rudrākṣa - the eyes of śiva
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~
namasté
ॐ रुद्राय नमः
oṁ rudrāya namaḥ
oṁ I bow (salutations) to rudra, the praiseworthy One.
Rudra रुद्र we know as roarer or howler; 'rud' we know is to cry or weep, lament. This root rud रुद् is equal to वृध् vṛdh to cherish , foster, praise ,elevate , exalt , gladden, cheer , exhilarate.
So when we look deeper into the meaning of rudra we find śiva is being hailed as the roarer or howler, yet He is the praiseworthly (vṛdh) One.
I thought to offer what I know regarding rudrākṣa. My information will be taken from various upaniṣad-s e.g. rudrākṣajābala upaniṣad, the śiva mahāpurāṇa, my studies and where appropriate my personal experiences. I ask others to join in and contribute as they wish.
What types of questions are usually asked about rudrākṣa ? Let me offer a few:
- Can women wear rudrākṣa ?
- How many types of rudrākṣa are there? e.g. how many 'faces' mukhi-s ( from mukha or faces, mouth )?
- Is one better then the other?
- What are the merits of wearing rudrākṣa ?
- What is the proper garland (mālā ) to wear ? How many seeds ( 108, 27, 54) ?
- Where is it improper to wear the rudrākṣa mālā e.g. toliet, cremation grounds,etc.
- What is the proper start for wearing rudrākṣa ? e.g. pūja or purification?
- Should I wear the mālā to bed?
- Is there a 'test' to insure a rudrākṣa bead is authentic?
- What foods should a wearer of rudrākṣa avoid ( as found in the śiva mahāpurāṇa )?
- Can I make orniments or rings from rudrākṣa ?
- Can other family members wear the same mālā ?
- Is it advisable for children to wear rudrākṣa ?
- What is the best size of the rudrākṣa seed ( some call seed bīja; some write it as vīja )
- Do you, yajvan wear a mālā ? Yes.
- Is there a botanical name for rudrākṣa ? Yes, Elaeocarpus ganitrus.
- Will I feel something when I wear rudrākṣa ?
These are some of the questions I have heard throughout the years. Perhaps you have others?
Let me start with the first idea and information based upon its definition:
We have read rudrākṣa is highly sanctifying. It removes sins by sight, contact and japa. Many see rudrākṣa (rudra + akṣa) 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.
- akṣa अक्ष is for for akṣi 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 akṣa , eye. Others say it is his tears. And others say rudrākṣa means it is pleasing to the eyes (akṣa) of rudra.
Another view I just was thinking of as I read mālinī-vijayotara tantra is the following.
We reviewed this format rudrākśa (rudra + akṣa) above. Yet another form is rud + rākṣā.
- rud रुद्- is grief, pain, wailing, weeping or crying.
- rākṣā रक्षा- the act of protecting or guarding , protection , care , preservation , security
Put together - rudrākṣā 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 rudrākṣā ).
ॐ महेश्वराय नमः
om maheśvarāya namaḥ
praṇām
Last edited by yajvan; 12 November 2015 at 04:41 PM.
यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
because you are identical with śiva
_
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