Tibetan Mala Prayer Rudraksha Bead Necklace Jk Brown Collection

In Buddhist tradition, prayer beads known as "malas" play a significant role in meditation, aimed at dispelling evil and achieving inner peace. These beads are often worn around the left wrist or neck, and during meditation, the practitioner repeats a specific mantra while counting the beads. Tassels at the end of each strand typically include extra beads for tracking tens and hundreds of recitations. A true mala comprises precisely 108 beads, a number considered auspicious as it is a multiple of 9 and 12, symbolizing the 9 planets and the 12 houses of the zodiac.

This strand is not intended to be a ready-to-wear necklace. Although the strand can be worn "as is," the string holding it together is not durable and may break with use. For this reason, we recommend that you restring the beads before wearing them.

Provenance: Jk Brown Collection

Kathie and Jerry Brown have been collecting trade beads for more than 50 years. They had a business selling them for many years, called “Thunder and Lightning.” According to Jerry, “Kathie was the lightning, and I was the thunder!” Their collecting began in 1967 when they met a Peace Corps volunteer who was selling his collection to finance a school for African children- and the Browns bought it all. Over the years, they’ve amassed thousands of stands of Venetian and other European trade beads, as well as made-in-Africa beads and jewelry. They sold at Mountain Man rendezvous and other events. Africa Direct is very proud to be the new owner of this extraordinary collection.