Rudraksha
Fruitstone used as a prayer bead in Hinduism / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Rudraksha (IAST: rudrākṣa) refers to the dried stones or seeds of the genus Elaeocarpus specifically, Elaeocarpus ganitrus.[1] These stones serve as prayer beads for Hindus (especially Shaivas), Buddhists and Sikhs.[2] When they are ripe, rudraksha stones are covered by an inedible blue outer fruit so they are sometimes called "blueberry beads[3]
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The stones are associated with the Hindu deity Shiva and are commonly worn for protection and for chanting mantras such as Om Namah Shivaya (Sanskrit: ॐ नमः शिवाय; Om Namaḥ Śivāya). They are primarily sourced from India, Indonesia, and Nepal for jewellery and malas (garlands) and valued similarly to semi-precious stones.[1] Rudraksha can have up to twenty one "faces" (Sanskrit: मुख, romanized: mukha, lit. 'face') or locules - naturally ingrained longitudinal lines which divide the stone into segments. Each face represents a particular deity.[4][5]