About Prayer Beads
Though several religions employ prayer beads, the basic purpose remains the same. Prayer beads assist a worshiper in keeping count of repetitive, recited prayers or incantations.
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History
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The use of prayer beads originated within the Hindu religion around the 8th century B.C. As Buddhism developed, its followers adapted the use of prayer beads from the Hindus. Islam soon followed. By the late Middle Ages, Catholics in Europe had adopted prayer beads in the form of a rosary.
Materials
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Prayer beads may be made from the seeds of a tree from a specific location, as in Hinduism. Buddhist prayer beads are traditionally made from the wood or seeds of the sacred Bodhi tree. Bone, amber and semiprecious stones are also used to make prayer beads.
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Catholic Rosaries
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In Catholicism, the term "rosary" refers both to the string of beads and the ritual of reciting prayers. Catholics use the rosary to count the number of prayers recited in honor of the Virgin Mary. The rosary has 59 beads (six large and 53 small) and one cross.
Hindu Mala
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The rough seeds used in Hindu prayer beads, called mala, represent the difficult life that is required of the worshippers of Siva. Devotees of the god Siva carry strings of 32 to 108 rudraksha beads.
Buddhist Mala
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Consisting of 108 beads, Buddhist mala represent the lies and impurities that one must overcome in order to reach nirvana.
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