Re: Rudrakhsa
Hari Om
~~~~~
Namaste Amit,
If you use the search feature on the HDF tool bar, you will find we have talked often about this subject.
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.
Much can be read about this in the Śiva Purāṇa-s:
rudrākśa is the favorite bead of Śiva. It is hightly sanctifying. It removes sins by sight, contact and japa.
pranams
Last edited by yajvan; 13 September 2008 at 04:02 PM.
Reason: spelling
यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
because you are identical with śiva
_
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