Rudraksha
INTRODUCTION
Rudraksha are the beads from trees belonging to Elaeocarpus Ganitrus Roxb variety grown at select locations of South East Asia ( Java, Parts of Malaysia, Taiwan , China) and South Asia ( Northern India and Nepal). In the Indian sub- continent these trees are found mainly in Nepal, Assam, Arunachal and near Dehradun.
This holy bead is known to the mankind since last several thousand years for its beneficial properties. It literally means “Having eyes of Lord Shiva” or “ Produced from the eyes of Lord Shiva”. Rudra & Aksha, merge to create Rudraksha - a power bead dear to Lord Shiva. Rudra got transformed to Lord Shiva & Aksha denotes the “Eye” meaning thereby that it is a powerful natural bead linked to the most powerful God of Hindu Trinity- Mahadeva, Rudra or Shiva.
It is said that the demon named ‘Tripurasur’ had fought and defeated Brahma, Vishnu, Indra & Takshak and therefore all Gods approached Lord Shiva requesting him to kill Tripurasur. Lord shiva wore his bow and arrow also wore a weapon known as Kalagani and thereafter He meditated for thousand Divine Years after which He achieved required powers. When he opened his eyes some tears fell from his eyes due to fatigue coupled with happiness. Wherever his tears fell Rudraksha trees grew and therefore Rudraksha is known as (Rudra+ Aksha)- one having tears 9or eyes) of Lord Shiva..
Other names of Rudraksha are Shivaksha, Sharvaksha, Shivapriya , Trinmeru, amar, Bhootnash, Paavan & Puspchamar.
MUKH OR FACET OF RUDRAKSHA
A mukh is a complete dividing line running from top of the seed upto bottom. Rudraksha has three parts: The top head (from where the facet starts known as head), the middle body and the end (Known as tail which is slightly flatter).
Rudraksha from one Mukhi upto 21 Mukhi has been found. Occasionally higher Mukhi also appear like recently a 27 Mukhi was found in Nepal. However 80 % of all available Rudraksha is 4 Mukhi, 5 Mukhi and 6 Mukhi. 1 Mukhi round from Nepal is the rarest of all the beads and 2 Mukhi, 9 Mukhi, 11 Mukhi, 12 Mukhi, 13 Mukhi & 14 Mukhi are also amongst the rare beads. Nowadays due to surge in demand all Rudraksha from 8 Mukhi and above have become rare.
All the ancient epics mention Rudraksha only upto 14 Mukhi. Although Rudraksha upto 21 Mukhi have been found along with some other popular beads like “Gauri-Shankar” (two beads joined naturally from the tree), “Ganesha “ (having a trunk like protrusion),” Savar” ( A gauri Shankar having one bead with one Mukh), “Nandi” (A bead with two horn like protrusion),” Ved”( A bead having 4 one Mukhi sawars around it) etc. Recently a bead having 27 Mukh has also been found.
COLORS
Rudrakshas have different colors such as white, red, brown, yellow and black. The maximum available Rudraksha is brown in color. After dipping in oil and after a long usage all Rudraksha become deep brown or even black in color.