Rudraksha is a large evergreen broad-leaved tree whose seed is traditionally used for prayer beads in Hinduism.Rudraksha is a seed of a fruit from trees grown in India, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia.Rudraksha grows in Rudraksha plants. .The tree grows in the area from the Gangetic Plain in foothills of the Himalayas to South-East Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea to Australia, Guam, and Hawaii. Rudraksha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the name Rudra ("Shiva") and Aksha ("eye") .

THE LEGEND:The terms Rudraksha literally means the "Eyes" of Shiva and is so named in His benevolence. Shiva Purana describe Rudraksha's origin as Lord Shiva's tears. He had been meditating for many years for the welfare of all creatures. On opening the eyes, hot drops of tears rolled down and the mother earth gave birth to Rudraksha trees.

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Oxalidales

Family: Elaeocarpaceae

Genus: Elaeocarpus

Species: E. ganitrus

Binomial name: Elaeocarpus ganitrus

TREE,FRUIT AND THE SEED:The tree is as big as banyan tree. It takes 15 to 18 years to take full shape.Rudraksha is a fruit, which is covered with pulp and a thin outer skin. The skin is green in color like banana skin. But when plucked from the tree and allowed to remain, as it is, the colors of the skin become blackish blue.Rudraksha seeds are covered by an outer shell of blue color when fully ripe, and for this reason are also known as blueberry beads.The diameter of the seed is up to 1 inch (2.54 cm) and is nearly round in shape. Rudraksha Tree starts bearing fruit in three to four years. As the tree matures, the roots buttress rising up narrowly near the trunk and radiating out along the surface of the ground.

FACES:. The seed can have 1 to 14 mouths (Mukhi's) or faces and Rudraksha up to 21 Mukhi's (faces) have been obtained by some collectors. The Mukhi's or the face is easy to count and is a natural division of the seed.The seeds show variation in the number of grooves on their surface, and are classified on the basis of the number of divisions that they have. Different qualities are attributed to the Rudraksha based on the number of grooves, or 'faces' that it has. A common type has five divisions, and these are considered to be symbolic of the five faces of Shiva. It can only be worn with black string or a gold chain Many studies have been carried out for the scientific explanation of different effects of various faces. The Indian epics are full of varying affects of wearing Rudraksha of different faces. More than 95% of Rudraksha available naturally is 5 Mukhi's (Panch Mukhi's) and these are very powerful with several attributes for the mankind.The central hard Rudraksha uni-seed has 1 to 108 faces and 2 to 21 faces Rudraksha are available, 1 faced Rudraksha is scarcely available, Rudraksha having 22 to 108 are almost extinct.

RUDRAKSA MALA:Rudraksha beads are the material from which malas (108 beads in number) are made. The term is used both for the berries themselves and as a term for the type of mālā made from them. In this sense, a rudraksha is a rosary, used for repetitive prayer (japa), a common aid to worship in Hinduism. .

Rudraksha Mala has been used by Hindus (as well as Sikhs and Buddhists) as rosary at least from the 10th century  onwards for meditation purposes and to sanctify the mind, body and soul.

PURIFICATION: If the bead has not been purified, sanctified and energised, it is as useful as a button on your shirt say some experts

SPIRITUALISM AND MATERIAL BENEFITS:Rudraksha,is  the most powerful and awesome bead ever. This bead can help you achieve all you want – a healthy mind, body and soul,and a wealthy life .Words in the dictionary fall short of describing the immense powers of the Rudrakshas. For thousands of years mankind has been  benefited immensely from them. The  Rudraksha beads have been worn by mankind for good health, religious attainment through Japa and Shakti (power) and for fearless life. Saints and sages roaming in Himalayas and other forests have lived healthy, fearless and a full life by wearing Rudraksha's and its Malas. There is no saint, God incarnation or Shankaracharyas, who can be identified without these vibrant Rudraksha beads or Malas. 

AYURVEDA:In Ayurveda, Rudraksha Therapy is well known.Rudraksha is  used for treatment of various diseases in traditional Indian medicine.

CURE OF DISEASES:

One faced  : Ear, Eye, Head, Bowel, Bones, Asthma and TB.

Two Faced : Frustration, Sleeplessness and tensions.

Three Faced :Protects from Arms and Weapons. Ward off ill luck and purifies blood.

Four Faced  :It minimizes  Intellectual dullness, lack of grasping and  understanding power,  difficulty in  effective communication.

Five Faced   :It sublimates the malefic effects of Jupiter such as Lack of peace, poverty, harmony and diseases pertaining to Lungs, heart and blood.

Six Faced  : Hysteria and mental illness. Epilepsy and all women related problems

Seven Faced:Impotency, Cold, Obstruction, Chronic disease, scarcity, worry

Eight Faced: Removes diseases and Wearer gets long life and becomes more truthful.                      

