

Kasauti Mala
Black touchstone japa mala, 108+1 beads, 8 mm
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Tell me the day it reopens- Kasauti stone (black touchstone), silk thread; 85 g, size declared below
- From a named workshop; the maker and the town are on this page
From the Shiwalay desk
Kasauti is often sold as shaligram mala. It is not: shaligram comes only from the Gandaki in Nepal, so we sell kasauti under its own name.
About this piece
Matte black, cool and heavy in the hand. Kasauti is the fine-grained black stone goldsmiths have used for centuries to test gold, and the word has come to mean a test of truth. As a japa mala it is favoured for Vishnu and Krishna mantras, and used in Jain practice too. The beads are cut in Jaipur and knotted on silk in Vrindavan, with a sumeru and tassel.
- Material
- Kasauti stone (black touchstone), silk thread
- Origin
- Beads cut in Jaipur, strung in Vrindavan
- Size
- 108 + 1 beads, 8 mm; 90 cm loop
- Weight
- 85 g
Why it's traditionally used
Kasauti is the black stone goldsmiths rub gold against to test it, and as a japa mala it is kept for Vishnu and Krishna mantras. You hold it for the Hare Krishna mahamantra, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya or a reading of the Vishnu Sahasranama, turning back at the sumeru rather than crossing it. Families bring it out on Ekadashi and Thursdays, and on Janmashtami night.
How to use
- Use for the Hare Krishna mahamantra, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya or the Vishnu Sahasranama.
- Hold over the middle finger of the right hand and move beads with the thumb; turn back at the sumeru.
- Keep in its pouch between sessions. Wipe with a dry cloth.
Care
- Rinse in clean water and dry with a lint-free cloth; avoid detergents.
- Keep out of prolonged direct sun, which can leave a faint tint in some crystal.
- Store separately; quartz scratches softer stones and is scratched by harder ones.
In the box
- Kasauti mala, 108 + 1 beads
- Cotton japa pouch
- Mala care card
Shipping and returns
In-stock items leave our fulfilment partner within 24 hours, with tracking on WhatsApp. Made-to-order pieces ship from the workshop, tracked the same way. If what arrives is damaged, wrong or not what this page describes, we replace it or refund you within 7 days of delivery; certified items are re-verified on return, so the proof you paid for stays honest. Read the shipping and returns policies.
Quick answers
- Where does the Kasauti Mala come from?
- Beads cut in Jaipur, strung in Vrindavan. Shiwalay curates from named workshops and shows the cluster on every product.
- Why is the Kasauti Mala traditionally used?
- Kasauti is the black stone goldsmiths rub gold against to test it, and as a japa mala it is kept for Vishnu and Krishna mantras. You hold it for the Hare Krishna mahamantra, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya or a reading of the Vishnu Sahasranama, turning back at the sumeru rather than crossing it. Families bring it out on Ekadashi and Thursdays, and on Janmashtami night.
- How do I use the Kasauti Mala?
- Use for the Hare Krishna mahamantra, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya or the Vishnu Sahasranama. Hold over the middle finger of the right hand and move beads with the thumb; turn back at the sumeru. Keep in its pouch between sessions. Wipe with a dry cloth.
- What is included with the Kasauti Mala?
- Kasauti mala, 108 + 1 beads, Cotton japa pouch, Mala care card.
- How big is the Kasauti Mala?
- 108 + 1 beads, 8 mm; 90 cm loop; weight 85 g. Measured on the piece as shipped; handmade items vary by a few millimetres.
- How do I care for the Kasauti Mala?
- Rinse in clean water and dry with a lint-free cloth; avoid detergents. Keep out of prolonged direct sun, which can leave a faint tint in some crystal. Store separately; quartz scratches softer stones and is scratched by harder ones.
- Can the Kasauti Mala be energised before delivery?
- Yes. Choose energisation at checkout. Pran pratishtha is performed at Kashi in your name and a video is sent before the parcel arrives. It costs ₹501.
Complete the ritual
What the puja needs alongside it




Mantra Card Set
24 mantra cards: Devanagari, transliteration and meaning
Written by the Shiwalay desk, printed in Mumbai
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