Rudraksha Seed Bead Japa Mala Red

Rudraksha Seed Bead Japa Mala 108+1

Hand made in India by a lovely women's group in Vrindavan.

Rudraksha beads have been used for centuries in India and Nepal for spiritual and healing purposes. They are associated with the Hindu god Shiva, and are worn as a symbol of devotion to receive his protection and blessings. Many people wear Rudrakshas to relieve stress, improve concentration and ward off negative energies. They are considered to be a powerful healing tool, especially for meditating to gain inner peace.

What are Rudraksha Beads?

Rudraksha beads are harvested from the pits inside the fruits of several species of the Elaeocarpus ganitrus tree. The raw rudraksha fruits have a beautiful bright blue skin, prompting the nickname “blueberry beads.” The Elaeocarpus trees can only be found in specific areas, as they only grow at a certain altitude and climate. They are usually harvested from the Himalayas, Nepal, India, and Indonesia. This evergreen tree grows quickly and can produce up to 2000 fruits each year. 

The seeds have a natural hole in the center making them a natural bead to use in necklaces and bracelets. They can come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. Their size varies between 3mm to 40mm, with the smaller ones being the rarest. They are usually round or oblong shaped, medium to dark brown, and 6-8mm in size. These seeds have natural segments or “faces” called mukhis. The most common and popular number of mukhis is five. A single rudraksha tree will bear fruits that contain seeds with all different numbers of mukhis.

History of Rudrakshas

Rudraksha is a Sanskrit word, meaning “the tears of Shiva.” Ancient Indian scriptures tell the story of Shiva’s creation of this tree. According to the legend, Shiva returned from a long meditation with a sense of compassion so strong that he cried. When his tears fell onto the earth, they turned into rudraksha trees. The spiritual use and significance of rudrakshas has been mentioned elsewhere as well, such as in the ancient Sanskrit texts of the Devi-Bhagavata Purana, Rudrakshajabala Upanishad and Mantra Maharnava.

Benefits of Wearing Rudraksha Beads

Rudraksha malas are commonly used by Yogis and Buddhists as a spiritual good luck charm. It is often believed that wearing a rudraksha mala will bring good luck to the wearer and protect them from bad energy. Some wear them as a token of their faith, while others wear them for their health benefits.

Rudraksha beads are said to bring a variety of benefits to those who wear them and use them as they meditate. These benefits are even backed by science. Rudraksha seeds have natural electro-magnetic properties, which encourages the prana or energy to flow freely in our bodies’ energy channels and chakras. They are believed to improve blood flow, calm your heart, and prevent high blood pressure, heart attacks and otherwise eliminate bodily toxins.

Rudraksha are commonly strung into a mala for wearing. This is similar to other religions that use strings of prayer beads, such as a rosary in the Catholic religion.

Many people wear a single rudraksha for it’s spiritual and healing powers. They would often choose a specific mukhi for it’s unique benefits. For example, Panchamukhi, the five-faced mukhi is believed to help heal heart ailments and to reduce blood pressure, stress and anxiety. Shanmukhi is six-faced and boosts willpower, courage, wisdom, intellect, and creativity. Gowri Shankar has only two faces and is beneficial for married people to support balance and prosperity, and the activation of the seven chakras.

Guidelines for Using Rudrakshas

There are some important things to keep in mind when using Rudraksha beads. Rudraksha are very strong and if maintained properly they can last for many years.

• Rudrakshas are considered sacred tools and thus should be treated with respect and reverence.
• It is recommended to wear the beads so that they are touching your skin.
• Store Rudrakshas in a clean and sacred way, as in a mala bag or on your altar.
• Do not place your rudrakshas on the ground or other unclean surface.
• It is not reccomeded to sleep or shower with your mala on.
• Keep your rudraksha beads clean, wiping down with a soft cloth when necessary. You can lightly rub some coconut or other oil to help prevent them from drying out and cracking. If you frequently use a rudraksha mala it will naturally be oiled by your body oil in your hands. Larger beads will require more frequent oiling.
• The more care that you give to your rudrakshas the longer it will shower you with its benefits.

Using Rudraksha Beads for Meditation

Mala Beads are a traditional tool to help focus and calm the mind for meditation. Rudraksha malas  are especially powerful in promoting inner-peace, harmony, memory, concentration and self-realization. Traditionally, there should be 108 beads in a japamala with one additional bead to serve as the Guru, or teacher bead. The mala is used to count repetitions of Sanskrit mantras or other sacred prayers which are the focus of the Japa meditation.

When and How to Wear Rudraksha Beads

The mala can be worn at any time, though traditionally it is advised to remove it during funerals, sleep, visiting a newborn, sex, or bowel movements. Before wearing, the rudraksha needs to be purified and energized and then it can be worn immediately upon completion of the cleansing ritual. Single rudrakshas are usually worn around the neck while mala beads can be worn as a necklace or wrapped around the wrist.

Rudrakshas are perhaps the most powerful spiritual tool you can wear for protection, spiritual healing, and to help you achieve a more peaceful mind. However, wearing rudrakshas isn’t just a matter of picking up a strand and putting them on; they should only be worn by those who wish to be on a spiritual path and are open to receiving the healing vibrations of these beads.