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Thread: Rudraksha Mala

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    Rudraksha Mala

    Could someone help me with several questions about rudraksha mala...

    Would it be okay to wear it all the time? I have a very strong urge to do so...but I am worried about custom.

    Also, the mala I have is very base...simple. It was given to me by someone many years ago...and it's in poor shape. I have a feeling this is not the mala I am accustomed to and feel a very strong urge to get one that is more elaborate...silver capped. Very hard to quell this urge and just use simple worn one.

    Does anyone have a place that can be trusted to buy this from? I know many ebay stores sell fraudulent rudraksha...so I am hesitant to buy from there.

    Lastly, I wanted to wear rudraksha to Temple, but also worried about customs involving allowing the female vessels to wear such things. Years ago, when I felt the urge to wear full time I asked online in Yahoo Hindu chat and many tell me it's not proper.

    Thank you for help<3

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    Re: Rudraksha Mala

    Vannakkam:

    You can get high quality ones from Himalayan Academy. Fresh unused from their trees. Go to minimela.com I think.

    As far wearing to temples, I have never seen anyone wearing one in our temple, if that helps. The exception is visiting swamis. I think the priest wears one, but I don't really notice such things.

    Aum Namasivaya

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    Re: Rudraksha Mala

    hari o
    ~~~~~~

    namast&#233; nayasurya



    Eka eva rudro na dvitiyaya
    rudra is the sole one, there is no second
    Krsna Yajur Veda- Taittiriya Samhita 1.8.6.iii


    There are several customs one can consider...
    I would take a look at the Śiva mahāpurāṇa and get first hand information. Look to chapter 25.

    That said, consider how many mouths ( mukha&#185 the seed will have ; Be mindful of not bringing the mālā ( string of beads) when there is toilet activites (mala&#185.

    praṇām

    words
    • mukha - the mouth , face
    • mala - bodily excretion
    Last edited by yajvan; 03 April 2010 at 07:18 PM.
    यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
    yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
    because you are identical with śiva

    _

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    Re: Rudraksha Mala

    hariḥ o
    ~~~~~~

    namast&#233;

    A bit more collected from a few other HDF posts.

    We have read rudrākśa is highly sanctifying. It removes sins by sight, contact and japa. Many see rudrākśa (rudra + akśa) as the tear of Śiva. There is also another slightly different view held; that rudrākśa are the eyes of Śiva. How so?
    • rudra रुद्र- we know as crying , howling , roaring , dreadful , terrific , terrible , horrible;
    • yet this rudra is also red , shining , glittering from its root rud or rudh. And we know this rudra is another name for Śiva, so no news here.
    • akśa अक्ष is the eye; also it’s a seed; it is also considered the beam of a balance or string which holds the pivot of the beam; and this akśa is also a measure of weight.
    So one can say by definition that the bead is his akśa, eye. Others say it is his tears. And others say rudrākśa means it is pleasing to the eyes (ākśa) of Rudra.

    Another view I just was thinking of as I read mālinī-vijayotara tantra is the following. We reviewed this format rudrākśa (rudra + akśa) above. Another form is rud + rākā.
    • rud रुद्- is grief, pain, wailing, weeping or crying.
    • rākā रक्षा- the act of protecting or guarding , protection , care , preservation , security
    Put together - rudrākā is that which protects one from grief and pain; and if one would say rud is also another way of saying rudra, then the notion is 'rudra' the one that protects the native from grief and pain. ( I'm of the opinion this is the best fit/definition for rudrākā ).

    ___________________________________
     
    As we know the number of faces mukhi-s ( from mukha or faces, mouth ) on rudrākśa varies; the Śiva Purāṇa calls out from a single faced up to 14 faced bead. Are there others? Yes, as I understand it - from 15 to 21 faces, Yet I have not seen these. What you will find most often is 5 mukti (faced) beads. This 5 is significant ( also note the number 14 is 1+4 = 5 ) and I thought to offer a view on this for those that are interested.

