately from the string of the other 108 beads, like a pendant. On a practical level the sumeru serves to denote a starting and ending point for japa. When a practitioner reaches this bead, he turns around and starts a new cycle. The sumeru is also sometimes called the ‘godhead’ bead and as such the yogi should never ‘cross’ this bead. Feuerstein explains that the 109th bead, or “master bead”, can also represent ones guru. Gilbert says when you “reach this marker during prayer, you are meant to pause from your absorption in meditation, and thank your teachers”. Swami Sivananda adds that every time you come to the sumeru or “Meru” bead, “you have gone one step further on the spiritual path and crossed over one obstacle. A portion of your ignorance is removed.” Finally, Swami Satyananda, explains the purpose of the sumeru bead as being to help break any distraction the practitioner may be experiencing. When the yogi’s mind becomes distracted by, in the case of a beginner, “extraneous thoughts”, or in the case of the more advanced practitioner, “unconscious and psychic phenomena”, the practice may become automatic, as the awareness wanders. The sumeru bead therefore serves to bring awareness back into the practice, as the practitioner embarks on a new round. The string The string of the mala symbolizes the Universal Self. How? Remember, we discussed that beads form the part of the universe. The string holds and supports the beads. So, it symbolizes the Universal Self which is the force that supports or sustains every part and every being of the universe. Why practice Japa Mala? A Perfect Circle In a japa mala, 108 beads are strung in a circular fashion. It represents the cyclic nature of the universe, without an end or a beginning. The Universal Self is the only unchanging principle, just like a string in the mala. The Tassel The tassel represents enlightenment. As the strands combine together in to one, it represents our connection to the Divine and to each other. Oneness. Enlightenment , our prana and consciousness. The connection to the universe. Guru Bead The guru bead represents the student-guru relationship. Start your japa meditation or chanting on the seed next to the guru. It is believed to be disrespectful to cross over the guru bead. If you wish to do more that 108 japa, turn around and count the opposite way when you reach the guru bead. Swami Satyanda says one of the primary purposes of this practice is to purify the mind and release us from the samskaras (past impressions) and vasanas (future desires). “Our real nature is not our normal state of anxiety, excitement and tension,” explains Swami. “Our nature is Samadhi, pure consciousness, calmness, tranquility, equanimity. We can use the comparison of a mirror that is obscured by layers of grime and dust. Clean the mirror and its natural quality will be revealed, which is to reflect all objects. “It is the restlessness of the mind which causes all unhappiness and complexes, but these are only impositions. Calm and purify the mind through your sadhana (practice)and experience your true self”. Gemstones such as Turquoise, Rose Quartz and Amethyst in to our mala beads. They help bring different qualities and intentions in to each piece. How to use a mala? *Keep the index finger and thumb spread so that they are perpendicular to each other. *Make a group of rest of the three fingers and bring them together to make them perpendicular to the index finger. *Place the mala on the middle finger while keeping the index finger pointing away from you. Index finger symbolizes our ego. So, we need to ensure it does not touch any bead. In other words, we must park our ego separately during meditation. *Start chanting the mantra from bead next to the Guru bead, i.e. starting bead is above the Guru bead so that the Guru bead is not crossed. *Continue chanting the mantra for each bead till you reach the Guru bead. *When the Guru bead is reached, mala should be turned around to start the next cycle of chanting from the last bead(108th). As a matter of respect to the Guru, while counting the beads, Guru bead should never be crossed. Also, remember that the movement of beads should always be towards you, to invite the auspicious Divine Energy into you. Written in part by Ana Davis & Kalidas Compiled by Debb Greer References “Meditations from the Tantras”, Swami Satyananda Saraswati “Tantra: the path to ecstasy”, George Feuerstein “Japa Mala” (article on the internet), Swami Sivananda “Eat,Pray,Love”, Elizabeth Gilbert “Sacred Sanskrit Words,” Leza Lowitz & Reema Datta
Posted on: Sun, 01 Jun 2014 16:51:19 +0000
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