Ancient Egypt

Egyptian prayer beads were similar to rosaries, with the added bonus of being made of stone or glass. They were not used for prayers, but rather for good luck charms. This is similar to Sumerians who would wear clay amulets around their necks for protection from the gods.

The Egyptians thought that by wearing these beads they would be protected from evil spirits, illness and snake bites. They also believed that by wearing them they could gain favor with the gods and goddesses of Egypt and become successful in life.

Buddhism

In the 6th century BC, Siddhārtha Gautama founded Buddhism. The religion is based on his teachings and philosophy. Originally called “The Dharma,” it’s often referred to today as “the Buddha,” meaning “the awakened one.”

The earliest Buddhist prayer beads consisted of 108 beads arranged in a string of 3×33 groups, or single-knotted strings with one or two strands at either end. They were not used for counting prayers but rather for helping devotees keep track of their breathing during meditation sessions.

Hinduism

The Hindu religion was founded in India, and it has many similarities to Buddhist practices. The mala prayer beads are a common accessory for both Buddhists and Hindus. Like the other religions, Hinduism has its own style of beads that people use as a tool for meditation. These prayer beads consist of 108 beads on an elastic string. They are often worn around the neck or wrist so they’re easy to reach when you need them but also don’t get in your way while performing everyday tasks. There is no specific mantra associated with this type of mala; instead you can use any prayer verse (there’s no ‘right’ one).

Instead of using just one string like some other religions do, Hindus use two strings at once—one for each hand! This makes it easier to keep track of where you are during prayers because there aren’t any numbers written down anywhere else nearby either.”

Christianity

Most Christians use a prayer rope. These are made of wool or cotton, and they have one large bead at the end and usually 20 smaller beads on each strand. They come in a variety of colors, but the most common are black, red and blue (with gold accents). Some people also choose to wear a knotted cross around their neck instead of an actual prayer rope. The knots represent how many times you need to pray for something before it gets answered by God.

The Catholic rosary is another type of prayer beads used by some Christians. It’s similar in shape and size as the Orthodox rosary (though it sometimes has more or fewer beads), but there are significant differences between them when it comes down to what they’re used for: Catholics use theirs as a way to count prayers while Orthodox Christians use theirs as an aid for meditating on certain aspects about Jesus Christ’s life (i.e., His birth, death and resurrection).

Prayer beads differ between religions but they all follow a similar pattern.

Prayer beads are small rosaries used to keep track of prayers and to aid in prayer. In fact, the word “rosary” comes from the Latin “rosarium,” which means “rose garden.”

The beads are usually made of wood or coral and vary in size depending on the religion and denomination. Catholic prayer beads have larger beads than Eastern Orthodox prayer beads, for example. Each bead represents a different aspect of your faith: an act you want forgiveness for (e.g., lying), something you wish for (e.g., health), and an act of faith (e.g., trusting God). Knotted between each bead is a cross or crucifix that reminds you why it’s important to pray in the first place (i.e., so God can save you from sin).