Do's and dont's with Rudraksh! What are the rules?
A short essential guide to rudraksh and it's rules for upkeep
Rudraksh is known as tears of Shiva, and is a sacred bead which grows in nature, indigenous to India, Nepal and South East Asia where Sanatan Dharma was once across these entire regions.
Wearing Rudraksh holds many benefits! From attracting positive energy and protecting your aura, to very specific benefits related to relationships, health, finance, spiritual progress and just about everything.
The most common form of rudraksh which is used for Japa practice (mantra chanting) is the panchmukhi or the 5 mukhi rudraksh.
Mukhi means face, and each different mukhi of rudraksh will have a different property. For example, two mukhi is good for attracting harmonious relationships, solving relationship discord (karma) or also your own inner union.
Each mukhi of rudraksh is related to a particular ruling deity and also planet - for example 6 mukhi rudraksh is associated with Bhagwan Kartikeya (Shiva’s son) and the planet Mars or Mangal.
Here is a list of the essential rules to know for wearing a rudraksh!
Take the mala off when sleeping and keep it in a clean safe space, ideally keep a clean cloth on a table (you can even splash some Gangajal on it to purify it for shuddhi) and keep it there, or keep it in your home temple for example.
Remove the mala when going for a dump! (Number 2). You don’t need to take it off if you’re going to pass urine but for number 2 make sure to remove it. After you’re done with the toilet, be sure to wash your feet, wash your hands, and splash some water over your head before wearing it again.
Never go to a cemetery or near deceased people with the mala, remove it beforehand. Some people say, abhors are always in the smashaan or the cremation ground - but that is a totally different path so the same rules don’t apply.
Always remove the Rudraksh before physical intimacy. This is an essential rule, some also recommend not wearing the rudraksh for the entire day after physical intimacy and then wear it only after sunrise the next morning.
Remove during the menstrual cycle. It absolutely must be taken off for the first three days of the menstrual cycle. After you’re done with your cycle, make sure you have a full head bath! Can even splash Gangajal and then wear your Rudraksh again. Rudraksh is masculine energy.
Keep the top bead close to your neck as this is a symbol of Trishul - this is also known as the Guru bead and is basically where the little fluff or where the mala is tied usually is.
Lot of people ask about diet - there is no need for being vegetarian for wearing rudraksh mala, this is only with Tulsi mala. With Rudraksh the only rule is should not be consuming beef which a is fundamental rule of hinduism and no sadhana or practice will work otherwise as this is the sacred feminine and we worship her.
Best to avoid letting others touch the mala as far as possible, it’s for you and your energy first. Just the same way you wouldn’t let everyone touch or handle your crystals.
The japa mala and wearing mala should be different. This is something that we don’t often know - Japa mala is the one you use for mantra japa and to be kept in a cloth pouch. It should not be worn, if you have a mala for wearing this should be different. The reason is that japa mala contains the energy of the mantra, when you wear it and then do japa again the energy totally disperses.
If the mala falls or you feel you need to clean it, wash with Gangajal. There are more sophisticated Shuddhi methods too.
If you are purchasing a mala for the first time, you can keep it dipped in ghee overnight and then wash it in gangajal in the morning. You can also give it in an ancient Shiva temple, ask the pandit to offer it to the shivling and then take it back as Prasadi and one step further is to get a Rudra Abhishek conducted with keeping the mala there on the shivling.
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