Karungali Silver Mala (Marquise Beads)

A general reference for malas. Loop length depends on bead size and stringing, and an exact measurement is not listed for every piece.

Traditional bead count

108 beads, plus one guru (sumeru) bead

Common bead sizes

6 mm, 8 mm and 10 mm

Approx. loop (8 mm beads)

≈ 80–90 cm / 32–35 in around

Worn as

a necklace, or wrapped a few times at the wrist

A full japa mala is counted for practice; a wrist mala is a shorter loop of the same beads. Natural beads differ slightly in size, so the finished length varies a little piece to piece.

Karungali is the Tamil name for the heartwood of Diospyros ebenum, an ebony native to southern India and Sri Lanka; the timber is exceptionally dense (up to roughly 1,200 kg/m3, dense enough to sink in water) and glossy black. In Tamil Nadu, wearing karungali as a bracelet or mala is a widely cited folk-astrological practice associated with Shani (Saturn) and warding off negative influence, though this specific association is documented mainly in contemporary astrology and retail sources rather than classical texts. Described here as tradition, not as a guaranteed effect.

Dense black heartwood of Diospyros ebenum (Ceylon ebony), worn as beads in Tamil folk tradition, often linked to Saturn (Shani). Set in 925 sterling silver (92.5% silver). Where a piece carries a BIS hallmark it is stated on its listing. Natural beads vary in colour and grain and may deepen with wear — a mark of a real bead, not a fault.

A mala is traditionally strung with 108 beads plus one additional, often larger, bead — the guru or meru (sumeru) bead — set at the join. Each of the 108 beads is used to count one repetition of a mantra during japa (repetitive recitation), letting the practitioner keep count by touch rather than by watching or counting aloud. Used broadly by meditators and devotees across Hindu and Buddhist practice, worn around the neck or wrist, or held/wrapped around the hand during seated practice; no restriction by age or gender in tradition.

Keep away from water, perfume and harsh chemicals. Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth and store flat, away from direct sunlight. Rudraksha and other natural beads may deepen in tone with wear — this is expected, and part of how a piece becomes yours.