A plain string of beads. A knotted rope. A long strand of beads connected by a cross at one end.

At first glance, these things might not seem like sacred objects. But to followers of many faiths, strings of beads and knotted ropes, when held in the hand, can open a path to the divine.

“An object such as a rosary or prayer beads does give you a center, an object to focus on while you pray,” said Hal French, professor emeritus of religious studies at the University of South Carolina. “They’re revered as worship aids because anything that can make the idea of God concrete is a help. In this day and age especially, this is something you can put your hands on, a tactile reminder of the presence of God.”

Here are some of the items different faiths use to keep in touch with the divine.

Orthodox Christian Prayer Rope

Used by Orthodox, Greek Orthodox and other Orthodox Christian groups.

What it is: A series of 33, 50 or 100 knots in a wool or cotton rope, anchored by a cross at one end. Wooden beads or beads of another material often are used as guide markers on the rope.

How it’s used: A person touches each knot and says the “Jesus Prayer”: “Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Repeating the prayer is meant to help a person focus on the presence of God and what God is trying to say to him.

Rosaries

These prayer tools are used in the Catholic and Anglican faith traditions. The word “rosary” comes from the Latin rosarium, or rose garden, a name given to the series of prayers dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

The rosary as prayer tool has its roots in the sixth century, when St. Benedict required his monks to pray all 150 psalms every week. Since this was so difficult, monks prayed 150 Our Fathers instead. This series of prayers became known as the Paternoster, and eventually strings of beads were used to keep count of the prayers.

Devotions to Mary were added in the 15th century; the Catholic rosary as it is known today dates from the late 16th century.

The Catholic Rosary

What it is: A strand of 100 ” beads ” with a crucifix at one end. Rosaries can be made of anything, from precious stones to wood or glass beads.

How it’s used: Catholics meditate on specific “mysteries” related to the life of Jesus while saying prayers on each bead. ” Each set of 10 beads is a “decade” and represents a specific mystery. The Hail Mary is said on each of these beads. Each decade is separated by a single bead on which the Lord’s Prayer is recited.

Anglican Rosary

What it is: A strand of 33 beads with a cross at one end, divided into four groups of seven beads, called “weeks.” Each week is divided by a larger cruciform bead. It was created in the late ’80s by Episcopalians searching for a meditation tool. Like Catholic rosaries, these come in a wide range of designs and materials.

How it’s used: The Anglican rosary has no set order of prayers. Instead, believers can use the rosary as a tool to meditate on particular prayer concerns. Each recitation of the Anglican rosary begins and ends with a prayer on the cross. The beads of the seven weeks are used for specific intentions.

Muslim prayer beads

Called mesbaha or subha ” from the Arabic word “to praise.”

What it is: Most often, a string of 33 or 99 beads with one “leader” bead. Often made out of wood, but other materials can be used.

How it’s used: Muslims touch each bead and recite the 99 names of Allah found in the Koran, as well as his one essential name. Marker beads come after the 33rd and 66th beads to help keep count.

Hindu mala

These are thought by religious scholars to be the oldest traditional prayer beads in the world. Mala means “rose” or “garland” in Sanskrit.

What it is: Most traditional Hindu malas consist of 108 beads and are worn around the neck.

How it’s used: Hindus use the beads to repeat mantras or to count breaths.

Buddhist mala

The Buddhist mala was adapted from the Hindu practice of using malas for prayer.

What it is: A string of 108 beads, or 54 or 27 beads, divisions of that number. Made of a variety of materials ranging from sandalwood and lacquered beads to precious stones. Smaller 27-bead malas sometimes are worn around the wrist.

How it’s used: Buddhists meditate and pray while touching each bead. The 108 beads represent the number of worldly desires or negative emotions that need to be overcome before reaching the state of nirvana; saying a prayer on each bead brings purification.

Also…

There is no tradition of using prayer beads in Judaism, but many observant Jewish men count prayers by touching the fringe on their traditional prayer shawls, or tallit. The number of fringes on the shawl is supposed to remind believers of the commandments of God.