Quick answer: A Rudraksha mala has 108 beads plus one larger sumeru or guru bead. The 108 are counted during japa — one bead per repetition of a mantra — so your hands keep count while your attention stays on the practice. The sumeru marks the start and end of a round and is never crossed; you reverse direction instead.
Why 108
The number turns up throughout Indian tradition and there is no single agreed reason, which is itself worth saying plainly rather than picking one explanation and stating it as fact.
Among the readings commonly given: 108 is the product of 1, 2 squared and 3 cubed; the distance between the earth and the sun is roughly 108 solar diameters; there are said to be 108 nadis converging at the heart; and the Upanishads are traditionally counted at 108.
What matters practically is more mundane. A round of 108 takes a useful amount of time — long enough to settle, short enough to finish — and it is a fixed count, so the practice has an edge to it rather than trailing off when attention wanders.
The extra bead, and why you do not cross it
You will see malas listed as 108 or 108+1. The extra is the sumeru — also called the guru or meru bead — usually larger and set apart from the rest.
Its job is structural: it tells your fingers where the round began. Traditional practice is that you do not count it and do not pass over it. When you reach the sumeru you have completed 108, and if you want another round you turn the mala around and go back the way you came.
The usual explanation is respect — you do not step over the teacher. The practical effect is the same either way: you cannot lose your place, and you cannot drift into an accidental second round without noticing.
How to actually do japa
Simpler than it is usually made to sound:
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Hold the mala in your right hand, draped over the middle finger. The index finger is traditionally kept off the beads.
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Start at the bead next to the sumeru, moving it with your thumb.
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One bead, one repetition of your mantra — aloud, whispered, or silent. All three are traditional.
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Move toward yourself, drawing each bead with the thumb.
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Stop at the sumeru. That is 108. To continue, reverse direction rather than crossing it.
If your attention wanders, notice it and return to the mantra. That returning is the practice. Nobody sustains 108 clean repetitions early on, and treating lapses as failure is the most common reason people abandon japa in the first month.
Choosing between our malas
We stock four, and the differences are practical:
6.5mm 5 Mukhi (108 beads) — the smallest beads, moving quickly through the fingers and sitting lightly if you wear it all day. Best for fast japa and for wearing under clothing.
9–10mm 5 Mukhi (108 beads) — larger beads that are easier to feel and count without looking, which suits slower practice and anyone who finds small beads fiddly.
5 Mukhi 108+1 prayer necklace — includes the sumeru, unisex, designed for comfortable all-day wear as well as practice.
8mm hand-knotted 108+1 — knotted between each bead. This is the durable choice: knots stop the beads rubbing, keep spacing even for counting, and mean a broken thread does not scatter the whole mala. If you intend daily practice for years, this is the one that survives it.
All are certified. If you are undecided, the 8mm knotted strand is the one most likely to still be in use in a decade.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a mala have 108 beads?
Tradition offers several explanations — mathematical, astronomical and scriptural — and no single one is definitive. Practically, 108 gives a round a fixed length that takes a useful amount of time and has a clear end.
What is the extra bead on a 108+1 mala?
It is the sumeru or guru bead. It marks where a round begins and ends, is not counted, and is traditionally not crossed — you reverse direction instead of passing over it.
Should I choose a knotted or unknotted mala?
Knotted strands are more durable: the knots prevent bead-on-bead wear, keep spacing even for counting, and stop the beads scattering if the thread breaks. Unknotted malas are lighter and less expensive. For daily long-term practice, knotted is the better investment.
Can I wear my mala instead of only using it for japa?
Yes, and many people do. If you wear it daily, keep it dry, remove it before bathing or swimming, and oil the beads lightly every few months so the seeds do not dry out.
Which hand should I hold the mala in?
Traditionally the right hand, draped over the middle finger and moved with the thumb, keeping the index finger off the beads. Practice varies by lineage.
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