Blog of Sound Healing and Reflexology Practitioner Judit Duran

What does it mean when a mala breaks?

5/28/2019

On Saturday, I was sitting outside, working on my newsletter when all of a sudden all the beads from my blessed sandalwood bracelet spilled out everywhere; some landed on the floor, some on the table. In the past, I would have been very upset and sad. That is how I felt the first time a mala broke, as I didn't know what I will share with you now.
In the yogic tradition, a broken mala is said to symbolize the breaking of a cycle of suffering, a spiritual breakthrough, and a release of karma or other negative traits. It is viewed as a good sign of progression along one's yogic path and the perfect time to reflect on your blessings and your inner journey. It is time to move on and let the beads go because you have learned something. New lessons are ready to come your way in this university of life.

When a mala breaks you are not supposed to fix it. You are supposed to gather its broken pieces and you can place the beads on your altar or you can bury them under a tree.

The ego is so attached to material things, that is why we have so much trouble letting go. Yet all is transient. This is another reminder that all that we perceive is transient. Without the intrusiveness of the personal mind, life is observed to be unfolding in a harmonious way, as it is supposed to. Next time a mala breaks, celebrate it! And of course, you can always get a new one. Many blessings. Judit.

37 Comments

Indra link

8/7/2019 06:58:21 am

what if a rudraksha is broken?

Judit

8/8/2019 10:25:23 am

Dear Indra,
If a rudraksha is broken it has the same meaning as if a mala breaks. It is considered a sign of karmic progression. Hope this answer helps! Many blessings, Judit

SUSHMA

2/4/2023 09:05:11 am

My mala thread was broken from the top. All beads are intact,its just one long length. Can I fix it back since everything is still in its position?

Pete Hiniker

2/23/2023 06:04:13 pm

Sure you can.

निखिल

4/19/2023 03:03:35 pm

मी माझ्या मित्राला देवा बद्दल काहि महिती देत होतो.तर माझ्या गळ्यातली रुद्राक्षाची माळ अचानक तुटली. माळेतून फक्त २ मणी जमिनीवर पडले आणि बाकीची तुटलेली माळ तशीच अंगावर लटकून राहिली, तर याचा अर्थ काय? आणि मी त्या २ मण्यांचे काय करावे व ती माळ नीट करून पुन्हा परिधान करावी की नाही?

5/7/2023 12:51:48 pm

Hi, I skipped a few days not using my sandalwood mala and today found three beads missing, thread not broken and no evidence of them anywhere. I live alone and find this very bizarre. Have you ever heard anything like this?
Namaste
Al

Judit Duran

5/11/2023 09:01:40 am

Hi Al,
Thank you for sharing your experience. Unfortunately, I do not have an answer for you. Sometimes, things happen that cannot be comprehended by the logical mind.
Namaste,

Judit

SANDEEP

6/18/2023 10:59:43 am

My rudraksha mala broke due to it got stuck in Bike handle, is it has same meaning as you told?

11/21/2023 03:40:29 pm

Yes, Sandeep.
Many blessings,

Judit

Suprima Dhar

8/15/2023 03:54:56 am

My grandfather had a Rudraksha Mala or 108 beads. But he passed away in 2002. But the mala is broken. Some beads are missing. Now it has 103 beads. What I should with it.?? Please tell me

SUMAN ILONI

11/21/2023 01:46:12 pm

Can you wear "footwear" if you wear tulsi mala?

11/21/2023 03:38:48 pm

Suman, I am not familiar with it, sorry I cannot help you out with this. Hope you find your answer. Many blessings!

Ankit jain link

12/7/2023 01:17:59 am

Nice lines and thought process. A good lesson and message from your experience and words.

Kristin

12/17/2023 10:09:38 am

The tassel of my mala mysteriously fell off. Could you help me have some insight into that? I’ve had Malas break before, but never just had tassel fall off and the beads remain intact. Is there any special significance to this happening?

1/18/2024 03:17:21 pm

Dear Kristin, I would not give too much thought about the tassel, as it is decorative. Since the beads are intact, nothing to do. At least this is my humble opinion. Sending many blessings your way, Judit

Ananya

1/18/2024 01:12:50 am

Hi, It’s been only 18 days since I started wearing tulsi Mala, and it broke today and some beads of it fell here and there, I kept those beads in the temple rest I fixed it up.

Shall I wear it again? or like you said I should bury it under the tree or the tulsi plant I have at home.

Also as i have sort of fixed it up now so should i again open the beads and put it under the tree?

1/18/2024 03:14:31 pm

Dear Ananya, A broken mala is believed to symbolize the end of a cycle, a spiritual breakthrough, and or a release of karma or other negative traits. Instead of repairing it, you are encouraged to gather its broken pieces and bury them under a tree. The attachment of the ego to material things often makes letting go challenging. Even if you choose to repair the mala, it is still recommended to bury it, acknowledging its symbolic break. I hope this explanation is helpful! Many blessings to you!

