Beads can be traced to the origination of mankind. Primarily, beads were used as Mojo to help in the conquest for food. It was thought that if one wore a “piece” of the animal being pursued, it would bring good luck on the next hunt. Similarly, talismans were used as security from enemies in battle and to fend off a variety of ailments. Then, as today, many stones were said to possess distinctive powers.
Beads advanced more as the world’s agricultural and tribal societies, with varied religious rites, were efficient into civilizations with systematized religions. Beads became serviceable. They were used to enhance and fasten clothing and in the making of bags. The Chinese created the abacus, which aided in counting and difficult calculations. It is hypothesized that the abacus, with its concept of stringing beads, lead to the practice of counting prayers.
The stringing of beads allowed the supporter to simply keep count of the amount of prayers repeated. The earliest use of prayer beads is traced to the Hindu faith of India. examination was the stimulus for the spread of this practice. Originally, this movement spread to the East, then Middle East, and finally Europe. For the religions of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and Catholics, the use of prayer beads in these four faiths is the same. They are largely used to keep track of devotions. While the seriousness of materials used, amount of beads and religious lore is different to each faith. The support of this knowledge comes from missionaries and devotees of the new arranged faiths as they encountered the ancient traditions and myths of the tribal groups.
A full rosary consisting of 150 beads is identified as a chaplet or Psalter. This number relates to the number of Psalms. Fifteen larger beads separate the whole into decades or groups of ten. This models the original finger counting method for tracking prayer. The small decade or Ave beads are used to recite ‘Hail Mary” prayers. While the large separator beads are employed in the “Our Father” and Gloria” prayers. Each decade embody a subject or mystery in the life of Jesus and Mary.
Muslim explorers and traders most likely instituted the Buddhist prayer bead tradition to Islam. No conclusive date is known for the introduction of their prayer beads or “Subha”, which means, “to exalt”. The 99-bead strand is separated into 33 bead sections by marker (Ruku) beads. The 100th bead (Imam) or “leader bead” denotes the completion of one cycle of devotion or “one has come full circle”. Cords come out of the leader bead and are affixed to two Ruku beads and a tassel. It is believed evil spirits do not like dangling objects, making the tassel effective avoiding the “evil eye”.
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