Rudraksha

Rudraksha, Sanskrit: rudrākṣa (Sanskrit: रूद्राक्ष)("Rudra's [Shiva's] teardrops"), is a seed traditionally used as prayer beads in Hinduism. The seed is produced by several species of large evergreen broad-leaved tree in the genus Elaeocarpus, with Elaeocarpus ganitrus being the principal species. They are associated with the Hindu deity Shiva and are commonly worn for protection by his devotees. The seeds are primarily used in India and Nepal as beads for organic jewellery and malas, and are valued similarly to semi-precious stones. Various meanings and potencies are attributed to beads with different numbers of segments (faces), and rare or unique beads are highly prized and valuable. They are often sold with claims similar to those made about magnetic or crystal bracelets, faith healing and other medical pseudoscience. In this context, they are often marketed to businessmen and other people seeking good fortune .

Rudraksha tree, Elaeocarpus ganitreus

Significance

There is a long tradition of wearing Rudraksha beads in India, particularly among Shaivites, due to their association with Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva himself wears rudraksha garlands.
Rudrakshas are traditionally worn by men, due to Lord Shiva being a male deity. Although there are no specific prohibitions, it is more common for women to wear beads made of other materials, such as pearls.
Rudraksha beads may be strung together as a mālā and used to count the repetition of a mantra or prayer, similar to the use of rosaries in Christianity. Most garlands contain 108 beads plus one, as 108 is considered sacred and a suitable number of times to recite a short mantra. The extra bead, called the "meru", bindu or "guru bead", helps mark the beginning and end of a cycle of 108, as well as having symbolic value as a 'principle' bead. It is believed that, as a sacred material, rudraksha beads are able to hold onto to energy of the recited mantra and aid the worshiper in his or her concentration and spiritual development.
Single rudraksha beads may be worn around the neck as a form of protection, or on the skin in other forms of jewellery such as bracelets and earrings.
When the beads are strung, silk or a cotton thread is commonly used. Less often, jewellers may use copper, silver or gold wire, though the Rudraksha may be damaged if strung too tightly.
The mālā can be worn all the time, including in the shower. Observant Hindus may follow other rules while wearing a Rudraksha bead, such as avoiding to eat meat and alcohol, as part of chosen lifestyle

Etymology

Rudraksha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the name Rudra ("Shiva") and akṣa ("Teardrops").

Size

Size is always measured in millimeters. they range from as small as pea seeds to larger ones, some almost reaching the size of a walnut

Surface Texture

A Rudraksha's surface should be hard and the projections should be well grooved, as found in most of the Nepalese Rudrakshas. Indonesian Rudraksha has a different appearance. Rudraksha from India shows very high and deeply grooved projections resembling natural deep hills and valleys.

Face appearance/Mukhi appearance

There are many examples of undeveloped, naturally joined, partially formed, or unformed faces in Rudraksha from all locations. Fully developed faces are the easiest one to count and can command greater value than their normal market standards. Undeveloped faces, joint faces, partially formed faces, and unformed faces create confusion among traders, and can actually alter the price of the Rudraksha considerably. There is not a single standard used amongst traders to describe the method of counting a Rudraksha's faces.

Rudraksha Beads (1 to 21 Mukihi)

