The Possible South Asian Roots of the Rosary

Abstract

In various religions that have their roots in Eurasia, short formulas (such as prayers or mantras) are recited over and over again. To keep track of the number of repetitions, special counting aids are often used, usually strings of beads that can also be worn as necklaces or bracelets. Depending on the region and religion, such “prayer beads” are called rosary, misbaḥa, or (japa)mālā. According to Willibald Kirfel (1949), they emerged in South Asia and date back to the first centuries CE. While the possibly earliest mention of the Islamic misbaḥa dates to around the eighth century CE, the origins of the rosary in Europe probably lie in the eleventh or twelfth century CE. On the basis of these observations, Kirfel concludes that the rosary was probably inspired by the misbaḥa, which in turn was inspired by South Asian mālās. In my talk, I will look at the origins, development, and dissemination of repetitive religious practices and religious counting beads. Many of the South Asian sources Kirfel used were composed comparatively late, namely in the Middle Ages. His theory that the various types of “rosaries” have South Asian roots must therefore be reassessed on the basis of up-to-date chronological findings.