Guest guest Posted August 11, 2002 Report Share Posted August 11, 2002 Greetings to everyone, Most of us are probably aware that rudraksha seeds and tulsi wood are definitely the most favored materials for malas used in japa yoga. I have, in the past, used a rudraksha mala before switching to a sandalwood mala. The reasons for the switch were because I found the rudrakshas difficult to maintain and most susceptible to attacks from insidious burrowing insects (lost two malas that way!), and secondly, (I think) I did not experience any perceptible decline in the efficacy of my mantra practice using a non-rudraksha mala. In your opinion(s)/experience(s), is the use of a non-rudraksha mala to do shiva or shakti mantras sacrilegious? I am always respectful towards my Ishta Lord Shiva, but at the same time I have a rebellious streak in me which does not take kindly to blindly accepting handed- down dogmas. Does the quality of my devotion to my Ishta really depend on the TYPE of mala I use? (All on-line rudraksha merchants seem to say so.) Your comments will be appreciated. Hari Om Tat Sat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2002 Report Share Posted August 11, 2002 Namaskar Blu_Ochs! I'm sure you'll get many opinions on this. Here are mine, briefly because I've only got a few minutes online: *** In your opinion(s)/experience(s), is the use of a non-rudraksha mala to do shiva or shakti mantras sacrilegious? *** In my understanding, rudraksha beads are preferred by Shiva sadhaks, but they are not necessary. (Our old friend Eve_69 is, you'll find, a connoisseur of the rudraksha and its sometimes astonishing effects; he might be the perfect guy to answer this question, actually.) In Shaktism, rudraksha beads are not necessary. Some believe that different forms of Devi prefer malas of different materials. *** Does the quality of my devotion to my Ishta really depend on the TYPE of mala I use? *** Definitely not. These are two separate issues. The key word here, by the way, is "devotion" -- the efficacy of bhakti yoga is based solely on the quality of your bhakti. However, when seeking lesser siddhis (occult powers, etc.) there are sometimes precise sorts of malas prescribed, and in such cases the specified type of mala *must* be used. Because in these lesser, limited sadhanas, one's success depends wholly upon one's adherence to formula, and not on devotion at all. Overemphasis by some Shaktas on lesser siddhis, I should note, has given Shaktism in general a bad name in certain circles -- and therefore we tend to concentrate here only on the selfless sadhanas of the higher siddhis. *** I did not experience any perceptible decline in the efficacy of my mantra practice using a non-rudraksha mala. *** That is really all the proof you need, don't you think? Aum Maatangyai Namahe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2002 Report Share Posted August 11, 2002 Namaste it matters not one bit - it is your devotion that matters - I count japa on my fingers a lot of the time - I also use a rudraksha mala - a lotus seed mala - a skull mala made of bone - a red bead mala - a sandalwood mala - a carnelian mala - a buddhist mala that appears to be bone (not sure could be plastic for all I know) - I seem to collect them - yet I like doing the finger method a great deal - do not look to the material - look to your heart. Jai Maa Love baba , "blu_ochs" <arasharatarashaka> wrote: > Greetings to everyone, > > Most of us are probably aware that rudraksha seeds and tulsi wood are > definitely the most favored materials for malas used in japa yoga. I > have, in the past, used a rudraksha mala before switching to a > sandalwood mala. The reasons for the switch were because I found the > rudrakshas difficult to maintain and most susceptible to attacks from > insidious burrowing insects (lost two malas that way!), and secondly, > (I think) I did not experience any perceptible decline in the > efficacy of my mantra practice using a non-rudraksha mala. > > In your opinion(s)/experience(s), is the use of a non-rudraksha mala > to do shiva or shakti mantras sacrilegious? I am always respectful > towards my Ishta Lord Shiva, but at the same time I have a rebellious > streak in me which does not take kindly to blindly accepting handed- > down dogmas. Does the quality of my devotion to my Ishta really > depend on the TYPE of mala I use? (All on-line rudraksha merchants > seem to say so.) > > Your comments will be appreciated. > > Hari Om Tat Sat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2002 Report Share Posted August 12, 2002 My $0.02: "Does the quality of my devotion to my Ishta really depend on the TYPE of mala I use?" - No! It does not matter what type of mala you use. It is tradition to use different beads. Sometimes I recommend a stop watch and then relying on the elapsed time to count multiple rounds. Having said that, it applies to only brand new malas. If you picked up a used mala from someone, say a skull mala, you don't know how and for what purpose they used it. So one has to be extremely careful. Cheers Mukti - blu_ochs Sunday, August 11, 2002 11:28 AM mala beads: a question Greetings to everyone, Most of us are probably aware that rudraksha seeds and tulsi wood are definitely the most favored materials for malas used in japa yoga. I have, in the past, used a rudraksha mala before switching to a sandalwood mala. The reasons for the switch were because I found the rudrakshas difficult to maintain and most susceptible to attacks from insidious burrowing insects (lost two malas that way!), and secondly, (I think) I did not experience any perceptible