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The Tibetan bracelet, also called mala, is very fashionable today and seduced by its aesthetic and original appearance. However, few people know its origin and true function.
Indeed, it not only brings aesthetic interest but also expresses spiritual significance.
Multi-wrap bracelet or necklace, the mala is a jewel of prayer and meditation worn for several thousand years by Hindus, Buddhists and those in search of spirituality.
Origins of the Tibetan bracelet
No less than 108 beads adorn this bracelet, in stone, wood or grain. A larger bead stands out from the rest and is located at the end of the mala. The latter is called “Meru” to designate the sacred mount of Méru which would turn out to be the sacred mount of the universe.
The name Mala means, for its part, garland of pearls or garland of meditation in Sanskrit, this bracelet being used like a rosary in the spiritual currents of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Created in India more than 3000 years ago, the Tibetan bracelet is an ancestral jewel whose composition is based on various beliefs.
What does the number 108 mean?
This bracelet can be made of different materials, of different sizes, to display various shades of colors but it still has 108 beads and has a conical clasp and an amulet.
Buddhist and Hindu cults attribute to the number 108 a deep spiritual meaning. Among the symbolic elements, we find:
- the heart chakra which represents the center of balance between a person’s body and mind. The chakras allow the exchange of energy between the body and the external environment, 108 energy lines come together to form the heart chakra;
- the Upanishads represent the theoretical basis of the Hindu religion and consist of 108 sacred texts;
- the numbers 1, 0 and 8 all have specific meanings. The number 1 symbolizes God, the number 0 represents emptiness and the humility brought by spiritual practice and the number 8 signifies infinity;
- the 108 sins to be overcome in the Buddhist religion;
- the 108 virtues to cultivate;
- the 108 feelings made up of 36 related to the past, 36 related to the present and 36 related to the future
- the 108 names of gods and goddesses. In the Hindu religion, Buddha and some other gods hold 108 names
- the sun and the earth. The sun has a diameter 108 times that of the earth and the distance between the two is 108 times the diameter of the sun;
- enlightenment of Buddha. This one had to endure 108 tests to be able to reach the enlightenment;
- the 108 spiritual sufferings present in Buddhism;
- the 108 spiritual gestures present in tantra;
- the 108 positions of yoga;
- the 108 positions of Tai-Chi
To read: How to open and balance your 7 chakras?
A composition rich in symbols
The Tibetan bracelet contains many secrets, each of its parts has a special meaning.
The clasp conical symbolizes emptiness. For Buddhists, this means the inexistence of all essence, that is to say that the functions or phenomena carried out by things are devoid of autonomous existence.
Cord who receives the beads is made up of several braided threads and each of its threads is a symbol. We find 22 sons in total who represent for 3 of them the body of Buddha, the absolute body, the body of emanation and the body of glory, the next 5 sons symbolize the 5 wisdoms and the 9 remaining sons represent primordial Buddha Vajradhara.
The way to wear the mala Also has a precise meaning, the pearls that one slides towards oneself represent the beings that the owner of the bracelet extracts from suffering to access a positivity of karma.
In addition, when the amulet is a dordje, the latter symbolizes skill and compassion. The bell symbolizes emptiness and knowledge.
Finally, the Tibetan bracelet can be declined in many models which each offer a different meaning.
How to wear and use your Tibetan bracelet?
The Tibetan bracelet responds to religious use for thousands of years for Buddhist and Hindu spiritual currents.
Recitation of prayers and meditation are based on this rosary which must always be enclosed in the left hand for Buddhists.
The user shells it with his thumb and forefinger using his right hand to uproot beings from suffering and fill themselves with positive energy. Conversely, Hindus hold it in their right hand because the left hand is impure.
Beads allow recitation of mantras to be counted and facilitate the application of different breathing techniques while their composition contributes to the outcome of prayers. Rock crystal beads, for example, are apt to help the user find something or someone who has been found to be lost.
The Tibetan bracelet in lithotherapy
The mala is not only intended for religious use, it can contribute to the well-being of its owner in many other ways.
In lithotherapy, it has many virtues thanks to the pearls and crystals that compose it. Minerals, on the other hand, have a positive influence on the psychological and physical state of its user.
Thus, the mala bracelet made of stone beads, if worn regularly and always in contact with the skin, improves the general well-being of the person.
Each type of stone manifests different effects, so the bracelet should be chosen taking into account its needs and goals.
When choosing your future Tibetan rosary, it can be interesting to pay attention to your instincts and respond to a particular attraction towards a specific model. The latter will be perfectly able to take care of its owner whatever the type of use that the latter intends for him.
The Buddhist bracelet in meditation
The Tibetan bracelet intervenes universally in the practice of meditation. Adepts, not just Buddhists or Hindus, rely on this gem to deepen their sessions.
Pearls are used to assess meditation time and represent an objective duration benchmark.
Meditation requires intense concentration and great patience, the bracelet helps its owner to develop these qualities which reveal a major importance in spiritual and personal development.
By picking the pearls, the person who wishes to enter meditation refocuses his mind, the bracelet therefore becomes a precious tool throughout the session.
In meditation, the Tibetan rosary represents the course of its various external paths, these can be visited permanently and offer new revelations at each passage. This state of mind suggests that we never stop discovering ourselves and that personal development is never complete.
The bracelet in yoga practice
Yoga enthusiasts also benefit from the energy of this jewel to optimize their sessions which also require intense concentration.
Some Tibetan bracelets are particularly conducive to well-being and relaxation and significantly facilitate access to the state of inner serenity.
Many people use them as a tool for concentration. By designating it as a constant fixation point, they manage to fix their concentration while ignoring everything around them.
Free use and benefits always present
Of course, the Tibetan bracelet can be worn without religious intent or spiritual practices. People who let themselves be seduced by its aesthetic attractions can also benefit from its benefits.
Indeed, popular Chinese belief teaches us that it is able to repel evil spirits and negative energies and that it helps us to purify ourselves.
How to maintain your Tibetan bracelet?
To preserve all its energies and its aesthetic aspect, the mala must be carefully maintained, in a physical or spiritual way according to beliefs.
The bracelet must first be worn and chipped regularly to provide all its benefits. Whatever the nature of the pearls, this gesture will polish them and allow to update the heart of their material.
To preserve your bracelet as long as possible, it should be avoided any contact with water, especially those made of wood which could see their pearls deform.
A spiritual maintenance process consists in exposing the bracelet to the light of the moon and the sun for several hours. The wooden beads will reveal a revived scent.
Another beneficial exposure is that of incense smoke, the pearls will soak up and then diffuse this same smell.
Finally, the sound vibrations that penetrate the bracelet allow it to be purified. Thus, music, mantra recitations or even Tibetan chants are beneficial to maintain its beneficial actions.
Finally
Whatever its type of use and the beliefs of the person who wears it, the Tibetan bracelet above all ensures the well-being of its owner. It is a personal and unique piece of jewelry, the use of which is left free to everyone’s desire.
And you, how do you wear your bracelet?