Digest Number 310

[Guest guest]

Thank you Len/Kalipadma

for this enlightening message. I have wondered about the significance of the

beads, although I already wear the mala.

Appeasing the mind............

Marcia/ Kalika

 

 

 

>

>The tropical tree Eleocarpus bears a large, peacock-blue fruit. The

>fruits aren't very tasty, they have some medicinal uses, but Hindus and

>Buddhists boil them down to reveal the seeds at their core. These

>Rudraksha seeds are considered sacred to Rudra/ Shiva, worn on a cord

>around the neck, or are strung into malas. It is said that Lord Shiva

>was meditating, and seeing the hardships of humanity, wept tears from his

>third eye. These tears turned into Rudraksha seeds, and grew into the

>first groves of Eleocarpus trees.

>

>The smaller the rudraksha, the more expensive and rare it is. Small

>rudrakshas are best for japa; larger ones are worn for health benefits

>(rudrakshas alledgedly lower blood pressure, remove heat from the body,

>and discourage anger). Each seed is a bumpy sphere divided into five

>segments, like an orange. Five is Shiva's number. Rare mutant seeds

>have different numbers of segments, and are worn for

>numerologically-determined effects. For example, a nine-faced rudraksha

>is sacred to and brings blessings from Ma Durga. The M.A. Center's

>"Mother's Books and Gifts" catalog, accessible at <www.mothersbooks.org>

>sells single rudrakshas with unusual numbers of "faces."

>

>Shiva-worshippers wear rudraksha malas. They are also pleasing to

>members of Shiva's family: Ganesha, Durga, Kali, Skanda, etc. Buddhists

>use them to worship wrathful deities.

>

>-- Len/ Kalipadma

>

 

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