Rudraksha	Ruling God	Ruling Planet	Beeja mantra	Major benefit
1 Mukhi	Shiva	Sun	Om Hreem Namah	Enlighten the Super Consciousness, provides improved concentration and mental structure changes specific to renunciation from worldly affairs. The wearer enjoys all comforts at his command but still remains unattached.
2 Mukhi	Ardhnareeshwara	Moon	Om Namah	Blesses the wearer with 'UNITY'. It could be related to Guru-Shishya, parents-children, husband-wife or friends. Maintaining ONENESS is its peculiarity.
3 Mukhi	Agni	Mars	Om Kleem Namah	The wearer gets free from sins or wrongs from his life and returns to purity . Ideal for those who suffer from inferior complexes, subjective fear, guilt and depression.
4 Mukhi	Brahma	Mercury	Om Hreem Namah	The wearer gains power of creativity when blessed. Increases memory power, wit and intelligence.
5 Mukhi	Kalaagni Rudra	Jupiter	Om Hreem Namah	Wearer gains health and peace. Lowers blood pressure.
6 Mukhi	Kartikeya	Venus	Om Hreem Hum Namah	Saves from the emotional trauma of worldly sorrows and gives learning, wisdom and knowledge. Affects understanding and appreciation of Love, Sexual Pleasure, Music and Personal Relationships.
7 Mukhi	Mahalakshmi	Saturn	Om Hum Namah	It should be worn by those who are suffering from miseries pertaining to body, finance and mental set-up. By wearing this man can progress in business and service and spends his life happily.
8 Mukhi	Ganesha	Rahu	Om Hum Namah	Removes all obstacles and brings success in all undertakings. It gives the wearer all kinds of attainments - Riddhies and Siddhies . His opponents are finished i.e. the minds or intentions of his opponents are changed.
9 Mukhi	Durga	Ketu	Om Hreem Hum Namah	Wearer is blessed with lot of energy, powers, Dynamism and fearlessness, which are useful to live a life of success.
10 Mukhi	Vishnu	None	Om Hreem Namah	This contains the influence of ten incarnations and the ten directions. It works like a shield on one's body and drives evils away.
11 Mukhi	Hanuman	None	Om Hreem Hum Namah	Blesses wearer with wisdom, right judgment, powerful vocabulary, adventurous life, fearlessness and success. Above all, it also protects from accidental death. It also helps in Meditation and removes the problems of yogic practices.
12 Mukhi	Surya	Aum Kraum	Sraum Raum Surya Namah	Wearer gets the quality of the sun - to rule and to move continuously with brilliant radiance and strength. Good for ministers, politicians, administrators, businessmen and executives. Removes worry, suspicion and fear. Increases self image and motivation.
13 Mukhi	Indra	Venus	Om Hreem Namah	Showers all possible comforts of life one can ever desire. It gives riches and honor and fulfills all the earthly desires and gives eight accomplishments ( Siddhies), and the god cupid ( Kamadeva) pleases with the man who wears it.. It is helpful for meditation and spiritual and materialistic attainments
14 Mukhi	Hanuman	Saturn	Om Namah	Most precious divine gem - Deva Mani. It awakens the sixth sense organ by which the wearer foresees the future happenings. Its wearer never fails in his decisions. Its wearer gets rid of all the calamities, miseries, worries. It protects from ghosts, evil spirits and black magic . It provides the wearer safety, security and riches and self power.
15 Mukhi	Lord Pashupati	None	Om Namah Shivay	This represents Lord Pashupati and is specially beneficial for economic progress. Its possessor is neither bereft of wealth nor inflicted by any kinds of skin diseases.
16 Mukhi	Lord Rama	None	Om Namah Shivaya	It represents victory and the possessor is never affected by heat or cold. It is especially useful for the saints living in jungles. The house in which it is kept is free from fire, theft or robbery.
17 Mukhi	Vishvakarma	None	Om Namah Shivaya	It represents Vishvakarma the builder of this world. It is very effective in gaining unexpected money. It is specially useful in attaining property, vehicles and all physical assets.
18 Mukhi	Mother Earth	None	Om Namah Shivaya	It represents the mother earth. The possessor remains happy and healthy. It is specially beneficial for the pregnant women in protecting their child.
19 Mukhi	Lord Narayana	None	Om Namah Shivaya	It represents Lord Narayana. The possessor is bestowed with all worldly pleasures. There is no scarcity in their life.
20 Mukhi	Vishwasu Sadhu & Narayana	None	Hidden	It represents Vishwasu Sadhu Praani. The wearer of this Rudraksha is known for his words. he always speak truth and his wordings becomes truth. Lord Shiva opens the power of truth for his words. This Rudraksha reaches to the Sadhu, saints and brahmins by the virtue of their devotion for Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva bless them with 21 mukhi Rudraksha and removes their sins. It provides Moksha (liberation) in the end.
21 Mukhi	Ek Alakh Niranjan that is Omkar	None	Hidden	It is called Ek Alakh King. It is the creator and do preservation of the universe and it is the past, present and future itself. This Rudraksha belongs to each and every Shakti (power). Lord Brahmma, Vishnu and Mahesha along with all other God and Goddess live in this Rudraksha. The wearer of this Rudraksha gets all the comforts, leisure and happiness and in the end get the Moksha ( Blessing).
Gauri Shankar	Shiva & Parvati	Moon	Om Shree GauriShankaraya Namah	Regarded the best for peace and comfort in the family. If a man worships Gauri Shankar at his worshipping place, the pain and suffering and other earthly obstacles are destroyed and the peace and pleasure of family are increased.

