Malas:

Several Indian Sanskrit texts explain the general creation and uses of the mala
such as the Vajra Garbha Lamkara, Samputa and Dakarnava Tantras.

Prayer Beads & Numbers:

- Mantrayana in General = 50 Beads

Specialized Activities:
- Peaceful Activities = 100 Beads
- Increasing Activities = 108 Beads
- Powerful Activities = 25 Beads
- Wrathful Activities = 60 Beads

For Peaceful activities and the corresponding colour white, the beads can be of
crystal, pearl, bodhi seed, or various types of wood. For the activity of
Increasing, yellow colour, the material of the beads can be gold, silver, copper,
or lotus seed. For Powerful activities, the colour red, beads of red sandalwood or
red coral are used. For Wrathful activities, black in colour, the material is
rudraksha seeds, fruit pits, or beads made from human bone. It is commonly said
that a bodhi seed mala is good for all four activities in general.

The symbolism of the mala can vary between teachers and traditions. According to
Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen (1147-1216) there are three elements of the mala that have
symbolic significance, [1] the string, [2] the beads and [3] the head bead. The
string is made from nine threads which represent the Eight Bodhisattvas and
Vajradhara. The beads themselves represent the arhats of early Buddhism. The head
bead has two parts placed together, a stupa shape and a sphere shape. Together they
represent the dharmadhatu.