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c.smith
16 April 2011, 04:43 PM
Hari Om!

Have been studying rudraksha for some time and wearing beads of different muktis with great benefit as part of my devotion to Lord Siva.

Does anyone have any experiences with them that they'd like to share? Anyone else wear them or use mala of such? I'd really be interested in hearing such.

Listed below from my research is a list of beads from 1 to 14 mukti with the respected god represented. I have verified this with several sources, but some sites vary slighly. Please feel free to submit corrections or additions as they apply.

1- Lord Shankar
2- Ardhanareeshwara
3- Agnidev
4- Brahaspati
5- Rudra Kalagni
6- Kartikeya
7- Mahalaxmi
8- Ganesha
9- Durga
10- Krishna
11- All Rudras
12- Surya
13- Kamadeva
14- Hanuman

Beads continue beyond 14 mukti but are more rare and of course more expensive.

Om Namah Sivaya!

Water
16 April 2011, 07:45 PM
Have been studying rudraksha for some time and wearing beads of different muktis with great benefit as part of my devotion to Lord Siva.

Could you expand on this? Do you wear them as a bracelet, necklace or on your head?

How do you wear it on your head?

Do you wear multiple, or just one? I was under the impression it was inappropriate to wear more than one when not in prayer or meditation.

I used to carry a 5 faced rudraksha with me. I was told to wear it around my neck by a friend and I have ever since. I remove it before bed and place it on my home shrine. I go out to bars and other events with friends and remove it before attending some of those, as well.

One particular experience that I found interesting had to do with "one of those days" where the morning just doesn't quite work out.... I was late for work and the traffic report looked terrible... I had forgotten to buy milk or anything else that would have been useful for breakfast. I put the wrong shoes on... The day wasn't going so well..... And I had rushed out to the car without my rudraksha!

When I was first instructed to wear it around my neck.... of course, in my usual way, I felt it very presumptuous and assumed it would have no benefit. I sometimes alternated between wearing it and not wearing it.

I have personally observed that I felt more peaceful when I have my rudraksha.

To return to the story... I went most of the day feeling pretty relaxed but awake and otherwise "on point" in regards to work. I remember thinking, "Maybe I was wrong about wearing my rudraksha... today seems to be exceptional and I feel exactly as if I was wearing it...."

Here's the twist - it seems I had put my rudraksha on before rushing out of the door and didn't even realize it I had been wearing it all along. :Cool:

Arjuni
16 April 2011, 08:38 PM
Namasté, C. Smith,

I have a few rudraksha experiences to share as well. My first one came when I looked at rudrakshas higher than 14-mukhi, shrieked in terror at the prices listed, and closed the search window immediately. :p

To respond seriously, I wear a string of small 5-mukhi neck beads and a single 13-mukhi bead strung on thick silk thread. The 5-beads are quite small, and the 13-bead is worn across the torso - with the thread on the right shoulder and falling to the left side of the abdomen - so I look kind of like I'm wearing a necklace of pebbles and sporting a tumor on my side.

(Interestingly, neither product is now available from the website where I originally bought them. The 5-mukhis are strung into mālās now instead of the double-looped necklace that I have, and the 13-beads are sent loose or made into left-arm bracelets or armbands, instead of this weird banner-like configuration. Perhaps the fashion-conscious complained.)

The string of 5-mukhi beads is like a serene guide; it produces a feeling of calm and steadiness when worn, and the feeling I get from it is definitely that of Shiva-as-yogi. It seems to wisely influence and inspire. I've meditated with a rudraksha mālā in the past and did not like the feel of it, but wearing the beads is a blessing indeed. I think that anyone who wants to develop a regular meditation practice, or meditate at all, would benefit from at least one 5-faced bead.

