#full mala

[woodxstone]

GAHARU BUAYA AND AMAZONITE 108 MALA

A rather traditional full mala in "crocodile agarwood" and some gorgeous beads of tianhe stone that just glow when the light hits them right (they appear more teal and darker in low light). The markers placed after the 7th and 21st beads, placement favoured by Zen Buddhists; I also placed one in the middle.

Materials:

108 counting beads: gaharu buaya, 7 mm

marker beads and the focal bead: amazonite, 7 and 12 mm, respectively

guru bead, unknown red wood, 8 mm

transparent, round beading elastic

[woodxstone]

SŌTŌ-INSPIRED JUZU IN BAYONG

This is a juzu inspired by the contemporary prayer beads used by the Sōtō-sect, one of the Japanese Zen Buddhist schools (my post about Japanese Buddhist prayer beads). It has 108 counting beads, 4 marker beads in addition to the parent beads (the middle bead, also known as second parent bead, here similar to the markers) and a sliding ring typical of the Sōtō school. I did, however, use a stone ring instead of the metal (usually silver) ring used in the Sōtō juzu. The parent and marker beads divide the counters into sets of 18. The tassel is knotted from 6 strands of 1 mm thick satin rattail cord, 4 black and 2 coppery brown.

Materials:

Main (counting) beads (judama, kodama): 108, bayong, 8 mm

Parent (mother, guru) bead (oyadama): snowflake obsidian

Middle bead (nakadama) and marker (four point) beads (shiten): onyx, 6 mm

The ring and the two decorative beads (8 mm): carnelian

1 mm satin rattail cord

Black beading string (non-elastic)

[woodxstone]

KNOTTED UNAKITE 108 MALA

This is a rather classical, hand-knotted full mala; I usually like to make the knotted type when I am using gemstones, it feels more secure with the heavier beads. I roughly arraged the unakite beads so that the ones with more pink in them are placed closer to the guru and the almost purely green ones close to the middle, which gives the colour of the mala a slightly graded (and calmer) look. The real colour of the tassel is best shown in the last photo. Markers after every 27 bead, dividing the mala into quarters.

Materials:

108 counting beads: unakite, 6 mm

Guru bead: unakite, 10 mm

Marker beads: onyx, 6 mm

Decorative bead above the tassel: onyx, 8 mm

Black beading string, doubled

[woodxstone]

RED RAJA KAYU 108 MALA

This is a traditional full, 108-bead mala in various reddish tones, accented with silver and black. The lotus-shaped marker beads are placed after 27 counting beads from the guru (placement typically used in Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads), and the half-point is marked by a blackwood bead, to balance the black tassel. This is one of my favourites 🙂.

Materials:

108 counting beads: raja kayu, 6 mm

guru bead: raja kayu, 8 mm

marker & decorative beads: 3 lotus-shaped cinnabar beads (about 6.5-7 mm), 1 blackwood bead (6 mm), 10 flat silver beads (5 mm)

elastic cord

[woodxstone]

Here are the collected links to the malas and other stuff I've made 🙂.

Full malas (108 beads)

Red raja kayu mala (6 mm)

Knotted unakite mala (6 mm)

Gaharu buaya and amazonite mala (7 mm)

Sōtō-inspired juzu in bayong (8 mm)

Half malas (54 beads)

Juzu-inspired half mala in bayong and huanglong jade (8 mm)

Half mala in bayong and dumortierite (8 mm)

Short malas (27 and less beads)

27-bead mala in bayong, silver and turquoise (10 mm)

Bracelets

A simple Zhanguo agate bracelet (6 mm)

Other

[zenmuart]

Full Mala, 108 Star Moon Lotus Bodhi, 8mm Aged Beads - Zen Mu Art

108 Genuine Star Moon Lotus Bodhi Mala (8mm Aged Beads) See Listing on eBay » 108 Genuine Milky white Star Moon Bodhi Mala. Aged beads 5+ years. never worn by anyone. Looks amazing under daylight. Good quality beads and will become smooth and shine after wear for couple of months. Bead Size: 8mm

[zenmuart]

Full Mala, Cypress Bodhi Seeds, Jade RUYI Main Bead, Bamboo Guru Bead - Zen Mu Art

Jade Mala 108 Bead (8 mm) Cypress Bead and Golden Bamboo and Red Tassel The Jade Mala See Listing on eBay » Seeds: 108 beaded mala made by good quality premium mini cypress beads (7 mm x 6 mm). Main Bead: A nice RUYI Jade pendant and two orange candy Alashan Agate as spacer beads …

[zenmuart]

Full Mala, 6mm Cypress Bodhi Seeds - Zen Mu Art

108 Beads High Quality 6 mm Cypress Bodhi Bead See Listing on eBay » Unisex Yoga Cypress108 mala made by 6 mm Tibeten cypress bodhi raw seed. This type of bodhi seeds are from the seeds of Tibetan cypress trees (Ci Xiang), originating in India, now growing in Yunnan and Tibet. It usually planted or …