Semi Precious Lapis Lazuli Mala

Lapis lazuli stone has a lot of medical benefits! It boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure, purifies blood and soothes inflammation. It is also known to alleviate insomnia, depression, throat and thyroid problems. This lapis lazuli mala was hand beaded in Jaipur, India. Jaipur's rich jewelry traditions stem all the way back to the mid 1700's when Maharaja Sawai Jai Sing-II established the city. He invited jewelers from the entire Indian sub-continent including Lahore, Benaras, Delhi and modern day Kolkata and patronized their art. He helped them establish their businesses that are now booming today and have turned Jaipur into a world-renowned jewelry market.  Malas are one of the latest fashion trends, but their origin and history goes back to the birthplace of yoga. The term mala derives from the Sanskrit word “jampamala” which is a string of beads used for prayer and meditation by Hindus and Buddhists. The mala is very similar to the concept of a Catholic rosary. The string