Namaste Divine Light,
I am so excited to hear about your new seeds, congratulations! Honestly, I think it also depends on the person as to how long before they feel benefit. My very first seeds were in a Mala given to me by a friend and is Sri Lankan seeds - considered to be inferior compared to Java and Nepal beads. But I felt them right away. This is the mala so many different people on different occasions told me to never take off. I have restrung it several times, and I love it. Some of the seeds on it are even quite broken, but I don't think I will ever replace them, the mala still has power.
I don't know enough to comment on Neeta ji's statement about the seeds being the biggest part of their power, but she would certainly know and it makes sense to me. There is a seed in each chamber, each mukhi has a chamber for a seed. This is why the faces are important, it tells you how many seeds. Mukhis can certainly start deep on the top and be very shallow on bottom, I see this in Nepal beads as well, I imagine it would be much more the case with Java beads with start with shallower lines to begin with. As long as the line travels along the whole of the beads, top to bottom, and is unbroken and has not been partially carved to complete the line, then it is a true Mukhi line.
In my experience, sometimes thorns do break off, either spontaneously in the cleaning process or through wear. I have found my bracelet in particular has lost a few thorns due to wear and tear. This is okay as long as it's not a lot of them and the seed shell is not itself broken. It shouldn't affect the power of the bead.
I am really excited because I'm almost done finishing my seeds and am about to start taking some pictures. I will be able to share some to illustrate some of these points.
I wish I could write more but have to go as I'm on the run to an appointment at the moment. Happy Holidays to you as well and talk to you again soon!
~Pranam
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