Origin
& Myths
‘Rudraksha’
has its etymological origin in the Sanskrit words, ‘Rudra’
and ‘Aksha’. ‘Rudra’ is another
name for Lord Shiva, and ‘aksha’ means teardrop.
Mythological tales have it that the Rudraksha plant was
born out of Lord Shiva’s tear drops. Ancient scriptures,
such as ‘Shiva Purana’, ‘Padma Purana’
and ‘Srimad Bhagavad’ mention the greatness
and wonderful powers of the Rudraksha. For thousands of
years, they have adorned the bodies of sages and saints
leading a fearless life in far-flung frontiers seeking enlightenment
and liberation.
Medicinal
Value & Biomedical Properties
According to the Ayurvedic medical system, wearing Rudraksha
can have a positive effect on the heart and nerves, and
relieve you from stress, anxiety, depression, palpitations
and lack of concentration. It is also known for its anti
ageing effect, and electromagnetic and inductive properties.
People with high blood pressure have been found have benefited
from the use of Rudraksha seeds.
Types
of Rudraksha
Rudraksha beads are classified on the basis of the number
of “mukhis” – the clefts and furrows –
they have on the surface. Each bead has a different effect
on you, depending on the number of mukhis it has. These
are vital from the astrological viewpoint, since it is believed
that Rudrakshas of different mukhis please different planets.
The scriptures speak of 1 to 38 mukhis, but Rudrakshas of
1 to 14 mukhis are commonly found.
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Beware
of Fakes!
Nowadays, they seem to come in all shapes and sizes, and
available at every little shop that sells alternative medicines,
including a host of online stores. But make sure you get
the real stuff. Imitations look real but don’t work!
Here’s how to identify a genuine Rudraksha seed:
1.
A real Rudraksha bead will never float on water.
2. Even if you boil a real Rudraksha in water for 6 hours,
there would no effect on the bead. A fake will easily disintegrate.
3. A good Rudraksha bead will not be broken at any end.
4. A ‘healthy’ bead should have well defined
and natural corns and contours.
Rudraksha
popularly known as the Utrasum Bead Tree is botanically
known as Elaiocarpus/Elaeocarpus Ganitrus Roxb. It's medicinal
and divine properties have been known from times immemorial.
It is said that only one who has the divine blessings of
Lord Shiva (The destroyer in the Trinity of Gods) gets the
opportunity of wearing this divine bead. Rudra means Shiva
and Aksh means eye.