Malas

Malas (literally "garland") are used by Buddhists (& Hindus) for mantra-repetition & meditation. They can be made from various types of wood (sandalwood, agarwood, cedarwood), seeds (bodhiseed, rudraksha, etc.), metals (gold, silver, copper), precious & semi-precious stones. There are full-sized malas (108 beads in general) or wrist-malas (often 21 or 27 beads).