About this piece
A loose 8 mukhi rudraksha bead from Java in Indonesia. Java beads are the smaller kind of rudraksha, with a rounder, finer surface than the large Nepal beads. The one photo shows three beads on a bright ground, and the seller says the image is for illustration.
A loose bead can be strung on a thread or cord, or kept on the altar.
How it is used
A loose bead is usually threaded on a cord or chain for the neck or wrist, or placed on a home altar. The seller gives a short bija mantra on its page. The Shiva Purana (Vidyeshvara Samhita 25, verse 73) names Vasumurti and Bhairava for the eight-faced bead; the Devi Bhagavata names Vinayaka (Ganesha). Astrologers today pair this bead with Rahu; the pairing is a later convention, not a statement of the Purana, and it is the one this site uses in its rudraksha guide and free kundali.
Looking after it
- Keep it dry, and wipe off perfume and oil with a soft cloth.
