BUDDHIST PRAYER BEADS OR MALAS ARE A TRADITIONAL TOOL USED TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES A MANTRA IS RECITED, BREATHS WHILE MEDITATING, COUNTING PROSTRATIONS, OR THE REPETITIONS OF A BUDDHA'S NAME. THEY ARE SIMILAR TO OTHER FORMS OF PRAYER BEADS USED IN VARIOUS WORLD RELIGIONS AND THEREFORE THE TERM "BUDDHIST ROSARY" ALSO APPEARS.