RUDRAKSHA TREE

My former student, Sharveen, got a ride from me to go to school on Saturday morning as he was invited to Prize Giving Day of our school. Sharveen scored 5As for the 2010 SPM and was invited back to school to receive a prize. While I was driving him to school, he commented that the Rudraksha beads that I had hanging in the car were fake. After the ceremony in school, Sharveen brought me to a shop selling the real Rudraksha beads. He is holding a strand of 54 prayer beads.

Rudraksha Prayer beads on sale at a shop in Sitiawan.

The prayer beads comes in different sizes and lengths.

Rudraksha beads are known as Tears of Lord Siva. They are the original Vedic beads worn by the Yogis of India and teh Himalayas for thousands of years to maintain health and gain self-empowement. The Rudraksha beads are actually the seeds from the fruit of the Rudraksha tree.

I learnt about these wonderful beads last year and was trying to find out where to find such a tree. By coincidence, Sharveen saw the fake beads that I bought and he showed me where to buy the real ones. When I asked him if he knew where to find such a tree, he said that it could be found at an ashram in Sitiawan. Of course, I made him take me to the place after I bought the prayer beads.

 Here is the Rudraksha tree which is planted in front of theSanathana Dharma Ashram in Sitiawan. As a matter of fact, they have 3 Rudraksha trees in the compound. The founder of the Ashsram told me that they got the seedlings of the tree from Hawaii. The children of the Ashram would pick the fruits and process them to be sold. This is one of the activities carried out by the children. I heard that the beads would be sold during religious Hindu festivals. The beads available are the Four Face and Five Face ones.

The children of the Ashram processing the Rudraksha beads

Common names: Rudraksha

Scientific name: Elaeocarpus ganitrus
Family: Elaeocarpaceae
Genus: Elaeocarpus
Species: E. ganitrus

Information:
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). One Hindu legend says that once Lord Shiva opened his eyes after a long time dyana or yoga, because of extreme fulfillment he shed out tear. This single tear from Shiva’s eye grew into the Rudraksha tree. Rudraksha fruit is blue in color but turns black when dried. The central hard Rudraksha uni-seed has 1 to 108 faces and 2 to 21 faces Rudraksha are available, 1 faced Rudraksha is scarcely available, Rudraksha having 22 to 108 are almost extinct, there are people sayings that 22 to 108 faced Rudrakshas plants are still there at the foot hills of Himalayas and Manasa-sarover regions, but still no one has seen them.

MEDICINAL USES OF RUDRAKSHA

Rudraksha bead is a natural tranquilizer and it has been proved that wearing Rudraksha around heart controlled heart beat and keeps blood pressure under control. For this, it is necessary that the Rudrakasha bead should touch the heart. People with the problem of high blood pressure can also take Rudraksha as a medicine. Dip two Beads of Five Mukhi Rudraksh in a glass of water in night and let them immersed in water for whole night. Drink that water in the morning, before any other intake. You can use any metal for the vessel except copper.

» Rudraksha also imposes positive effect on Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Palpitations and Lack of Concentration.
» It cools down the body temperature and brings calm to mind. Those who suffer from anxiety should keep big size Five

Mukhi Rudraksh with themselves and whenever they feel nervous, they should hold them tight in their right palm for ten

minutes. It will help them to regain their confidence and their body would become stable.

» Rudrakasha is an excellent bead for pregnant women. Wearing Garbh Gauri Rudraksha helps women who have problems in

conceiving a child and are prone to abortion. Rudraksha is also useful for women suffering from hysteria and coma.

» Rudraksha also help to cure prolonged cough, the paste of ten-faced Rudrakasha with milk relieves prolonged cough. This

medicine should be taken thrice a day. It can be used as a cure for skin diseases, sores, ringworm, pimples, boils and burns also.

» Rudraksha is also good for children who suffer from frequent fever. Such children should wear three-faced Rudrakasha.

» To cure smallpox equal quantity of black pepper and Rudrakasha should be powdered and taken with water.

» Rudraksha is also useful in mental diseases. Milk boiled with four faced Rudrakasha seed is good medicine for mental diseases. This also helps in increasing your memory.

» Rudraksha also possess anti ageing property.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudraksha
http://www.india-shopping.net/rudraksha/medicinal_propertiesof_rudraksha.htm