Rudraksha: Difference between revisions

Rudraksha Tree
	A Rudraksha Tree at Rishikesh
	Fruit on the Tree
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Oxalidales
Family:	Elaeocarpaceae
Genus:	Elaeocarpus
Species:	E. ganitrus
Binomial name
	Elaeocarpus ganitrus; (Roxb.)

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Revision as of 17:30, 6 April 2009

Rudraksha (Sanskrit: rudrākṣa) ("Rudra-eyed") also spelled as Rudraksh are seeds that are traditionally used to make prayer beads and are borne by several species of Elaeocarpus with E. ganitrus being the principal species used in the making of a bead chain or mala. (Sanskrit: mālā). The word is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the name Rudra and ākṣa ("eye").^[1]^[2] The Latin species epithet ganitrus is possibly taken from ganitri, the name for this species in Sundanese and Malay.

The Rudraksha is a large evergreen broad-leaved tree that grows in the area from the Gangetic Plain in foothills of the Himalayas to South-East Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea to Australia, Guam and even Hawaii. ^[3] Rudraksha trees are also found in middle areas of Nepal. Rudraksha seeds are covered by an outer shell of blue color when fully ripe, and for this reason are also known as blueberry beads. The blue colour is derived not from pigment but is structural.^[4]

It is an evergreen tree that grows quickly. Rudraksha Tree starts bearing fruit in three to four years. As the tree matures, the roots buttress rising up narrowly near the trunk and radiating out along the surface of the ground giving a gnarly and prehistoric appearance.

Rudraksha beads

Rudraksha beads are the material from which garlands (108 beads in number) are made. The term is used both for the berries themselves and as a term for the type of mālā made from them.^[5] In this sense, a rudraksha is a Saivite rosary, used for japa mala. Repetitive prayer (japa) is a common aid to worship in Hinduism, and Rudraksha mālā are worn by many Hindus.^{[citation needed]} Rudraksha is also used for treatment of various diseases in traditional Indian medicine.

The seeds show variation in the number of grooves on their surface, and are classified on the basis of the number of divisions that they have. A common type has five divisions, and these are considered to be symbolic of the five faces of Shiva.^[6]

Rudraksh seeds are brittle in nature and so should be protected from chemicals.^{[citation needed]}

Rudraksha seeds (beads) are used for spiritual mala or rosary such as in Hindu and Buddhism. Rudraksha trees are grown in the Himalayan villages of Nepal (the native homeland of Rudraksha) which are favored and valued more than other Rudraksha malas.

Religious use

Rudraksha mala has been used by Hindus (as well as Sikhs and Buddhists) as rosary for thousands of years for meditation purposes to sanctify the mind, body and soul. The word Rudraksha is derived from Rudra (Shiva—the Hindu God of all living creatures) and aksha (eyes). So, Rudraksha is related to Shiva’s eyes. One Hindu mythology says that once Lord Shiva became so compassionate after seeing the sufferings of mankind that He could not stop to shed tear from his eye. This single tear from Shiva’s eye grew into the Rudraksha tree. Rudraksha fruit is green in color but turns black when dried. The central hard Rudraksha uniseed may have 1 to 21 faces. The five-faced Rudraksha seeds are the most common.

Rules for wearer

THe wearer of the rudraksha should ideally be vegetarian, celibate and teetotal. Some take this even further to say the mind should be completely pure at the time of wearing it and even lying is considered a violation of the rules. The rudraksha is to be treated with immense respect, and if for some reason the rules have been broken, the rudraksha could be washed in ganga jal, or ghee, and the wearer should recite 'om nama shivaya' 3 times before wearing it again..

Use as Timber

The wood of Rudraksh tree is light coloured almost whitish in appearance. It has a unique strength-to-weight ratio, making it valued for its timber. The wood of Rudraksha Tree was used to make aeroplane propellers during World War I.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ The translation of rudrākṣa as "Rudra-eyed" and definition as berries of Elaeocarpus ganitrus see: Stutley, p. 119.
^ Stutley, Margaret (1985). The Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography. Munshiram Manoharlal. ISBN 81-215-1087-2. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010513/spectrum/main3.htm accessed on 29 March 09
^ Lee, D. W. Ultrastructural basis and function of iridescent blue color of fruits in Elaeocarpus. Nature 349, 260−262 (1991).
^ For use both to refer to the beads and to a mālā see: Apte, p. 804.
^ For the five-division type as signifying Shiva's five faces and terminology pañcānana, see: Stutley, p. 119.

[1] The translation of rudrākṣa as "Rudra-eyed" and definition as berries of Elaeocarpus ganitrus see: Stutley, p. 119.

[2] Stutley, Margaret (1985). The Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography. Munshiram Manoharlal. ISBN 81-215-1087-2. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[3] ttp://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010513/spectrum/main3.htm accessed on 29 March 09

[4] Lee, D. W. Ultrastructural basis and function of iridescent blue color of fruits in Elaeocarpus. Nature 349, 260−262 (1991).

[5] For use both to refer to the beads and to a mālā see: Apte, p. 804.

[6] For the five-division type as signifying Shiva's five faces and terminology pañcānana, see: Stutley, p. 119.

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 == Religious use ==
-Rudraksha mala has been used by Hindus (as well as Sikhs and Buddhists) as rosary for thousands of years for meditation purposes to sanctify the mind, body and soul. The word Rudraksha is derived from Rudra (Shiva—the Hindu God of all living creatures) and aksha (eyes). So, Rudraksha is related to Shiva’s eyes. One Hindu mythology says that once Lord Shiva became so compassionate after seeing the sufferings of mankind that He could not stop to shed tear from his eye. This single tear from Shiva’s eye grew into the Rudraksha tree. Rudraksha fruit is green in color but turns black when dried. The central hard Rudraksha uniseed may have 1 to 21 faces. The five-faced Rudraksha seeds are the most common. Besides as rosary for meditation, the Rudraksha mala is often used as a fashionable necklace or a bracelet. Thus it serves the dual purpose of fashion and protects the wearer psychologically.
+Rudraksha mala has been used by Hindus (as well as Sikhs and Buddhists) as rosary for thousands of years for meditation purposes to sanctify the mind, body and soul. The word Rudraksha is derived from Rudra (Shiva—the Hindu God of all living creatures) and aksha (eyes). So, Rudraksha is related to Shiva’s eyes. One Hindu mythology says that once Lord Shiva became so compassionate after seeing the sufferings of mankind that He could not stop to shed tear from his eye. This single tear from Shiva’s eye grew into the Rudraksha tree. Rudraksha fruit is green in color but turns black when dried. The central hard Rudraksha uniseed may have 1 to 21 faces. The five-faced Rudraksha seeds are the most common.
+==Rules for wearer ==
+THe wearer of the rudraksha should ideally be vegetarian, celibate and teetotal. Some take this even further to say the mind should be completely pure at the time of wearing it and even lying is considered a violation of the rules. The rudraksha is to be treated with immense respect, and if for some reason the rules have been broken, the rudraksha could be washed in ganga jal, or ghee, and the wearer should recite 'om nama shivaya' 3 times before wearing it again..
 === Use as Timber ===