Karungali Mala for Japa: 108-Bead, 54-Bead and Pendant Styles

Types of Karungali mala in this collection

• 108-bead Karungali mala in ebony wood, for japa.
• 3-in-1 stretchable mala with 108 beads.
• Karungali-Rudraksha mala with 108+1 beads.
• 54-bead capped malas, such as the Tulsi Karungali mala with silver caps.
• Pendant malas, such as the Om Shiva Trishool mala and Lord Murugan Vel designs.
• A Karungali mala for kids, and a copper-wire Karungali mala.

Open any listing to see its bead count, bead size and contents before you choose.

How to choose a Karungali mala

First decide how you will use it. A counting mala for japa is traditionally made of 108 beads, with one extra bead called the meru or guru bead.

Check the count and construction of the exact listing rather than assuming every mala here is a counting mala. Pendant necklaces are made mainly for wearing.

Bead size, caps and pendants affect the look and the handling. If you want a necklace mainly for wearing, compare the total length as well as the bead count.

Karungali mala rules and care

There is no single rulebook for a Karungali mala. Practices differ by family, guru and lineage, so follow the custom you have been taught.

Many devotees keep a japa mala clean, store it in a cloth pouch and handle it with respect. Keep a wooden mala dry and wipe it gently with a soft dry cloth.

If your guru has given you a specific mala for a mantra, follow that instruction.

Original Karungali mala: what to check

Read the material wording, bead count, bead size, cap description and any certificate details stated on the product page. If a detail is not stated, ask before you buy.

Photographs and product details help here. Compare the bead size, the caps and the string of each listing.

For more designs, see Karungali mala designs, more malas in the same wood and Karungali necklaces.