Prayer Strands (beads) are used by most mainstream cultures and religions around the world including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Bahai’i’ Faith. Prayer Strands are also use in some counties in cultures as an accessory for meditation, relieving stress and anxiety. 

The earliest historical use of prayer strands can be traced back to Hindu prayers around 500BC in India, and believed to be invented by Buddhists, and then picked up by Hinduism before crossing the world into other religions. 

Prayer strands are used as a way of recording or keeping track of the number of prayers uttered. The number count of beads and style on a strand of prayer beads vary depending upon the religion; for example: 

Most common strands: 

·       Buddhists/Hindus use a (Mala/Japamala) strand - consisting of 108 beads 

·       Catholics use a (Rosary) strand- consisting of 59 beads 

·       Christians use a version of the (Rosary) strand- consisting of 33 beads 

·       Muslims use a (Misbaha) strand- consisting of 99 beads 

·       Baha'i’s simply call theirs (Baha'i’ Prayer ) - consisting of 95 beads 

Prayer strands can be found in a variety of materials such as:

• wood, stones, crystals, glass, seeds, nuts, dried berries, or plastic, or knotted string