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Om Namah Shivaya

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Today's malas

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Beads today

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Day streak

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Total malas

What is japa?

Japa is the repetition of a mantra — a name, a sound, or a short phrase — returned to again and again until the mind settles into it. It is one of the oldest and plainest practices in the Indian traditions, and it asks almost nothing of you: no posture to perfect, no silence to arrange. Just the mantra, repeated.

The mala is what keeps the count so your attention does not have to. Traditionally a mala carries 108 beads plus a larger head bead, the sumeru. You move one bead for each repetition, and when you arrive back at the sumeru you have completed one mala.

How to use this counter

  1. 1

    Choose your mantra. Pick one of the three above, or add your own in the mantra panel. It stays selected next time you visit.

  2. 2

    Set a sankalp. A sankalp is your intention for the day — one mala is a good place to begin. Traditional counts of 3, 5, 11 and 21 are there too.

  3. 3

    Tap a bead for each repetition. Tap anywhere on the mala, or press the space bar. The ring fills as you go, and the bell sounds when a mala closes.

  4. 4

    Pause at the sumeru. After 108, take a breath. In common practice the head bead is not crossed — you turn the mala and continue back the other way.

Common questions

Why 108 beads?+

108 is held as a sacred number across Indian traditions, and several explanations are offered — the 108 Upanishads, the 54 letters of Sanskrit counted in masculine and feminine form, the ratios between Earth, Sun and Moon. The traditions do not agree on one reason, and it is better treated as a number held meaningful by long practice than as a settled fact.

What is the sumeru bead?+

The sumeru, or Meru bead, is the larger bead where the mala is tied. It marks where a round begins and ends, is generally not counted, and is not crossed over — on completing 108 you turn the mala around rather than passing it.

Can a digital mala replace a real one?+

A physical mala is traditional, and many people prefer the feel of the beads under the fingers. This is meant as a practical stand-in for when your mala is not with you — on a commute, at a desk, travelling.

Which mantra should I choose?+

If you have been given a mantra by a teacher, use that. Otherwise choose one you feel drawn to — Om Namah Shivaya, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, or simply Om. You can add any mantra of your own.

Is my count saved?+

Yes, in your own browser — your current mala, today's count, your mantras and your streak all persist. Nothing is sent anywhere and there is no account. Clearing your browser data will clear it, and it will not follow you to another device; the Sahaj app is what carries your practice across devices.

Offered with respect for the traditions this practice comes from. Descriptions here follow common practice; customs vary between lineages and families, and your teacher's guidance comes first.

Carry the practice with you

A quiet space for your mind, breath and spirit.

This counter keeps your japa on one device. Sahaj keeps it with you — the same 108-bead rudraksha mala and temple bell, alongside guided breathwork, mindful mood check-ins, ancient wisdom and ambient soundscapes.

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