Guides

Counting prayer and mantra, explained.

Short answers to the questions people ask about beads and counts, each drawn from the texts in Japa's practice library or from a named source. Where traditions differ, the guides say so. None of them tells you what you must do; follow the form you were taught.

Why does a mala have 108 beads?

There is no single reason. The number was already sacred in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and each explains it in its own way.

How many times should you chant Om Namah Shivaya?

No one number is fixed for everyone. Rounds of 108 on a rudrākṣa mala are common; the number your teacher gave you comes first.

How do you pray the rosary with a counter?

Let the counter keep the ten Hail Marys of each decade, or all fifty, while the prayers and the mysteries stay as you were taught.

What is the tasbih after prayer (33/33/34)?

SubhanAllah 33, Alhamdulillah 33, Allahu Akbar 34: one hundred after each obligatory prayer, and the other recorded forms beside it.

What is likhit japa?

Written japa: copying a divine name or mantra by hand, again and again, usually in ruled notebooks.

How do you use a mala?

One bead for each recitation, from the bead beside the head bead round to it again. Where customs differ, the guide says so.

Free online counters

Printable sheets

A mala tracker, a rosary decade guide, a tasbih card and an Advent 2026 tracker to print and fill in by hand, as free PDFs.