About this piece
A traditional mala of 108 rudraksha beads from Nepal, ending in a 9 mukhi bead that hangs in an open, gold-tone frame with an Om in the centre. The photos show it coiled on a wooden stand with marigolds, hanging, and worn over a white shirt.
The pendant is heavier than the beads, so the seller suggests lifting the mala in the palm.
How it is used
A mala of 108 beads is traditionally used to count mantras. The seller says the pendant bead is the fixed start and finish point, so you turn the mala around there rather than passing it. It can also be worn. The Shiva Purana (Vidyeshvara Samhita 25, verses 74 to 75) names Bhairava, the sage Kapila and Durga in her nine forms for the nine-faced bead. Astrologers today pair this bead with Ketu; the pairing is a later convention, not a statement of the Purana, and it is the one this site uses in its rudraksha guide and free kundali.
Looking after it
- Keep it dry, and wipe off perfume and oil with a soft cloth.
- Lift it in the palm, as the pendant is heavier than the beads.