Modification

Sometimes an incomplete groove is completed by human process to increase the sellability of the bead or to fetch more value...in other words, to fool the customer. Such work on grooves is done with basic tools like saw blades, files, etc. A Rudraksha face should be naturally formed not made by any human effort; if any Rudraksha has any modified faces, those faces should not "count", and the bead should be classed as Modified or Tempered Rudraksha.

Description of the tree

Elaeocarpus ganitrus grows in the area from the Gangetic plain in the foothills of the Himalayas to Southeast Asia, Nepal, Indonesia, New Guinea to Australia, Guam, and Hawaii. Rudraksha seeds are covered by an outer husk of blue when fully ripe, and for this reason are also known as blueberry beads. The blue colour is not derived from pigment but is structural. It is an evergreen tree that grows quickly. The Rudraksha tree starts bearing fruit in three to four years from germination. As the tree matures, the roots form buttresses, rising up near the trunk and radiating out along the surface of the ground.

Spiritual use

Prayer beads made of rudraksha seeds

Rudraksha beads are the material from which mālās

 ) are made. The term is used both for the berries themselves and as a term for the type of mālā made from them.^[6] In this sense, a Rudraksha is a rosary, used for repetitive prayer (japa), a common aid to worship in Hinduism and other faiths. Rudrakshas are also used for the treatment of various diseases in traditional Indian medicine.
A common type has five divisions, and these are considered to be symbolic of the five faces of Shiva. It should only be worn on a black or red string/thread or, rarely, a gold chain.
Rudraksha malas have been used by Hindus as rosaries from at least the 10th century  for meditation purposes and to sanctify the mind, body and soul. The word rudraksha is derived from Rudra (Shiva—the Hindu god of all living creatures) and aksha (eyes). One Hindu legend says that once Lord Shiva opened His eyes after a long period yogic meditation, and because of strong feelings He shed a tear. This single tear from Shiva's eye grew into the rudraksha tree. It is believed that by wearing the Rudraksha bead one will have the protection of Lord Shiva. The Rudraksha fruit is blue, but turns black when dried. The central hard seed may have 1 to 21 faces.

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Definition and meaning of the word Rudraksha

The word rudraksha is derived from two words - rudra (रुद्र) and aksha (अक्ष).
A. Aksha means "Teardrops". Rudra and aksha together mean "the one that is capable of looking at and doing everything" (for example, the third eye). Aksha also means "axis". Since the eye can rotate on one axis, it too is known as "aksha".
B. Rudra is one of Shiva's Vedic names. A (अ) means to receive and ksha (क्ष) means to give. Hence, aksha (अक्ष) denotes the ability to receive or give. Rudraksha is the one that has the ability to wipe our tears and provide happiness.

Definition and meaning of the word Rudraksha

The word rudraksha is derived from two words - rudra (रुद्र) and aksha (अक्ष).
A. Aksha means "Teardrops". Rudra and aksha together mean "the one that is capable of looking at and doing everything" (for example, the third eye). Aksha also means "axis". Since the eye can rotate on one axis, it too is known as "aksha".
B. Rudra is one of Shiva's Vedic names. A (अ) means to receive and ksha (क्ष) means to give. Hence, aksha (अक्ष) denotes the ability to receive or give. Rudraksha is the one that has the ability to wipe our tears and provide happiness.

The rudra (rudhir, rudraksha) tree

A. Creation of the rudraksha tree from the tears of deepest meditation shed by Rudra ( Shiva ) upon seeing the unrighteous conduct of demon Tarakasur's sons, and their destruction by Shiva :

"Through their righteous conduct and devotion unto Shiva, Tarakasur's sons Tadinmali, Tarakaksh and Kamalaksh, attained divinity. After some time, seeing that they had returned to their original unrighteous conduct, Shankar (Shiva) was grief-stricken and went into deepest meditation, and His eyes were filled with tears. A few of these tears fell onto the earth; a tree sprang up from these, which came to be known as the Rudraksha tree. Later, Shiva destroyed the sons of Tarakasur." -Gurudev Dr. Kateswamiji

B. General information on the Rudraksha tree: found from sea level up to 3000m above. The Rudraksha tree grows in a narrow space, not on open ground. Its leaves resemble those of tamarind or nux vomica, but are longer. It yields one to two thousand fruits annually. The Yatis (Ascetics) in the Himalayas survive only on these fruits. These fruits are also known as amritphala (Fruits of Nectar). They satisfy thirst

POSTED BY  ; VIPUL KOUL
EDITED BY   ; ASHOK KOUL