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Rudraksha beads since
times immemorial are associated with mythology and traditions,
PLANTS have provided food, curative medicines and shelter to man since times immemorial. Apart from their commercial use, many plants are associated with mythology and traditions. Rudraksha is one such sacred tree. The plant is Elaeocarpus sphaericus belonging to family Elaeocarpaceae and is commonly known as the Utrasum bead tree. The species is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical parts of the globe especially eastern Asia. In the Indian subcontinent, it is found in Nepal, Bihar, Bengal, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Bombay, where it is either wild or cultivated ornamental. It is a medium-sized tree with oblong-lanceolate, subentire and nearly glabrous leaves. The flowers are white and borne in dense recemes arising mostly from old leaf axils. The fruits are deep or bluish purple drupes, globose or obovoid measuring .5 to 1.0 inch in diameter. The fruit encloses a hard, longitudinally grooved, normally five-celled stone. According to the tradition of Skanda Purana, it is believed that Shiva himself annihilated his jealous devotees, "Tripuras", but tears of remorse swelled in his eyes and turned into hard red beads as they touched the ground. These beads germinated and grew into trees in his abode. Coming as they did from the aksha (tears) of Rudra (Shiva), they came to be called rudraksha trees and bore the self-same beads as had originally fallen from His eyes. Another prevalent tradition relates rudraksha to Shiva’s consort, Parvati. Soon after their marriage Parvati discovered that Shiva lived like a sadhu practising austerities all the time and was indifferent to all feminine charms and women’s love for ornaments. Shiva did not see any worth in such earthly things and scorned Parvati for being childish. Further he told her to devote her time to listening to discourses of cosmic significance. This only enraged Parvati and she redoubled her desire for jewels and earthly comforts. One spring it was pristine glory, the sky was heavenly blue, flowers opened in their myriad hues, bees and butterflies hopped from flower to flower for sucking nectar. Every corner of the cosmos was full of eternal joy. Parvati was also filled with longing for jewels and again asked for them. This time the Lord had to give in. He stretched his hands and rudraksha fruits fell from heaven into his hands. He gave them to Parvati and asked her to make necklaces, bangles, armlets and ear-rings of these beads. The Agni Purana has it that Shiva himself gave the method and types of rudraksha to be worn. A man should wear rudraksha beads firmly threaded together and even in number. The beads should have one, three or five faces. The beads having two, four or six faces with unbroken thorns on the surface are considered as the most auspicious. |
