Significance Of Using The Rudraksh For Meditation

Rudraksh is believed to be Shiva himself. Before using it for the purpose of meditation or for wearing, it should be empowered by mantras. The suitable mantras and a proper procedure should be followed that is dependent on the type of rudraksh. A number of different procedures are followed by a priest or a learned man, to awake the energies of the beads.

Firstly, one needs to purify it with sacred water, or Ganga jal. The method as mentioned in Padam Puran states – before wearing it, one should clean the beads with Panchamrit, which include cow milk, honey, sugar, curd and ghee or clarified butter. Days or muhurth - A learned person can tell about the right time for bringing home the beads, which should not be rahu kaal or yamghat kaal. It can be worn on Mondays, Full Moon days, Sravan (July– August), Navratri, Shivratri and eclipse time. Beads or string - One can either get individual beads of rudraksh or get a string of beads. It can be used for meditative repetition or japa of mantras. It is advised to get the string of smaller beads for the purpose of japa. To wear it, one should get the larger ones. Most strings will have 108 beads but, sometimes, you get 62 beads, which are bought to do meditate repetition by people who want to gain money.

There are other types of strings that help to concentrate and improve focusing. The one used for japa should not be worn, and the one that is worn should not be used to do the japa.

Pran Prathistha

Precautions should be taken while doing the procedure, also known as pran pratishtha. Pran is the air or the life breath. Without it air, the body is lifeless. Pran Prathistha is installation. One has to set up life into the beads. Once it gains life, it becomes a mode of energy transition.

Rudra Abhisheks

Rudra is mentioned in Rig Veda, which, later evolves into Shiva. Rudra Abhishek means to ordination of Rudra. It is done to purify the beads. Always one should wash hands before touching it and it is mostly advised to hold it after bath.

Once it is worn, one should abstain from impure activities such as visiting cremation, eating non-vegetarian foods, onion, going to bed, taking alcohol etc. In case, you have to attend any such event, either take bath or wash head to wear / hold the beads again.

Japa has been mentioned in ancient texts as a method to streamline body energies. It provides alertful rest to the mind and improves emotional health, physiology, cognition and biological correlation. Research by experts find the repetitive chanting of Om increased cutaneous peripheral vascular resistance, decreased heart rate, breathe rate and could change mental state. The test on 23 volunteers found it increased synchronicity of cardiovascular rhythms and sensitivity, if recited continuously for six minutes. The chanting of Om, as mentioned in Bhagvatgita leads to supreme consciousness.