Frequently Asked Questions

The truth is, many of them may be. As you progress along the spiritual path, different crystals and energies will call to you at different stages. The key is to approach the process the same way you would approach meditation — from a place of stillness, not strategy.

Browse the collections with an open heart. Even if this means stepping away for a few hours or days, come back when you feel settled. One piece will speak to both your heart and your eyes — there will be a natural pull. Your mind may later disagree with your intuition, but this is one reason you are drawn to the malas in the first place: to listen more deeply.

A useful approach is to look at the crystals that strengthen your weaknesses, rather than those that enhance qualities you already have. There is a wealth of information about each crystal in our Crystal Glossary to help guide you.

If you would like personal guidance, we are always happy to help — book a consultation or email us at info@omshivoham.com.

Combining crystals in energetically harmonious arrangements activates their power in profound ways — much like a team of highly skilled individuals brought together with a shared purpose. The overall dynamic changes when crystals are placed together, and it is an intuitive art to select the combinations that will serve each wearer best.

Knotted between each bead, a mala provides one of the most effective ways to experience crystals together — supporting healing, mental clarity and emotional awareness as you grow into a greater expression of yourself. For crystals to manifest their true value, they should be worn against the skin. This quality is somewhat lost when they are carried in a pocket or left at home.

Crystals are said to be living organisms. When measured vibrationally, some varieties carry the same energy frequency as a human being. A mala is the most powerful and intentional way to work with them.

Yes — we recommend wearing your mala as much as possible. The more it is worn and used for meditation, the more powerful it becomes. Simply avoid getting it wet.

A mala absorbs the vibrations around it, and more so, stores the energy you yourself emit. When you meditate, practise yoga or consciously live your life, that positive energy accumulates in the beads. For this reason, it is advisable to leave your mala at home when visiting environments with heavy or chaotic energy — such as clubs or parties where alcohol and other substances are present.

You may naturally find that wearing your mala draws you toward more harmonious environments and deeper connections. Consider this a blessing — your energy is strengthening, and your world is gently rearranging to support that.

A mala is a sacred item and is best kept in a clean, sanctified place. Ideally, leave it on your altar or create a dedicated space with a candle and items of spiritual significance to you. If you don’t have such a place, keep it in its pouch beside your bed.

Be mindful of where you place it — it will draw energy from its surroundings, and give energy in return. Keep it somewhere it won’t be moved around or played with by children or pets (who are naturally attracted to positive energy). You might hang it over a picture of a saint or spiritual teacher and feel the mala become more activated. A dedicated cloth to rest it on each time you remove it is a beautiful practice.

We use a special cotton-polyester blend for knotting and silky nylon for tassels. These materials are chosen to look and feel like silk while being Ahimsa — no animals are harmed in the making of our pieces. They have also proved to be long-lasting and durable.

No — and this is one of the things that sets a Shivoham mala apart. Every piece is created with clear intention, a powerful blessing process and deep reverence at every stage. Each gemstone and seed is ethically sourced, hand-prepared by people we know and trust, strung together with mantras in the traditional way, and blessed by the Ganga in Haridwar.

When you receive your mala with love and perform your own ritual (guidance is included with every piece), you make a shift in consciousness and adorn it as a symbol of your path. As you purify and awaken internally, that energy radiates outward and continues to charge your mala.

To experience the most powerful effect, honour and use your mala for daily practice. You add to its energy through your presence, prayer and spiritual life. If you have a spiritual teacher, you may also wish to have them bless it.

Rudraksha seeds are by their very nature blessed — they are, after all, the tears (Aksha) of Shiva (Rudra), born from source energy itself.

Shivoham Malas began with a blessing at Prayag Raj, the holy confluence of three sacred rivers in India during the Kumbha Mela — with the intention that Rudraksha’s divine energy and spiritual benefits be brought to all, wherever we are and whatever we do. The blessing given was that each person who wears a Shivoham mala will attain liberation at the end of their life, and spiritual development throughout.

