Bodhi seed beads can be used for counting all types of mantras as well as other prayers. These dark-speckled seed beads have special meaning for all seekers of divine wisdom. "Bodhi" in Sanskrit means enlightenment; as an "enlightened" seed, many practitioners use these malas for their essence and inherent teachings within each seed.
This mala is made from authentic Bodhi Seeds (Ziziphus budhensis) from Nepal.A plain, minimalist bodhi bracelet, that is true to its original intention: meditation, mantra work, etc. These beads are sanded at both ends, giving them the drum shape. The main reason for this is to give the beads more uniformity and impart a slightly different more compact style.
PRODUCT DETAILS:
- Material: Bodhi Seeds from Nepal
- Size: Adjustable
- Bead size: 10 - 13 mm
- String color: Yellow or Red
- Style: Monastic. Traditional Mahayana and Tibetan style without any knots
- Weight: about 28 grams
Bodhi Seed and Bodhi Bead malas are wrapped in mystery and confusion. Hopefully, the few points below can clarify some of the confusion:
- Bodhi Seed and Bodhi Bead malas are two completely different types of malas, both used extensively in Buddhism.
- First of all, authentic Bodhi Seeds and Bodhi Seed Malas come from only one source: Ziziphus Budhensis trees, that to my knowledge grows only in East-Central Nepal. The tree itself is related to the jujube species, and not the fig tree species to which the actual Bodhi Tree (Ficus Religiosa) belongs.
- Bodhi Bead malas cover a large spectrum of different materials. One Chinese study identified over 50 materials used for Bodhi Bead malas, but the actual number might be even higher.
- The first material that falls into this classification are the Bodhi Seeds themselves, but other materials covered include Indian or Bodhgaya Bodhi Beads, Rudraksha, Chinese or Tibetan Lotus (Daemonorops jenkinsiana), (which are actually seeds from Rattan palms), Rhaktu seeds, some processed stones, and many, many other.
- All this does not mean to imply that malas made from other materials are inferior to Nepali Bodhi Seed malas. They are not. They all have a history of application in meditative practice and roles to play.
