In Jainism, a mala with 108 beads represents the 108 supreme qualities of the Panch-Parmeshthi (the five venerable ones) praised in the Namokar Mantra:

• Arihant: 12 qualities
• Siddha: 8 qualities
• Acharya: 36 qualities
• Upadhyaya: 25 qualities
• Sadhu (Muni): 27 qualities

12 + 8 + 36 + 25 + 27 = 108.

Because of this, Jains often use a 108-bead mala to recite the Namokar Mantra 108 times in reverence to these qualities. This understanding is accepted in both Shwetambar and Digambar traditions.