Yak Bone 108 Mala with Nine Palace Pendant
Yak Bone 108 Mala with Nine Palace Pendant
Spiritual Meaning
In Tibetan Buddhism, a mala of 108 beads is used to count mantras, one bead for each recitation. The guru bead marks the start and end of a round; by custom you turn back at it rather than pass over it.
The pendant carries the mewa and parkha of Tibetan astrology: the nine numbered squares of the nine palaces and the eight trigrams. Together with the twelve animal years, they are used in the Tibetan calendar to read the turning of time, and they often appear together on charts hung in Tibetan homes.
Letters of the Tibetan alphabet are treated with care in Tibetan culture, since they carry the teachings. A single syllable on the guru bead keeps that close at hand.
The skulls come from Tibetan Buddhist art, where they point to impermanence: everything changes, and loosening your grip on what you cannot keep is its own kind of ease.
The counter strings keep track of longer practice. Each time you finish a round of 108, you slide one counter bead along.
A gau is a small portable shrine. Travelers in Tibet have long carried one with a prayer or an image inside, so a quiet place goes with them on the road.
The five colors of the tassels are the colors of prayer flags: blue, white, red, green and yellow, linked in Tibetan tradition with space, air, fire, water and earth.
Wear it, or hold it, as a steady reminder to count slowly, breathe, and begin again.
Description
Specifications
Material: Yak Bone Beads, Carved Bone Guru Bead and Accents, Burnished Metal Nine Palace Pendant, Metal Gau Box Charm and Fittings, Clear Beads, Five-Color Thread Tassels, Teal Cord
Beads: 108 yak bone barrel beads, 12 × 9 mm, with a dark, textured finish; the color warms to red-brown at the edges, and each bead varies slightly
Length: 108 beads plus the guru bead, pendant and counters; long enough to wear as a necklace
Style: Tibetan / Himalayan, unisex
Suitable for: Mantra Counting, Meditation, Daily Wear, Mindful Gifts
The Elements
108 yak bone barrel beads · 12 × 9 mm, with small golden spacers
Bone guru bead carved with a Tibetan letter
Oval burnished metal pendant: a nine-square grid (mewa) at the center, ringed by the eight trigrams (parkha), with rays, clouds and animals in relief around the rim
Two clear beads and a burnished metal bead above the pendant
Carved bone skull bead and a bone bead inlaid with a red dot, set into the main strand, with a golden metal ring
Two counter strings of small dark beads, one ending in a carved skull bead and one in a carved bone end bead
Small metal gau box charm with a figure in relief
Five-color thread tassels at the end of each counter
Each piece knotted and wrapped by hand
This is a hand-strung artisanal piece. Each bead carries unique grain, tone and texture. Slight variations in color and carving are normal and part of its charm. No two pieces are identical. Please allow 3–4 business days to make.
Free over $99 · US 7–12, intl 7–20 business days
Free on orders of $99 or more; otherwise standard shipping is $8. Each piece is prepared by hand over 3–4 business days, then takes about 7–12 business days to reach the US, or 7–20 business days elsewhere. Faster options, where available, are shown at checkout. Shipping Policy
30-day limited warranty
Every piece is strung and knotted by hand. If something gives way under normal wear within 30 days of delivery, we will repair, restring or replace it, and cover the shipping.
Covered: a broken cord or elastic, a knot or clasp that fails, beads or parts that come loose, or a piece that arrives damaged.
Not covered: accidents, everyday wear and the way bone, metal and cord change over time, soaking or contact with chemicals, and repairs made elsewhere.
To claim: email support@blessmuse.com with your order number and a photo or short video. We reply within 1–2 business days.
15-day returns & exchanges
Not quite right? You can return or exchange a piece within 15 days of delivery.
- Condition: unworn and unused, in its original packaging.
- How: email support@blessmuse.com with your order number before sending anything back. We reply within 1–2 business days with the return address.
- Shipping: return shipping is paid by you. The original shipping fee is not refunded.
- Refund: sent to your original payment method within 3 business days of receiving your return.