1/22/2024 08:32:35 am

Thank you so much!

Nikita

3/4/2024 09:37:08 pm

Mere pehni hui phool ki mala toot gai.shyam baba ke chadi hui mala Mene pehni

Shiv Narayan parmar

3/8/2024 02:03:06 pm

मेरी रुद्राक्ष की माला का धागा टूट गया किन्तु मनके सभी सही है क्या मैं पुनः उस को ठीक करवाकर पहन सकता हूं कृपया बताए।

3/9/2024 09:04:37 am

Please send explanation to me my Question above.

Judit Duran link

3/10/2024 08:12:01 am

Dear Shiv,
I would do exactly as I describe: gather the beads and you can place them on your altar or you can bury them under a tree. The bead might not be broken but the string that kept them together yes. Hope this answer helps!
Blessings,
Judit

Ayush Jain

4/10/2024 12:06:47 am

I have a rudraksha bracelet that I used to wear since one of my professor gave me while I was having a seizure. I have been wearing it since last 3 years and it has broken twice. Can I fix it or I should let it go as I am unable to let it go I don't know why. Adding to this point, my professor was very spiritual and used to chant with beads all the time. Therefore, I am sure about the quality of Rudraksha but I don't want to let it go and I want to fix it again but can there be any issue regarding fixing it after its broken twice?

5/7/2024 02:36:19 pm

Dear Ayush,
If you have so much trouble letting it go, I would suggest to put it on your altar . Leave it there, and whener you are ready bury it under a tree or offer it to nature. Hope this answer helps! We human beings have lots of attachments! But we have to remember that we arrive with nothing and we will go with nothing. It is has broken twice, it is for a reason, because it has already done its job and some karma has been released. Many blessings!

Shanil Gavaskar

5/5/2024 01:22:37 pm

I’ve been wearing Rudraksha for 20 years. A bagger gave me 5 mukhi Rudraksha as a blessing when I helped him. I felt something very different that time. From then, I’ve been wearing it till the past 2 month. My mother bought me a 1 mukhi Rudraksha recently from Nepal. I made it in gold locket and started to wore it. The old one, I throw it into a lake at a Sivan temple near my house. Yesterday night, the chain broke and I fixed it today morning immediately. Anyway, after few hours it broke at the same place and fall into my hand. I wonder whether is this a good sign or bad. Or, the goldsmith didn’t fix it properly. I’m worried.. This is the first time such incident happenings after wearing Rudraksha for 20 years 😔

8/23/2024 01:52:54 pm

It is time to detach from it...It did what it was supposed to do and now some karma has cleared.

Sneha

5/5/2024 03:02:02 pm

Meri tulsi ki mala bacche ne tod dii moti nahi bikhre h ek bhi to kya ganth lga kr pahen sakti hu

Anjali link

5/24/2024 05:20:06 am

Sapne me Tulsi mala tootne ka kya matlab hai

Sanjay

7/30/2024 01:20:33 am

I was using rudrakhsa mala from approx. More than a year, but recently from last 2-3 months I was doing the japa on fingers and 2-3 days back when I thought of using mala. I found that it's broken.

Would this also means same.

8/23/2024 01:53:55 pm

Yes, Sanjay. Many blessings.

Theresa

8/20/2024 05:09:45 pm

Hi my prayer wheel bracelet stri ng broke so I buried under a tree

8/23/2024 01:50:56 pm

That's great! Thank you for sharing!

Rose

8/21/2024 06:59:11 pm

My 2 year old son got a hold of my mala and broke it. Does this still mean the same thing for someone in my case? I had it for years, very sad it broke.

8/23/2024 01:50:27 pm

Rose: yes, it means the same. Some karma got cleared for you and your baby. It is all good!

Swati

2/1/2025 09:24:47 am

Hii sir, aaj subh meri Tulsi ki mala Tut gai usme se sayad kuch moti khi ghum hogye eska kya mtlb h

JANINE

3/5/2025 07:26:01 am

[Greetings, I just bought myself a real tibetan turquoize Mala instead of a random turquoize beeds from a previous owner on Ebay that did not know what to do with it yet honoured it in its box.
When it arrived today I wanted to make the elastic nylon string a little tighter for my arm-wrist, and the nylon cracked and all 14, (birth-date) pearls fell on the floor.
I really chose to finally wear my turquoize to protect me & to inspire and heal me, and I wanted a strong meaning behind this self-offered spuritual item that realli was an investment for me. Since i newer wore it, apart the seconds realising it was too loose, i want to fix and start wearing it for my own life cycle start. But it could also mean that it sensed my strong situation and started breaking a curse or a bad energy targeting me, how can i renew these still intact precious tibetan beeds as a new wearer, i will definiteli not burry them yet under any tree unless it happens again after wearingit a longer period of time.]

TARUN SINGH

5/8/2025 03:15:27 am

meri naam jap mala jo ki tulsi ki hai uska ek manka aadha tut gaya hai mujhe kya karna cahaiye

What does it mean when a mala breaks?

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