{"title":"Sandalwood Mala","description":"\u003cp\u003eA mala of 108 beads is the traditional counter for japa — one bead per repetition, one full round per mala. Sandalwood has long been the wood of choice for it, because the beads warm in the hand and release their fragrance as you work through the round.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhite chandan or red lal chandan?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pure-sandalwood-mala-108-beads\"\u003ewhite sandalwood mala\u003c\/a\u003e is the fragrant one — its scent revives whenever you rub the beads between your palms. The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sandalwood-mala-108-beads-lal-chandan\"\u003ered lal chandan mala\u003c\/a\u003e has little aroma, but a deep natural colour that darkens and takes on a lustre over years of use.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eChoosing a bead size\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e6 mm\u003c\/strong\u003e — lightest, suits smaller hands and wearing as a necklace\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e8 mm\u003c\/strong\u003e — the classic all-round size for daily japa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e10 mm\u003c\/strong\u003e — fuller grip, more presence in the hand\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e12 mm\u003c\/strong\u003e — largest beads, substantial to hold, best for seated meditation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeep a sandalwood mala away from water and perfume. Both are hand-strung with a guru bead, in the traditional 108 + 1 configuration.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"pure-sandalwood-mala-108-beads","title":"Pure Sandalwood Mala — 108 Beads","description":"\u003cp\u003eA japa mala of 108 white sandalwood beads plus a guru bead, hand-strung from genuine chandan. The wood's fragrance warms with the touch of your hands, so the scent builds through a round of practice rather than fading.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat you are buying\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e108 beads plus a guru bead, in the traditional configuration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTurned from real white sandalwood heartwood — never coated, dyed or perfumed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand-strung and knotted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvery batch lab-tested\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eChoosing a bead size\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e6 mm\u003c\/strong\u003e — lightest and most discreet. Comfortable worn as a necklace all day\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e8 mm\u003c\/strong\u003e — the standard choice for daily japa, and the one most people should start with\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e10 mm\u003c\/strong\u003e — fuller in the hand, easier to count without looking, stronger fragrance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e12 mm\u003c\/strong\u003e — largest and most substantial. Best for seated practice rather than wearing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow a mala is used\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHold the mala in your right hand, draped over the middle finger. Move one bead per repetition with the thumb. Reaching the guru bead means you have completed 108 — do not cross it. Turn the mala and work back the other way for a further round.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eUsed for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJapa and mantra recitation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMeditation and daily sadhana\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWorn during pooja as a sacred necklace, or wrapped at the wrist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eReviving the fragrance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf the scent seems faint, roll the beads between your palms for a few seconds. The aroma lives in the wood's natural oil and rises with warmth and friction. A mala that smells strongly of perfume the moment it arrives has usually been scented artificially — real chandan is subtle and reveals itself slowly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCare\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeep away from water, soap and perfume. Sandalwood absorbs surrounding odours, so store it wrapped rather than loose in a drawer. Handled regularly, the beads develop a soft sheen over the years.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich size should I choose?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e8 mm if you are unsure. It suits most hands and works for both seated practice and wearing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill the fragrance fade?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt softens with age but does not disappear. Rubbing the beads brings it back, and a well-kept chandan mala stays fragrant for many years.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I wear it in the shower?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. Water dulls the wood and weakens the thread.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it exactly 108 beads?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes — 108 counting beads plus a separate guru bead.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow is it different from the red mala?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis one is fragrant. The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sandalwood-mala-108-beads-lal-chandan\"\u003elal chandan mala\u003c\/a\u003e has almost no scent but a deep natural colour — see our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/journal\/white-sandalwood-vs-red-sandalwood\"\u003ecomparison guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eYou may also need\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor diffusing during practice, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pure-sandalwood-oil\"\u003epure sandalwood oil\u003c\/a\u003e. For tilak before sitting, a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pure-sandalwood-stick-chandan\"\u003echandan stick\u003c\/a\u003e. Browse all \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/sandalwood-mala\"\u003esandalwood malas\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jai Gurudev Upkaran Bhandar","offers":[{"title":"6 mm","offer_id":52474518896951,"sku":"SW-MALA-6","price":2249.