“The legend says that when Lord Shiva shed tears, they transformed into Rudrakshas. Carry them, and wear them with pride as they bring happiness and depict valour. Full of incredible properties and qualities, wearing Rudraksha helps change your conditions and life towards betterment.”

While the above words beautifully give a hint about the rudraksha beads, there is a whole lot more information that one needs to know about these truly wonderful beads. Let us explore and understand the world of the rudraksha beads by knowing their properties, benefits, and how and when to wear them. however, first things first! Let’s begin by knowing what these beads actually are!

What are Rudraksha Beads?

The word Rudraksha is formed from two words – Rudra (Lord Shiva) and Aksha (eyes). Rudraksha beads are actually the stone fruits that come from the trees Elaeocarpus Ganitrus. These beads are loved and respected a lot in the Hindu religion and are mainly used for chanting, praying and meditation. The beads are found in different sizes, shapes and cuts (known as the mukhs). These beads can be found in 1 to 21 mukhi categories. The various mukhs or cuts decide the significance and specific purposes of the beads. The trees of these highly precious beads are found in the North Indian plains of the Himalayas region, Indonesia and also, Nepal. People all over the world know the significance of these amazing beads and wear them for their amazing benefits.

History of Rudrakshas

The history of these attractive beads is very interesting and chiefly revolves around two main religious texts. Knowing about the associated history is important so that whenever you see or wear these beads, you know where they originated and came from!

  • Devi BhagwatPuran – According to this religious text, there was a demon called Tripurasura. He had immensely strong powers. The demon started using those powers against all the Gods and sages. All the Gods including those of the highest realm got very much annoyed and went to Lord Shiva for help. Lord Shiva decided to meditate for some time. When He opened his eyes, tears shed from them and fell upon the ground or Mother Earth. The tears turned into the seeds of the Rudraksha trees and this is how Rudraksha started growing on planet Earth.
  • Shiv Mahapuran –According to another religious text Shiv Mahapuran, once Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva how these beads got formed. Lord Shiva told her that he was into some sort of penance (penance is the act of action or meditation that is done as a result of repentance) and was meditating for a long time. When his eyes started aching, he opened them and tears fell on Earth. Once the tears touched the grounds, they turned into seeds that grew into the Rudraksha trees.

Guidelines for Using Rudrakshas

There are a few rules that one needs to follow to use these beads. Some of the most important ones are mentioned below.

  • Get your beads energized before wearing them. It is best to activate or energize them with the help of an expert. However, you too can energize them by keeping them immersed in clarified butter (Ghee) for 24 hrs. Next, you have to dip them again in pure non-boiled milk.
  • Make sure to follow the set ‘Vidhi’ or vedic procedure for wearing these beads including the right mantra that has to be recited while wearing these beads for the first time.
  • Ensure taking a bath before you proceed to wear the beads.
  • Keep your beads clean. You can clean them with a gentle brush. However, it is also said that the brush that has once been used should not be used again for cleaning the rudrakshas. You can also use a fine and clean cloth for cleaning purposes. Do NOT use soap for washing the beads. Plain water works fine.
  • Never touch the beads with dirty hands.
  • Remove the beads while going to a funeral or during bowel movements. One is also advised to take off the beads during physical intercourse or lovemaking.

Using Rudraksha Beads for Meditation

You can meditate perfectly using the Rudraksha beads or malas. Hold the rudraksha japa mala in your hands and let it drape. Starting from the right of the guru bead, complete one inhale and exhale cycle on each bead. Do this until you reach the guru bead. This way you would be able to finish 108 cycles of inhalation and exhalation paving superb way for focused meditation.

Benefits of Wearing Rudraksha Beads

  • Rudraksha beads enhance focus and help meditate in a better way.
  • They are believed to bring happiness and success.
  • They are considered as great divine objects with powerful energy.
  • One can stay protected from negative vibes while wearing these beads.
  • The beads are strongly believed to bring positive effects on health too including balancing the blood pressure and calming down the nervous system of the wearer.
  • These beads are also valued for their ability to keep stress away.
  • People who have skin problems can also benefit from these seeds as they are believed to provide extreme help and support in resolving skin issues. Also, these seeds have been found useful in the treatment of colds and coughs.
  • The beads are also recommended to those who combat the joint pain problem.
  • The wearers of these beads become very dynamic and attentive.
  • The beads are believed to enhance inner conscience.
  • The best part is that anyone can wear these dynamic beads regardless of religion, class, color, caste, status, age or gender. However, the right method and rules have to be followed for wearing these beads and to avail benefits at full potential.

When and How to Wear Rudraksha Beads

The best time to wear a Rudraksha mala is the early morning time. Make sure to take an early bath. Cleanse yourself properly and cautiously. Keep your rudraksha mala ready to wear. It should be energized well as stated above. Also, the best place to keep this mala is your worship place. Once you have taken the bath, wear the mala while chanting the "OM NAMAH SHIVAAY" mantra. Pray regularly and offer incense sticks and diya (lamp) to your mala. Visit the Shiva temples for the blessings of Shiva. Never change your Rudraksha mala with anyone and keep it safe and clean.

From resolving multiple health issues to augmenting your inner awareness and energy levels, Rudraksha beads are tiny powerhouse of energy and incredible qualities. Own these beads and malas and get ready to own unique qualities that will improve the quality of your overall life!