What is rudraksha?

Rudraksha are seeds from the fruit of the Elaeocarpus ganitrus tree, native to the Himalayan region, Southeast Asia, and parts of Indonesia. They are highly valued in Hinduism and Buddhism for their spiritual and medicinal properties, especially when used as prayer beads. “Rudraksha” comes from the Sanskrit words “Rudra” (a form of the god Shiva) and “Aksha” (eyes), which together mean “the eyes of Rudra” or “tears of Shiva.” According to legend, they were created from the tears of Shiva, which fell to Earth and became the Rudraksha tree.