Rudraksha

Rudraksha is a Sanskrit compound word consisting of "Rudra"({{langx|sa|रुद्र}}) referring to Shiva and "{{IAST|akṣa}}"({{langx|sa|अक्ष}}) meaning "eye".{{Cite book |last=Stutley |first=M. |title=The Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers |year=1985 |isbn=978-81-215-1087-5 |location=New Delhi, India |pages=98, 119}}{{efn|{{harvp|Stutley|1985|p=119}}:"'Rudra-eyed'. Name of the dark berries of Elaeocarpus ganitrus, used to make Śaiva rosaries ({{IAST|mālā}}), or necklaces. The berries have five divisions symbolising Śiva's five faces ({{IAST|pañcānana}})."}}{{Cite journal |last=Singh |first=Ishar B. |date=2015 |title=Phytochemical and biological aspects of Rudraksha, the stony endocarp of Elaeocarpus ganitrus |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/07929978.2015.1020659 |journal=Israel Journal of Plant Sciences |volume=62 |issue=4 |pages=265–276 |doi=10.1080/07929978.2015.1020659 |via=Brill}} Sanskrit dictionaries translate {{IAST|akṣa}} ({{langx|sa|अक्ष}}) as eyes,{{Cite web |title=Aksa: English Translation of the Sanskrit word: Aksa – Sanskrit Dictionary |url=https://sanskritdictionary.org/aksa}} as do many prominent Hindus such as Sivaya Subramuniyaswami and Kamal Narayan Seetha; accordingly, rudraksha may be interpreted as meaning "Eye of Rudra".{{Cite book |last=Subramuniyaswami |first=Sivaya |url=https://archive.org/details/dancingwithsivah00subr_0 |title=Dancing with Siva |year=1997 |isbn=9780945497974 |location=USA |page=799 |url-access=registration}}{{Cite book |last=Ziegenbalg |first=Bartholomaeus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EXsOAAAAQAAJ&dq=rudraksha+hinduism&pg=RA1-PA27 |title=Genealogy of the South-Indian Gods: A Manual of the Mythology and Religion of the People of Southern India, Including a Description of Popular Hinduism |date=1869 |publisher=Higginbotham |pages=27 |language=en}}

File:RudrakshaTree.jpg]]

{{main|Elaeocarpus ganitrus}}

Of the 300 species of Elaeocarpus, 35 are found in India. The principal species of this genus is Elaeocarpus ganitrus, which has the common name of "rudraksha tree", and is found from the Gangetic plain in the foothills of the Himalayas to Nepal, South and Southeast Asia, parts of Australia, Guam, and Hawaii.{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010513/spectrum/main3.htm|title=Bond with the beads|author=Koul, M. K.|date=2001-05-13|work=Spectrum|publisher=The Tribune|location=India}}

These tree species typically found at higher altitudes, primarily in the Himalayan region, has become scarce in India due to its previous use in making railway sleepers. The finest quality seeds originate from specific altitudes in the Himalayas, where the soil, atmosphere, and environmental factors contribute to their unique vibration.{{Cite web |title=Official Website of Sadhguru, Isha Foundation {{!}} India |url=https://isha.sadhguru.org/en/wisdom/article/rudraksha-benefits-panchamukhi#point1 |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=isha.sadhguru.org}}

Elaeocarpus ganitrus trees grow to {{Convert|60|-|80|feet|meter|abbr=on}}. They are evergreen trees which grow quickly, and as they mature their roots form buttresses, rising up near the trunk and radiating out along the surface of the ground.{{Cite web |title=Rudraksha Hub |url=https://rudrakshahub.com/blogs/Difference-Between-Indonesian-Rudraksha-and-Nepali-Rudraksha |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Rudraksha Hub |language=en}}

File:Rudraksha Fruit From Java.jpg

The rudraksha tree starts bearing drupes (fruit) in three to four years from germination. It yields between 1,000 and 2,000 fruits annually. These fruits are commonly called "rudraksha fruit", but are also known as amritaphala (fruits of ambrosia).{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

The pyrena of the fruit, commonly called the "pit" or "stone", is typically divided into multiple segments by seed-bearing locules. When the fruit is fully ripe, the stones are covered with a blue outer fleshy husk of inedible fruit. The blue colour is not derived from a pigment but is due to structural colouration.{{cite journal|author=Lee, D. W.|year=1991|title=Ultrastructural Basis and Function of Iridescent Blue Color of Fruits in Elaeocarpus|journal=Nature|volume=349|issue=6306|pages=260–262|doi=10.1038/349260a0|bibcode=1991Natur.349..260L|s2cid=13332325}} Rudraksha beads are sometimes called "blueberry beads" in reference to the blue colour of the fruit.

