Unusually Fine Tibetan Skull Mala Necklace

This Tibetan mala or rosary comprises dozens of tiny beads each carved into a small human skull from either human bone, or more probably human teeth. It is among the finest of these that we have seen.

Most malas are used for counting and reciting mantras but the beads on this example are too fine for that purpose and yet the subject matter and material from which the necklace is made suggests a tantric ritual use.

Images of wrathful deities are typically shown wearing garlands of skulls and so it is likely that this necklace was used for wrathful deity rituals, with the skulls representing the three mental ‘poisons’ – ignorance, hatred and desire. The use of human bone also signifies the impermanence of everything.

The beads are strung on twisted cotton cord and all is stable and intact.

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