My 13-mukhi - which belongs to Lord Indra as well as Kāmadeva - is rather different altogether. I should have paid attention to both of the Devas ruling this one, because I struggled with lusty/romantic feelings more than usual in the first few weeks of wearing it, and then realised DUH. This bead centers on desire, and it's a kind ally in such, whatever your desire may be. The 13-mukhi has a warm, tender energy that seems to patiently rest, waiting for me to decide what I want so we can get to work. Because I've noticed being more attractive (in the literal sense of "drawing people") since wearing it - friends I haven't seen for years are contacting me, for example - I wouldn't recommend it to anyone whose desire is "renunciation"! For any other wish, though, a 13-mukhi is a good friend.

Water is right in that wearing rudrakshas of several different faces can be a problem if the energies conflict with each other. I haven't experienced any difficulties wearing the 5 and the 13 at the same time. In fact, I hate removing them and often stay awake a little longer just to keep wearing them...

The only "correction" I might offer is that I've read before that the 11-mukhi is ruled by both Hanuman and Indra. I can't recall the source, though, and could be completely wrong.

I look forward to reading other replies. And what about you, C. Smith; what tales do you have to share? :)

Edited to add: Another effect I have noticed of wearing rudraksha is that of becoming more sattvic, whether you intended it or not! I used to be a social drinker, have an occasional cigarette, and drink caffeinated energy drinks daily. All of those habits are gone, without much effort at all; they fell away from me one by one. Has anyone else noticed something similar?

Indraneela
===
Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.

Water
16 April 2011, 09:10 PM
The only "correction" I might offer is that I've read before that the 11-mukhi is ruled by both Hanuman and Indra. I can't recall the source, though, and could be completely wrong.

I also thought the 11 mukhi was for Sri Hanuman as the 11th Rudra.

I'm not sure what the relationship with 14 mukhi would be.

sunyata07
17 April 2011, 05:12 AM
Namaste,

I feel like such a rookie with my rudraksha, even though I've been using it for years now. :o The rudraksha mala I have is not really a fully rudraksha, it must be said. It's interspersed with crystal beads, which gives it a nice change of texture when you're moving your middle finger across each bead. Anyone mind telling me how you can tell the mukhi of the rudraksha on your mala? Or if you know the rudraksha beads you have are authentic? Can't believe I have never questioned any of this until now.

Om namah Shivaya

Sahasranama
17 April 2011, 05:38 AM
You can count the straight lines that run from top to bottom of the rudraksha to know how many mukhis it has. Most rudrakshas are pancha mukhi.

Arjuni
17 April 2011, 05:52 AM
Namasté,

Sunyata, the first clue that you are far less a rookie than me is that letter "s" attached to the word "year" in your post. I've had my rudrakshas for about six months. :)

If you look at the hole on a rudraksha bead, you'll see finely incised lines radiating around that hole, like the spokes on a wheel; count them, and that tells you how many mukhi. Of course, this is a more difficult task with higher mukhi beads (larger, knobblier surface area, harder to tell what's a line and what's just a bump), or if the bead is strung on a mālā or necklace (because the hole-area is blocked by other beads).

It also hints at one method that people use to fake rudraksha: cut a few extra lines in the top, and a common, affordable bead "magically" becomes a higher-mukhi, rarer, more expensive one.

There are a few "tests" that supposedly determine a real rudraksha, but as this (http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/showarticles.php?artid=95) bit explains, factors like age and moisture can make a genuine bead fail those tests. I've seen an x-ray film on one website that identified a fake, by showing how the interior seeds were fewer than the surface lines, but I imagine most of us don't have x-ray machines at home. So, to answer your other question, I'm not sure how a layperson would go about identifying false beads for sure; certainly they would have a different "feel" to them energetically, but that hardly serves as objective proof...

Indraneela
===
Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.

yajvan
17 April 2011, 08:20 AM
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~

namasté

ॐ रुद्राय नमः
oṁ rudrāya namaḥ
oṁ I bow (salutations) to rudra, the praiseworthy One.


More on rudrākṣa here if there is interest: http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=6228 (http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=6228)


praṇām

c.smith
17 April 2011, 11:00 AM
Hari Om!

Thanks for the replies - please keep them coming as they are very interesting!

