Count to be in a
Rudraksha Jap Mala
108+1 beads
54+1 beads
27+1 beads
Jap Mala,
Rudraksha Mala Rosary made out of above count with Rudraksha Beads in the
auspicious numbers like is called Sampoorna Rudraksha Mala or a Perfect
Rudraksha Mala.
The number 108 is divided, such as in half, third, quarter,
or twelfth, so that some malas have 54, 36, 27, or 9 beads. However one can
follow the count specified by their Guru or Master and the Count followed in
the Family traditionally.
The +1 bead is
called as Sumeru , Guru Bead, Meru, Nayaka mani, is considered as boundary for returning in
reverse direction for further counting.
Rudraksha Mala is
used for wearing as a Garland as well as for purpose of Japa and Chanting Mantra
for Spiritual attainments. It is used to count Mantra in the numbers of
108,54,27, Jap Mala rests on ring finger and middle finger is used for chant Japa.
Index and smallest finger are preferred to be avoided for touching the Mala
during Japa process.
Rudraksha Rosary is considered as a Rosary, which can be used for Japa of all kinds. The details found in the scriptures say that Rudraksha rosary should be worn after proper sanctification/ energizing with Mantra.
srie connections have original rudraksha mala, contact us at seva@srie.in for more.
Why 108
Below are some of the many reasons that have been given
for having 108 beads on a mala, as well as a few other points of interest. None
of these reasons are being promoted here as more or less true than the others.
However, you may notice that 108 appears to be somewhat like a road map of
reality in general, and the human in particular. We extend our thanks to
website swamij for this information. Om Namah Shivaya. We don’t take any claim
or we don’t have proper source of these information, as most of them are
verbally heard or passed on from one generation to another.
Harshad
number:
108 is a Harshad number, which is an integer divisible by the sum of its digits
(Harshad is from Sanskrit, and means "great joy")
Desires: There are said to
be 108 earthly desires in mortals.
Lies: There are said to
be 108 lies that humans tell.
Delusions: There are said to
be 108 human delusions or forms of ignorance.
Heart
Chakra:
The chakras are the intersections of energy lines, and there are said to be a
total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra. One of them,
sushumna leads to the crown chakra, and is said to be the path to
Self-realization.
Sanskrit
alphabet:
There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each has masculine and feminine,
shiva and shakti. 54 times 2 is 108.
Pranayama: If one is able to
be so calm in meditation as to have only 108 breaths in a day, enlightenment
will come.
Upanishads: Some say there are
108 Upanishads, texts of the wisdom of the ancient sages.
Sri
Yantra:
On the Sri Yantra there are marmas where three lines intersect, and there are
54 such intersections. Each intersections has masculine and feminine, shiva and
shakti qualities. 54 times 2 equals 108. Thus, there are 108 points that define
the Sri Yantra as well as the human body.
Pentagon: The angle formed by
two adjacent lines in a pentagon equals 108 degrees.
Marmas: Marmas or
marmasthanas are like energy intersections called chakras, except have fewer
energy lines converging to form them. There are said to be 108 marmas in the
subtle body.
Time: Some say there are
108 feelings, with 36 related to the past, 36 related to the present, and 36
related to the future.
8
extra beads:
In doing a practice of counting the number of repetitions of t
he mala, 100 are
counted as completed. The remaining are said to cover errors or omissions. The
8 are also said to be an offering to God and Guru.
Chemistry: Interestingly,
there are about 115 elements known on the periodic table of the elements. Most
of those, around or higher than the number 100 only exist in the laboratory,
and some for only thousandths of a second. The number that naturally exist on
Earth is around 100.
Astrology: There are 12
constellations, and 9 arc segments called namshas or chandrakalas. 9 times 12 equals
108. Chandra is moon, and kalas are the divisions within a whole.
River
Ganga:
The sacred River Ganga spans a longitude of 12 degrees (79 to 91), and a
latitude of 9 degrees (22 to 31). 12 times 9 equals 108.
Planets
and Houses:
In astrology, there are 12 houses and 9 planets. 12 times 9 equals 108.
Goddess
names:
There are said to be 108 Indian goddess names.
Gopis
of Krishna:
In the Krishna tradition, there were said to be 108 gopis or maid servants of
Krishna.
1,
0, and 8:
Some say that 1 stands for God or higher Truth, 0 stands for emptiness or
completeness in spiritual practice, and 8 stands for infinity or eternity.
Sun
and Earth:
The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. The distance
from the Sun to the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Sun.
Moon
and Earth:
The average distance of the Moon from the Earth is 108 times the diameter of
the Moon.
Silver
and the moon:
In astrology, the metal silver is said to represent the moon. The atomic weight
of silver is 108.
Numerical
scale:
The 1 of 108, and the 8 of 108, when added together equals 9, which is the
number of the numerical scale, i.e. 1, 2, 3 ... 10, etc., where 0 is not a
number.
Meditations: Some say there are
108 styles of meditation.
Breath: Tantra estimates
the average number of breaths per day at 21,600, of which 10,800 are solar
energy, and 10,800 are lunar energy. Multiplying 108 by 100 is 10,800.
Multiplying 2 x 10,800 equals 21,600.
Paths
to God:
Some suggest that there are 108 paths to God.
Smaller
divisions:
The number 108 is divided, such as in half, third, quarter, or twelfth, so that
some malas have 54, 36, 27, or 9 beads.
Hinduism: 108 is said to
refer to the number of Hindu deities. Some say that each of the deities has 108
names.
Islam: The number 108 is
used in Islam to refer to God.
Jain: In the Jain
religion, 108 are the combined virtues of five categories of holy ones,
including 12, 8, 36, 25, and 27 virtues respectively.
Sikh: The Sikh tradition
has a mala of 108 knots tied in a string of wool, rather than beads.
Buddhism: Some Buddhists
carve 108 small Buddhas on a walnut for good luck. Some ring a bell 108 times
to celebrate a new year. There are said to be 108 virtues to cultivate and 108
defilements to avoid.
Chinese: The Chinese
Buddhists and Taoists use a 108 bead mala, which is called su-chu, and has
three dividing beads, so the mala is divided into three parts of 36 each.
Chinese astrology says that there are 108 sacred stars.
Stages
of the soul:
Said that Atman, the human soul or center goes through 108 stages on the
journey.
Meru: This is a larger
bead, not part of the 108. It is not tied in the sequence of the other beads.
It is the quiding bead, the one that marks the beginning and end of the mala.
Dance: There are 108 forms
of dance in the Indian traditions.
Praiseworthy
souls:
There are 108 qualities of praiseworthy souls.
First man in space:
The first manned space flight lasted 108 minutes, and was on April 12, 1961 by
Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut.
