How to Identify Original Rudraksha

Rudraksha is a sacred bead and holds great symbolism in Hinduism. Associated with Shiva, the Supreme Being of Shaivism, it originates in the Elaeocarpus Granitus, an evergreen tree that grows in the Himalayan foothills in India, Nepal, Indonesia, and a few Southeast Asian countries. 

Rudraksha is derived from 'Rudra,' a form of Shiva, and 'Aksha' means teardrops, which fell on the ground when Shiva opened his eyes after being deep in meditation for a thousand years. Mother Earth collected them as seeds, and they blossomed into Rudraksha trees.

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Rudraksha is originally a seed that is used as a prayer bead in Hinduism. It is used mostly for spiritual purposes while chanting sacred mantras as a Jap Mala and has tremendous healing and curative powers. Once you wear a Rudraksha, it can encompass you with its protective shield from any negative influence, enhancing your mind and body's health. You can overcome obstacles in life. It bestows peace, good health and enhances spirituality.

Buy the Rudraksha from reliable, trusted suppliers. Do not borrow money to buy it. 

AstroVed is gifting a Free Rudraksha on the holy occasion of Maha Shivaratri this year. The Rudraksha is energized, and you can obtain it for free. There is no restriction on men, women, and children of all ages. Enter our website, fill in your name and e-mail address, and submit. The Energized Rudraksha Package contains one Free Rudraksha with a red thread that helps you maintain mental, physical, and emotional balance. A packet of Vibuthi (sacred ash) will be sent in the package for you to partake of Shiva's blessings, as well as Dr. Pillai's pocket photo card, which will always help you feel his energy.

Choosing a Rudraksha must be done carefully. First, one must learn to identify an original Rudraksha and then go forward for selection. The actual shape of a Rudraksha depends on the Mukhi lines. This goes on to decide the number of seeds and compartments inside that will determine the bead's shape. 

1 Mukhi bead will have one seed and compartment. It will have a half elliptical shape. Similarly, a 4 Mukhi Rudraksha will have four seeds and compartments inside. It will look like a square on the top, outside. A 3 Mukhi bead will have three seeds and compartments inside and look similar to a triangle on the outer side. A 5 Mukhi bead will have five seeds and compartments inside that will give it a pentagonal shape on the outside.

Rudrakshas are sourced from Java and Nepal. The beads from Nepal are big, with deep, dark Mukhis running from the top to the end of the bead. The beads from Java are comparatively smaller in size. They have light Mukhis, which run from the head to the tail of the Rudraksha.

There are Rudraksha beads that are easily available in the market. But they can be found in a spherical shape and with carvings of the Trishul, Linga, Serpent, or Om on them. Sometimes, you may find a false stem attached to a bead or extra Mukhis (lines) carved in these beads to sell for higher prices. Vendors are known to sell lower Mukhi Rudraksha beads as higher Mukhi ones by carving additional lines on them. Hence, the beads can be manipulated in numerous ways.

An expert eye can identify an original Rudraksha easily. However, if you are purchasing for the first time, buy it from a renowned source. How do you know if the bead is original? How can you confirm its authenticity?  

Some suppliers claim to do tests that have no veracity. A Rudraksha bead is said to rotate when placed between two copper coins, which is not a fact. In the milk test, a Rudraksha is soaked in a glass full of milk. Some suppliers claim that the milk in which the bead is soaked remains fresh for 2 to 3 days. There is no authenticity in this claim either.

Some traders state the Rudraksha is original if it sinks to the bottom of a water glass. Sometimes you may find higher Mukhi beads made by artificially joining some Rudraksha by getting them glued together. Soaking the Rudraksha for long hours in water can show if the bead is glued on or whether the joint is natural and genuine. All these tests fail appraisal.

You can check if the Mukhis run from the head to the tail of the Rudraksha without any cuts or distortion in between. The color of the Mukhis should be standard and not change shade. You can check the beads with a magnifying glass to identify any artificially carved lines or glue applied to the beads for more accuracy. Also, they may be manipulated to give an authentic look or feel. 

The X-Ray test can conclusively tell you if the Rudraksha is original, manipulated, or fake. An original Rudraksha has the same number of compartments as the Mukhis (lines), and each compartment has a bead in it. An expert can guide you on this.

Beyond the X-Ray test, you must buy the Rudraksha only after taking the advice of an expert. You can also look for some details while purchasing a Rudraksha. The bead will have a good weight, and the Mukhi lines should be complete from head to the tail of the bead. Check for minute cracks or fungus. If so, do not make the purchase.