My own experiences have all been very positive. I've nearly always used a rudraksha mala of 5 mukhi beads. I feel that it enhances my japa which often leads to a meditative state.

My first "necklace" included 3, 6 and 12 mukhi beads strung on red thread. I feel that the 12 mukhi bead is especially powerful and also feel a sense of peace when wearing the necklace. It was prescribed for a certain condition in my life and I'd like to attribute the improvement, at least in part, to wearing of and my faith in rudraksha.

I've also worn a single 5 mukhi bead, but have heard that it must be worn in a set of 3 to be effective. Don't know if that holds true or not.

Just got an 11 mukhi bead, and yes, Hanuman also rules over this bead. My intention in wearing it is to help in my sadhana and to hopefully progress along the path of brahmacharya.

I would like to purchase a 14 mukhi bead as it is supposed to be especially powerful when meditating with it on the 3rd eye. It's a purchase that will have to wait however because I find that it is very expensive. It is attributed to Hanuman as well and I'm told to wear in on my arm. We'll have to see how that pans out wearing it under my work clothes.

I also have an ek bead but would like to learn more about it.

Finally, I have 108 beads in my lingam.

All for now.

Om Namah Sivaya!

sunyata07
17 April 2011, 03:26 PM
Namaste,

Interesting responses regarding where other members wear their rudraksha beads. I wish now I had bought separate rudrakshas to thread myself, but I'm probably going to have to save up quite a bit before I can afford any rudraksha with a double-digit mukhi!

I've been looking closely for the lines on the beads of my own mala, but yes, it is a bit tricky to do. They look smaller than normal, and have a waxy look about them. Actually, it just occured to me these could well be counterfeits that I have. I wonder is anyone here experienced enough with rudrakshas that they can tell in one or two glances if a mala is fake?

http://www.yogabasics.com/japamalabeads/shop/wp-content/uploads/wpsc/product_images/2.jpg

This is a close-up of the rudrakshas I currently use. What do you think? Are they real?

Om namah Shivaya

Water
17 April 2011, 03:32 PM
Actually, it just occured to me these could well be counterfeits that I have. I wonder is anyone here experienced enough with rudrakshas that they can tell in one or two glances if a mala is fake?

I am very interested in discovering this, as well. My first rudraksha, I think, originated from the Himalayan Academy. The rudraksha itself is quite large and somewhat rough - the best I could compare it to would be the inside of a walnut.

Occasionally, I stop by small "spirituality" stores and they will undoubtedly carry some form of stringed rudraksha. They appear like smooth plastic and are very small in comparison to the one I have.

I really do want to purchase one of these items and break it open with a nail to discover if there are rudraksha seeds inside. I simply do not have the heart to do it, though. :(

Here is a link to the Himalayan Academy online store. You can see the texture of the rudraksha in comparison to the image you posted. They are roughly the same circumference as an American Penny.

http://www.minimela.com/images/large/rudraksha_in_box_LRG.jpg

Edit:
Here's a link to the above picture. It doesn't seem to link correctly on one of my computers.

http://www.minimela.com/images/large/rudraksha_in_box_LRG.jpg

kundanghanekar
23 May 2011, 09:01 AM
I wear Panch mukhi in my neck.Actually i love The lord shiva and thats why i like him very much.This panch mukhi rudraksha i wear is directly from tree.
I don't know the effect but i wear it always.

I think when i wear it, i feel he is standing just next to me.Feeling so proud.

Kundan

divnelight
07 October 2014, 11:05 AM
I am very interested in discovering this, as well. My first rudraksha, I think, originated from the Himalayan Academy. The rudraksha itself is quite large and somewhat rough - the best I could compare it to would be the inside of a walnut.

Occasionally, I stop by small "spirituality" stores and they will undoubtedly carry some form of stringed rudraksha. They appear like smooth plastic and are very small in comparison to the one I have.

