What does mala mean?
A mala is a garland or necklace of flowers, leaves, or beads, traditionally worn around the neck as decoration or as an offering. In modern English, the word also commonly refers to a strand or loop of prayer beads used by people in Hindu, Buddhist, and yoga traditions to count repetitions of a mantra during meditation. A mala should not be confused with an ordinary decorative necklace: its beads may have symbolic significance, and the term itself often signals a religious or contemplative setting. The word comes from South Asia and has entered general English through cultural, religious, and wellness contexts. It is useful as a precise English term when the object is more than decorative or when its role in prayer and mantra counting needs to be made clear.
nounA garland or necklace of flowers, leaves, or beads, especially one worn decoratively around the neck. The term also refers to a string of beads used for counting repetitions of a mantra during meditation or prayer.
- A garland or necklace of flowers, leaves, or similar material, traditionally worn around the neck.
- A string or loop of beads used to count repetitions of a mantra while praying or meditating.
"She placed a delicate garland of jasmine around his neck as a gesture of welcome."
"Fresh flower malas decorated the entrance to the temple."
"The practitioner moved one bead along the mala after each repetition of the mantra."
The plural is formed by adding -s.
"Bright malas were displayed throughout the festival."
A Hindu word for a garland, “mala” also names the bead strand that helps practitioners keep count during mantra meditation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mala come from?
The English word comes through Hindi from Sanskrit mālā, meaning “garland,” “wreath,” or “necklace.” The Sanskrit term was already associated with flowers and decorative or sacred garlands. Its development in English reflects the adoption of South Asian religious and cultural vocabulary, especially in descriptions of prayer beads and meditative practice.
How mala is actually used
The word is commonly used in descriptions of Hindu, Buddhist, and yoga practices. Although a mala resembles a rosary, “prayer beads” is the more general English term, while “mala” often carries a specifically South Asian religious or meditative association.