What sacred materials are the mala beads made from?
We started making our mala beads with rudraksha seeds. Rudraksha’s are sacred seeds grown in a few remote areas in the world such as Bali and India. They have been worn for thousands of years in traditions of yoga, Hinduism, and Buddhism and are said to have a lot of positive healing qualities.
Rudrakshas are known to be the tears of Shiva. Shiva meditated on the welfare of mankind, crying tears of compassion which crystallized upon hitting the earth to form the Rudraksha tree.
We have evolved our designs and now include other sacred materials such as: lotus seeds, rosewood, bodhi seeds and sandalwood (amongst others).
How do I choose Mala Beads?
This is one of our more frequent questions. Check out this article we wrote that should help guide you in making a choice. Still need help? Email us at info@lovetinydevotions.com and we will guide you further.
Where do you make your mala beads?
All of our mala beads are currently made in Canada by conscious mala makers who fuse our mala beads with love, devotion and intention. Each of our mala beads is blessed and cleansed before sending it out to you.
What is the significance of 108 ?
108 is an auspicious number. Do you remember doing 108 sun salutations at the turn of the Season? There are literally 108 reasons why this number is said to be spiritual.
108 represents many things including:
The number of Upanishads, the number of names of Hindu Deities, Nataraja's 108 dances, the 108 Gopis, Number of Sins in Tibetan Buddhism, 108 energy lines converting from the heart chakra, 108 Holy Temples of Vishnu, number of masculine and feminine letters combined in the sanskrit alphabet, The number of marmas in the subtle body etc.
With more references then is possible to cite in this posting, the meaning behind the number is more than one of simply a number but rather one of humility and surrendering to the higher powers of the universe.
What is the guru stone? (109th stone)
Each mala necklace has an additional guru stone. This is the stone where we thank our teachers (yoga teachers, family, parents, friends, mentors etc.) and acknowledge our connection to the divine.
How should I care for my Malas?
Although we know that you love your malas and want to take them everywhere, please treat them with care. They are not meant to be worn during yoga practice or any vigorous activity. Treat your malas with love, respect and sensitivity, as they are hand made. Malas are a sort of rosary and although they may be worn as jewelry as a constant reminder to stay focused on our journey they should be worn and hung with care.
How do I cleanse my mala?
Because mala beads transmute energy they should be cleansed often (and when needed). You can do so by placing them out in the sunlight, moonlight, by burning white sage or by sound vibration such as chanting, tingshas or a tibetan bowl.
Why is the company called Tiny Devotions?
The founder, Diana Charabin was in Bali, Indonesia when she began creating the designer mala necklaces. The Balinese are known to leave acts of Bhakti (or devotion) such as flowers, incense and food on the streets as offerings to their Gods. These tiny devotions inspired the name of the company.
Do I have to be Buddhist, Hindu or a yogi to use/wear mala beads?
Absolutely not! Our mala beads are universal and non-denominational. They were created with the intention to inspire people to live peaceful and intention based lives.
How do I choose a mantra?
In many traditions it is believed that a mantra is given to you by your guru. Although this is true you can also choose a mantra for yourself and it does not have to be sanskrit. A mantra can be any positive affirmation such as: "I am calm" or "I am love".
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