I really do want to purchase one of these items and break it open with a nail to discover if there are rudraksha seeds inside. I simply do not have the heart to do it, though. :(

Here is a link to the Himalayan Academy online store. You can see the texture of the rudraksha in comparison to the image you posted. They are roughly the same circumference as an American Penny.

http://www.minimela.com/images/large/rudraksha_in_box_LRG.jpg

Edit:
Here's a link to the above picture. It doesn't seem to link correctly on one of my computers.

http://www.minimela.com/images/large/rudraksha_in_box_LRG.jpg

Namaste,

The Himalayan Academy seems like one of the few genuine suppliers. You can actually see the process they use to make their malas. You can see their trees, the actual beautiful blue fruit and how they prepare the Rudraksha that alone is enough to put mind ones at ease. No other suppiler shows where and how they get their Rudraksha. People say there are differences between Nepal vs Java beads (Nepal are supposed to be more powerful) I wonder how the Hawaiian Beads differ?

Do you think I should call the Himalayan Academy if I wanted a 14 mukhi? It seems they sell a mala of 1 mukhi -13 mukhi. I wish they had a better picture though it is so small.

http://www.minimela.com/images/large/RUDRAKSHA_LRG.JPG

I believe peoples best bets are to buy from the Kauai Hindu Monastery/The Himalayan Academy or Rudra Centre. With the Monastery in such a spiritual setting you can feel the love, care and devotion that goes into the whole process which I feel will make these Rudraksha just as powerful as Nepal's.

Aanandinii
11 October 2014, 03:13 AM
Namaskar ji,

I agree about the two sources you mention Divinelight, and about your assessment of Himalayan Academy's beads. There is one other I have considered purchasing from, an individual seller who grows their own trees. Supposedly descendants of the Hawaiian Forest. I am interested in that one because I am considering an experiment in growing some here and that seller claims to only sell fully ripened and mature fruit capable of germinating. We'll see. :)

Sunyata ji, I know this is years later but did you ever find out the answer to your question? I wonder if your beads are Java beads, they sound like they could be.

This is a great thread, what great experiences. When I was in India I looked for a mala not knowing what kind to get and none I saw none really appealed. When we came back and I started to research and learn about Shaivism I learned of Rudraksha. But I couldn't find any here that I could be sure of being genuine so I did nothing and wished I had seen one before. When I came back from vacation that December, my neighbor had come back from India with some gifts for us - one was a Rudraksha mala for me. As far as I know she didn't know I wished for one, though she knew I worship Shiva. This is a 108 +1 Java bead mala with beads between 5 and 6mm. She and many others have told me to never take it off, and so I haven't except to bathe, to clean it, and to re-string it. Just now it is strung on yellow cotton floss.

I noticed a kind peace and a quiet strength right away. I notice as well if I am not wearing them. The beads are actually mismatched, most are 5-face but some are 4 and some are 6. Not all are great quality, and the beads themselves initially appeared red but it turns out they were coated in a red paste. Having cleaned them there are all colors - there are even one or two that are indeed partially whitish. I liked using them for japa at first, but once i strung my own I find this mala less suitable - I don't concentrate as well partially because the beads are so small and partly I because of the beads I use now. I have also read that malas worn as necklaces shouldn't be used for japa, though I don't know the accuracy of the sources.

I ordered some dried Rudraksha Fruit. I didn't know the store's reputation and had read how common frauds were, I felt the fruits were the best way to be sure I got the real thing, though the quality isn't always the best.

I have an anxious habit of picking at my fingers. I found that the enjoyment of carefully cleaning and oiling each bead not only soothed my nerves, focused my attention and quietened my mind, but my fingers started to completely heal as I wasn't worrying at them except when at work - so I brought some cleaned beads to work as worry beads, to hold when I would start getting anxious.

