COMMENTS


Paroksha
January 16, 2024 12:01 PM

Given how unorganized the Rudrākṣa market currently is, it really does boil down to trusting the vendor. There is no guarantee that tested Rudrākṣas are being shipped. Of course, if anyone is up to it, they can go down the path of procuring individual beads, getting them X-rayed from perhaps a local dental X-ray services, and then having them strung together with the help of a jeweller. This option might not be feasible for most people. I've had good experience with multiple purchases from one of the larger reputable vendors who have been around for a long time. My take is that they will probably have better internal processes to reject fake/faulty beads as they need to maintain their trust and reputation in the market. The quality of the beads I've bought from them has been very good, although I haven't gone to the extent of X-ray testing the beads. Another option I have had success with is to ask for vendor references from head arcakas at prominent temples and from reputed maṭhas. Through both options I've received good vendor references. Indrākṣi Mālā only has vague scriptural references that are mentioned by the vendors. None of the upāsakas, ācāryas etc., I've met have spoken about it or validated it. In fact, they go to the extent of saying it's the anuṣṭhānam/sādhana which is more important than what Rudrākṣas are being worn or used. Therefore, the Sarva Siddha Mālā should be sufficient for most practitioners. Apart from this, the only mālā explicitly recommended by an accomplished Upāsaka based on his own personal experience is a 27 or 32 bead Gaurishankar kanṭha mālā which he claims to help with quick mantra siddhi.

Paroksha
January 16, 2024 12:01 PM

As per what was told to me by a siddha guru, wearing Rudrākṣas while taking bath has immense benefits. I don't think there are any significant difference between a thread mālā vs silver capped mālā if holes need to be drilled. Silver capped mālā will have lesser chance of breaking with age. Collector beads are priced high thanks to the marketing exercise of the vendors, mostly for beads' visual appeal. There are no extra special spiritual benefits to them regardless of what the vendors say. For spiritual purposes Java/Indonesian beads are sufficient. Five-mukhi mālās are the safest option as the beads are abundantly available. I am looking forward to the article on the manuscript! It will be beneficial to the practitioners.

Krishna
January 16, 2024 01:01 AM

Regarding the X-Ray testing and certification. I totally agree with you. The only concern is how do we ensure that the tested Rudrākṣas are being shipped? It still comes down to trusting the vendor and in my honest opinion, large organizations cannot be trusted as they are just too big to go through this rigmarole and their reputation and size alone is sufficient to sell. How many folks really do the research and buy? There are also books that talk about the 1 to 21 Indrākṣi māla without finding its mention in any genuine text or an aged manuscript. It is not that the 15 to 21 have not existed in the past, it is just that they're not relevant or have any special benefits that are not covered by the 1 to 14, which encompass everything that is known and unknown as Lord Rudra mentions. Even the Gaṇeśa, Nāgasavar, Kamalā, Gaurī Śaṅkara, Trijuṭi Rudrākṣas have no significance beyond the number of mukhis and have the same benefits as the regular Rudrākṣas with the same number of mukhis.

Krishna
January 16, 2024 12:01 AM

Thank you for all the corrections. These are now in place.

Krishna
January 16, 2024 12:01 AM

Do not recite this Stotram unless you have been directed to do so by your guru. It is really of no consequence for those who are not worshipping or reciting the Caṇḍī Navākṣarī. Also, there are several versions of this Stotram and you may recite that which has been given to you by your guru. The same procedure that is adopted for reciting the mantras may be followed for the storas also, unless the storas are recited immediately after the recitation of the associated mūla mantra, in which case the closing procedures of the associated mantra will suffice. When in doubt, follow exactly as you would do for a mantra recitation.

Krishna
January 16, 2024 12:01 AM

This is also corrected now. Once again thank you for pointing out the mistakes and improving the quality of this article.

Krishna
January 16, 2024 12:01 AM

You are correct. The Śrī Viṣṇu Sahasranāma should be recited before and after this Stotram for optimum benefits.

Krishna
January 16, 2024 12:01 AM

Thank you for the input. I totally agree that japa mālas should not be worn. I remove my sarva siddhi māla when I go to sleep and take a bath. Otherwise it is generally always on me. Of course, I do remove it when I check in at the airport as it beeps due to the silver. Another suggestion I would give to those purchasing these malas, is to buy beads that have silver cappings and a silver chain. Most beads do not have holes in them since the fruits are not allowed to fully ripen and fall on the ground and commercial farmers are too eager to pluck them early and sell. Drilling holes may damage the bead, so silver cappings are a better trade-off vs purchasing a māla with threads. Everything that is desired and can be achieved is possible with the 1 to 14 Rudrākṣas. Die-hard collectors with deep pockets can go for the higher mukhis and pay a fortune for these olive fruit beads! But those looking for benefits should consider only the 1 to 14 as per their requirement or get the sarva siddhi māla from their trusted vendors. There are many fakes so best to stick ONLY to the Java beads as they're numerous in numbers. Avoid the Nepali beads other than the 5 mukhis which are almost free and constitute about 80% or more of all naturally formed beads. No one will bother faking a 5 Mukhi, whereas they would use that to create a 10 mukhi! It is difficult to fake an odd mukhi compared to an even mukhi. Regarding the manuscript, all I have are the mantras that I took from it and these will be published shortly with the proper vidhis and description of the mantras, dhyāna etc.

Krishna
January 15, 2024 11:01 PM

I have made the changes as per the suggested corrections Dear Jothi. Thank you very much for your valuable contribution. You will always remain close to our heart and on behalf of all our readers, I pray for your well-being and spiritual ascension.

Krishna
January 15, 2024 11:01 PM

The Stotram should be recited as is. The six versions are mentioned here for reverence purposes. If you have been directed by your guru towards anuṣṭhāṇa, then by all means follow it.