Authentic Timal Bodhi Seed Mala - 4 Eye Guru Bead - 11.25mm Average - Rare Locality - Excellent Qual

Earlier this year in late March through early April 2025, I returned to Nepal continuing my practice of Buddhist Pilgrimage. Along the way, I hand-picked this item with other selected practice supplies, supports, and sacred objects.

This Timal Bodhi Seed mala is one of the few I was able to hand pick from a resident of Timal, Nepal. The beads are sized 11mm on average. This is an exceptionally well crafted Timal Bodhi Mala. The seeds have an even and consistent light brown/tan color tone (best seen in image #4) and the shape of the seeds are uniform and round. The integrity of the seed are very high and strong and it is laced with a 1.2mm golden yellow nylon braided cord. Additionally, this mala is in it's natural state as the seeds are not oiled and therefore, reflect their natural organic color. Finally, this mala has a 4-Eye Bodhi Seed guru bead and is finished with a sliding knot, 4 decoration Bodhi Seeds (2 on each cord end), and braided cord tails.

There is a bit of trimming on the sides of each Bodhi Seed as can be seen in the image #8. The trimming is consistent and done very well. This is one of the finest and best crafted Timal Bodhi Seed malas I have been able to acquire. This is regards to the consistent color and round shape of the seeds. Plus the integrity is high, there is a 4-Eye guru bead, and the mala is artistically finished.

The overall length is 22.00 inches or 55.88cm from the top to the bottom of the guru bead. From the top to the end of the mala cords and decoration beads is 24.0 inches or 60.96cm. The matching 4-Eye Bodhi Seed guru bead is also rare and has an average size of 17.80mm with a very round shape.

This is a very rare Bodhi Seed mala from the small village of Timal in Central Nepal located about 5 hours southeast of Kathmandu by car. This year I was able to return and visit the Yarinak cave where Padmasambhava stayed and practiced. It was said Guru Rinpoche, on his journey back from Tibet, meditated there before moving to Pharping at Asura cave. Timal, Nepal is connected with Guru Rinpoche himself when he taught that Bodhi Seeds should be used for counting mantra. Additionally, it is said Padmasambhava defeated Tirthikas—sworn enemies of the Dharma near Yakinak cave. Afterwards he blessed the lands of this area. Over time the Bodhi Trees and the seeds of Timal have become deeply connected to Guru Rinpoche.

A research paper by Khem Raj Bhattarai and Mitra Lal Pathak published in the Indian Journal of Plant Sciences identified the Bodhichitta tree as a distinct species—Ziziphus budhensis—unique to central Nepal. The researchers believe that the tree, known locally as Buddhachitta, is found only in a small area of the Kavreplanchok district of central Nepal, and differs from other species of Ziziphus known to grow in Nepal and similar species identified in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, and Pakistan.

The Bodhi Seeds from this area are grown, harvested, and crafted into malas by the local people. This seller lives in and is a resident farmer and crafts person of Timal. One of the only ways to be for sure of the authenticity of a Timal Bodhi Seed mala, is to go directly to the source.

This is an extremely rare, high quality, and beautiful mala with a deep local connection to Guru Padmasambhava.
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