A mara is used to aid concentration whilst chanting the divine name of the Lord. As each bead is turned the supreme Swaminarayan mantra should be chanted. All other thoughts should be eliminated from one’s mind.

Sadguru Shree Shatanand Muni has written the Jan-mangal Stotra, which contains the principal 108 names of God. Whilst chanting with a mara all these names are simultaneously recited.

The number 108 has an auspicious significance in Hinduism. The ‘one’ represents the Lord. The ‘eight’ represents the everlasting cycle of birth and death for souls. However, when a soul meets a true guru, he will take a soul to the Lord and nullify (break) the cycle, thereby leading the soul to salvation.