Guru (Mala) Beads

Frequently asked questions

• What is a guru bead and how is it drilled?

  A guru bead is the finishing component of a mala — the larger anchor bead that marks the start and end of the 108-count circuit. It's typically drilled with three holes in a T-configuration: a single hole on one axis and two holes meeting it at right angles from a perpendicular axis. The two cord ends pass into the perpendicular holes, exit through the single axial hole, and then thread through a tassel or counter bead. The geometry lets a strung mala hang straight and gives the user a tactile cue to reverse direction rather than skip past the guru.
• What size does Dakota stock guru beads in?

  Dakota currently stocks guru beads at 12mm. That size is the working standard for a 108-bead mala built on 8mm counting beads — the guru reads as a clear anchor without overwhelming the strand. If you're building on 6mm counters, a 10mm guru is more proportional and you may need to source separately; on 10mm counters, 12mm still works but sits closer in scale. Diameter on a drilled stone bead can vary by a few tenths of a millimeter from strand to strand, so check the listing spec and order a sample if you're matching to an existing mala.
• Which stones does Dakota carry as guru beads?

  Current guru-bead stock spans goldstone (two variants), mookaite, tiger eye, jasper, lapis, and unakite. Goldstone is glass with copper inclusions — durable and uniform; the rest are natural stones with the color and pattern variation typical of each material. Treatment varies by stone and should be disclosed — ask before buying if it isn't specified. Inventory in this cut rotates more than in standard rounds, since guru beads are sold individually or in small counts rather than full strands; if a specific stone-and-size combination matters, contact us before designing around it.
• What is a guru bead used for in mala design?

  Guru beads finish 108-bead malas — Buddhist, Hindu, and yoga-tradition prayer or meditation strands. The guru sits at the junction below the counting beads and above the tassel or terminal bead, and its three-hole geometry locks the two cord ends together as they exit toward the tassel. Outside traditional malas, the same bead can serve as a decorative T-junction in multi-strand designs, a focal bead in a kumihimo terminal, or a bail-style anchor for a pendant strung on cord. The triple-drill makes it useful any time you need two strands to converge into one.
• Do I need a separate tassel or counter bead with a guru?

  Yes — a guru bead is the anchor, not the terminal. Most mala builds pair the guru with a smaller counter or capstone bead immediately below it, then a tassel, cord knot, or charm beyond that. The counter sits inside the loop of cord exiting the guru's single hole and keeps the two cord ends from pulling back through. Dakota stocks the guru bead itself; tassels, cord, and findings come from your usual stringing-supply source. Plan the full stack — guru, counter, tassel — before you cut cord so lengths and proportions work out.