Malas and Mantras

[Guest guest]

Namaste Everyone and Sriniji,

In response to your question Srini, I did not keep count of

the number of mantra repetitions until I joined the Devi Mandir sankalpas. My intention

was always to never be without internal or external mantra. Sometimes I would

use a mala, but mostly I would just say or whisper, or listen internally to

mantra always going on when I remember to listen. I used the mala as a little

helper in moving beads rather than mind.

It has been wonderful to join the Devi Mandir family

sankalpa mantra practice, and I have a clear feeling of Maa’s intent fuelling

my feeble efforts. Still – I am only able to count the mantras when I use

my mala, so I keep track by making a little mark on the calendar for each mala.

I have one “everyday mala”, that has to put up with a lot of abuse

since it gets dragged around on my left wrist everywhere I go. It dangles of my

hand at the steering wheel of the car, and from all sorts of knobs and hooks

where it hangs while both of my hands are busy with something. So obviously,

lots of mantras still don’t get counted. It is my faithful companion on

my walks in the woods and is the last thing my hand touches before I fall

asleep and before I get up in the morning. It sits around when I’m

cooking and gets gummy with more than one food particle, and sometimes dangles

into the dishwater. I hope that I’m not mistreating such a loyal friend –

probably many will shudder at this account.

When I sit for more formal recitation, sometimes I use

pranayam, and sometimes I inhale guru mantra and exhale the sankalpa mantra or

other mantras – not necessarily counted.

Pranams, usha