What it does
Most japa apps are a tap counter: a big button and a number that goes up. Japo's counter is a mala. A strand of rudraksha beads runs down the side of the screen, and you pull it down with your thumb, one bead for each repetition, exactly as you would turn a mala in your hand. After 108 beads the sumeru passes through, with its tassel, and a new round begins. The counter is free, with no limit on how much you count.
How it works
- Choose a practice: a mantra, and a mala size if it is not 108.
- Pull the strand down, or tap anywhere on the counter. Each bead is one count.
- Undo takes back the last bead if you counted one by mistake.
- At 108 the sumeru passes and the mala count goes up by one.
- Every bead is saved the moment you count it, so a call, a restart or a dead battery never loses your place.
How it compares with the other ways to count
| Japo's mala | A tap counter app | A mala in your hand | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like turning beads | Yes, you pull the strand | No | Yes |
| Knows where a round ends | Yes, the sumeru | Only as a number | Yes, the sumeru |
| Keeps an exact total for you | Yes, saved bead by bead | Usually | No, you keep it |
| A tick you can feel | Yes | Sometimes | The bead itself |
What it feels like
You sit, open Japo and the mantra floats above the strand in your own script. Your thumb finds the strand and draws it down; a bead slides under the band and the phone gives a soft tick. You stop looking. Around the hundredth bead you notice you have not thought about the number at all, and then the sumeru arrives with a firmer tick and the round is done. Try a round in the online japa counter to see the counting, then feel the real thing in the app.
Who it is for
People who already chant on a mala and want the same motion on their phone when the mala is not with them, and people starting japa who want the counting to stay out of the way. If you are new, read how to do japa with a mala first.
Frequently asked questions
Is the mala counter free?
Yes. Counting is free for everyone, always, with no limit and no ads.
Can I change the mala?
Every practice starts with rudraksha. Japo Plus adds the mala collection: Tulsi, Chandan, Sphatik and more, each received as your lifetime count grows, each with its own look and feel under the thumb.
Can I use a mala size other than 108?
Yes. Each practice has its own mala size; 108 is the default.
Begin your next mala.
Japo is a japa counter that feels like the real thing. Pull a bead with your thumb, feel a soft tick, and pick up exactly where you stopped. Counting, history and goals are free.