A japa mala is a loop of 108 beads plus one larger "guru" or meru bead that marks the start and end of a round. The beads are moved one per mantra repetition using the thumb and middle finger — the index finger, associated with the ego, is traditionally not used, and practitioners turn the mala around rather than crossing over the guru bead. Materials carry sectarian significance: tulsi (holy basil) wood malas are favored by Vishnu and Krishna devotees, rudraksha seeds by Shiva devotees, and sphatika (crystal) or sandalwood malas are used across traditions. The number 108 is sacred in Hindu cosmology, appearing in contexts from the Upanishads (108 principal texts) to astronomical ratios.