What is a guru bead, and how to choose one for your mala?

A guru bead is a larger and extra bead on a mala. The purpose of guru bead in a mala string is to indicate the starting and ending point of prayer beads. Mala is a string of prayer beads used in traditions like: Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, and Sikh. These beads are also used in yoga and meditation. 

Malas are used with mantras or prayers to meditate. During meditation, you begin chanting your mantra with the bead after the guru bead and recite it while holding that bead with the thumb and middle finger. You will repeat the same procedure but always skip the guru bead. 

 

1. Use your teacher as inspiration: A guru bead represents a spiritual figure in your life. This bead is located at the end of the mala just above the tassel. When choosing a guru bead, you can choose one according to how you visualize your spiritual teacher as a dedication to them. 
2. Size of mala beads: Mala beads sizes vary; they can range from 6mm to 8mm or even more. The size of your mala beads should determine your guru bead because you will have to choose a guru bead larger than the other mala beads. 
3. Color: You can choose a guru bead according to the color that you find most attractive. Your favorite color will always bring a smile to your face whenever you meditate. You can also choose a shade that brings out the color of your eyes to compliment you. Alternatively, you can choose a color that most rhymes with the ones of your mala beads. 
4. Instinct: You can let your instinct choose a guru bead for you. Do this by looking at different guru beads and choosing the one you most feel drawn to. There are zero chances of this formula failing you.  
5. Favorite elements: If you love gemstones, wood, or crystals, you can choose those elements to create a guru bead. 

 

Different gemstones and crystals have their unique signature. You can choose them according to ones that match your energy. When doing this, you can choose both your mala beads and guru beads in accordance. Here are some gemstones and crystals properties to help you choose one for your guru bead or your whole mala beads set.

1. Jade: Symbolizes purity and serenity. It attracts good luck and friendship. 
2. Citrine: A healing stone that corresponds to the solar plexus chakra and its surrounding organs. It symbolizes confidence and individuality. 
3. Obsidian: It’s a protective stone. It clears the mind of confusion, narrow beliefs, brings about clarity, and shields against negativity. 
4. Quartz: Aids in concentration. It also absorbs, stores, releases, and regulates energy. 
5. Tigers eye: It grounds you. It helps with creativity and recognizing one’s talent. Also known to lift moods and help with issues of self-worth and self-criticism. 
6. Jasper: Stabilizes and grounds you. Stimulates courage and encourages honesty with oneself. 
7. Agate: A healing stone famous for good luck. It brings emotional, physical, and intellectual balance. Stabilizes and centers physical energy hence good for emotional trauma. 
8. Bloodstone: Enhances decision-making, calms the mind, and dispels confusion. Grounds heart energy. Promotes courage and strength in mind while also reducing aggressiveness, irritability, and impatience. 
9. Dolomite: Repels feelings of low self-esteem and causes harmony. 
10. Mahogany obsidian: Grounds, protects, and gives strength when needed. It also eliminates negative energy and blockages while also stimulating growth in all aspects of life. 
11. Sunstone: Promotes good temper, good humor, and cheerfulness. 
12. Onyx: Provides strength, aids in learning lessons, and boosts self-confidence. 
13. Rose quartz: Promotes unconditional love and peace. It also brings deeper inner healing and self-love.
14. Moonstone: Symbolizes new beginnings and intuition. It also calms emotions, soothes stress, promotes intuition and empathy. 
15. Fluorite: Awakens suppressed feelings and combats narrowmindedness. It also helps in energy blockages and releases pain from the body when placed on the affected area.
16. Magnesite: Brings about deep peace. It promotes emotional stress tolerance and has a calming effect on emotions. It also dispels feelings of fear and nervousness. 
17. Amazonite: This stone is mostly used for fortune-telling and stimulates the power of clairvoyance. It stimulates your creative and artistic side. It also promotes tolerance and patience. 
18. Carnelian: Restores vitality, creativity, and motivation. It can motivate business success and dispels apathy. Promotes courage in making positive life choices. 
19. Garnet: Cleanses negative energy from your chakras and re-energizes them. It balances the sacral chakra and inspires passion, loyalty, love, and devotion. 
20. Hematite: Promotes formation of blood cells. It can also absorb negative energy and grounds. 
21. Aventurine: Promotes prosperity, reinforcing leadership qualities and decisiveness. It can also promote compassion, perseverance, and empathy. Stabilizes the state of mind, boosts creativity and stimulates perception. 
22. Howlite: This calming stone balances chakras, opens the mind to receiving energy. It also strengthens memory and the desire to learn. 
23. Labradorite: Protects against all negative energy. It balances the mind and spirit and also brings about intuition. It has helped many people overcome addictions. 
24. Lapis lazuli: Supports honesty and compassion. It also releases stress and brings about inner peace and serenity. 
25. Serpentine: Corrects mental and emotional imbalance. 
26. Sodalite: Encourages rational thought, objectivity, truth, and intuitive perception. It can also help verbalize feelings. 
27. Dragons blood: Encourages courage, assertiveness and encourages honesty. 
28. Azurite: Supports clear understanding and brings to light new perspectives, thus expanding the mind. It releases blockage and stimulates memory. It can also stimulate third eye-opening. 
29. Turquoise: Helps with mood swings and countering apathy. It is energizing and makes one feel alive and active. 

Once you have chosen your mala beads, you can also choose a pendant for your beads. A pendant can be made of eye of Shiva, Ganesha, Hamsa, among others. Eye of Shiva also known as Pacific Cat's eye is believed to mute negative energy and help in opening the third eye. Ganesha on the other hand, signifies happiness, calmness, and peace. Hamsa is known to offer protection against the evil eyes. In some religions, it is believed to bring fortune and fertility. You can select any of the pendants you love to bring you more luck and peace in your journey.

A guru bead may seem unnecessary, but it is a very important part of a mala. It is necessary to ensure that you pick the right guru bead for your mala collection as it will help make it stand out, and using gemstones or crystals will also give you that extra energy boost you need while meditating.