Rudraksha

There is no greater fruit in the world, than the fruit of the Himalayas popularity known as ‘Rudraksha’. There are very few books available on this topic in English and Indian languages. With the material available in Sanskrit and other languages, a humble attempt is made to combine the scriptural knowledge with my personal experience, gathered from many users throughout the globe.

The sages of Himalayas have adorned rudraksha to keep fit in cold weather and reached Nirvan (Moksha) through their tapas. Today almost all spiritual seekers, sadhus, mahatmas, politicians, house-holders wear rudraksha mala or at least a single rudraksha bead, not as a fashionable jewel, but as a protection from all negativities and pollution that creep into the mind. One may have to read this book very carefully, reverentially and repeatedly to find the exact solution to the problems that he/she is facing.

I would offer to talk to individuals, although in a very casual manner, on the benefits of wearing rudraksha. In the year 1994, I accompanied a group of NRIs on the Chardham yatra of Himalayas (Badri, Kedar, Gangotri and Yamotri), where I delivered my first talk on rudraksha at Kedarnath. This set the ball rolling. Well-wishers who had accompanied me there were impressed with my presentation. I was then inspired to make slides and write a small booklet for the convenience of people by Dharmoo Khushalani. This booklet has been translated in nine Indian languages. My talks and slides shows to are well received. I have made several trips to the Himalayas in India and Nepal to see the actual cultivation of rudraksha and the industrial process by which this bead is made available in the market for the buyers.

For sometimes now, I had a pressing urge to write a coffee-table book on rudraksha. The urge would have remained dormant without the persuasion of my wife, Dr. Sati who pushed me to pen this book. I would be failing in my duty if I do not thank her. I cannot forget the services offered by Mr. Joesph who patiently keyed in the whole script on the computer.

My thanks to Brni. Vividisa, the Chief Editor of Balvihar, the children’s magazine of Chinmaya Mission, who spent valuable hours editing the script. My pranams to Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji, whose grace has made possible this book. Finally, I thank Swami Tejomayanandaji, the Head of Chinmaya Mission world-wide, who has blessed me for the success of this book and for my over-all well-being.

I hope and pray that many are healed and helped by this ministering bead.