Prayer beads
Prayer chains are chains used by members of different religions to count the repetitions of the same or similar prayers , chants or devotions. They can also be used for meditation or relaxation . Beads or knots strung on a string are an ancient mnemonic tool that is widely used in many cultures . Knotted cords like the particularly mature, old Peruvian quipu were also found in Polynesia and China.
Prayer chains in different religions
Christianity
- Roman Catholic Church
- Orthodox Church
- Komboskini ( Jesus prayer )
- Lestowka (Jesus Prayer)
- Protestantism
- Anglican Church
Buddhism and Hinduism
The Buddhist and Hindu prayer beads are called Mala ( Sanskrit माला, mālā) and usually consist of 108 pearls. It is usually made from natural products such as nuts or palm wood. Sometimes bones or horn beads are used as symbols for the transience of being.
In Buddhism, the 108 pearls stand for the 108 volumes of the Buddha's collected teachings . In Hinduism the 108 pearls stand for 108 names or attributes of the worshiped deity.
The mala is used when quoting a mantra . There are three types:
- loud citation ( Likhita-Japa )
- Citation in Thought ( Manasika-Japa )
- soundless citation with the lips ( Vaikhari-Japa ).
Islam
The Islamic prayer beads are correctly called Misbaha or Subha . In the non-Arabic colloquial language it is often called Tasbih , (Turkish) Tesbih or Tespih , which is not entirely correct, because these names actually designate the process, i.e. the praise (of God), although all words have the same root lead back.
The Misbaha is available in various shapes and colors. It can be made of various materials, such as. B. made of wood or plastic, small or large. They are available with 11, 33, 99 or 1000 pearls; however, those with 33 or 99 pearls are most commonly used. The 99 pearl prayer chain is often divided into three parts, each consisting of 33 pearls.
There are two different ways of using the Subha:
- Praise God 33 times for his works and deeds ("Subhann-allah")
- Thank God 33 times (" Alhamdulillah ")
- 33 times testify to God of his greatness, omniscience, mightiness, justice etc. (“ Allahu-akbar ”).
In the second variant, the above-mentioned aspects can be repeated for each individual section. When praying with the prayer chain, however, either the 99 names of Allah found in the Koran can be recited or other religious formulas can be spoken.
literature
- Winifred S. Blackman: The Rosary in Magic and Religion. In: Folklore, Vol. 29, No. 4, December 1918, pp. 255-280
- Friedrich Fenzl : The Jûzu - the Buddhist rosary. Its history and cultic significance . In: Bodhi tree . 3/1, 1978, pp. 33-34
- Jürgen W. Frembgen : Clothing and equipment for Islamic seekers of God. A contribution to the material culture of the dervish being. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 1999, pp. 195-206, ISBN 978-3447041843
- Helga Venzlaff: The Islamic Rosary . Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft ( Treatises for the Customer of the Orient, Volume 47, Part 2) Kommissionsverlag F. Steiner, Wiesbaden / Stuttgart 1985, ISBN 3-515-04111-7
- Bernhard Rösch: prayer cord . In: RDK Labor (2016)