Arrived damaged, or broke with normal wear? That's covered by our 30-day warranty. Returns & Exchanges
1% of every order set aside for the Highlands
We set aside 1% of every order to support Himalayan craft communities and the high-altitude lands that inspire our pieces. As BlessMuse grows, we'll name the partners we give to and share the details here.
- Made to be worn every day
- Secure checkout
One Bead, One Breath
Lift it from the box and it pours into your hands with a soft, dry sound: 108 barrel beads of yak bone, dark and textured on their faces, glowing a warm red-brown at the edges where the light comes through. They are cool at first. Within a few minutes they have taken the warmth of your palms.
Follow the strand to where it gathers. A bone guru bead, carved with a single Tibetan letter, holds the two ends together. Below it hang two clear beads, a small burnished metal bead, and an oval pendant: a grid of nine squares at its center, the eight trigrams circling it, clouds and animals around the edge, like a map of the year held in one hand. To either side fall two short counter strings, one ending in a little carved skull, the other in a carved bone bead, with a tiny gau box hanging close by and a tassel of five colors at each end.
Sit, and start beside the guru bead. One bead, one breath. When your fingers meet the carved letter again, you have gone all the way around. Slide one counter bead along, and begin again.
Bone, Grid and Five Colors
The main strand is 108 barrel beads of yak bone, each 12 × 9 mm, with a dark, textured finish that gives way to warm red-brown at the edges. Small golden spacers sit between them, and three accents are set into the strand: a carved bone skull bead, a bone bead inlaid with a red dot, and a golden metal ring worked with scrolls. Everything is strung on teal cord.
The bone guru bead is carved with one Tibetan letter. Beneath it hang two clear beads, a burnished metal bead and the oval Nine Palace pendant, its center grid ringed by the eight trigrams and a border of clouds and animals in relief. Two counter strings of small dark beads finish in a carved skull bead and a carved bone end bead, each with a tassel of five-color thread, and a small metal gau box with a figure in relief hangs beside them. The mala comes in one size, long enough to wear as a necklace.
Made by Hand
One Bead at a Time
Every strand is threaded and knotted by hand, slowly, the way prayer beads have been made for generations. No two come out quite the same.
Questions
How long is the necklace?
A 108-bead mala is long enough to slip over your head and wear as a necklace. Each listing gives the bead size in its description. For an exact length, email support@blessmuse.com and we'll measure your piece before it ships.
How should I care for my piece?
Keep it away from water, perfume and harsh sunlight. See our care guides.
How much is shipping?
Free on orders of $99 or more, worldwide. Below that, standard shipping is $8. Each order takes 3–4 business days to prepare by hand, then about 7–12 business days to reach the US, or 7–20 business days elsewhere. Expedited shipping is available at checkout. Shipping Policy
Can I return it?
Yes, within 15 days of delivery, as long as the piece is unworn and in its original packaging. Return shipping is paid by you. Email support@blessmuse.com first and we will send the return address. If it breaks with normal wear within 30 days, we will repair or replace it. Returns & Exchanges
Complete the Story
FREE SHIPPING OVER $99
INSPIRED BY TIBETAN TRADITION
15-DAY RETURNS · 30-DAY WARRANTY
Care, returns & warranty
Care
Keep dry: Avoid water, sweat, perfume, and oil-based products.
Initial prep: Wipe gently with a clean cotton cloth daily for the first 1–2 weeks to form an even base patina.
Storage: Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or extreme temperatures.
Polishing: Use a soft microfiber cloth to buff beads regularly to keep their luster.
Avoid impact: Do not drop or scratch the beads to protect their surface.
Warranty Policy
Every piece is strung and knotted by hand. If something gives way under normal wear within 30 days of delivery, we will repair, restring or replace it, and cover the shipping.
Covered: a broken cord or elastic, a knot or clasp that fails, beads or parts that come loose, or a piece that arrives damaged.
Not covered: accidents, everyday wear and the way bone, metal and cord change over time, soaking or contact with chemicals, and repairs made elsewhere.
To claim: email support@blessmuse.com with your order number and a photo or short video. We reply within 1–2 business days.