This beautiful mala (with 108 prayer beads) features Dendritc Opal stones, strung together by hand with grey silk thread. A pewter Buddah charm and light grey tassel are at the base, completing the look.

Why 108 beads in a traditional mala necklace? Vedic culture viewed 108 as a number of the wholeness of existence. This number also connects the Sun, Moon, and Earth: The average distance of the Sun and the Moon to Earth is 108 times their respective diameters. Also, there are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each has masculine and feminine, Shiva and Shakti. So, 54 multiplied by 2 is 108.

Handmade jewelry in Boulder, Colorado by jewelry designer Kathleen Doyle-Murphy.