Rudraksham seems to have an important place in the Saivite sect of Hinduism. I have seen it being worn by many Saivite temple priests and many rishis (in their portrayals). Apart from priests, I have also seen people preferring to wear Rudraksha Maala around their neck. People also use it for prayer beads. Lord Shiva himself is depicted wearing Rudraksha around his hair, neck and arms.

What is the reason for Rudraksha to have gained so much importance and popularity in Shaivism? Is there any mention about Rudraksha in the Scriptures?


The Devi Bhagavatha Purana describes the origin and importance of Rudrakshas as follows.



Further important informations on Rudraksha from the linked page:







The importance of Rudraksha is well highlighted in the following Linga Purana verse which states that Shiva does not accept Puja of those devotees who do not wear 1) The Tripundha(on forehead using Bhasma or otherwise) & 2)the Rudrakshas.

Hence, for Shiva Devotees(or generally) the importance of Rudraksha is supreme.

Vina Bhasma Tripundrena Vina Rudrakshamaalayaa ||

Pujito 'Api Mahadevo Na Syaat Tasya PhalaPradah||

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The Shiva Purana, in its 25th chapter describes the following about Rudraksha's origin:

Lord Siva, the Yogeshwar (master of Yoga), was meditating for thousands of years for the benefit of people everywhere. When Siva opened his eyes, some tear-drops fell on the earth and grew into Rudraksha trees.

The Rudraksha trees grow in India, Nepal, Indonesia, Hawaii and Australia.[1] The Rudrakshas are considered holy since they are believed to be the representations of Shiva's tears. They may have upto fourteen faces (sides). Rudrakshas with different faces are believed to have different abilities. For example:

  • One sided Rudraksha is believed to bring happiness, wealth, liberation and removes problems and obstacles.
  • Two sided Rudraksha is believed to increase mental powers, calms agitated minds, helps to overcome Tamasic Guna.
  • Three sided Rudraksha is believed to help in acquiring knowledge and skills, helps increase digestive power, effective in reducing fever and in eye diseases.
  • Four sided Rudraksha is believed to increase memory and improve the power of speech.

This answer is an excerpt from http://www.hinduism.co.za/siva.htm#Rudraksha%20Beads

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  • So, there are only 4 types of Rudraksha? – Amit Saxena May 18 '16 at 7:27
  • @AmitSaxena No.See my answer . – Rickross Oct 10 '16 at 11:03

The importance , Significance of Rudrakasha and it's Glory are described in Vidyesvara Samhita , Shiva Purana , Chapter 25 "Glory of Rudrakasha"

दर्शनात्स्पर्शनाज्जप्यात्सर्वपापहर: स्मृतः ॥2॥

This Rudraksha is an extremely auspicious bead and is extremely dear to Lord Shiva. By it's mere sight or by preforming japam with the same ,or using it as rosary , all the sins get destroyed.

रुद्राक्षधारणं प्रोक्त पापनाशनहेतवे
 तस्माश्च धारणीयो वै सर्वार्थसाधनो ध्रुवं ॥19॥

Rudraksha has been prescribed for the removal of the sins.Therefor one should wear this Rudraksha which fulfils all the desire.

According to this shloka from Shiv-Purana , Rudraksha is like a "Yajnopavita".

त्रिभि: शतै: षष्टियुक्ततैस्त्रिरावृत्या तथा पुनः ।
रुद्राक्षैरूपवीतं च निर्मियाद्भक्तितत्पर:॥27॥

A devotee should wear three strings of three hundred and sixty Rudraksha beads like a "Yajnopavita"

रुद्राक्षेण जपन्मत्रं पुण्यं कोटिगुणं भवेत् ।
दशकोटिगुणं पुण्यं धारणाल्लभते नर:॥58॥

The performing of "Japam" by the rosary of Rudrakasha beads ,multiplies the reward crores of times.

So from above shlokas we can see that why Rudrakasha is very Important in Saivism and its Significance.

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Rudraksha as we spell it comes out of two words Rudra + Aksha. Rudra is the addressing to Lord Shiva and aksha means eyes or somewhere it is also said to be Rudra's (Lord Shiva) tears. Rudraksha is the holy eye of lord rudra which saves the sadhak from doing sins.

