How to do jaap with a mala: a step-by-step guide

Parts of a jaap mala

A traditional mala has 108 beads strung on a thread, with knots between beads on many malas so that each bead can be felt clearly.

• 108 counting beads — one bead for each repetition of the mantra.
• The guru bead, also called sumeru or meru — a larger bead, often with a tassel, where the two ends of the string meet. It marks the start and end of a round and is not counted.
• Some malas add marker beads after the 27th and 54th beads, which help you feel where you are in the round. Wrist malas of 27 or 54 beads are also common; four rounds of a 27-bead mala make 108.

Step by step

1. Sit comfortably with a straight but relaxed back — on the floor with a cushion, or on a chair with your feet flat.
2. Take a few slow breaths and decide which mantra you will chant and how many rounds.
3. Hold the mala in your right hand. Let it hang over the middle finger (or ring finger in some traditions).
4. Start at the first bead next to the guru bead. Chant the mantra once.
5. With the tip of the thumb, roll that bead towards you and move to the next bead. Chant again.
6. Continue bead by bead until you return to the guru bead — that is one mala of 108.
7. To begin another round, do not cross the guru bead. Turn the mala around and travel back in the other direction.
8. When you finish, sit quietly for a few breaths before getting up.

Which fingers to use

The most common instruction is to use the thumb and middle finger, and to keep the index finger away from the mala. A traditional explanation is that the index finger represents the ego (it is the finger we point with), so it is held aside. Some traditions use the ring finger instead of the middle finger. If a teacher in your family has shown you a particular way, follow that.

Keeping the mala below the level of the heart, or inside a cloth bag called a gomukhi, is another custom some families follow so that the mala stays private and protected.

Why you don't cross the guru bead

The guru bead represents the teacher or the divine, and crossing over it is traditionally seen as disrespectful. In practice the turn-around also gives a natural pause at the end of each round — a moment to notice how you feel before beginning again.

Posture, time and place

Traditionally the early morning, around sunrise, and the evening at dusk (sandhya) are considered the best times. In real life the best time is the one you can keep. A regular time and place — a corner with a lamp or a picture you love — makes the habit easier.

If you are pregnant, comfort comes first: sit supported against a wall or in a chair, keep your knees lower than your hips if that feels easier, and change position whenever you need to. Our guide to jaap during pregnancy has more ideas.

Counting rounds

Many people count rounds by moving a small marker bead or a ring, or by keeping a notebook. Our free online jaap counter keeps count of beads and malas, remembers totals on your device, and can vibrate or give a soft click at each bead — useful if you do not have a mala to hand or are chanting with a partner.

Common numbers are 11, 21, 27, 54, 108 and 1008. It is better to keep a small number every day than to aim high and stop.

Frequently asked questions