    The 5 faced bead is considered rudra Himself says the Śiva Purāṇa. This number 5 is associated with Śiva's innate qualities or śakti. Also we have talked a bit about the 3 divisions (trika) and its association to Śiva.
    As we started with rudra, let me end with a few lines from the Śrī Rudram; I Mention this as the 5 syllable mantra namaḥ śivāya ( नमः शिवाय ) resides in Śrī Rudram, the 8th anuvaka ( I think). The following is from the fifth anuvaka ( to keep with the pa&#241;ca or 5 theme)

    namo bhavāya ca rudrāya ca namaḥ śarvāya ca paśupataye ca
    namo nīlagrīvāya ca śitikaṇṭhāya ca
    namaḥ kapardine ca vyuptakeshāya ca
    namaḥ sahasrākṣāya cha śatadhanvane ca
    namo giriśāya ca śipiviṣṭāya ca

    Salutations ( I bow i.e. namo) to Bhava and to Rudra.
    Salutations to the Lord of all sentient-beings.
    Salutations to the blue-necked one, and to the white-throated.
    Salutations to the wearer of matted locks, and to Him of shaven hair.
    Salutations to Him of a thousand eyes, and to Him of a hundred bows.
    Salutations to Him who dwells on (in) the mountains, and the form of śipiviṣṭāya (or Viṣṇu)

    महेश्वराय नमः
    om maheśvarāya namaḥ

    praṇām


    Last edited by yajvan; 03 April 2010 at 07:56 PM.
    यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
    yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
    because you are identical with śiva

    _

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    Re: Rudraksha Mala

    Yes, I have read Vidheshwar Samhita. But did not see whether it would be acceptable for me to wear every day... as in the times I have went to the Temple here I have yet to see another praying at Siva with one. Our temple is not designated to one God, it has a multitude and is very busy. I was worried of offending.

    Thank you both for the helpful information<3
    Last edited by NayaSurya; 03 April 2010 at 09:41 PM. Reason: sp

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    Re: Rudraksha Mala

    I'm actually kind of interested in knowing the protocol on this, too. I have a Rudraksha mala that I wear a lot around my neck and I'm not sure if that's right, although I did see it worn around a woman's neck on an indian soap opera once (I think the woman wearing it was supposed to be the wife of a priest, too)

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    Re: Rudraksha Mala

    I can not see why one would take it off ever. If it's not offensive. I went to see about buying some yesterday when I got time and I have such an urge to buy them for hands too.

    The problem I feel for me is two things. First I have an urge to do something, and I worry to do so in a female body is rude. Secondly I want a specific rudraksha...immediately when I saw, I knew this was the one I need...and yet I wonder if it is wrong to carry specific attachment to certain mala from one lifetime to next? I will buy it...I follow this urge because it led me this far. But I do want to obey the protocol for the female body so that I do not offend others. As I feel my anglo-ness is already offensive to some. I don't need anything else working against me:P

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    Re: Rudraksha Mala


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    Re: Rudraksha Mala

    Vannakkam:

    One of the simple things I always do when purchasing or looking at a mala is count the beads. If its not 108, then I would never buy it. If the guys who strung them didn't know that much, well...

    Beware of fake individual seeds as well. If you've seen a decent wood carving of a God, you'll easily recognise how simple it would be to 'manipulate' a seed. Tridents and the Sanskrt Aum are 2 common ones. There have even been incidents of 'giant' rudraksha which were well carved coconuts.

    As with all religious articles, personally I like to consider the source. I would hope that some love was put into making it, and not some sweatshop using child labor.

    But for that, I use intuition, like Naya, if it 'feels' right.. ..

    Aum Namasivaya

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    Re: Rudraksha Mala

    Quote Originally Posted by NayaSurya View Post
    and yet I wonder if it is wrong to carry specific attachment to certain mala from one lifetime to next?
    Don't quote me on this, but it seems like one's mala is quite personal and that attachment to a mala is common. I myself made my first mala personally by hand and was sullen for days when the original guru bead I had for it broke and when I lost another of the original beads. It could only be considered a proper mala in that it has 108 beads and a guru bead, since its made of blue glass strung on stretchy clear rubber, and the original guru bead was a blue glass frog, but its mine, I made it with love, and I used the majority of my gift money from my first post-conversion birthday to get the beads to make it.

    Quote Originally Posted by NayaSurya View Post
    As I feel my anglo-ness is already offensive to some. I don't need anything else working against me:P
    heh yeah, I know the feeling. I felt awkward being quite noticably the palest guy in the temple durring my first Shivaratri Aarti this year, but I didn't catch anyone staring or giving me dirty looks thankfully.
    Last edited by Ashvati; 05 April 2010 at 03:46 PM. Reason: sounded slightly materialistic the way I wrote the first time around.

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