The Ancient Science of Mantras: Wisdom of the Sages

by Om Swami

Rosary of gold beads is used in rituals intended to worship the ancestors or with a view to attaining a desired material outcome. Beads of silver or copper are used in sadhanas done with a view to attaining victory in the battlefield. Many sadhanas of lower forms of energies (like yakshinis) use beads made of tin. Lead beads, especially in some tantric sadhanas, are used in mastery over even lower forms of energies like rakshas and pisachis. Rosary made from the beads of turmeric can be used by a householder to ward off evil spirits. Bell-metal beads are used in mastery over vampire spirits (vetala). Brass beads are used in chanting of mantras, especially a special class of mantras called Sabra Mantras, to gain control of serpents and reptile. For great wisdom, beads of topaz (red topaz) either strung or studded in silver are used. There are other types of beads and rosaries made from sapphire, bones, siyar singi, claws of owl or lion, clay, charcoal, wood obtained from gular (cluster fig tree) or shami tree (Prosopis cineraria) that are used in many tantric sadhanas, generally with a view to harm someone. I do not wish to expound on them publicly nor have I any practical insight into these beads for I’ve never used them. I have, however, personally experimented with at least nine different types of rosaries in many sadhanas over two decades and I can tell you that the selection of beads does have a noticeable impact on the quality of your sadhana, and therefore, the outcome.