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
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