Rudhraksham is a seed that is got from a tree that are found in Himalayas. The Rudraksham is used extensively in India, especially in South India. In Sanskrit it is called Rudraksa and it means Shiva's third eye.
Raksham means protection in Tamil (a language that is widely spoken in TamilNadu)
Sages and all Sanyasis wear this mala.
Spiritually inclined people or people who are into spirituality generally wear this bead strung on a thread. It can be a single bead or a string of beads.
There are also facets in this bead, which is considered very important. Beads with a single facet is very expensive and very powerful.
In South India, especially in my state TamilNadu, men and women that embark on a pilgrimage will defintely wear this. Why?
Because it is believed that it protects you from all negative things that occurs during travel. It is also believed that since it is closely worn at the neck, in fact the base of the throat, when you inhale it is supposed to purify the air.
Rudhraksham is generally strung with silver in between because in TamilNadu we believe that silver and gold is above everything in the context of purity. That is why you will find all pooja materials in temples will be in either silver or brass.
I personally had an experience picking these Rudhraksham beads from Lalbagh garden in Bangalore, Karnataka.
I recently visited my favourite temple in Trichy, Rockfort temple, where they sell huge strands of this mala. I am planning to make simple jewellery with this, so bought many strands from the temple.
The shop owner was so pleased that I am writing about Rudhraksham beads. We are conversing in our native language Tamil. He also asked me to film the Shiva idols because Lord Shiva wears Rudhraksham beads.
The video of the Rudhraksham strings that were displayed in the Temple can be found at
https://youtu.be/iY57Ioaw6mQ
The jewellery that make out of Rudhraksham can be found at
https://goo.gl/GMvjti
