The Rudraksha tree

Magnificent tree

Rudrakshas' latin name is Elaeocarpus Ganitrus Roxb these trees are distributed throughout various parts of the world, but the main crops of quality Rudrakshas come from Nepal and Indonesia. The Nepalese are large whilst the Indonesian are smaller beads. All Rudrakshas on our site are from Indonesia (Java and Papua) and Nepal. Nepalese have more clearly defined lines and the beads are more hardy in comparison to the inferior Papua beads, which need to be drilled as there is no natural forming hole. The Javanese beads though smaller are tough and good quality, but the lines are raised and therefore harder to define.

The fruits are sky blue and can turn green, later violet, they are like Nilakantha (the blue throat of Lord Shiva). Whilst inside is the hard walnut like shell, the small seeds are packed tightly inside each mukhi or segment, therefore a five mukhi will have five seeds. There are many rare Rudrakshas such as two joined together known as Gauri Shankar or three known as Trijuti, or Ganesh Gauri etc. 
The beads range from 1-14 mukhi, 70% are five faced, 15% are 4 and 6 faced and a further 10% are 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15 mukhis. The very rare being only 5% such as above fourteen mukhis, Gauri shankar, Ganesh, Trijuti etc.

Lord Shiva's eye can be seen on the trunk.
Not many people realize that there are markings on the bark of the Rudraksha tree which are considered to be Lord Shiva's eyes, as if showing the origin of the tree from his tears.