Most of the fruits are 5-faced, and range from 13mm to 22mm. I have found one 4-face, which I wear as a bracelet, seven 6-face, and one 7-face. Of the 6-face, as I learned of Sri Murugan's Lordship over this bead and its properties, I thought of my neice who had Lukemia. Since the treatment she has been depressed, withdrawn, lost confidence in herself and lost her ability to speak her thoughts well. I made a necklace for her and did several pujas asking for Sri Murugan's blessing and Sri Shiva's blessing on it. I gave it to her after explaining to her mother and her what the necklace was - not that I thought either would have a problem, but best to be honest and up front. She loves it, wears it often, and she has regained much of what she had lost. I wear 3 more around my own neck and keep them on my mantle at night with the bracelet. The japa mala I strung on red and yellow cotton floss and it lives on my shrine as a garland.

I find cleaning the beads from the fruits incredibly rewarding, like a Rudra Abishek or excellent meditation, so I continue. Each one is a unique, natural jewel.

~Pranam

divnelight
15 October 2014, 01:10 AM
Namaskar ji,

I agree about the two sources you mention Divinelight, and about your assessment of Himalayan Academy's beads. There is one other I have considered purchasing from, an individual seller who grows their own trees. Supposedly descendants of the Hawaiian Forest. I am interested in that one because I am considering an experiment in growing some here and that seller claims to only sell fully ripened and mature fruit capable of germinating. We'll see. :)

Sunyata ji, I know this is years later but did you ever find out the answer to your question? I wonder if your beads are Java beads, they sound like they could be.

This is a great thread, what great experiences. When I was in India I looked for a mala not knowing what kind to get and none I saw none really appealed. When we came back and I started to research and learn about Shaivism I learned of Rudraksha. But I couldn't find any here that I could be sure of being genuine so I did nothing and wished I had seen one before. When I came back from vacation that December, my neighbor had come back from India with some gifts for us - one was a Rudraksha mala for me. As far as I know she didn't know I wished for one, though she knew I worship Shiva. This is a 108 +1 Java bead mala with beads between 5 and 6mm. She and many others have told me to never take it off, and so I haven't except to bathe, to clean it, and to re-string it. Just now it is strung on yellow cotton floss.

I noticed a kind peace and a quiet strength right away. I notice as well if I am not wearing them. The beads are actually mismatched, most are 5-face but some are 4 and some are 6. Not all are great quality, and the beads themselves initially appeared red but it turns out they were coated in a red paste. Having cleaned them there are all colors - there are even one or two that are indeed partially whitish. I liked using them for japa at first, but once i strung my own I find this mala less suitable - I don't concentrate as well partially because the beads are so small and partly I because of the beads I use now. I have also read that malas worn as necklaces shouldn't be used for japa, though I don't know the accuracy of the sources.

I ordered some dried Rudraksha Fruit. I didn't know the store's reputation and had read how common frauds were, I felt the fruits were the best way to be sure I got the real thing, though the quality isn't always the best.

I have an anxious habit of picking at my fingers. I found that the enjoyment of carefully cleaning and oiling each bead not only soothed my nerves, focused my attention and quietened my mind, but my fingers started to completely heal as I wasn't worrying at them except when at work - so I brought some cleaned beads to work as worry beads, to hold when I would start getting anxious.

Most of the fruits are 5-faced, and range from 13mm to 22mm. I have found one 4-face, which I wear as a bracelet, seven 6-face, and one 7-face. Of the 6-face, as I learned of Sri Murugan's Lordship over this bead and its properties, I thought of my neice who had Lukemia. Since the treatment she has been depressed, withdrawn, lost confidence in herself and lost her ability to speak her thoughts well. I made a necklace for her and did several pujas asking for Sri Murugan's blessing and Sri Shiva's blessing on it. I gave it to her after explaining to her mother and her what the necklace was - not that I thought either would have a problem, but best to be honest and up front. She loves it, wears it often, and she has regained much of what she had lost. I wear 3 more around my own neck and keep them on my mantle at night with the bracelet. The japa mala I strung on red and yellow cotton floss and it lives on my shrine as a garland.

I find cleaning the beads from the fruits incredibly rewarding, like a Rudra Abishek or excellent meditation, so I continue. Each one is a unique, natural jewel.

