Rudraksha Malas
Rudraksha malas of 108 plus one beads, in small to large bead sizes, strung on thread or capped in metal for chanting Shiva mantras or daily wear.
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Sadhus in the Himalayas and office-goers in Mumbai wear the same thing around their necks: a string of brown, wrinkled seeds. Rudraksha malas are the most familiar way of keeping these beads, used for japa of "Om Namah Shivaya" and other mantras and worn by many as a sign of devotion to Shiva.
A standard japa mala holds 108 beads plus the sumeru, most often five mukhi because those beads are widely available and uniform. Shorter 54 and 27 bead versions are worn as wristlets or carried for quick counting. Bead size, measured in millimetres, changes the feel a great deal; small beads look neat under a collar, while large beads give the fingers more to hold during long chanting.
Check whether rudraksha malas are knotted between beads, which keeps them from grinding, and whether the thread is cotton, silk or wire with metal caps. Keep a chanting mala separate from one you wear, take it off before bathing with soap, and have it re-strung when the thread loosens.