Akshamala

A string of beads used to keep count
when reciting prayers or mantras,
sometimes translated by the accessible but misleading term “rosary.” An
akshamala is one of the most common
religious articles, and the materials
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Akhyati
from which it is made can often reveal
sectarian affiliations. Shiva is often
depicted wearing beads made of the
seeds of the Elaeocarpus ganitrus tree,
which are known as rudraksha (“eye of
Rudra”). Devotees (bhakta) of Shiva
emulate this practice. Devotees of the
god Vishnu often carry beads made of
wood from the tulsi plant, which is
considered a form of Vishnu’s wife
Lakshmi. Other commonly used materials are sandalwood and crystal, but
akshamalas can also be made from
expensive materials such as coral and
amber. In Hindu iconography the
akshamala is one of the items commonly held by the goddess Saraswati,
in keeping with her identity as the
patron deity of learning and, by implication, sacred sound. The akshamala
is also one of the items commonly held
by the god Brahma, but in his case it
has less specific significance.