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Rudraksha (IAST: rudrākṣa) refers to the dried stones or seeds of the genus Elaeocarpus specifically, Elaeocarpus ganitrus.[1] These stones serve as prayer beads for Hindus (especially Shaivas),and Buddhists . When they are ripe, rudraksha stones are covered by a blue outer fruit so they are sometimes called "blueberry beads[2]
The stones are associated with the Hindu deity Shiva and are commonly worn for protection and for chanting mantras such as Om Namah Shivaya (Sanskrit: ॐ नमः शिवाय; Om Namaḥ Śivāya). They are primarily sourced from India, Indonesia, and Nepal for jewellery and malas (garlands) and valued similarly to semi-precious stones.[1] Rudraksha can have up to twenty one "faces" (Sanskrit: मुख, romanized: mukha, lit. 'face') or locules - naturally ingrained longitudinal lines which divide the stone into segments. Each face represents a particular deity.[3][4]
- ^ a b Bhattacharyya, Bharati (2015-10-02). Golden Greens: The Amazing World of Plants. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). pp. 21–25. ISBN 978-81-7993-441-8.
- ^ Singh, B; Chopra, A; Ishar, MP; Sharma, A; Raj, T (2010). "Pharmacognostic and antifungal investigations of Elaeocarpus ganitrus (Rudrakasha)". Indian J Pharm Sci. 72 (2): 261–5. doi:10.4103/0250-474X.65021. PMC 2929793. PMID 20838538.
- ^ Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z. Rosen. p. 576. ISBN 978-0-8239-3180-4.
- ^ "Official Website of Sadhguru, Isha Foundation | India". isha.sadhguru.org. Retrieved 2024-03-24.