What is Rudraksha?

Rudraksha is commonly used to mean the bead of Rudraksha tree ie Elaeocarpus ganitrus roxb. In sanskrit rudraksha Litreally means the eye of Rudra.The beads have been traditionally considered sacred in Hinduism.The bead of Rudraksha tree holds a very sacred place in Hinduism and is credited to possess mystic and divine properties.Necklace and Malas made from rudraksha beads are considered auspicious as well as powerful and are supposed to have profound astrological and health benefits.It is believed that one who wears rudraksha is untouched by sins, and is protected from all impious deeds and thoughts.

Origin and Myths about Rudrakshas :-

Rudraksha has its etymological origin  in sanskrit words i.e Rudra and Aksha. Rudra is another name given to Lord Shiva and Aksha means teardrops.Mythological tales have it that the Rudraksha plant was born out of Lord Shiva's teardrops.Ancient scriptures such as Padma puran, Shiva puran and Srimad Bhagwad mentions the greatness and wonderful powers of Rudrakshas.For thousand of years they have adorned the bodies of sages and saints leading the fearless life in far flung frontiers seeking enlightment and liberation.Now a days Rudraksha are very popular between common man too.

Types of Rudraksha :-

Rudraksha trees are found in Sotheren Eastern asian islands of Java,Sumatra, Borneo, Bali ,Iran , Java,Timor ( Indonesia), South asian kingdom of Nepal and in India.

Nepalese rudrakshas are best in quality and faces are very clear on these beads.Indonesian beads are not too good in quality and faces are not soo clear on these.So, when it comes to choosing between javanese and nepalese  i choose nepalese blindly.Nepali beads are bit expensive in comparison to Indonesian beads.

Generally Rudraksha beads are classified on the basis of number of faces "mukhis" - the clefts and furrows - they have on their surface ( or say the number of partitions the bead is divided into). Each bead has a different effect on you, depending on the faces it has. These faces are  vital from astrological viewpoint , since it is believed that Rudrakshas of different faces please different planets. The scriptures speak of 1-21  faces , but Rudrakshas of 1-14 faces are common , 15-21 are expensive and rare ones.

Can one wear combination of different faced rudrakshas at same time?

A person can wear Rudraksha bead having a single type of mukhis or combination of diferent mukhis. Wearing a combination of several mukhis will bring all the different effects of them simultaneosly to the wearer. Rudrakshas have no harmful or negative effects as in case of gems. A person should wear these with faith and he will feel the results surely.

Beware of Fakes :-

Now a days they seem to come in all shapes and sizes.These are available now a days in every little shops that sells puja items and bulk of online stores and sites. Whenever u buy rudrakshas make sure that u get real ones even if u have to pay extra.Imitations look real but dont work. Here's how you can identify a good Rudraksha bead:-

(i) One can spot a fake bead by using magnifying glass and check for glued joints or carved lines. Mostly fakes come in Round one faced Rudrakshas and above 8 faced beads.

(ii) Its always good to buy from a genuine and reliable source.

(iii) Rudraksha bead shall not be broken from any end.When you buy then check it carefully from all over.

I hope this guide will be helpful in buying Rudraksha beads.

Thanks

amit uniyal