Malas are a common type of prayer bead that have an interesting and unique history. They are used during meditation and other spiritual activities. Hinduism and Buddhism are two religions that commonly use them, which started around 8th century BC.
The name "mala" comes from Sanskrit and basically means galand. They are meant as a symbol of spiritual essence for many and use 108 beads most of the time which will be touched on later as the number is significant.
They are more than simple accessories and enable people to have mediation sessions that are much better.
A lot of people just like to wear mala beads around their neck to help get them more into the mediation that they are doing. They help to keep cound while saying a mantra or whatever other phrase that is being used. They also help to serve as a reminder of spirituality if you keep them anywhere in your home. It should be noted that during meditaton you aren't supposed to hold anything in your hand as the spiritual energies need to get through your chakras.
Although malas are made with 18, 27, 54 or 108 beads the ones with 108 are quite popular. The number 108 generally means the number of existence in a lot of religions. Vedic and other cultures knew this and engrained it in the consciousness of many different people. So because of the importance of this number, the malas were designed with 108 beads.
The types of beads that are available will vary widely depending on where you decide to buy them. Rudraksha beads are known to clear the mind and make you feel more positive by helping the nervous system.
Rattan seeds are also used by a lot of retailers and are commonly called "lotus root" and "lotus seed" by many people.
There are different types of malas that are used for different purposes with wooden ones like sandalwood, peach and elm being popular for magnetizing.
If you are a wholesale supplier then you can easily buy wholesale malas online here at Great Eastern Imports. We only sell wholesale though so if you need a small quantity then you would need to go to a yoga or mediation store perhaps.