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Arudraksha (IAST:rudrākṣa) refers to the driedstones or seeds of thegenusElaeocarpus specifically,Elaeocarpus ganitrus.[1] These seeds are used asprayer beads forHindus (especiallyShaivas) andBuddhists. When they are ripe,rudraksha stones are covered by a blue outer fruit so they are sometimes called "blueberry beads".[2]
The stones are associated with the Hindu deityShiva and are worn by believers for protection and for chantingmantras such asOm Namah Shivaya (Sanskrit:ॐ नमः शिवाय;Om Namaḥ Śivāya). They are primarily sourced fromIndia,Indonesia, andNepal for jewellery andmalas (garlands) and valued similarly to semi-precious stones.[1]Rudraksha can have ridges that are termed as "faces" (Sanskrit:मुख,romanized: mukha,lit. 'face') and some people associate each face with a particular deity.[3][4]
Rudraksha is aSanskrit compound word consisting of "Rudra"(Sanskrit:रुद्र) referring to Shiva and "akṣa"(Sanskrit:अक्ष) meaning "eye".[5][a][6] Sanskrit dictionaries translateakṣa (Sanskrit:अक्ष) as eyes,[7] as do many prominent Hindus such asSivaya Subramuniyaswami and Kamal Narayan Seetha; accordingly,rudraksha may be interpreted as meaning "Eye of Rudra".[8][9]
Of the 300 species ofElaeocarpus, 35 are found in India. The principal species of thisgenus isElaeocarpus ganitrus, which has thecommon name of "rudraksha tree", and is found fromthe Gangetic plain in the foothills of theHimalayas toNepal,South andSoutheast Asia, parts ofAustralia,Guam, andHawaii.[10]
Elaeocarpus ganitrus trees grow to 60–80 ft (18–24 m). They are evergreen trees which grow quickly, and as they mature their roots form buttresses, rising up near the trunk and radiating out along the surface of the ground.[citation needed]
Therudraksha tree starts bearingdrupes (fruit) in three to four years from germination. It yields between 1,000 and 2,000 fruits annually. These fruits are commonly called "rudraksha fruit", but are also known asamritaphala (fruits ofambrosia).[citation needed]
Thepyrena of the fruit, commonly called the "pit" or "stone", is typically divided into multiple segments by seed-bearinglocules. When the fruit is fully ripe, the stones are covered with a blue outer fleshy husk of inedible fruit. The blue colour is not derived from a pigment but is due tostructural colouration.[11]Rudraksha beads are sometimes called "blueberry beads" in reference to the blue colour of the fruit.
Rudraksha fruits containalkaloids,flavonoids,tannins,steroids,triterpenes,carbohydrates, and cardiacglycosides. They also contain rudrakine,[12][13] an alkaloid which had been discovered inrudraksha fruit in 1979.[14]
It is evident that a bead of Rudraksha (Elaeocarpus ganitrus) possesses mild electrical signals which can be directly measured using a simple multimeter device.[citation needed]
Rudraksha beads are described as having a number of facets or "faces" (mukha/mukhi) which are separated by a line or cleft along the bead. Typically, these beads possess between 1 and 21 faces, although instances of rudrakshas with up to 26–27 faces have been reported, albeit rarely. Those with a single face (ekamukha)[16] are the rarest.[3][17] A rudraskha with eleven faces is worn by renunciants, those who are married wear a two-faced bead and a five-faced bead is representative of Hanuman.[18] Similarly different faces of rudrakshas are related with different deities and planets astrologically such as 2 faces associated with Moon, 3 faces with Mars, 4 faces with Mercury, 5 faces with Jupiter, 7 faces with Saturn and so on.[19] Rudrakshas from Nepal are between 20 and 35 mm (0.79 and 1.38 in) and those from Indonesia are between 5 and 25 mm (0.20 and 0.98 in). Rudraksha beads are most often brown, although white, red, yellow, or black bead may also be found.[citation needed]
Many types of stone are described. A savar is a type of rudraksha bead that is naturally conjoined, or attached to another bead.Gauri Shankar refers to two beads which are naturally conjoined.Ganesha refers to beads which have a trunk-like protrusion on their bodies.Trijuti refers to three beads that are naturally conjoined. Other rare types includeveda (4 conjoined savars) anddvaita (2 conjoined savars).[20]
Therudraksha is sacred to and popularly worn by devotees of Shiva.[3]
Rudraksha beads may be strung together as beads on agarland (mala) which can be worn around the neck. The beads are commonly strung on silk, or on a black or red cotton thread. Less often, jewellers use copper, silver or gold wires. Therudraksha beads may be damaged if strung too tightly. TheDevi Bhagavata Purana describes the preparation ofrudraksha garlands.[22]
Hindus often userudraksha garlands aids to prayer andmeditation, and to sanctify the mind, body, andsoul, much as Christians useprayer beads androsaries to count repetitions of prayer.[23][additional citation(s) needed] There is a long tradition of wearing 108rudraksha beads in India, particularly withinShaivism, due to their association with Shiva, who wearsrudraksha garlands. Most garlands contain 108 beadsplus one because as 108 is considered sacred and a suitable number of times to recite a short mantra. The number 108 is sacred in many spiritual traditions, symbolising the universe’s completeness.[24] The extra bead, which is called the "meru",bindu, or "guru bead", helps mark the beginning and end of a cycle of 108 and has symbolic value as a 'principle' bead.Rudraksha garlands usually contain beads in combinations 27+1, 54+1, or 108+1. The mantraOm Namah Shivaya, associated with Shiva, is often chosen for repetitions (japa) usingrudraksha beads.[citation needed]
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Several late-medievalUpanishads describe the construction, wearing, and userudrakshagarlands as well as their mythological origin as the tears ofRudra.
