Visual Art Workshop

Visual art workshop with R.I.S.E youths. Using Jamaica's mythical character 'The River Mumma' to empower and inspire.

Meaning of 108 Beads on a Mala

On a mala, or set of mantra counting beads, there are generally 108 beads, or some fraction of that number. The question often arises: Why are there 108 beads on a mala? Below are some of the many reasons that have been given for having 108 beads on a mala, as well as a few other points of interest. None of these reasons are being promoted here as more or less true than the others. However, you may notice that 108 appears to be somewhat like a road map of reality in general, and the human in particular. Regardless of the meaning of 108, it is important that if a mala is used to count mantras, the mantra be remembered with sincerity, devotion, feeling, and full attention. (More on use of mantras) 9 times 12: Both of these numbers have been said to have spiritual significance in many traditions. 9 times 12 is 108. Also, 1 plus 8 equals 9. That 9 times 12 equals 108. Powers of 1, 2, and 3 in math: 1 to 1st power=1; 2 to 2nd power=4 (2x2); 3 to 3rd power=27 (3x3x3). 1x4x27=108 Harshad number: 108 is a Harshad number, which is an integer divisible by the sum of its digits (Harshad is from Sanskrit, and means "great joy") Desires: There are said to be 108 earthly desires in mortals. Lies: There are said to be 108 lies that humans tell. Delusions: There are said to be 108 human delusions or forms of ignorance. Heart Chakra: The chakras are the intersections of energy lines, and there are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra. One of them, sushumna leads to the crown chakra, and is said to be the path to Self-realization. Sanskrit alphabet: There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each has masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti. 54 times 2 is 108. Pranayama: If one is able to be so calm in meditation as to have only 108 breaths in a day, enlightenment will come. Upanishads: Some say there are 108 Upanishads, texts of the wisdom of the ancient sages. Sri Yantra: On the Sri Yantra there are marmas where three lines intersect, and there are 54 such intersections. Each intersections has masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti qualities. 54 times 2 equals 108. Thus, there are 108 points that define the Sri Yantra as well as the human body. Pentagon: The angle formed by two adjacent lines in a pentagon equals 108 degrees. Marmas: Marmas or marmasthanas are like energy intersections called chakras, except have fewer energy lines converging to form them. There are said to be 108 marmas in the subtle body. Time: Some say there are 108 feelings, with 36 related to the past, 36 related to the present, and 36 related to the future. 8 extra beads: In doing a practice of counting the number of repetitions of the mala, 100 are counted as completed. The remaining are said to cover errors or omissions. The 8 are also said to be an offering to God and Guru. Chemistry: Interestingly, there are about 115 elements known on the periodic table of the elements. Most of those, around or higher than the number 100 only exist in the laboratory, and some for only thousandths of a second. The number that naturally exist on Earth is around 100. Astrology: There are 12 constellations, and 9 arc segments called namshas or chandrakalas. 9 times 12 equals 108. Chandra is moon, and kalas are the divisions within a whole. River Ganga: The sacred River Ganga spans a longitude of 12 degrees (79 to 91), and a latitude of 9 degrees (22 to 31). 12 times 9 equals 108. Planets and Houses: In astrology, there are 12 houses and 9 planets. 12 times 9 equals 108. Goddess names: There are said to be 108 Indian goddess names. Gopis of Krishna: In the Krishna tradition, there were said to be 108 gopis or maid servants of Krishna. 1, 0, and 8: Some say that 1 stands for God or higher Truth, 0 stands for emptiness or completeness in spiritual practice, and 8 stands for infinity or eternity. Sun and Earth: The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. The distance from the Sun to the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Sun. Moon and Earth: The average distance of the Moon from the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon. Silver and the moon: In astrology, the metal silver is said to represent the moon. The atomic weight of silver is 108. Numerical scale: The 1 of 108, and the 8 of 108, when added together equals 9, which is the number of the numerical scale, i.e. 1, 2, 3 ... 10, etc., where 0 is not a number. Meditations: Some say there are 108 styles of meditation. Breath: Tantra estimates the average number of breaths per day at 21,600, of which 10,800 are solar energy, and 10,800 are lunar energy. Multiplying 108 by 100 is 10,800. Multiplying 2 x 10,800 equals 21,600. Paths to God: Some suggest that there are 108 paths to God. Smaller divisions: The number 108 is divided, such as in half, third, quarter, or twelfth, so that some malas have 54, 36, 27, or 9 beads. Hinduism: 108 is said to refer to the number of Hindu deities. Some say that each of the deities has 108 names. Islam: The number 108 is used in Islam to refer to God. Jain: In the Jain religion, 108 are the combined virtues of five categories of holy ones, including 12, 8, 36, 25, and 27 virtues respectively. Sikh: The Sikh tradition has a mala of 108 knots tied in a string of wool, rather than beads. Buddhism: Some Buddhists carve 108 small Buddhas on a walnut for good luck. Some ring a bell 108 times to celebrate a new year. There are said to be 108 virtues to cultivate and 108 defilements to avoid. Chinese: The Chinese Buddhists and Taoists use a 108 bead mala, which is called su-chu, and has three dividing beads, so the mala is divided into three parts of 36 each. Chinese astrology says that there are 108 sacred stars. Stages of the soul: Said that Atman, the human soul or center goes through 108 stages on the journey. Meru: This is a larger bead, not part of the 108. It is not tied in the sequence of the other beads. It is the quiding bead, the one that marks the beginning and end of the mala. Dance: There are 108 forms of dance in the Indian traditions. Praiseworthy souls: There are 108 qualities of praiseworthy souls. First man in space: The first manned space flight lasted 108 minutes, and was on April 12, 1961 by Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut. (Excerpt from: http://www.swamij.com/108.htm)