Rudraksha fruits contain alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, triterpenes, carbohydrates, and cardiac glycosides. They also contain rudrakine,{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322486571|title=Rudrakine chemical|website=ResearchGate}}{{Cite journal|last1=Jawla|first1=Sunil|last2=Rai|first2=D. V.|date=2016-06-08|title=QSAR Descriptors of Rudrakine Molecule of Rudraksha (Elaeocarpus ganitrus) Using Computation Servers|url=http://neredataltics.org/journals/index.php/GJPLS/article/view/591|journal=German Journal of Pharmacy and Life Science |language=en|volume=1|issue=1}} an alkaloid which had been discovered in rudraksha fruit in 1979.{{cite journal |last1=Ray |first1=A.B. |last2=Chand |first2=Lal |last3=Pandey |first3=V.B. |title=Rudrakine, a new alkaloid from Elaeocarpus ganitrus |journal=Phytochemistry |date=January 1979 |year=1979 |volume=18 |issue=4 |pages=700–701 |doi=10.1016/S0031-9422(00)84309-5|bibcode=1979PChem..18..700R }}

File:Rudraksha mukhi.jpg

Rudraksha beads are described as having a number of facets or "faces" (mukha/mukhi) which are separated by a line or cleft along the bead. Typically, these beads possess between 1 and 21 faces, although instances of rudrakshas with up to 26–27 faces have been reported, albeit rarely. Those with a single face (ekamukha){{Cite book |last=Subramuniya (Master.) |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/How_to_Become_a_Hindu/LK94EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=&pg=PT269&printsec=frontcover |title=How to Become a Hindu: A Guide for Seekers and Born Hindus |date=2000 |publisher=Himalayan Academy Publications |isbn=978-0-945497-82-0 |pages=269 |language=en}} are the rarest.{{Cite book |last=Dalal |first=Roshen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |date=2010 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-14-341421-6 |pages=1668–1669 |language=en}} A rudraskha with eleven faces is worn by renunciants, those who are married wear a two-faced bead and a five-faced bead is representative of Hanuman.{{Cite journal |last=Blackman |first=Winifred S. |date=1918 |title=The Rosary of Magic and Religion |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1255280 |journal=Folklore |volume=29 |issue=4 |pages=255–280 |doi=10.1080/0015587X.1918.9719067 |jstor=1255280 }} Similarly different faces of rudrakshas are related with different deities and planets astrologically such as 2 faces associated with Moon, 3 faces with Mars, 4 faces with Mercury, 5 faces with Jupiter, 7 faces with Saturn and so on.{{Cite web |title=1 to 21 Mukhi Rudraksha Benefits |url=https://nepalirudraksha.com/blogs/blog/1-to-21-mukhi-rudraksha-benefits |url-status=live |website=Nepa Rudraksha}} Rudrakshas from Nepal are between {{Convert|20|and|35|mm|inch|abbr=on}} and those from Indonesia are between {{Convert|5|and|25|mm|inch|abbr=on}}. Rudraksha beads are most often brown, although white, red, yellow, or black bead may also be found.{{cite web |url=https://blog.occultscience.in/rudraksha-beads/ |title=Colors of Rudraksha Beads: Which Color Rudraksha Is Good To Wear |website=Occult Science |access-date=January 13, 2025}}

Many types of stone are described. A savar is a type of rudraksha bead that is naturally conjoined, or attached to another bead. Gauri Shankar refers to two beads which are naturally conjoined. Ganesha refers to beads which have a trunk-like protrusion on their bodies. Trijuti refers to three beads that are naturally conjoined. Other rare types include veda (4 conjoined savars) and dvaita (2 conjoined savars).{{Cite book|title=Power of rudraksha|last=Seetha|first=Kamal Narayan|year=2005|isbn=9788179929810|location=India|pages=15, 20 and 21}}

The rudraksha is sacred to and popularly worn by devotees of Shiva. File:108+1 five mukhi Rudraksha mala.jpg}}, see: Stutley, p. 119.]]

