Shastras order the use of rudraksha, the beads in the prayer string of beads (Mala). Rudraksha is fruit of the tree of the same name. The berry like fruits of the tree dry up into rudraksha bead of dark brownish colour. Its size is equal to that of black berry but rudraksha is round shaped which makes it a perfect string bead.
Rudraksh
The dried up shrivelled skin gives it a distinct character and roughness just ideal for the thumb to turn over. And the weight is right. It is claimed that rudraksha has some medicinal properties and just wearing rudraksha string does good to the body.
The mythological legend is that to slay Tripurasura demon. Lord Shiva took Rudra incarnation. The tears shed by the eyes of Rudra Shiva became rudraksha. And it literally means ‘Tear of Rudra’. The legend lent it the sanctity to become the bead of religious abacus. Id it matched the Hindu colour, saffron.
Shastras have prescribed bead strings of different embers of rudrakshas for different kinds of chants tat invoke the related Gods or the Goddesses. There lso are orders regarding its care, respect and worship.