The Warrior

I had to repost this beautiful story  of the Warrior Poses by Sharon Gannon, read below.  The poses and the feeling they created in me were inspiration for the story and myth warrior wrap bracelets.

Warrior Poses

If one is hurt by the arrows of an enemy, one is not as aggrieved as when cut by the unkind words of a relative, for such grief continues to rend one's heart day and night.
— Lord Siva, Bhagavat Purana

     Underlying each yoga asana a story can be found. Some of these stories are ancient myths that can reflect to us our own deepest drives, obstacles and desires.
     The origin of the warrior poses, Virabhadrasana I, II and III is derived from an ancient story of Lord Shiva. The warrior poses illustrate an incident that occurred in the celestial realms in a timeless time long ago. This is a story of love, attachment, pride, shame, vengeance, violence, sadness, compassion and renunciation. The whole gamut of emotions can be found in this tale of pride and transformation.
     Lord Shiva was married to his beloved Sati and lived in the pleasure city, Bhoga which he had created. Sati's father Daksha had never approved of his daughter's marriage. To Daksha, Shiva was an unorthodox hermit, who frequented cremation grounds. No yogi with long matted hair, who consumes intoxicants, sings and dances whenever he pleases, was a worthy husband for his daughter. Daksa the Prajapati (the worldly creator), was the upholder of civilization, he thrived on rules and regulations. Shiva was his antithesis.
     Shortly after Sati had left her secure home with her father to live with Shiva, Daksa organized a great party, a yagna or ritual sacrifice. He invited all the members of the entire heavenly universe, all that is except Shiva and Sati. Sati got word of this and suggested to Shiva that they go anyway. Shiva said, "Why go, were we are not invited? I do not wish to incite your father's anger any more than I have already." Sati was hurt by her father's refusal to acknowledge her marriage and her husband; she decided to go alone to the party.
     When she arrived her father asked her why she was there, as she was not invited. Her father, sniggering, said "Perhaps you have come to your senses and have had it with your wild animal of a husband, isn't he also called Lord of the Beasts?" All the guests present laughed. Sati defending her husband spoke, "He is one with nature and does not seek to control animals by bending them to his will. Society is artificial and exploits nature." This dialogue between father and daughter entertained the guests. Sati was saddened and humiliated by this public argument with her father. When her father tried to taunt her again she remained silent, letting go of all desire to continue to argue with her father in hopes of defending her husband. She trembled with disgust and indignation at having been so cruelly let down by the one man upon whom she, as a daughter, should always be able to rely. Instead she made an internal resolve to relinquish all family ties. She summoned up her strength and spoke this vow to her father, "Since you have given me this body I no longer wish to be associated with it." She walked past her father and sat in a meditative seat on the ground. Closing her eyes, envisioning her true Lord, Sati fell into a mystic trance. Going deep within herself she began to increase her own inner fire through yogic exercises until her body burst into flames.
     When news of Sati's death reached Shiva, he was first shocked and saddened, then enraged. He fell into the deepest and darkest place he could find. He tore his hair out, and fashioned from this hair the fiercest of warriors, Siva named this warrior, Virabhadra. Vira (hero)+ Bhadra (friend). He commanded Virabhadra to go to the yagna and destroy Daksha and all guests assembled. Virabhradra arrives at the party, with sword in both hands, thrusting his way up through the earth from deep underground; this is the first aspect (Virabhadrasana I.) Establishing his arrival for all to see he then sites his opponent, Daksha, (Virabradhasana II.) Moving swiftly and precisely, he takes his sword and cuts off Daksha's head, (Virabadrasana III.)
     Shiva arrives at Daksha's place to see the damage that Virabhadra had ravaged. After this vengeful action, Shiva absorbs Virabhadra back into his own form and then Siva becomes known as Hare, the ravisher. His anger is gone but now he is filled with sorrow. This sorrow turns to compassion when he sees the aftermath; the bloody work of Virabhradra. Shiva finds Daksha's headless body and giving it the head of a goat, brings Daksha back to life. Overwhelmed by this generous gesture Daksha calls Shiva, Shankar, the kind and benevolent one. With Daksha's pride put in check he bows in awe and humility to Shiva Shankar. The other gods and goddesses follow his lead and honor Shiva.
     The fact still remained; Sati was dead. Shiva walked away from the scene of the party, carrying the lifeless body of his beloved wife, wandering to where he did not know. But one thing he was sure of; he would find the most isolated place possible and once again become the ascetic recluse.
     The esoteric meaning of this story -
     Shiva is the Higher Self who slays the prideful ego, (Daksha), for the sake of the heart, (Sati). Through means of infinite compassion, the higher Self forgives the ego but never the less withdraws to a secluded place with only the essential nature of the heart left intact. This essential nature of the heart is the power of love which will be brought to life again, in another form, but that's a different story, best saved for another time.