Rudraksha beads may be strung together as beads on a garland (Japamala) which can be worn around the neck. The beads are commonly strung on silk, or on a black or red cotton thread. Less often, jewellers use copper, silver or gold wires. The rudraksha beads may be damaged if strung too tightly. The Devi Bhagavata Purana describes the preparation of rudraksha garlands.{{cite book |last=Seetha |first=Kamal Narayan |title=Power of Rudraksha |publisher=Jaico Publishing House |year=2008 |isbn=978-81-7992-844-8 |edition=4th |location=Mumbai, India |pages=64–65}}

Hindus often use rudraksha garlands aids to prayer and meditation, and to sanctify the mind, body, and soul, much as Christians use prayer beads and rosaries to count repetitions of prayer.{{cite book|title=Rudraksha. Die Perlen der shivaitischen Gebetsschnur in altertümlichen und modernen Quellen|author=Laatsch, M.|publisher=Akademische Verlagsgemeinschaft München|year=2010|isbn=978-3-89975-411-7|location=Munich}}{{additional citation needed|reason=A more accessible reference would help verification, particularly for the comparison between Hindu and Christian practice.|date=October 2022}} There is a long tradition of wearing 108 rudraksha beads in India, particularly within Shaivism, due to their association with Shiva, who wears rudraksha garlands. Most garlands contain 108 beads plus one because as 108 is considered sacred and a suitable number of times to recite a short mantra. The number 108 is sacred in many spiritual traditions, symbolising the universe’s completeness.{{Cite web|url=https://rudrakshakavach.com/guide-to-use-rudraksha-mala/|title=A Simple Guide to use Rudraksha Mala for Spiritual Growth|website=rudrakshakavach.com}} The extra bead, which is called the "meru", {{IAST|bindu}}, or "guru bead", helps mark the beginning and end of a cycle of 108 and has symbolic value as a 'principle' bead. Rudraksha garlands usually contain beads in combinations 27+1, 54+1, or 108+1. The mantra Om Namah Shivaya, associated with Shiva, is often chosen for repetitions (japa) using rudraksha beads.{{Cite web|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/ch10_12.html|title=Dancing with Siva|website=www.himalayanacademy.com|access-date=2018-04-07}}

File:Fourteen-face-rudraksha.jpg

{{over-quotation|section|date=August 2021}}

Several late-medieval Upanishads describe the construction, wearing, and use rudraksha garlands as well as their mythological origin as the tears of Rudra.

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Sage Guha replied: (It is made of any one of the following 10 materials) Coral, Pearl, Crystal, Conch, Silver, Gold, Sandal, Putra-Jivika, Lotus, or Rudraksha. Each head must be devoted and thought of as presided over by the deities of Akara to Kshakara. Golden thread should bind the beads through the holes. On its right silver (caps) and left copper. The face of a bead should face, the face of another head and tail, the tail. Thus a circular formation must be made.{{Cite web|url=http://yousigma.com/religionandphilosophy/akshamalika.html|title=AkShamalika Upanishad english}}{{efn|तं गुहः प्रत्युवाच प्रवालमौक्तिकस्फटिकशङ्ख रजताष्टापदचन्दनपुत्रजीविकाब्जे रुद्राक्षा इति । आदिक्षान्तमूर्तिः सावधानभावा । सौवर्णं राजतं ताम्रं तन्मुखे मुखं तत्पुच्छे पुच्छं तदन्तरावर्तनक्रमेण योजयेत्{{Cite web |title=AkShamalika Upanishad |url=https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/akshamalika.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=sanskritdocuments.org}}}}

