Men's Prayer Beads, Indian Bodhi Seed, Obsidian Finish, Shingon Sect

Men's Prayer Beads, Indian Bodhi Seed, Obsidian Finish, Shingon Sect

Among the many varieties of bodhi seed – including the starry moon bodhi seed, the longan bodhi seed, and the phoenix-eye bodhi seed – the Indian bodhi seed is considered the king of all bodhi materials, prized as an especially rare find due to growing only at high altitudes in limited quantity. A true nut, it is remarkably hard yet carries the gentle, organic texture characteristic of nuts when held; we are only able to offer it as stock allows. Here, the Indian bodhi seed is paired with obsidian for the parent and top beads – a volcanic glass that occurs in a variety of colors, with the black variety used here being especially popular. This piece follows the traditional Shingon-sect style, generally believed to be among the first prayer bead forms introduced to Japan and closely resembling the formal prayer beads shared across all eight major sects, typically featuring two tassels strung front and back on a red cord; the longer versions of this style are also those traditionally carried on pilgrimages. As a limited-edition item, please purchase soon.

Product Specifications

Item Number: Q385623166054
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.59 x 0.47 in (1.5 x 1.2 cm) – Obsidian
Main Beads (Shudama): Approx. 0.39 x 0.28 in (1.0 x 0.7 cm) – Indian Bodhi Seed
Top Bead (Tendama): Approx. 0.31 x 0.24 in (0.8 x 0.6 cm) – Obsidian