TWO MALAS WITH SKULLS


Himalayan Art Resources item nos.61702&61703 White: 88 cm (34 1/2 in.) long;Stained: 47 cm (18 1/2 in.) long
|佛珠兩串Both comprised of 108 beads. The first with amber beads carved into skulls, and a worn wood purbha fastening. The second with stained bone discs, amber stopper bead, counter with silver beads and vajra, and modified with a large stone skull pendant. Malas with skulls or made of human skulls, typically of high lamas, can be reserved for practices involving Yama Dhamaraja (Dorsey, "Prayer Beads in Asian Buddhist Cultures", in Arts of Asia, July-August 2004, vol.34, no.4, p.55).