Of the world's religions, many use prayer beads for prayer and/or meditation. Muslim prayer beads have 99 beads to correspond to the 99 days of Allah. Catholicism uses the rosary in order to keep track of in which order the prayers are said. Hinduism and Buddhism use the Japa Mala, aka the mala to keep track of the repetitions in meditation. There are also nondenominational prayer beads.

Although many religions use prayer beads during prayer, this tradition is very strong in Tibetan Buddhism. In Tibetan Buddhism, the mala is used with a particular mantra that is repeated during meditation. When a mala is used during meditation, the mind is free to focus on the meaning of the mantra itself, rather than focusing on the number of repetitions said.

In today's modern world, most of us are accustomed to keeping track of and doing a variety of different things at once. This thinking is not helpful to us in terms of meditation. The mind needs to be focused during meditation, but often our minds wander. The prayer beads help us connect our minds to the mantra, and eliminate thinking about other things. The mind is able to focus on the mantra, and become more relaxed.

Japa malas normally contain 108 beads, or a number of beads divisible by 9. Many Buddhists believe that there are 108 possible sins, while Hindus often believe that 108 is the number of names assigned to Hindu gods, or that the number 108 represents the nine planets in the 12 zodiac houses. 108 is called the perfect or complete number.

When you hold a mala, hold it loosely in one hand, with the strand over the ring finger. When you start to recite the mantra, take hold of the first bead behind the guru bead. The guru bead is the large bead on the center of the mala. As you say the mantra each time, use your thumb and bring the next bead towards you. You pass away from the guru bead.

Prayer beads are made from bodhi seeds, sandalwood, or other types of wood. Prayer beads can also be made from different types of gemstones.

Mantras can be recited for one of four different purposes. There are mantras to appease, to increase, to overcome and to tame by forceful means. An appeasing mantra can serve to purify the mind and to clear away obstacles such as illness. An increasing mantra serves to increase ones lifespan, knowledge or other such pursuits.

An overcoming mantra serves to benefit someone other than oneself. And a mantra to tame by forceful means serves to tame malicious spirits.

Your mala should always be treated with care. Do not allow your mala to fall onto the floor, and store it in a mala bag when it's not in use. Mala beads are meant for the user only, they should not be handled by others. Using a mala in meditation is very useful for those beginning to practice meditation, and for those who are proficient as well.