General Rationale

Rudraksha beads are seeds from the rudraksha tree (Elaeocarpus ganitrus) that is grown in South East Asia (Java, Korea, parts of Malaysia, Taiwan and China) and Southern Asia (Northern India and Nepal).

The seeds are harvested from the fruit cleaned and polished, sometimes stained and used as beads by Hindus (as well as Sikhs and Buddhists) as spiritual rosaries (or malas), necklaces, bracelets and other ornamental objects. They are frequently set in gold and stones.

Rudraksha seed has a rough surface (brain-like in appearance) and a hole running through it from top to bottom. Each seed also possesses from 1 to 21 vertical lines (clefts or furrows) running down its surface, like the longitude lines on a globe. These lines are known as mukhas (mukhis), or facets, and are natural formations of the seed. Almost all beads are five-faced, with a very small percentage being more or less. The therapeutic and spiritual attributes of rudraksha beads is dependent on the number of 'faces' it exhibits.

Example images of Rudraksha seeds