The Peace Mala Double Rainbow Bracelet
Wear your Peace Mala with pride and know that it represents friendship, respect and peace between the faiths and all people in our world. If anyone asks you what it means, tell him or her about it. The rainbow beads on the Peace Mala bracelet create a double rainbow of fourteen spiritual traditions. The rainbow is an important symbol and link between heaven and earth in many cultures.
The word 'mala' is Sanskrit and means 'garland of flowers'. Sanskrit is an ancient Indo-European language of India in which the Hindu scriptures and classical Indian epic poems were written and from which many northern Indian languages are derived.
In the East, a mala is a string of beads ( much like a rosary) and is used in meditation or prayer as each bead or 'flower' focuses on a prayer or mantra. The Peace Mala bracelet is different. Its purpose is not for devotional use though it may be used in that way if the wearer wishes to focus on the prayers and mantras of peace linked with the fourteen spiritual paths represented on the bracelet. We have a booklet, 'Using the Peace Mala to Pray for World Peace' which does that.
The intention of the rainbow beads on our mala of peace focus on the message of the Golden Rule: 'Treat others as you would wish them to treat you'. Our rainbow beads also represent the human family in all its glorious diversity and Divine potential.
Click on the beads below for links to sites giving further information on the faiths.
We must respectfully mention that both the design of the Peace Mala bracelet and the high quality Preciosa Czech glass beads used in its construction are copyright Peace Mala and would ask that all interested parties respect this.
To order Peace Mala bracelets, Kits or our Using the Peace Mala to Pray for World Peace booklet please visit our Purchasing Page.
Rainbow One
FIRST KNOT: You are unique and special! Each one of us is important no matter what our race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity, sexuality, ability, age, size, social class or caste.
RED: This is for Christianity which grew out of Judaism. Jesus taught that we should love and forgive our enemies if we hope to enter the Kingdom of God.
Peace message: Treat others as you would like them to treat you.
ORANGE: This is for Buddhism. Buddha Shakyamuni taught that we should be mindful of our thoughts, words and actions and show loving kindness to everyone. All beings by nature are one.
Peace message: I will act towards others exactly as I would act towards myself.
YELLOW: This is for Sikhism whose founder, Guru Nanak, preached equality, love and tolerance between all people.
Peace message: As you wish for yourself, so wish for others.
GREEN: This is for Islam whose prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.), taught that Allah created the whole of humankind from one soul and that their differences were intended. (Surah 30.22)
Peace message: None of you truly believe until you wish for your brother and sisters what you wish for yourself.
BLUE: This is for Judaism, an ancient faith which started in the Middle East and gave the world some of God's earliest messages of love.
Peace message: What is harmful to you, do not do to other people.
INDIGO: This is for the Baha'i faith. Baha'u'llah, taught that all of mankind will be united when there is world peace and equality.
Peace message: Blessed is the person who loves his/her brother and sister more than him/herself.
VIOLET: This is for ISKCON popularly known as the Hare Krsna movement which promotes the well-being of human society by teaching the science of God consciousness. Prabhupada, its founder, taught that we are all spirit souls and that loving kindness and spiritual devotion will bring peace and happiness.
Peace message: Live in loving harmony with all of God's creation.
IRIDESCENT CLEAR CRYSTAL: This central iridescent clear crystal bead represents the wearer who may or may not have a spiritual path. It also represents the whole cosmos, emphasising the interconnectedness of everyone and everything.
Rainbow Two
VIOLET: This is for Zoroastrianism, an ancient faith from Persia (now Iran). The Zoroastrian ideal is "Good thoughts, good words, good deed"
Peace message: Do not do to another what is not good for yourself.
INDIGO: This is for tribal and native people who believe that all of creation is sacred and that all people share one heart though they are many.
Peace message: "Man did not weave the web of life - he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself." Chief Seattle.
BLUE: This is for Jainism, an ancient Indian religion which believes in ahimsa (non violence to living things).
Peace message: All living beings are equal and none should be harmed for in doing so one will harm oneself.
GREEN: This is for Earth Religions which have existed since ancient times and have suffered much persecution and misunderstanding. Earth religions respect all life forms and will harm none.
Peace message: "Harm none."
YELLOW: This is for Taoism, a Chinese belief meaning "the way" or path. Taoists believe in ch'i which is the life force of the universe. The Yin Yang symbol shows how harmony is achieved by opposites complementing each other.
Peace message: Act with compassion, moderation and humility.
ORANGE: This is for Hinduism, probably the most ancient faith in the world, which teaches that we are all part of one soul created by God.
Peace message: Do nothing to others which, if done to you, could cause you pain.
RED: This is for Yungdrung Bon, the original faith of Tibet. It means Eternal Light or Enlightened Teaching. The teachings of Yungdrung Bon are based on the principle of showing indiscriminate love and compassion to all sentient beings including humankind.
Peace message: Treat all living beings as if they were your own mother.
FINAL KNOT: This is to remind each one of us that how we behave in life affects everyone we meet. Follow the path of peace and friendship to help create a better world.
FINAL CRYSTAL BEAD: The final crystal bead is used as a toggle to bring the Peace Mala around the wearer's wrist. This represents Unity, Harmony and Peace.