Rosary is a practice followed by almost all Religions of the world to keep track of counting God’s name or a Prater.
You would find it in Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity….
The origin of counting thus is lost in time.
However, present evidence shows the first use of Rosary, called Japamaala is from Sanatana Dharma.
There are various methods described and followed in Hinduism to count prayers.
Shall write in detail.
The practice of Rosary was a later development in Christianity.
I am providing the abstract and Link on Rosary towards the end of this article.
Though widely practiced in Christianity it is prohibited by the Bible.
Most commonly recognized in the United States
as a symbol of Catholicism, other religions including
Buddhism, Hinduism, Paganism and Islam employ
rosary beads as well.”
-The Meaning of Rosary Beads
What Do Rosary Beads Symbolize?
By Jessica Ciosek“Prayer beads, or prayer rosaries, are really
another form of the “witch’s ladder,” a knotted
rope or cord used to count repetitions during
a spell or ritual. Praying with beads is a spiritual
practice with a long history in most of the world’s
religions.”
-Sacred Mists Shoppe
Janet Farrar & Gavin Bone“prayer beads originated with the Hindu faith.
Using beads for devotions dates to the 8th century BC
in the cult of Shiva. In India sandstone sculptures,
statues ca 185 BC, show Hindus with prayer beads.
The names of Hindu gods and prayers are repeated
on stringed beads, called mala, separated by larger
or different colored beads.”
-A HISTORY OF PRAYING ON BEADS
Patricia A. Dilley“Hindu converts kept their traditional use of
prayer beads. Buddhist monks always carry a strand
of prayer beads, or rosary, usually of 108 beads.”
-A HISTORY OF PRAYING ON BEADS
Patricia A. DilleyPrayer beads are used by : Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims,
and Catholics among others.“Often, when religions sought converts,
they allowed them to retain some of their
pagan ways: ceremonial garb, heathen rituals
and traditions; in order to add to their numbers.
This led to spiritual pollution.”
-A HISTORY OF PRAYING ON BEADS
Patricia A. Dilley“Before the 12th century, rosaries were used for
talismans (amulet or occult charms). Rosaries and
prayer beads were intended by the catholic church
hierarchy, for use by the ignorant.”
-A HISTORY OF PRAYING ON BEADS Patricia A. Dilley
Patricia A. Dilley
The Bible warns us against use of prayer beads –
Matthew 6:7 says – “But when ye pray, use not vain
repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that
they shall be heard for their much speaking.
“And when you pray, do not…repeat the same
words over and over as the Gentiles (pagans) do,
for they think they will be heard for their much
speaking.”
(Matthew 6:7)(AMP)-BibleGateway
“But when praying, do not say the same things
over and over again, just as the people of the
nations do, for they imagine they will get a
hearing for their use of many words.”
(Matthew 6:7)(NWT)
Source.
Rosary.
Prayer beads are used by members of various religious traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and the Bahá’í Faith to mark the repetitions of prayers, chants or devotions, such as the rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Catholicism, and dhikr (remembrance of God) in Islam.
…..
The Desert Fathers of the 3rd to 5th centuries, used pebbles or knotted ropes to count prayers, typically the Jesus Prayer(“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”). The invention is attributed to Anthony the Great or his associate Pachomius the Great in the 4th century.
The Catholic Encyclopedia mentions strings of beads, presumably for prayer, found in the tombs of Saint Gertrude of Nivelles (7th century) and Saint Norbert and Saint Rosalia(12th century). A more explicit reference is that in 1125 William of Malmesbury mentioned a string of gems that Lady Godiva used to count prayers.
Source.
Ramanisblog 