A Mala (Rosary) is a set of prayer beads with 108 beads in number. It is often used for reciting or chanting a mantra generally known as Jaap. It is regarded as a very practical tool for meditation. The Sikh tradition has a Mala of 108 knots tied in a string of wool, rather than beads.
Sardar Ujjagar Singh (Maulvi ji) of Village Bhai Ke Samravan was bestowed a Mala by Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. Maulvi ji performed his meditative Jaap on the Mala. He however, often thought that while Sant Baba ji himself had a SIMARNA (A Mala with 27 or lesser knots/beads), he had been asked to meditate on the Mala with 108 knots. He felt that there must be surely more strength in meditating on the SIMARNA.Contemplating this in mind, he visited Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. That day Sant Baba ji was sitting on a mat and had a Mala in his hand. He was moving the knots with his right hand.
Sardar ji bowed at the feet of Sant Baba ji and then sat close to him. He had observed that Sant Baba ji had a Mala in his right hand. His doubt that the SIMARNA had more strength was removed as Sant Baba ji was performing the Jaap on the Mala in his hand.
After some time Sant Baba ji transferred the Mala to his left hand and moved the knots. From this gesture Sardar ji understood that the meditation on the Mala could be done by either of the hands.
Sitting there in the silence of the Kutiya atmosphere, Sardar ji thought whether the meditation on the Mala could be done while one was lying down.
Sardar ji was watching Sant Baba ji but did not raise any query. After some time Sant Baba ji stretched himself and lay down on the floor. He made his elbow of one arm as the pillow and continued moving the knots on the Mala with the free hand.
Sardar ji received the reply to the query in his mind, but he now had a doubt as to how many times the meditation could be performed on the Mala.
Sant Baba ji had in the mean time got up. He had taken the Mala on his finger and started rotating it, indicating that there was no limit to the use of the Mala.
Without speaking a word, Sant Baba ji had clarified the doubts of Sardar ji. Through his actions, Sant Baba ji had conveyed that meditation of Naam on the Mala could be undertaken while sitting, standing, walking or even lying down. There was no restriction on using one particular hand to move the knots. Simran could continue in the mind. A stage comes when the need for a Mala disappears. The following verses of Gurbani also convey about the contemplation of God:
While standing up, sitting down and sleeping, the Naam, says Nanak, is forever the occupation of God’s humble servant. ||6|| (Page 286)
During the initiation ceremony, the aspirants are informed that the GURU MANTRA should continue at all times in the mind. MOOL MANTRA on the other hand, should be recited on the Mala. Recitation of Mool Mantra should be undertaken on the Mala in the morning and in the evening and at least two Malas should be covered. Bhagat Kabir also describes the rosary in the following verse:
ਕਬੀਰ ਮੇਰੀ ਸਿਮਰਨੀ ਰਸਨਾ ਊਪਰਿ ਰਾਮੁ || (ਪੰਨਾ ੧੩੬੪)
Kabeer, my rosary is my tongue, upon which the Lord’s Name is strung. (Page 1364)