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Rubin Museum of Art, C2012.6.16
Garnet Hand Rosary
Rubin Museum of Art, C2012.6.16
Rubin Museum of Art, C2012.6.16

Garnet Hand Rosary

OriginMongolia
DateDate unknown
Dimensions10 5/8 × 3 3/8 × 3/4 in.
MediumGarnet, jade, silver and metal
Classification(s)
Credit LineRubin Museum of Art, Gift of Anne Breckenridge Dorsey
Object numberC2012.6.16
DescriptionThe short garnet strand with jade separators and a guru bead is cleverly divided so that the 21 garnet beads can be used to count special mantras that require 21 recitations, while the total number of beads, 25, can be used for other mantras and larger numbers of recitation accumulations. A single silver counter with a curved knife stopper, favored by Mongolian Buddhists, also suggests that this set’s owner may have been a practitioner of Highest Yoga Tantra.
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