Model necklace, mala, for a Krishna figure, consisting of seeds in red, black and white strung onto of a length of red, twisted textile cord with a pink textile tassel at each end.
This necklace or ‘mala’ is intended for the deity Krishna. It is not a rosary or ritual device but is intended as decoration. The small red and black seeds are from a tropical vine called Gunja that is easily found around Govardhan hill, a sacred site associated with the deity Krishna that is near Vrindavan. The red and black seeds represent Radha and Krishna and are considered particularly dear to Krishna. Devotees may place such a ‘mala’ on the figure of Krishna or his more abstract form as a ‘shila’ or stone from the Govardhan hill.
