Black Agate Om Mani Padme Hum Mala Necklace

Description

Black agate mani padme mala necklaces are made for daily use: 108 beads of natural stone, each hand-engraved with the Om Mani Padme Hum mantra, individually polished, then strung on knotted silk so each bead rests separately against the fingers.

Mala necklaces have been used across Buddhist and Hindu traditions for centuries as counting tools during mantra recitation, each of 108 beads corresponding to one repetition. This mala comes from Nepal, where producing stone malas for practitioners remains an active workshop tradition. Black agate is chosen for its density and hardness, which allow fine engraving without chipping, and for its surface quality: deeply opaque, absorbing light rather than reflecting it, giving each bead a visual weight that does not compete with the text.

Each bead measures 8 mm in diameter, ground to a sphere with minimal variation across the strand. The Om Mani Padme Hum mantra is engraved and filled with white pigment, making the six syllables legible against dark stone. The strand holds 108 counting beads plus one larger guru bead at the head, used as a turnaround marker during recitation. Beads are knotted between each count on braided silk cord. Total length is approximately 80 cm. A silk tassel hangs from the guru bead.

Black agate mala necklace with Om Mani Padme Hum mantra engraved on each of 108 beads plus guru bead. Bead diameter 8 mm, total length approximately 80 cm. Knotted silk cord, silk tassel. Origin: Nepal. Category: mala necklace.

A mala built for daily practice. Black agate holds fine engraving for years without wear. Sourced from a Nepalese workshop.