Rudraksha (IAST:Rudr?k?a, Devanagari: ?????????, Bengali: ?????????, Kannada:??????????), Telugu: ????????? , Tamil:?????????) is a seed traditionally used as prayer beads in Hinduism (especially Shaivism). The seed is produced by several species of large evergreen broad-leaved tree in the genus Elaeocarpus, with Elaeocarpus ganitrus roxb being the principal species. They are associated with the Hindu deity Lord Shiva and are commonly worn for protection and chanting Om Namah Shivaya mantra by 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.
Video Rudraksha
Etymology
Rudraksha is a Sanskrit compound word consisting of the Rudra (Sanskrit: ?????) and ak?a (Sanskrit: ???? ). Rudra is one of Lord Shiva's vedic names and Ak?a means 'teardrops'. So it means Lord Rudra's (Lord Shiva's) teardrops.
Maps Rudraksha
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. Om Namah Shivaya mantra is repeated (japa) using the rudraksha beads.
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 mala 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 mala can be worn all the time, excluding in shower as water can hydrate the rudraksha seed. Observant Hindus may follow other rules while wearing a Rudraksha bead, such as avoiding to eat meat and alcohol, as part of chosen lifestyle.
It is possible to carry a single seed or several seeds strung on the same thread. The small grains are used for rosaries which usually contain 27, 54 or 108 seeds (sometimes 109 when "the seed-guru" is added, with the image of the guru whom the disciple worships).
Mukhi definition
In sanskrit mukhi (Sanskrit: ????) means face. So Mukhi means opening on Rudraksh, Like one Mukhi Rudraksha means Rudraksha with one mouth or opening, 4 Mukhi Rudraksha means Rudraksha with 4 mouths or opening. The Rudraksha comes with ranging from 1 to 21 faces.
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 face
Modification
Sometimes an incomplete groove is completed by human process to increase the sellability of the bead or to fetch more value. 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.
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.
Rudraksha beads (1 to 21 Mukhi)
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.
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. These fruits are also known as amritphala (Fruits of Nectar). They satisfy thirst.
Spiritual use
Rudraksha beads are the material from which malas are made. The term is used both for the berries themselves and as a term for the type of mala made from them. In this sense, a Rudraksha is a rosary, used for repetitive prayer (japa), a common aid to worship in Hinduism (especially Shaivism) and other faiths. Rudrakshas are also used for the treatment of various diseases in traditional Indian medicine.
A common type has five face, 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. 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.
Mention of Rudraksha in Scriptures
They who walk the twin paths of charya and kriya 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
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!" : Tirumurai 3.307.3. PS, 217
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
Fake Rudraksha
Most faked rudraksha are 1 mukhi due to it's rarity. A variety of rudraksha called 1 mukhi half moon is thus sold in its place which is genuine and more easily available version of 1 mukhi rudraksha. 1 mukhi is faked using berries and Areca nut. Also some suppliers sell fake rudraksha which have Serpent, Trishul, Shiva-lingam etc carved on them. A real rudraksha does not have these markings. Fake rudraksha are also made by carving extra lines on lower mukhi rudraksha to obtain the rare and higher priced higher-mukhi rudraksha or by hiding lines to make a rarer lower mukhi rudraksha. Also fake Gauri Shankar rudraksha is made by gluing together two rudraksha beads.
To recognize real rudraksha many technique are used like sinking and floating of rudraksha as well as revolving rudraksha in between two copper coins. But these are not correct criteria. Some techniques which helps:-
- Use magnifying glass and examine for artificially carved lines which are generally very sharp and glued surfaces on the bead.
- Whenever checking genuinity of a joint or of a line on rudraksha for example checking a Gauri shankar for joints or lines in higher mukhi then make sure to boil rudraksha in water for 1 to 2 hours. Sharp discoloration will take place at the joint or at the artificially created line.
- Cut the bead horizontally. There are same number of compartments as that of the number of lines on rudraksha.
- Best of all is doing x-ray of the rudraksha.
Rudraksha Tree
Rudraksha trees scientific name is Elaeocarps Ganitrus Roxb. These 60-80 feet tall trees grown in the Java(Indonesia), parts of Malaysia, Taiwan, China, India and Nepal. Out of 300 species of Elaeocarps 35 are found in India.
Gallery
See also
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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