|source=

Akshamalika Upanishad

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Sage Sanatkumara approached Lord Kalagni Rudra and asked him, "Lord, kindly explain to me the method of wearing Rudraksha." What he told him was, "Rudraksha became famous by that name because initially, it was produced from the eyes of Rudra. During the time of destruction and after the act of destruction, when Rudra closed his eye of destruction, Rudraksha was produced from that eye. That is the Rudraksha property of Rudraksha. Just by touching and wearing this Rudraksha, one gets the same effect of giving in charity one thousand cows."{{Cite web|url=http://yousigma.com/religionandphilosophy/brihadjabala.html|title=Brihad Jabala Upanishad english}}{{efn|अथ कालाग्निरुद्रं भगवन्तं सनत्कुमारः पप्रच्छाधीहि भगवन्रुद्राक्षधारणविधिं स होवाच रुद्रस्य नयनादुत्पन्ना रुद्राक्षा इति लोके ख्यायन्ते सदाशिवः संहारकाले संहारं कृत्वा संहाराक्षं मुकुलीकरोति तन्नयनाज्जाता रुद्राक्षा इति होवाच तस्माद्रुद्राक्षत्वमिति तद्रुद्राक्षे वाग्विषये कृते दशगोप्रदानेन यत्फलमवाप्नोति तत्फलमश्नुते स एष भस्मज्योती रुद्राक्ष इति तद्रुद्राक्षं करेण स्पृष्ट्वा धारणमात्रेण द्विसहस्रगोप्रदानफलं भवति । तद्रुद्राक्षे एकादशरुद्रत्वं च गच्छति । तद्रुद्राक्षे शिरसि धार्यमाणे कोटिगोप्रदानफलं भवति{{Cite web |title=Brihat-Jabala Upanishad |url=https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/brihajjabala.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=sanskritdocuments.org}}}}

|source=Brihajjabala Upanishad

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He should count using a rosary (mala) whose beads are either made of the tulsi plant or rudraksha.{{Cite web|url=http://yousigma.com/religionandphilosophy/ramarahasya.html|title=Rama Rahasya Upanishad english}}{{efn|तुलसीपारिजातश्रीवृक्षमूलादिकस्थले । पद्माक्षतुलसीकाष्ठरुद्राक्षकृतमालया{{Cite web |title=Shri Ramarahasya Upanishad |url=https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/ramarahasya.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=sanskritdocuments.org}}}}

|source=Rama Rahasya Upanishad

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After prostrating himself before the celebrated form of Sri Mahadeva-Rudra in his heart, adoring the sacred Bhasma and Rudraksha and mentally reciting the great Mahavakya-Mantra, Tarasara, Sage Shuka asked his father Geat Sage Vyasa.{{Cite web|url=http://yousigma.com/religionandphilosophy/rudrahridaya.html|title=Rudra Hridaya Upanishad english}}{{efn|हृदयं कुण्डली भस्मरुद्राक्षगणदर्शनम् । तारसारं महावाक्यं पञ्चब्रह्माग्निहोत्रकम्{{Cite web |title=Rudrahridaya Upanishad |url=https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/rudrahridaya.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=sanskritdocuments.org}}}}

|source=Rudrahridaya Upanishad

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Sage Bhusunda questioned Lord Kalagni-Rudra: What is the beginning of Rudraksha beads? What is the benefit of wearing them on the body? Lord Kalagni-Rudra answered him thus: I closed my eyes for the sake of destroying the Tripurasura. From my eyes thus closed, drops of water fell on the earth. These drops of tears turned into Rudrakshas. By the mere utterance of the name of 'Rudraksha', one acquires the benefit of giving ten cows in charity. By seeing and touching it, one attains double that benefit. I am unable to praise it anymore.{{Cite web|url=http://yousigma.com/religionandphilosophy/rudrakshajabala.html|title=Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad english}}{{refn|अथ हैनं कालाग्निरुद्रं भुसुण्डः पप्रच्छ कथं रुद्राक्षोत्पत्तिः । तद्धारणात्किं फलमिति । तं होवाच भगवान्कालाग्निरुद्रः । त्रिपुरवधार्थमहं निमीलिताक्षोऽभवम् ।निमीलिताक्षोऽभवम् तेभ्यो जलबिन्दवो भूमौ पतितास्ते रुद्राक्षा जाताः ।  सर्वानुग्रहार्थाय तेषां नामोच्चारणमात्रेण दशगोप्रदानफलं दर्शनस्पर्शनाभ्यां द्विगुणं फलमत ऊर्ध्वं वक्तुं न शक्नोमि{{Cite web |title=RudrakShajabala Upanishad |url=https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/rudrakshajabala.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=sanskritdocuments.org}}}}

|source=Rudrakshajabala Upanishad

}}

Like the Upanishads, the Tirumurai describes the wearing of rudraksha garlands and their use as prayer beads for chanting mantras. Accordingly, the Tirumurai identifies wearing a pair of rudraksha garlands as a sign of piety.

