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Shiva
Purana describe Rudraksha's origin as Lord Shiva's tears. He had
been meditating for many years for the welfare of all creatures.
On opening the eyes, hot drops of tears rolled down and the mother
earth gave birth to Rudraksha trees.
Lord Siva has many aspects indicated by His 1,008 names
Lord Siva is
responsible
for creation, evolution and dissolution. Lord Siva dances creation
out of existence at the end of time and then after an appropriate
time He destroys the silence itself by dancing and the activity of
His dance gives rise to the appearance of Narayana and causes
creation again.
Through
the grace of Lord Siva we are able to come to a state where we
stop identifying with the Relative aspect of ourselves and come to
know our true identity as one with the Absolute. This is the death
of death itself. This is immortality. It is the total destruction
of all limitation and all sorrow in our lives and this miracle can
only be brought about by the power of Lord Siva. That is why He is
called Lord Siva the Auspicious One. He destroys our limitations
and our fears. He is the very embodiment of total kindness. He is
the Lord of Yogis presiding over Transcendental Knowledge. Om Nama
Sivaya.
Lord
Siva is also known as Rudra and the Lord of Tears. The meaning of
the name Rudra is traceable to the Vedas and said to be derived
from rud ( dravayita ) he who drives away sin or suffering.
Eight
different aspects of nature are the direct manifestations of Rudra
and they are Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space, The Sun, The Moon and
the Life Force. Anything good and auspicious, anything that keeps
us healthy and happy and anything that helps us attain freedom
from pain and misery is Rudra.
Sri
Rudram is one of the five scriptural texts chosen by the ancients
for constant repetition and meditation. The five are the
Upanishads of one's own Sakha, The Bhagavad Gita, The Vishnu
Sahasranama, Sri Rudram and Purusha Suktam.
Vedic Literature states
As
by pouring water at the root of a tree, all its branches are
nourished, by pleasing Sri Rudra through
Rudrajapa, all the Devas
are pleased. One attains Bhukti and Mukti, enjoyment of life as
well as freedom from the ills of the world by the chanting of Sri
Rudram with devotion
To
the Rudra who is in fire, who is in water, who is in trees and
plants, who has entered into the entire universe, to that Rudra
let our salutations go
Vedic
Literature shows that the Rudraksa Bead was created from the tears
of Rudra, the fierce form of Lord Siva thus endowing it with
medicinal and Spiritual Powers. Each of the many types of Rudraksa
Beads have a governing Diety and specific powers and properties.
Two
of the most important rules to be observed in the Asta avarana
that are the eight aids or protections are the uttering of the
five syllabled formula or Mantra that is Namah Sivaya and the
wearing of the Sacred Rudraksa
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