As we see all the Shaivites are also considered Rudra or Rudra Gana and there are many types (millions) of rudra in this universe (refer rudrastadashadyayi or shri rudram).

The rudraksha saves us from those rudras which do us harm and we get an edge over them, it stops them(harmful Rudras) from harming us.

For more info see this and this

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  • 1
    In which scriptures it is present that Rudras do us harm? – Pinakin Oct 11 '16 at 11:09
  • @ChinmaySarupria Read this It clearly says keep away bad or harmful rudras imgur.com/HFJPPaS Tenth Anuvaka from Rudradhyaya. For more read this suyajna.org/files/rudram.pdf – Yogi Oct 15 '16 at 19:20
  • Well it says "Oh Deva! Let that terrible form of yours be away from us", so why worry when the Rudra form is also of Mahadeva? – Pinakin Oct 15 '16 at 19:23
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    So you mean to say Mahakali is worshipped to keep her away from us? Wow! Do you really believe that? – Pinakin Oct 15 '16 at 19:36
  • 1
    Sorry for me all gods are one, the "saumya" aspect is no better than the most terrible form. "A bit of Mother, a drop, was Krishna; another was Buddha; another was Christ. The worship of even one spark of Mother in our earthly mother leads to greatness. Worship Her if you want love and wisdom" - Swami Vivekananda on Mahakali – Pinakin Oct 15 '16 at 19:45

Rudraksha is considered as tear of Lord Shiva.

Sage Sanatkumara approached Lord Kalagni Rudra and asked him, "Lord, kindly explain to me the method of wearing Rudraksha." What he told him was, "Rudraksha became famous by that name because initially, it was produced from the eyes of Rudra. During the time of destruction and after the act of destruction, when Rudra closed his eye of destruction, Rudraksha was produced from that eye. That is the Rudraksha property of Rudraksha. Just by touching and wearing this Rudraksha, one gets the same effect of giving in charity one thousand cows."

Brihad Jabala Upanishad

Rudraksha was produced during the fight between Shiva and Tarakasura.

Sage Bhusunda questioned Lord Kalagni-Rudra: What is the beginning of Rudraksha beads? What is the benefit of wearing them on the body? Lord Kalagni-Rudra answered him thus: I closed my eyes for the sake of destroying the Tripurasura. From my eyes thus closed, drops of water fell on the earth. These drops of tears turned into Rudrakshas. By the mere utterance of the name of 'Rudraksha', one acquires the benefit of giving ten cows in charity. By seeing and touching it, one attains double that benefit. I am unable to praise it any more.

Rudraksha Jabala Upanishad

Glorification of Rudraksha in Padma Purana

201. A man becomes equal to me by wearing rudrākṣas of all mouths (i.e. by wearing rudrākṣas having any number of mouths). Therefore, O son, with all effort, wear a rudrākṣa. 202. A man, who, wearing a rudrākṣa, dies on the earth, goes to my charming city, (and) is honoured by all gods. 203. O boy, formerly in Maru country when a trader was going for trading he was harassed (i.e. haunted) by a female spirit under a tree. 204. She danced there; a brāhmaṇa saw her (and said to her:) “Who are you? You are helpless; you are covered over with a tattered garment.” 205-206a. She then told the brāhmaṇa: “I have heard from a messenger of gods; O brāhmaṇa, this charming man will now certainly meet with death due to the fall of the thunderbolt (on his body); and he will be my husband.” 206b-209a. In the meanwhile, the thunderbolt fell from heaven on his head; and he fell on the ground on half the portion of a rudrākṣa. Then, O son, an aeroplane quickly flew from my city. Then the fortunate man, got into it and remained there for a long time. Having obtained my portion he will be a rich and wealthy man on the earth. O son, thus a man who dies on a piece of a rudrākṣa, obtains a good position (i.e, goes to heaven). 209b. I am unable to describe the fruit of wearing a rudrākṣa with the knowledge (of its importance). 210. He who dies with a rosary of rudrākṣas or with (just) one rudrākṣa (on his body), would become the follower of Śiva, Śakti, Gaṇapati, or the Sun. 211. He who recites it to himself, or to others, causes others to listen to it or himself listens to it, is free from all sins, and would obtain heaven in (due) order.

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