Nine Faced : It controls and cures mental fatigue, lack of energy to materialize thought and features.

Ten Faced   : Overcomes fear, Develops and sound mind and safeguard against evil influences and respiratory diseases. Helpful in Chronic cough and Asthma.

Eleven Faced : Gives  long life. Also helps issueless women to have children.

Twelve Faced  : It protects from all kinds of weapons or any danger from fire or disease or sickness.

Thirteen Faced: Protects against ill and ill luck reduces mental tension.

Fourteen Faced :Removes all obstacles from life and guards from diseases.

ASTROLOGY:Each planet covers different organs of the human body. The malefic situation of the planet may cause the diseases related to the organs that comes under the specific planet. Rudraksha plays an important role in reducing the tribulations (including diseases) caused by the malefic planets. 1 to 9 faced (mukhi) Rudrakshas are related to the planets. An astrologer suggests the native to wear the specific Rudraksha for specific planet, thus preventing the native from the diseases related to that planet.

PROPERTIES:The beneficial powers of Rudraksha are by virtue of its Electrical and Magnetic Properties. 

Electrical Properties:

It has the ability to send out subtle electrical impulses & Inductive vibrations and acts as a Dielectric as in a capacitor to store electrical energy. Our Human body, The Central Nervous System, Autonomous, Sympathetic & Para sympathetic Nervous System and Various other Organ systems in to to can be considered a complex Bio- Electronic circuit.Human beings and all living beings are prone to stress continuously in the continuous fight for survival and prosperity.In modern age with intense competition the Stress levels have increased tremendously. Almost every individual has problems of Stress and Stress related ailments like insomnia, alcoholism, depression, Maladjustments, heart diseases, skin diseases etc. Any Doctor will confirm that almost 95% of the ailments are Psychosomatic or Stress related (i.e.) originating from Mind. When there is Stress or Maladjustment corresponding Stress signals are sent to the Central Nervous systems, there is an increased activity or abnormal of Neurons and Neuro transmitters. The magnitude of change will depend on the cause and specific case. When such a thing occurs and it occurs continuously, streamlined flow of electrical signals throughout the Mind-Body interface is disrupted and it makes us feel uncomfortable and we are not able to act with our full efficiency. Our Blood circulation becomes Non-ideal and we feel various illnesses. Unfortunately this happens all the time.In such cases Rudraksha beads act as a Stabilizing Anchor. 

Resistance :

There is continuous and subtle flow of bioelectrical signal throughout the body due to potential difference between parts of the Body. Rudraksha beads of particular Mukhi's or Facets have a definitive Factor of Resistance.  energetic. It has been observed that specific Mukhi's or Facets of Rudraksha beads send out specific signals acting on a particular brain chemical and thereby by effecting specific positive changes in personality. 

Capacitance or the Dielectric Properties :

Rudraksha beads act as dielectric (i.e.) as a storage of electrical energy. This property of Rudraksha makes it capable in stabilizing and anchoring the Bioelectric current. . This property is very helpful in controlling hyperactivity, palpitations of heart, streamlining heartbeat etc. Due to stress when there is increased physical activity heart beats faster and the overall activity of hormones and nervous system increases. This causes increased energy levels or increase in potential difference. As a result of this the magnitude of the Bioelectric Current Increases. Rudraksha beads acting as Dielectric store this excess Bioelectric Energy thereby streamlining the overall activity to Normalcy . 

Magnetic Properties:

The beneficial healing properties of magnets are not unknown to us. Rudraksha beads have Both Paramagnetic and Diamagnetic with the most important property of Dynamic Polarity . Magnetic Healing is becoming extremely popular off late and everyone who have been using magnets for healing have been getting the benefits and found overall betterment and rejuvenation. Rudraksha beads retain most of the properties of Magnets but it is unparallel in one aspect, that of the ability to change it's polarity.When magnets are passed on various parts of the body the opposite poles of the magnets and that of cells get attracted and there is an expansion of the passage .The Arteries and veins open up to facilitate streamlined blood circulation. When there is a streamlining of blood circulation most of the illnesses get automatically healed and we feel better and rejuvenated.But with magnets the polarity is fixed. When magnets are brought near a particular part of the body it opens up only those sections of veins and arteries where there is a matching of polarities . We experience healing and feel better but we can still go much further with Dynamic Polarity of Rudraksha beads. Rudraksha has the ability to Change it's polarity-The property of Dynamic Polarity.Because of this the opening up the passages of Arteries and Veins are far better than that of magnets. Much better healing and rejuvenation is experienced. 

Anti Ageing properties: This is mainly because of the Dynamic Polarity of the Rudraksha a bead thus the healing powers of Rudraksha are far superior to that of Magnets. In some sense Rudraksha beads can be termed to have some additional life or Intelligence as against Magnets.