decline in the efficacy of my mantra practice using a non-rudraksha mala. In your opinion(s)/experience(s), is the use of a non-rudraksha mala to do shiva or shakti mantras sacrilegious? I am always respectful towards my Ishta Lord Shiva, but at the same time I have a rebellious streak in me which does not take kindly to blindly accepting handed- down dogmas. Does the quality of my devotion to my Ishta really depend on the TYPE of mala I use? (All on-line rudraksha merchants seem to say so.) Your comments will be appreciated. Hari Om Tat Sat Sponsor shakti_sadhnaa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2002 Report Share Posted August 13, 2002 Om blu ochs This reply is a little late as I take the month of August off and have been away for a week or so (soon to leave again). <<Does the quality of my devotion to my Ishta really depend on the TYPE of mala I use? (All on-line rudraksha merchants seem to say so.)>> Your last sentence answers your question. The self-interest of on-line merchants and others who ask for money/donations on-line effectively contaminates their claims. As the other replies have stated, in terms of Moksha, the most significant quality is the depth of your devotion. The materials that comprise your mala is of no importance. In fact, the use of a mala, while useful for new meditators, is not a necessary part of a meditation practice. The mala initially helps to focus and purify the mind and intent. It helps to regulate the time and number of repetitions of the mantra that occur in a given meditation session. But too much reliance on the use of mala (or anything else) can also reduce meditation to a formula and turn an essential spirtual practice into a rote, mechancial, self-deluding exercise. >From my point of view, the fewer trappings one has attached to their sadhana, the more valuable will be the sadhana. Om namah Sivaya Omprem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2002 Report Share Posted August 21, 2002 After acquiring the rudraksha mala, dip it in sesame oil for an hour or so, then dry it in the sun and wipe it and use it. The chances of insects will be miniscule. Jai Kali. --- blu_ochs <arasharatarashaka wrote: > Greetings to everyone, > > Most of us are probably aware that rudraksha seeds > and tulsi wood are > definitely the most favored materials for malas used > in japa yoga. I > have, in the past, used a rudraksha mala before > switching to a > sandalwood mala. The reasons for the switch were > because I found the > rudrakshas difficult to maintain and most > susceptible to attacks from > insidious burrowing insects (lost two malas that > way!), and secondly, > (I think) I did not experience any perceptible > decline in the > efficacy of my mantra practice using a non-rudraksha > mala. > > In your opinion(s)/experience(s), is the use of a > non-rudraksha mala > to do shiva or shakti mantras sacrilegious? I am > always respectful > towards my Ishta Lord Shiva, but at the same time I > have a rebellious > streak in me which does not take kindly to blindly > accepting handed- > down dogmas. Does the quality of my devotion to my > Ishta really > depend on the TYPE of mala I use? (All on-line > rudraksha merchants > seem to say so.) > > Your comments will be appreciated. > > Hari Om Tat Sat > > > > > HotJobs - Search Thousands of New Jobs http://www.hotjobs.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2002 Report Share Posted August 21, 2002 Thank you for the tip, Rao. You have given me a few new ideas... Qn: Sesame oil is an edible perishable, would there be a problem of it breaking down and festering bacteria? (I'm thinking of using the anti-bacterial teatree oil as an alternative.) Hare Krsna , Satyendra Rao <kashyapa_705> wrote: > After acquiring the rudraksha mala, dip it in sesame > oil for an hour or so, then dry it in the sun and wipe > it and use it. The chances of insects will be > miniscule. > > Jai Kali. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2002 Report Share Posted August 21, 2002 Typically people use inedible mustard oil. It also smells better than sesame. - blu_ochs Wednesday, August 21, 2002 10:22 AM Re: mala beads: a question Thank you for the tip, Rao. You have given me a few new ideas... Qn: Sesame oil is an edible perishable, would there be a problem of it breaking down and festering bacteria? (I'm thinking of using the anti-bacterial teatree oil as an alternative.) Hare Krsna , Satyendra Rao <kashyapa_705> wrote: > After acquiring the rudraksha mala, dip it in sesame > oil for an hour or so, then dry it in the sun and wipe > it and use it. The chances of insects will be > miniscule. > > Jai Kali. > Sponsor shakti_sadhnaa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2002 Report Share Posted August 22, 2002 You see according to the upanishads one should hand pick the rudraksha seeds that are healty with the aghora mantra and the prana prathista they become protected. tee tree oil is a rajasic substance and I would not suggest that, one suggestion is calf urine due to the acidity the pesky bugs are dead and it wont rot the beads. Like I said but using mantra japa harmonises the natural magnetic field of the rudraksha and that is why it is used for japa due to the magnetic field it has. It changes due to the harmonious patterns that are projected at it, ie mantras. You need big, thorny healthy beads that are really really large and that dont have any damage. White ones are said to be one of the best. Digital How To- Get the best out of your PC! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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