Sharon Gannon, April 2002 Focus

Caribbean Yoga Conference

Story and Myth will be providing the jewelry for the VIP presenters at the conference!  They will receive island inspired malas (prayer beads) made from locally sourced secret island finds like the job's tears seed bead named after Job in the bible.
 VIP Presenters: Sharon Feanny (of shakti in Jamaica),  Stacey Shanks, Gaia Buddhai (Jamaican woman who founded Synergy Yoga on South Beach), Moses Jas Jeet (founder I LOVE YOGA clothing), Seane Corn (who is Oprah's yoga teacher!), Toni Bergins, Katheryn Budig, Andrea Boyd, Jeffrey Cohen, Scott Feinberg, Amanda G., Subhadra Bowman, Paige Elenson, Jason Nemer, Coby Kozlowski, Leslie Salmon Jones, Noah Levine, Amy Lombardo, Nadine McNeil, Sadie Nardini, Simon Park, Jenny Sauer-Klein and  MC Yogi.

We create sacred spiritual jewelry by researching ancient myths, creating modern narratives in metal with precious and semi precious stones and secret island finds.

Utilizing locally sourced secret island finds such as wood beads, blessing beads (Job's tears seed bead), red coral wood seeds and Story and Myth pendant and charm characters to empower and inspire through story.


Our modern narratives are our Pendant & Charm Characters:

OneHeart: We are one.
DragonLady: A powerful woman.
Butterfly Woman: Transformation.
Dragonfly Girl: Fearless and Free.
The Multi-Goddess: Nurturer and Warrior.



Secret Island Finds:

Job's tears seed bead we call them blessing beads they are named after Job in the Bible and provide blessings of Peace, Goodwill and Protection. They are of the earth, they come polished and with a hole, they grow similar to corn and are used as a food source and medicine in Asia. The beads are tear shaped and they feel like porcelain or pearls when tapped against the teeth. We string 108 beads for our necklaces or Malas ( prayer beads).

Xamayca Wood Beads:
Xamayca is the Taino word for Jamaica it means Land of Wood and Water. The Taino were the first inhabitants of the island. The wood beads are hand carved and have a Jamaican mahogany wood stain finish.

Red Coral Wood:
Red coral wood seeds are a bright red seed which grows in a pod similar to the tamarind plant. Each red seed is hand drilled and strung into a wrist mala/ and or bracelet where we attach tassels, charms, and or pendants.

Ganesha

Remover of Obstacles:

  Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles patron of arts and sciences, He is honoured at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions. In Kundalini Yoga Ganesha resides in the first chakra, called Muladhara, Mula means original, main and Adhara means base, foundation.  The Ganesha shown was from my travels to Sri Lanka I have placed a Blessing Bead Mala on him made from job's tears seed beads with a hemp tassel which reminds me of the brooms that are made here in Jamaica.  The  brooms came in different sizes all with the task of removing dust, dirt, cobwebs whatever you didn't want.

May we receive all that we have worked hard at all these years this year!, and may nothing come in your way.