Fragrant Sandalwood Meditation Japa Mala

Name: Fragrant Sandalwood Meditation Japa Mala
Brand: Buddha Groove
SKU: NBT-MM-SW
Price: 32.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$32.00

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A traditional japa mala strung with 108 round sandalwood beads and a single guru bead. Sandalwood has long been valued in Ayurvedic and Buddhist practice for its warm scent and calming presence. Hold it in one hand during meditation, moving bead by bead through a mantra or breath count, or wrap it at the wrist between sessions.

Details

Design: Traditional 108-bead japa mala with smooth round sandalwood beads, a single larger guru bead, and a black tassel knot at the closure
Size: 108 beads, each approximately 8 mm, plus one guru bead. Full strand measures roughly 30-32 inches unknotted, wearable doubled or tripled at the wrist
Material: Sandalwood beads, unknotted cotton/nylon cord, black cord tassel finish
Care: Keep away from water and prolonged sun exposure. Store in a cloth pouch to preserve the wood's natural scent and finish
Note: Each mala is handmade in Nepal from natural sandalwood, so slight variations in bead color, grain, and scent intensity are normal and part of its handcrafted character
Origin: Handmade in Nepal

Meaning & Intention

Sandalwood has been treasured in Ayurvedic and Buddhist tradition for centuries, prized for its warm, woody fragrance and its long-held association with purification and calm. Before it was carved into beads, its paste and oil marked temple ceremonies and healing rituals.

The number 108 sits at the center of mala practice across Hindu and Buddhist traditions, understood variously as the count of earthly desires, sacred syllables, or a figure said to represent wholeness. Moving bead by bead gives the mind a single, repeatable task.

The guru bead, slightly larger and set apart, marks where one full cycle closes. Tradition holds that a practitioner pauses at the guru bead rather than crossing over it, turning the mala back the way it came.

It is a small physical cue for a larger idea: practice moves in cycles, and each completed round is worth acknowledging before beginning again.

Essence & Elements

Intention: Calm, focus, grounding

Ideal for: Anyone building or deepening a daily meditation and mantra practice

Suggested mantra: Om Mani Padme Hum

Symbol: 108 beads for a full round of mantra; guru bead to mark completion

Questions & Guidance

How do I use a 108-bead mala?

Hold the mala in one hand and move from bead to bead with your thumb, reciting a mantra or breath count once per bead. When you reach the guru bead, pause and turn back rather than crossing over it.

Why are there 108 beads?

108 is a number long held as significant in Hindu and Buddhist counting practices, traditionally used to structure a full round of mantra repetition.

Can this be worn as jewelry?

It is designed for meditation use rather than everyday jewelry, though many people do wear it wrapped several times around the wrist between practice sessions.

Will the scent fade over time?

Sandalwood's fragrance is naturally long-lasting and tends to mellow and warm with handling, though it will soften gradually with age and exposure to air.