About this piece
A loose 9 mukhi rudraksha bead from Java in Indonesia. Java beads are the smaller kind of rudraksha. 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 an altar.
How it is used
A loose bead is usually threaded on a cord 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, verses 74 to 75) names Bhairava, the sage Kapila and Durga in her nine forms for the nine-faced bead. Astrologers today pair this bead with Ketu; 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.