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"8 mm","offer_id":52474518929719,"sku":"SW-MALA-8","price":2949.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"10 mm","offer_id":52474518962487,"sku":"SW-MALA-10","price":4199.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"12 mm","offer_id":52610311029047,"sku":"SW-MALA-12","price":4699.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0995\/7818\/3991\/files\/pure-sandalwood-chandan-japa-mala-coiled.jpg?v=1783348759"},{"product_id":"red-sandalwood-mala-108-beads-lal-chandan","title":"Red Sandalwood Mala — 108 Beads (Lal Chandan)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA japa mala of 108 red sandalwood beads plus a guru bead, hand-strung from genuine lal chandan. Deep natural maroon, turned from real raktachandan heartwood — the colour is the wood's own, never dyed or coated.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat to expect\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eRed sandalwood has almost no fragrance. If you want a mala whose scent rises as you practise, choose the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pure-sandalwood-mala-108-beads\"\u003ewhite chandan mala\u003c\/a\u003e instead. What lal chandan offers is a denser, cooler bead and a colour that deepens with years of handling — many practitioners prefer it for exactly that reason, and it is traditionally associated with devotion and steadiness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat you are buying\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e108 beads plus a guru bead, in the traditional configuration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTurned from genuine red sandalwood heartwood — no dye, no coating\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand-strung and knotted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvery batch lab-tested\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eChoosing a bead size\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e6 mm\u003c\/strong\u003e — lightest and most discreet. Comfortable worn as a necklace\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e8 mm\u003c\/strong\u003e — the standard choice for daily japa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e10 mm\u003c\/strong\u003e — fuller in the hand, easier to count without looking\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e12 mm\u003c\/strong\u003e — largest and heaviest. Best for seated practice rather than wearing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow a mala is used\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHold the mala in your right hand, draped over the middle finger. Move one bead per repetition with the thumb. When you reach the guru bead you have completed 108 — do not cross it. Turn the mala and continue in the opposite direction if you want another round.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCare\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeep away from water and perfume. Red sandalwood is a hard, dense wood and stands up well to daily use — with time the beads darken and develop a smooth, deep lustre. That patina is a sign of a mala that has been used, not a defect.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy doesn't it smell like sandalwood?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBecause red sandalwood is a different tree from white chandan and carries almost no aromatic oil. This is normal and not a sign of a fake.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I know the colour isn't dye?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRub a bead firmly with a damp white cloth. Dyed wood transfers colour; genuine raktachandan does not.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I wear it every day?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. It is a hard-wearing wood. The beads will darken over time, which most people consider an improvement.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich size for a beginner?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e8 mm. It suits most hands and works both for seated practice and for wearing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eYou may also need\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pure-sandalwood-mala-108-beads\"\u003ewhite chandan mala\u003c\/a\u003e if you want fragrance. For red tilak, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sandalwood-stick-lal-chandan\"\u003elal chandan stick\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sandalwood-powder-lal-chandan\"\u003epowder\u003c\/a\u003e. Browse all \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/red-sandalwood\"\u003ered sandalwood\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jai Gurudev Upkaran Bhandar","offers":[{"title":"6 mm","offer_id":52474519978295,"sku":"RSW-MALA-6","price":2149.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"8 mm","offer_id":52474520011063,"sku":"RSW-MALA-8","price":2849.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"10 mm","offer_id":52474520043831,"sku":"RSW-MALA-10","price":3980.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"12 mm","offer_id":52631267770679,"sku":"RSW-MALA-12","price":4549.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0995\/7818\/3991\/files\/red-sandalwood-lal-chandan-mala-108-beads-top-view.jpg?v=1783348689"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.jaigurudevupkaranbhandar.com\/collections\/sandalwood-mala.oembed","provider":"Jai Gurudev Upkaran Bhandar ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}