Sandalwood Prayer Mala

A sandalwood mala is a string of beads, traditionally 108 plus a guru bead, used in spiritual practices like meditation and chanting to count mantras, promoting focus, calmness, and emotional balance due to sandalwood's natural fragrance and cooling properties. These sacred garlands, made from fragrant sandalwood wood, are used in Hinduism, Buddhism, and other traditions as tools for mindfulness, spiritual awareness, and to manifest positive energy and peace, often with knotted cords and tassels, and can be worn as necklaces or bracelets. 

The 108 bead represent spiritual wholeness, eliminating 108 troubles, and is used for counting the number of times a prayer, chant, or mantra is repeated. Simple start at the master, or guru, bead and go around the string of beads, moving to the next bead in the string, repeating until back at the master bead and know that a total of 108 repetitions have been made.
That guru bead is usually not counted, but marks the beginning ant end of the meditation. As you repeat the mantra, inhale the sandalwood fragrance, known for cooling, calming, and focusing properties.

Hold the mala in your non-dominant hand, moving from bead to bead with your thumb and middle finger, focusing on your mantra. Want to do more than 108 repetitions? Go backward through the beads, as it is traditional to not cross the guru bead. Expect that concentration will be gradually enhanced, bit by bit as the mala is used regularly. Look for the inner peace and emotional balance that this type of work brings to so many, reducing stress, anxiety, and impulsive decisions. Feel connected to the earth through the wooden beads and the higher realms through the meditative work done with malas.