How to Use a Mala

A Mala is a string of beads that is used in meditation in order to count mantras or breaths. Malas are meant to ground the practice of meditation and recitation of mantras. Malas can also be used in ways other than meditation, like in divination. Having and using a mala can help expand your meditative and spiritual practice and help provide a calming structure.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Gripping the Mala

1
Identify the guru bead. The guru bead, or mountain bead, generally hangs perpendicular to the counting beads. The guru bead is intended to be used as a place of rest and contemplation during meditations and mantra recitations. Guru beads can be connected to a tassel, made of different material than the counting beads, or have carvings and other ornamentation.^{[1]XResearch source}
- The guru bead will be where you begin and end your meditation or mantra recitation.
2
Place the mala in your right hand. The right hand is the traditional placement for malas as some cultures view the left hand as being impure. However, there are many other cultures and traditions that do not specify in which hand you need to place the mala. Consult the specific tradition you are practicing in if you are unsure of which hand you should place the mala.^{[2]XResearch source}
- If you are relatively new to meditation, or do not practice within a specific tradition, use whichever hand is most comfortable.
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3
Hang the mala on your third finger. Place your mala on your third, or ring, finger before you begin reciting mantras or meditating. The third finger has a symbolic significance in many buddhist traditions. Placing the mala on your third finger will also allow you to efficiently cycle through the mala throughout your meditation and mantra recitations.
- Try placing the mala on your middle finger if you have dexterity or flexibility issues in your hands.
- Malas, specifically in the Hindu tradition, can be placed on any finger except for the index finger.^{[3]XResearch source}
- In Kundalini yogic meditations, each finger corresponds with a particular quality. The index finger is for wisdom, knowledge, and prosperity; the middle finger is for patience; the ring finger is for health, vitality, and strengthening the nervous system; and the little finger is for intelligence and communication.
4
Count with your thumb. Use your thumb to count each bead throughout your meditation. Your thumb should allow you to easily move through each bead that is held by one of your fingers. Simply use the pad or nail of your thumb to pull each bead toward you and cycle through your mala.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Know that although they are called counting beads, you will not necessarily be counting by number. The counting beads are meant to serve as markers of your progress in your mantra or meditation to allow you to further deepen your contemplative practice.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Meditating with a Mala

1
Start with the guru bead. Find a quiet and comfortable place to sit, and take a moment of silence before beginning your meditation and mantra. Find the guru bead on your mala once you have settled. The guru bead is meant to function as a place of reflection and acknowledgement that will help ground your meditation. Once you have found the guru bead spend time deciding on a mantra.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Mantras are often given by spiritual teacher or advisors. However, you can try using a positive affirmation in place of a mantra if you have not been given one by a teacher. Try an affirmation like, “I love myself,” or repeat a word like “Calm.”^{[6]XResearch source}
- You do not need to have a mantra in order to use a mala. Malas can also be used in silent meditation.
2
Use your thumb to pull one bead toward you. Once you have chosen a mantra, and have collected yourself, begin by pulling one counting bead toward you. Use your thumb to pull the bead and let the mala slide over your third finger. Each counting bead you pull should correspond with one recitation of a mantra.^{[7]XResearch source}
- If you are not meditating with a mantra, use your mala to count breaths instead.
- Although all of the beads on the mala, other than the guru bead, are called counting beads, you will not be counting outloud or in your head. Rather, the beads will be doing the counting for you as you scroll through and “count” with each breath or mantra.
3
Continue moving one bead per mantra. Continue counting a bead with each breath or mantra you recite. Try to keep your counting as consistent as possible so that you can receive the full effects of your meditation. Part of the intention of the mala is to count your breaths or recitations so that you don’t have to.
- Remember, using a mala should be a contemplative process and allow you to relax and concentrate on your meditation.
4
Stop once you reach the guru bead. The guru bead should not be counted with the other counting beads and it should not be passed over. Instead, take another moment of silence and inner collection once you have reached the guru bead. Then, decide whether you would like to continue counting beads or to end your meditation. If you would like to end your meditation, simply remove the mala and put it in a clean and safe place.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Remember, each mantra recitation or meditation should continue until you reach the guru bead.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Malas can come in a variety of sizes, from 108 beads to as little as 21. The length of your meditation will depend on the length of your mala.
5
Flip the mala around and continue counting. If you are reciting your mantra in repetitions, or want a longer meditation, flip the mala around once you reach the guru bead. Take the mala and turn it so the guru bead is just below your thumb. Once repositioned, continue counting each bead as you have done throughout your meditation or mantra recitation.^{[10]XResearch source}
- Each mala should be used for only one mantra. If you would like to recite multiple mantras in one meditation, try to have one mala for each mantra.^{[11]XResearch source}
6
Keep the mala in a special and clean space. Make sure that your mala is kept somewhere where it will be kept clean and ready for meditation. Malas often have spiritual significance to those that use them, so try and find a sacred space to keep them in. This could be among grounding stones, healing herbs, or other spaces dedicated to meditation and spiritual practice.
- Try keeping your mala in a box or jewelry case so that it will stay clean and only be used for meditation.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Malas in Divination

Place the mala in your lap and grasp it with both hands. The goal of divination is to reveal intentions and encounters that are otherwise unknown to you, so grasping at random in essential. Try closing your eyes while you grasp the mala to be sure your selection is as random as possible.^{[12]XResearch source}
2
Move your hands toward each other by counting in threes. Begin counting by three beads at a time once you have a bead in each hand. You should be moving each hand closer to one another as you count. There is no specific form for moving your hands through the mala in divination, so try whatever is most comfortable.^{[13]XResearch source}
- The easiest way to count by threes is to use your thumb to move each bead while the mala rests on your index finger for support.
Continue counting until there are three, two, or one bead in between your hands. Each number has a specific significance in the process of divination. Make a mental note, or a quick note on a piece of paper, of how many beads are in between your fingers.^{[14]XResearch source}
In order to have a complete divinatory practice you will need to repeat the initial grasping and counting three times in total. The number of beads that remain in between your fingers (three, two, or one) will have a specific significance depending on which repetition they were counted.^{[15]XResearch source}
Consulting a divination chart will allow you to read and understand the divination you have just performed. If you are practicing divination within a specific tradition, like Tibetan Mala Divination, use a chart that corresponds to that tradition. Divination results and readings will vary depending on which chart and tradition you consult.^{[16]XResearch source}
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Question
What do you say when using mala beads?
Evelina Renta
Mindfulness Coach
Evelina Renta is a Mindfulness Coach based in Berlin, Germany. With over five years of experience, she teaches sound therapy, yoga, movement, and breathwork courses. Evelina has a Wellness, Health & Longevity Coaching Certification from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Evelina Renta
Mindfulness Coach
Expert Answer
You can say mantras while using a mala, like So Hum (I am one with the Universe and all of creation), Om Mani Padme Hum (The jewel is in the lotus), and Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti (Peace).
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Question
How do you activate mala beads?
Evelina Renta
Mindfulness Coach
Evelina Renta is a Mindfulness Coach based in Berlin, Germany. With over five years of experience, she teaches sound therapy, yoga, movement, and breathwork courses. Evelina has a Wellness, Health & Longevity Coaching Certification from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Evelina Renta
Mindfulness Coach
Expert Answer
You can activate your mala and seal the energy with the mantra of "Om Hrim Namah Shivaya." Chant it to your mala at least three times and sit for at least 5 minutes so you can feel the energetic bond. From time to time, also cleanse your mala with sage.
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