Introduction
Rudraksha beads, the holy beads, are
scientifically called as Elaeocarpus
Ganitrus. Rudraksha comes from Sanskrit
word and literally stands for the "eyes
of Lord Shiva" ( rudra=shiva, aksham=tear
of an eye).
Lord Shiva an important deity of
Vedic age (125000yrs B.C.) and is
depicted wearing rosary of Rudraksha
beads in the icon of different
historical era. So it reveals that the
merits of Rudraksha was first realized by
Shiva himself and handed over to benefit
of later generation.
The greatness of Rudraksha are
described in following Puranic book:-
- Shiva Purana( Vidyesvara Samhita)
- Padma Purana (chapt. 57)
- Srimaddevibhagavata(chapt.xi
-vii)
- Rudrakshajabalopanisad,
- Mahakala Samhita
These holy Rudraksha beads have been
worn by the people of Nepal and India
for thousands of years to maintain
physical and mental health and to gain
fearless life on their spiritual path to
enlightenment and liberation.
According to Srimaddevibhagavatam (the
oldest holy books), it describes the
origin of Rudraksha on its eleven
chapter -VII khanda.
The exact phrase extract during
discussion of Rudraksha between
Vishnu and Naradmuni Rishi is as
follows:-
Narad Muni: -
Narayan (God Vishnu), I know the
greatness of the Rudraksha beads that
you have said but may I know how
Rudraksha came to this earth and
honoured ?
Narayan said: -
O Child! This is the very question that
was asked once by Kartikeya, the six
faced son of Rudra dwelling in kailas.
What Rudra replied, I say now listen:-
RudraDeva spoke:
O Child Kartikeya, I will dwell briefly
on the secret cause of the greatness of
the Rudraksha beads. In days of the year
there was a devil called Tripura who
could not be conquered by anybody.
Brahma, Vishnu and other Devas requested
that I contemplate the divine Great
weapon named Aghora, beautiful, terrible
and containing the strength of all the
Devas to kill him. It was inconceivable
and it was blazing with fire.
In the process, for full divine one
thousand years I remained awake with
eyelids wide open in thinking of Aghora
weapon, the destroyer of all obstacles,
whereby the killing of Tripura might be
carried out and the troubles of the
devas be removed. There by my eyes were
affected and the drops of tear came out
of eyes.
O Son Kartikeya from those drops of tear
coming out of my eyes, the great tree of
Rudraksha did spring for the welfare of
all Devas and mankind. This Rudraksha
beads are of Twenty-Eight varieties.
From my Surya Netra (my right eye)
symbolizing the sun twelve varieties
have come and my left eye representing
the moon(the soma netra)sixteen
varieties.
O Intelligent One! Wherever, whoever
holds with or without faith and devotion
this great Rudraksha will attain
Rudrahood and freed from all sins; his
religious merit is inexhaustible.
From then Rudraksha tree grown in Gauda
Land, the favorite place of Lord Shiva
ranging from the great Himalayan belt to
Southeast Asia. Although grown in many
countries like Nepal, India, Burma,
Bhutan, Indonesia, it localizes mainly
in Nepal.
Since then to bless the Shiva devotees,
these Rudraksha beads were given to four
Varnas, Brahmin, Ksatriya, Vaisya and
Sudra representing by their colour white
, red, yellow, black respectively. All
people of any Varnas, men, women ,child
can wear any colour of rudraksha who is
freed from sins and suffering and get
bless from all Gods.
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