Pure Sandalwood Mala — 108 Beads

A 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.

What you are buying

• 108 beads plus a guru bead, in the traditional configuration
• Turned from real white sandalwood heartwood — never coated, dyed or perfumed
• Hand-strung and knotted
• Every batch lab-tested

Choosing a bead size

• 6 mm — lightest and most discreet. Comfortable worn as a necklace all day
• 8 mm — the standard choice for daily japa, and the one most people should start with
• 10 mm — fuller in the hand, easier to count without looking, stronger fragrance
• 12 mm — largest and most substantial. Best for seated practice rather than wearing

How a mala is used

Hold 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.

Used for

• Japa and mantra recitation
• Meditation and daily sadhana
• Worn during pooja as a sacred necklace, or wrapped at the wrist

Reviving the fragrance

If 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.

Care

Keep 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.

Frequently asked questions

Which size should I choose?
8 mm if you are unsure. It suits most hands and works for both seated practice and wearing.

Will the fragrance fade?
It softens with age but does not disappear. Rubbing the beads brings it back, and a well-kept chandan mala stays fragrant for many years.

Can I wear it in the shower?
No. Water dulls the wood and weakens the thread.

Is it exactly 108 beads?
Yes — 108 counting beads plus a separate guru bead.

How is it different from the red mala?
This one is fragrant. The lal chandan mala has almost no scent but a deep natural colour — see our comparison guide.

You may also need

For diffusing during practice, pure sandalwood oil. For tilak before sitting, a chandan stick. Browse all sandalwood malas.