Every design is blessed in the Ganga with puja and mantras. Each bead is carefully selected, cleaned, soaked in precious oils and treated with reverence and chanting throughout the process. In a place of devotion, with prayer and mantra, each mala is consecrated in readiness for you to receive a spiritually charged tool for your evolution and protection.

Simple care (every 6 months)

Rub almond oil into the beads using your palms, allowing the oil to soak into every part of the seed. This keeps the Rudraksha in excellent condition.

Ghee purification

Soak your mala (not the tassel or silver components) in melted ghee for 24 hours. Warm the ghee first so it is liquid. Afterwards, gently dry off excess ghee with a cloth and leave the mala on a windowsill in sunlight for one full day. A full moon is an auspicious time for this process. You can also use a cotton bud to apply a little ghee to the guru bead.

Full ceremony (Panch Amrit)

Prepare Panch Amrit with a little ghee, milk, honey, pure water and yogurt. Slowly pour this mixture over the Rudraksha seed (most often used for pendants) while chanting the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra (enclosed in your parcel). Rinse gently with mild warm water. If you have a special ceremonial vessel, use it. Pour the remaining mixture into a garden bed.

Like all things, mala beads with Rudraksha seeds and crystals carry a vibration. We are constantly surrounded by objects, people and environments emitting different frequencies — not all of them positive. The purpose of a mala, which embodies a powerful and positive vibration, is to create harmony. It supports you in maintaining inner peace and alignment with a spiritual way of life.

All Shivoham malas have been blessed and activated through mantra and prayer, making them especially effective in aligning you with your purpose. Rudraksha has been honoured by holy people for millennia for its ability to store the vibration of consciousness.

When you receive a mala with gratitude and understanding, it is a deeply significant moment. While an enlightened being may not need such tools, the rest of us — living in the world and navigating a daily plethora of external energies — benefit greatly from this support. If your choice is to live positively, harmoniously and spiritually, then everything you surround yourself with plays a vital role. A mala is a natural companion on the path — one you will observe any holy person wear.

There is growing research confirming that Rudraksha considerably lowers stress, increases blood circulation and produces a positive flow of energy that lifts depression and keeps the body active. Those who have worn the seeds for decades report increased mental clarity, perception, peace of mind and a protective shield against negative influences. For thousands of years in India, yogis have worn Rudraksha to experience deep tranquillity and concentration.

In recent times, Rudraksha has seen global appeal far beyond mystics and sages. Business people wear them daily to promote harmony and health, and students use them for clarity while studying. Best worn against the chest, they can almost immediately lower blood pressure, calm the nerves and bring peace of mind.

For a deeper understanding, visit our Power of Rudraksha page, which includes details of the research conducted by Dr. Suhas Roy at the Indian Institute of Technology.

First, know that a mala break is completely normal and nothing to worry about. With daily wear, thread naturally softens and frays — typically after two to three years. A break always symbolises a new beginning: the release of an old pattern, or the fulfilment of your intention. Gather your beads carefully and contact us to arrange a repair.

Visit our Repairs page for the full process, or email us at info@omshivoham.com.

Repairs typically take three to four months. Each mala is restored by hand with the same devoted care as when it was first created — re-threaded with fresh mantras and re-blessed before being returned to you. There is no need to check in; we always keep a record and will be in touch when your mala is ready.

For context, a standard pearl-knotted repair at a jeweller typically costs $200 or more, and most cannot replicate the tassel work, specific knotting techniques or sacred process of a Shivoham mala. Our repair service is offered at a fraction of this cost as a devotion to those who have entrusted us with their spiritual journey.

Keep an eye on the thread between the beads. When it begins to look thin or frayed, it’s time for a re-thread — don’t wait for it to snap. Also nourish your Rudraksha beads every six months by rubbing a little almond oil into them with your palms. With attentive care and timely re-threading, your mala is designed to last a lifetime.