HEALTHANDYOGAHealthAndYoga™ Lotus Mala Beads with Velvet Pouch (86 cm String, 108+1 Seeds)- Prayer, Meditation, Energy Chakra Balancing, Mantra Japa Recitation for Spiritual Growth – Long Necklace with Large Beads

First I want to say that the picture you display for this Mala does not do it justice. Please change to a color photo. My original intention was to split these beads into two sets of 54 instead of 108, and add my own dzi bead before the tassle on each set. But these beads are so lovely, just the way they are. They are quite long and reach below my waist when I wear them around my neck. This I am not used to in length for a Mala, but that's ok. This is different than any set that I own. I have been collecting Malas for fifteen years now.Each lotus seed is knotted on the string and seems very sturdy. A few seeds are not perfectly centered on the string, but this only adds to the hand made effect of the set as a whole. Quite charming. The tassle is a beauty too, and is soft and smooth brown. It feels and looks like silk. If you don't mind a long Mala I would say get these. This is true quality. Don't be alarmed if the seeds seem to have a grayish overcast to them. This is natural. And as the oils from your hands permiate these seeds over time and use; they will turn a darker, richer brown color, and shiney. They are just the right size for counting resitations comfortably. On the overall I would say get this Mala if you want something different. Delivery time was quick.

Truly beautiful beads. I wish I could say I purchased these beads because of some greater desire for my meditation practice, however I purchased them based on their visual aesthetic and for the fact that they were reasonably priced. Based on the price, my expectations were minimal, however I am pleased to report that they are an exceptional long strand, of what appears to be well made string of mala beads.I read some of the previous reviews and saw some images that others posted showing/describing beads with an odd whitish coating, red tassel, white knotting and a strong chemical smell. I have to say, of the multiple mala beads that I have purchased online, these are the prettiest (aside from the handmade semi precious stone one I purchased for about 10's the price of these!). I am not sure if I have received a different batch than other reviewers, however the beads that I received were a beautiful deep brown, neither overly shiny nor dull, they were knotted in a consistent manner with brown fiber/rope/string, and had a brown tassel (short-ish, however not dissimilar to what is advertised). I didn't notice any strong chemical odor and I have not found them to overly fragile. I have three kids, one who is a toddler who I carry everywhere and I have worn these beads on multiple occasions, and aside from the ample length of these beads which allows my toddler to occasionally choke me, they have not broken or cracked. I will most likely purchase them for few of my friends (might want to replace the pouch - I have never been a fan of the "velveteen" style pouches - however this is just my own personal preference).

I liked the look of these beads and bought three sets for my store. When I opened the first set they smelled odd and I felt really negative about them. They felt dirty and badly harvested. I literally threw them away with the dirty bag. Just beware.

Excellent beads. Durable & value for money

I purchased this mala for prayer during work. I work as a medic in the Army and needed something that was durable but not too flashy. I don't carry this for fashion purposes, so the more plain and inconspicuous the color, the better. It arrived along with another item I purchased from Amazon, but it was in it's own separate little bag. The color is great, the size was okay (a bit longer and bigger than I anticipated), but the main problem was the texture. I'm not sure if this is common with 'lotus' type malas, but it was very oily and sticky feeling. Almost as though it was brushed with some kind of sealant that never really dries. I expect this to eventually fade with use, but it was worth mentioning as some people might be put off by the feeling. I haven't found it to be too distracting during prayer, as the point is to focus on the praying rather than what's going on around you. Overall I am satisfied.

I am very happy with my purchase. This handmade lotus seed mala is perfect for my needs. It isn't fancy or pretentious and that's a good thing as I didn't buy it in order to make a fashion statement, but as a prayer/meditation tool. The seeds are of a perfect size and shape to be manipulated by my fingers, making for smooth mantra repetition. This is a well constructed mala with knots between each seed. This keeps the seeds separated for easier manipulation and also keeps them from sliding along the string and eventually wearing it out.Before purchasing I read the reviews and saw that some people had an issue with a strange smell and/or oily texture to the mala. I can say honestly that I didn't have either problem. I can't find anything to complain about with this mala and I highly recommend it to anyone more interested in mantra recitation than adding another piece of jewelry to their wardrobe.

Great quality mala for the price. I had one other mala that I have been using in my practice, and the beads just weren't big enough and were not knotted. This mala however, is beautiful as well as functional. The Lotus seeds are large and easy to pass between your fingers in use. There was no unpleasant odor, just the smell of the seeds. It is LONG however, do not get me wrong this thing comes down almost past my waist and I am 6'0. It looks beautiful doubled around the neck and is comfortable wrapped around the left wrist as well. Really just a beautiful mala. I am enjoying it and am grateful to intention it.