Jaap Mala and the Mystery behind its 108 Beads | A Detailed Study
What is a Jaap Mala?
Jaap Mala, also known as yoga beads, is a bead garland used mostly for spiritual purposes. Yogis, sages, and Buddhists have utilized it to do spiritual rituals while meditating since the dawn of time. It is very common nowadays to count the number of times a mantra is chanted. Rudraksha is used to make the beads in a traditional Jaap mala. Rudraksha is a large, evergreen tree associated with the Hindu god Shiva. The beads in the Jaap mala are used to repeat mantras while meditating in yogic culture.
Jaap Mala and the Science Behind 108
The Jaap mala has a complete cycle of 108 repeats, allowing the chanter to readily pay attention to the noises, beats, and explanation of the mantra repeated.
The Bindu, Sumeru, guru bead, or stupa is the 109th bead on the mala’s bottom side. The 109th, on the other hand, is never included in the recital but rather marks the beginning and finish of one Jaap.
You might be wondering why the number 108 is so important and sacred. You may nearly always find them, such as the 108 yoga of Surya Namaskar or the 108 Pithas and Upanishads. There is only one explanation for all of this. The number is one of the most enlightening in yoga and Hinduism. As a result, it’s suitable for a Jaap mala. In yoga, figure 108 depicts spiritual completion. So, undoubtedly, the old yogis also assumed that we could harmonize ourselves to the pattern of creation by ending practices in circles of this sacred number.
Why are there 108 repetitions?
This is a question that has thousands of responses. And the number 108 had a plethora of interpretations that included scientific, religious, and philosophical views. Some of the most interesting ones are:-
Heart Chakras: Chakras are energy bands that connect. They will consist of a total of 108 energy bands. The heart chakra is formed by the convergence of these points. Sushumna is one of them, and she guides the route to the crown chakra. It’s a route that leads to self-awareness.
Sanskrit alphabets: There are 54 alphabets in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each alphabet, like Shakti and Shiva, has feminine and masculine forms. Two times 54 is 108, which makes the lot entire and whole, implying homogeneity.
Houses and Planets: There are 9 planets and 12 houses in astrology. When you multiply the two numbers together, you get 108. As a result, several astrologers recommend using mantras with a Jaap mala to strengthen planets or improve their impact on our lives.
The sacred Ganga, which we pray to with such devotion, has a deep link with the number 108. The Ganga River stretches from 9 degrees latitude to 12 degrees longitude. In the aggregate, you can see figures up to 108 once more.