Japa
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Japa is the meditative repetition of a mantra or a divine name. It is a practice found in Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, with parallels found in other religions.
A Bhutanese Buddhist woman doing Japa, with Japamala
Japamala, Japa beads, consisting of 108 beads plus the head bead
Japamala
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A japamala, jaap maala, or simply mala is a loop of prayer beads commonly used in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. It is used for counting recitations of mantras, pray
Japa
…or charms, or names of deity. Often it is the repetitive singing of a verse or mantra, sometimes counted with the help of a rosary which is called japamala. A related word, japana appears in Book 12 of the Mahabharata, where muttering prayers is described as a form of religious offering. The concept of…
Different types of japamala (prayer beads) selling in Varanasi, India
The Hindu god Brahma is shown depicted with a japamala in his hand.
The official imperial portrait of Qing dynasty Empress Xiaozhuangwen with a mala
Kūkai (774–835), founder of Japanese Shingon, who brought some malas back to Japan from China.