The term Rudraakshais used to denote the seed of a variety of Berry Tree. It is considered to be most holy because of its medicinal and spiritual benefits. The origin of Rudraaksha is described in many Puraanas, especially in the Devi Bhaagavata and Shiva Puraana.
The legend goes that Lord Rudra (Shiva) was over looking the Pralaya (the great deluge). Due to the strain of unblinking gaze which continued for countless number of years, a drop of his tear fell upon the earth at the dawn of new creation. The drop from the eye (aksha) of Rudra, became a berry tree which is the holy tree of Rudraaksha.
Lord Rudra declared that henceforth the seeds of the tree would confer happiness, health, bliss, freedom from mental, physical and natural miseries apart from giving the wearer the highest benefit of Shiva-Jnyaana i.e. the gnosis of Shiva.
The seed of Rudraaksha comes in three different sizes, four different colours and in various bifurcation lines called mukha (face). Starting from a single to twenty one mukhi Rudraaksha, there are many such varities each giving a specific result and each presided by a specific deity.
Regarding the size, Rudraaksha comes in the sizes equalent to a gooseberry (aamla), wild-berry (badari) and that of a pepper. The colours too are yellowish-white, red, yellowish and black.
The Rudraaksha can be worn on head, ear-lobes, neck, hands and across the shoulders too. One whose body is thus fully bedecked with Rudraaksha is to be considered as the embodiment of Lord Shiva himself. The Rudraaksha should be consecrated with the mantra which the devotee chants or by ‘AUM’ to make it efficacious. Lord Vishnu in the eleventh chapter of Devi Bhaagavata states that
“I cannot describe sufficiently the greatness of Rudraaksha. Hence a devotee ought to wear the consecrated Rudraaksha garland and perform his japa using it.”
These are some of the benefits listed in the Bhaagavata Puraana, but the list is endless. The person who wears Rudraaksha ought to remain pure and avoid food which is not recommended in scriptures. He should worship the Rudraaksha beads
before wearing or using it for Japa and always treat it with respect.
The mantra into which the devotee is initiated and is chanted while offering water to please (tarp – to please) the deity. The tarpana to the extent of one tenth times the number of japa is an important limb in making the mantra efficient for the chanter (Mantra - Siddhi). If the Sadhaka perform the japa say for 1008 times, he should perform tarpana for 108 times.
The acts of Japa, homa and tarpana are important to attain union with the Lord as they are all to be performed in all earnestness and bhakti.
The worship or devataa aradhana can be performed daily (or) on special occasions, called Utsavas (festivals). The panchaayatana worship mentioned earlier, is a duty ordained for daily routine.
This article is a snippet from the Book Hinduism For All, Authored by TS Srinivasan and Edited By Dr Ramchandrashekar. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in & across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture & Tradition.
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