Mala
/ˈmɑːlə/noun
A mala is a string of prayer beads used in Hinduism, Buddhism, and related traditions for counting recitations or mantras.
Did you know?In Sanskrit, mala can mean both a garland and, in some contexts, impurity or dirt, so the same sound lives at the edge of adornment and spiritual cleansing.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mel-
“to grind, crush; to bruise or wear down”
Sanskrit
Sanskrit
mālā
“garland, wreath, rosary”
Pali
Pali
mālā
“garland, flower wreath; later prayer beads in Buddhist usage”
Modern English
English
mala
“a string of beads used for prayer or mantra recitation”