Sage Guha replied: (It is made of any one of the following 10 materials) Coral, Pearl, Crystal, Conch, Silver, Gold, Sandal, Putra-Jivika, Lotus, or Rudraksha. Each head must be devoted and thought of as presided over by the deities of Akara to Kshakara. Golden thread should bind the beads through the holes. On its right silver (caps) and left copper. The face of a bead should face, the face of another head and tail, the tail. Thus a circular formation must be made.[25][b]
SageSanatkumara approached Lord Kalagni Rudra and asked him, "Lord, kindly explain to me the method of wearing Rudraksha." What he told him was, "Rudraksha became famous by that name because initially, it was produced from the eyes of Rudra. During the time of destruction and after the act of destruction, when Rudra closed his eye of destruction, Rudraksha was produced from that eye. That is the Rudraksha property of Rudraksha. Just by touching and wearing this Rudraksha, one gets the same effect of giving in charity one thousand cows."[27][c]
He should count using a rosary (mala) whose beads are either made of thetulsi plant or rudraksha.[29][d]
After prostrating himself before the celebrated form of Sri Mahadeva-Rudra in his heart, adoring the sacredBhasma and Rudraksha and mentally reciting the great Mahavakya-Mantra, Tarasara, SageShuka asked his father Geat SageVyasa.[31][e]
Sage Bhusunda questioned Lord Kalagni-Rudra: What is the beginning of Rudraksha beads? What is the benefit of wearing them on the body? Lord Kalagni-Rudra answered him thus: I closed my eyes for the sake of destroying theTripurasura. From my eyes thus closed, drops of water fell on the earth. These drops of tears turned into Rudrakshas. By the mere utterance of the name of 'Rudraksha', one acquires the benefit of giving ten cows in charity. By seeing and touching it, one attains double that benefit. I am unable to praise it anymore.[33][35]
Like the Upanishads, theTirumurai describes the wearing ofrudraksha garlands and their use asprayer beads for chantingmantras. Accordingly, the Tirumurai identifies wearing a pair of rudraksha garlands as a sign ofpiety.
They who walk the twin paths ofcharya andkriya ever praise the twin feet of the Lord. They wear holy emblems—the twin rings in earlobes, the twin rudraksha garland around the neck—and adopt the twin mudras, all in amiable constancy.
— Tirumantiram 1423. TM[36]
Thinking of Him, great love welling up in their heart, if they finger the rudraksha beads, it will bring them the glory of the Gods. Chant our naked Lord's name. Say, "Namah Shivaya!"
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Ch. Devi Lal Rudraksha Vatika, is a 184 acres (0.74 km2) grove dedicated torudraksha which also has over 400 endangeredayurvedicmedicinal herbs inYamunanagar district ofHaryana state inIndia.[38]
Rudraksha is primarily cultivated in the foothills of theHimalayas, mainly in Nepal and India.[39] The most popular varieties ofrudraksha are found in the regions ofKathmandu, around Arun Valley Region in Nepal andKulu, andRameshwaram in India. There are several naturally occurring trees ofrudrakshas in the alpine forests ofDhauladhar and lowerShivalik ranges of theHimalayas.[citation needed]
Groves are mostly found inUttarakhand state of India.[citation needed]
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