Take something with you.

If you are buying a mala

What to look for

• 1 109 beads, not 108. A hundred and eight to count on, plus one larger head bead that marks the end of a round. You do not chant on that one and you do not pass it.
• 2 Knotted between the beads. The knots stop them sliding, so your thumb finds each one without looking. A strand without knots is harder to count on and wears through faster.
• 3 Beads you can feel. Too small and you lose your place; too large and a round takes forever. Somewhere around 8–10 mm suits most hands.
• 4 A bag. In this tradition japa beads are carried in a cloth bag rather than worn. Neck beads are a separate thing and those are worn — the two are not interchangeable.

Tulasi wood is the traditional material; sandalwood and others are widely used too. Keep them dry, and keep them yours.

You do not need to buy anything to start. The counter on this site is free, works offline once the page has loaded, and keeps your count in your own browser. Beads are better in the hand, eventually. They are not the entry fee.

Start without one How a round works