Siva Purana (Vidyesvara Samhita) 11 to 27

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Siva Purana (Vidyesvara Samhita)

Translated by Shastri, 1973.

 

12. The colours of four types of Rudraksa are respectively white,

red, yellow and black. All people shall wear the Rudraksa of their

own varnas.

 

13. If they desire their benefit, namely worldly pleasures and

salvation and if the devotees of Siva wish to gratify Siva they must

wear the Rudraksa.

 

14. A Rudraksa of size of an Emblic myrobalan (Dhat-riphala) is

mentioned as the most excellent; one of the size of the fruit of the

jujube tree (Badriphala) is spoken of as the middling.

 

15. O Parvati, lovingly listen to this from a desire for the benefit

of the devotees. The meanest of Rudraksa is of the size of a gram

according to this excellent classification.

 

16. O Mahesvari, even the Rudraksa which is only of the size of the

fruit of the jujube accords the benefit and heightens happiness and

good fortune.

 

17. That which is of the size of the Emblic myrobalan is conducive

to the destruction of all distress. That which is of the size of a

gunja (the berry) is conducive to the achievement of the fruit of all

desires.

 

18. The lighter the Rudraksa, the more fruitful it is. Each of

these is fruitful and that of a weight of one tenth is considered by

scholars as the most fruitful.

 

19. The wearing of Rudraksa is recommended for the sake of

destroying sins. Hence that which is conducive to the achievements

of every object has to be worn certainly.

 

20. O Paramesvari, no other necklace or garland is observed in the

world to be so auspicious and fruitful as the Rudraksa.

 

21. O Goddess, Rudraksa of even size, glossy, firm, thick and having

many thorn-like protrusions yield desires and bestow worldly

pleasures and salvation for ever.

 

22. Six types of Rudraksas shall be discarded: that which his

defiled by worms, is cut and broken, has no thorn-like protrusions,

has cracks and is not circular.

 

23. That which has a natural hole from end to end is most

excellent; that which is bored through by human effort is the

middling one.

 

24. The wearing of Rudraksa is spoken of as conducive to the

destruction of great sins. If eleven hundred Rudraksas are worn on

the person, the man assumes the form of Rudra.

 

25. Even in hundreds of years it is impossible to describe

adequately the benefit derived by wearing 1150 Rudraksas.

 

26. A devout man shall make a coronet consisting of 550 Rudraksas.

 

27. A person of pious nature shall make three circular strings in

the manner of the sacred thread, each having three hundred and sixty

beads.

 

*********** To be continued *********