~Pranam

Namaste Aanandinii,

Where the dried fruit from Rudra Centre? Can you please tell me who the other seller is? Also, do they sell Rudraksha as well? I called the Himalayan Academy's today and learned that not all the beads are from Hawaii some are from India (the box with the 1-13 mukhi the Rudraksha are from Northern India(Nepal?) ) As I find out more information I will update everyone which beads are from India and which beads are from Hawaii. If the beads sold online are coming from India then I assume it's best to deal with Rudra Centre. The individual at the Academy mentioned RudraGems so I am guessing that is their wholesaler. My best guess is the malals containing the 5 mukhis are from Hawaii and if you desire anything else then it comes from India. The beads from India are sent to Hawaii where they are purified in the mandir.

I am touched by the story about your niece. I truly wish everything goes well with her. May God heal her and destroy her worries.

I will update everyone once I get more information. Hopefully this will help everyone in the future. The more we know and pool our experiences together the more likely we are to receive genuine and quality Rudraksha. It is very hard to determine who the best seller especially in a market like India.

-Divnelight

Aanandinii
15 October 2014, 09:13 PM
Namaste DivineLight,


Where the dried fruit from Rudra Centre?
Yup. It's the only place I've found them, but I may have stopped in my search after finding what I find to be a good seller with a lot of different items I can use and are hard to find where I live.

Can you please tell me who the other seller is? Also, do they sell Rudraksha as well?
Sure, this is their website:
http://shrikrishnablessing.weebly.com/
You can learn how to contact for purchases through the site and forum.
This seller doesn't sell beads per se, no. Eventually when they have their own mature trees they might, but the seller offers a way to purchase verified fertile seeds in the shell from the Hawaiian groves - making them Nepal variety and not Java. I've had a few exchanges with the seller, who is more of a 3rd party and who really doesn't charge much at all, and I feel they are trustworthy enough to try in the coming season. But this seller is probably not useful for your purposes, unless you're interested in growing. :)

If the beads sold online are coming from India then I assume it's best to deal with Rudra Centre. The individual at the Academy mentioned RudraGems so I am guessing that is their wholesaler.
Perhaps, but there are other sellers than Rudra Center and the prices there aren't so good that I would see them being a wholesale supplier. From what I have read about the business, Neetaji says she found her own wholesale sources and imports some of them herself.

RudraGems is something of a find! Very nice prices! I could see that place being a wholesaler, sure.


I am touched by the story about your niece. I truly wish everything goes well with her. May God heal her and destroy her worries.
Thank you for your kind words. She is doing very well, one more year and her oncologist says she will be considered "cured". She is an amazing girl and will be an amazing woman. :)

I will update everyone once I get more information. Hopefully this will help everyone in the future. The more we know and pool our experiences together the more likely we are to receive genuine and quality Rudraksha. It is very hard to determine who the best seller especially in a market like India.
I agree, and I hope you do update. It would be very helpful I think.

May I ask, why the focus on a 14-Mukh? Does it have a specific property you need? I tend to agree with EMji and feel that if I am in need of a specific kind then I will find it. So then perhaps you will find what you need at a price that fits your budget, I hope that is so. :)

I am very excited as today I received a new order of fruits. My order was placed just as they ran out of stock so it waited 2 weeks for a new shipment to come in, and these are some of the largest I have seen since I started ordering them. There are some smaller ones too, but many are larger than I have gotten before and they are also most definitely fresher, not as dry. I am so looking forward to uncovering them, 5 are soaking already. =D

~Pranam

Suhita
20 February 2016, 12:43 AM
Namastey all,

Now people around the world accept the power and benefits of rudraksha. This sacred beads work to remove the negative effects wherein 3 mukhi rudraksha (http://www.chakrayog.in/3-mukhi/1/22/178/1) is specifically helpful in restraining bad effects of past karma.

Basu789
05 August 2016, 01:11 AM
Namaste,

It is very interesting topic for discussion. I believe in astrology and i want to share some good experience. I found this website (http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/) when i was searching for rudraksha mala.
rudraksha-ratna (http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/) is best place to purchase rudraksha. It is my own experience. I like their articles and products.