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They who walk the twin paths of charya and kriya ever praise the twin feet of the Lord. They wear holy emblems—the twin rings in earlobes, the twin rudraksha garland around the neck—and adopt the twin mudras, all in amiable constancy.

|source=Tirumantiram 1423. TM{{Cite book|url=https://www.himalayanacademy.com/media/books/dancing-with-siva/web/ch08_15a.html|title=Dancing with Siva|publisher=Himalayan Academy|year=1997|isbn=9788120832657}}

}}

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Thinking of Him, great love welling up in their heart, if they finger the rudraksha beads, it will bring them the glory of the Gods. Chant our naked Lord's name. Say, "Namah Shivaya!"

|source=Tirumurai 3.307.3. PS, 217{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/dancingwithsiva000subr|title=Dancing with Siva|publisher=Himalayan Academy|year=1997|isbn=9780945497479|url-access=registration}}

}}

{{expand section |date=July 2021}}

{{see also | Sacred groves of India | Bodhi Tree | List of Banyan trees in India}}

Ch. Devi Lal Rudraksha Vatika, is a {{convert|184|acre|km2}} grove dedicated to rudraksha which also has over 400 endangered ayurvedic medicinal herbs in Yamunanagar district of Haryana state in India.{{cite web|url=http://old.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=10212|title=Herbal Park at Hisar|author=PM News Bureau|work=old.projectsmonitor.com|access-date=23 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023075825/http://old.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=10212|archive-date=23 October 2014|url-status=dead}}

Rudraksha is primarily cultivated in the foothills of the Himalayas, mainly in Nepal and India.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-01 |title=Breaking the cycle of poverty with education in the most remote parts of the world |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/photography/breaking-the-cycle-of-poverty-with-education-in-the-most-remote-parts-of-the-world-b1837563.html |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=The Independent |language=en}} The most popular varieties of rudraksha are found in the regions of Kathmandu, around Arun Valley Region in Nepal and Kulu, and Rameshwaram in India. There are several naturally occurring trees of rudrakshas in the alpine forests of Dhauladhar and lower Shivalik ranges of the Himalayas.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

Groves are mostly found in Uttarakhand state of India.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

{{gallery

|File:Original Rudraksh 03.JPG|Rudraksha tree leaves

|File:Rudraksha.jpeg|Rudraksha tree with flowers

|File:Rudraksha flower.jpg|Rudraksha flowers

|File:Country where Rudrasksha is available.png|Countries to which Elaeocarpus ganitrus is native.

}}

{{gallery

|File:Original Rudraksh 07.JPG|Unripe rudraksha fruit on the tree

|File:Rudraksh fruits.jpg|alt1=Drying rudraksha fruits|On drying rudraksha fruits turn black

|File:Rudraksh fruit freshly plucked.jpg|Freshly plucked raw rudraksha fruits; when ripe these are blue in colour

|File:Blue Rudraksha Fruit.jpg|Ripe rudraksha fruits with typical blue colour

}}

{{gallery

|File:Favorite selected big Rudrakshas .jpg|Handful of rudraksha stones

|File:Panchamukhi Rudraksha.jpg|Red 5-faced rudraksha stone

|File:7 Mukhi Rudraksha cut into Half.png|Cross-section of a 7-faced rudraksha stone

|File:X-Ray of 10 Mukhi Rudraksha.png|X-ray of 10-faced rudraksha stone reveals 10 seeds storing chambers (locules) and one central chamber

}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

• Similar religiously-significant natural objects
• Shaligram
• Associated mantras
• Om Namah Shivaya
• Om mani padme hum
• Prayer beads
• Japamala
• Misbaha
• Rosary
• Garlands and beadwork
• Phuang malai
• Kombolói

}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|2}}

{{Worship in Hinduism}}

{{Shaivism}}

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Category:Plants in Hinduism

Category:Prayer beads

Category:Decorative fruits and seeds

Category:Elaeocarpus

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pl:Mala wąskolistna