eric's little black star » Orthodox Prayer Ropes; An alternative to the dreaded clicker!

sitproperly on Dec 3rd 2007 at 8:49 am Gaudia Vaisnava

Orthodox Prayer Ropes; An alternative to the dreaded clicker!

It’s the debate to end all debates! The dastardly clicker vs. beads argument. Sure, everyone agrees that chanting our rounds on a strand of 108 tulasi beads is the best, but what of the (much needed?) alternatives?

Most have turned to “the clicker.”

The Clicker is nothing more than an inventory counter. With each mantra chanted you “click” the button and it adds another number to the tally. It’s fairly controversial and many argue that it’s only used when you need to do other things while chanting, which makes the chanting pretty well pointless, so why bother anyway?

Recently, the Japa Group posted a piece about a clicker alternative. They suggest using a bracelet of 27 beads to “hide” your japa from the prying eyes of the abhorrent public.

These are available from Krishna.com and I’m sure would do the trick.

However, I’m bad with numbers and this method requires a LOT of keeping track. If only there was something small with 108 beads that I could shove in my pocket or wear as a bracelet! If only! But now, thanks to my wonderful friend, Ryan, there is!

Ryan makes Orthodox prayer ropes, a length of rope, where the knots form “beads.” He offered to make one that replicated a standard strand of 108 beads.

These “beads” are great!

Easily roll in a ball for quick hiding action!

And if you like…

It’s the perfect necklace!

…or bracelet!

So you can see, the Orthodox Prayer Rope is a wonderful addition to any japa chanter’s arsenal. And is it truly good for chanting? Boy howdy it is!

Big thanks to Ryan who thrilled the heck out of me with this gift. He’s a great guy.

20 responses so far

20 Responses to “Orthodox Prayer Ropes; An alternative to the dreaded clicker!”

ananga says:

December 3, 2007 at 4:42 pm

Other than my tulsi-mala, I personally like using the 27 bead bracelet, but that Prayer Rope is pretty sweet!

eric Reply:
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:47 pm
It’s great. I wish Ryan would hurry up and read this.

The 27 bead bracelets … they’re nice, but I would never be able to keep track.
ryan says:

December 3, 2007 at 7:29 pm

Sweet! I’m glad you liked it. Even though you wanted it in boring old black :lol:

Eventually i will make you another one though that doesn’t count the head bead as one of the 108. It bugs me that i made it with a small error.

As it stands i have been continuing my rosary making. Developing some pretty hardcore callouses for making these prayer ropes. :D

eric Reply:
December 4th, 2007 at 8:32 am
Hey now, black is a good color!

That’s really cool. I dig these a lot. You’ll have to teach me how to make them once I get out to West By God Virginia.

ryan Reply:
December 4th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Not a problem at all. They are really easy to make once you take the time to screw up a few.
ryan says:

December 3, 2007 at 7:36 pm

Chanting while doing other things makes me think of an old story about one of the Saints (i completely forget which one). They asked someone if it was ok to work while praying and were told “No, you should focus on your prayers.” They then asked if it was permissible to pray while working and they were told “Absolutely, pray always and work prayerfully.”

To me any time i can pray is a good time to pray. I’m bad enough at maintaining the practice that the idea of limiting myself into making it even less regular is a bad idea.

eric Reply:
December 4th, 2007 at 8:33 am
Right, we believe that too. But with japa, it’s a personal meditation. We can chant or pray anytime we like. But with the beads, it’s different. Supposed to be a silent (except for the chanting) meditation.
Giriraj Gopal Dasa says:

December 5, 2007 at 1:21 am

your a freak
Rati says:

December 5, 2007 at 9:58 am

Is there any way to get one of these? And not in black!

eric Reply:
December 5th, 2007 at 10:05 am
yes. perhaps ryan will read this and reply. or you could contact him via myspace. he’s Ryan. Not Ryan Beggar. Though, Ryan Beggar is a friend of Ryan and would forward it to him. Ryan Beggar also has a prayer rope.

ryan Reply:
December 5th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Yes there is. Have Herc pass my email on to you (i don’t want to post it publicly for the various spammers to enjoy) and we can work something out. I’ll look and see what color twine i have at home (i think i’m down to 3 colors… going to need to reorder soon). Also, don’t expect it super quick, it takes me a little while to make the larger ones that all have beads of one size. The rosaries i normally make are easier since everything is broken up in 10s (makes it easy to keep track of how many beads i have made) whereas the big 108 knot ones i end up having to count multiple times to make sure they are all there. :lol:

Also Herc, for clarification, to make one to spec it would have 108 “beads” and then the head bead that forms a circle? (essentially 109 knots)

eric Reply:
December 5th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Yep. 108 chanting beads, one “head bead” that’s larger.

That’s real cool of you to hook people up like thus.

ryan Reply:
December 7th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Alrighty. The second set of Japa is done. I’ll try to send you a pic Herc if she isn’t able to. It turned out very pretty. I even have the full 108 beads + 1 head bead as well on this one. :lol:

eric Reply:
December 7th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
The pink ones? yay!
Can’t wait to see.

ryan Reply:
December 7th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
No, this is the Field of Violets twine. Shades of purple – pretty cool really.

eric Reply:
December 7th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
ohhh right right.. field of violets. that sounds fun.

ryan Reply:
December 7th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
And wait a second…

On that first picture of the japa i sent you…

Are they resting on a normal towel? Didn’t you say they were Satan’s Fluffy Fingers!? :lol:

eric Reply:
December 7th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
hahahaha no. they’re resting on a white piece of cloth. the same cloth that became my curtains.

ryan Reply:
December 7th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
I think that material is merely masquerading as a curtains!

eric Reply:
December 7th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
oh my no. they’re real honest to golly curtains.

i had something to ask you, but i can’t remember what it was.

oh yeah. i need ryan barker’s new street address. people up in the northwest don’t reply to emails very much. :)