Conditioning & Maintenance

Does conditioning Rudraksha “re-energize” them? Or is it only to protect against brittleness/cracking?

Conditioning is meant to help prolong the lifespan of Rudraksha by preventing them from becoming brittle and cracking. Being immersed in ghee and milk every 6 months, and sesame oil every 1 to 2 years, is beneficial for the integrity of the Rudraksha. Conditioning does not “re-energize” Rudraksha. Rudraksha beads are of a certain quality by nature alone.

After conditioning, Rudraksha feels oily with a slight smell; can anything be done for this?

After conditioning Rudraksha, it may be slightly slippery and may smell of ghee and milk. Rudraksha can be covered with vibhuti as the final conditioning step to aid in removing any excess oil. To do so, take some vibhuti in your palm and gently roll the Rudraksha in it. Rudraksha should not be washed with water or soap before doing this. Vibhuti should be applied to the Rudraksha directly after removing it from the milk.

Can I share my Rudraksha with someone else?

No, you should not share your Rudraksha with anyone else, since the Rudraksha adapts to the wearer.

Should the ghee be thrown out after conditioning? Can you use it to recondition the next time or cook with?

Once you have conditioned Rudraksha for 24 hours in ghee, the ghee can be used as plant food, as oil in a lamp, or can be saved for the next time you condition Rudraksha. The leftover ghee should not be consumed or used in cooking.

When conditioning a new Rudraksha, there is sometimes a yellow leakage coming from the beads - is this normal?

The first time a Rudraksha is conditioned after purchasing, there may be some leakage from the beads. The color can vary but is usually yellow or black. This is due to a protective process where mud is used to cover the Rudraksha after receiving it from the growers. When mud is applied to Rudraksha, it ensures the seed is maintained in its original condition, exactly how it was when it came from the tree. The differences in color depend on where the mud originated.

Are Rudraksha seeds supposed to get darker in colour the longer I wear them? Why does this happen?

Rudraksha tend to become darker with time because of the substances it absorbs; this will be a combination of the ghee, milk, and sesame oil used for periodic conditioning, as well as your natural body oil and sweat. This is a natural process; it does not have to do with sadhana or yogic practices.

If a few beads of the mala break, do I need to buy a whole new mala?

Cracked beads on a Rudraksha mala should be removed, as their energy will be altered and may not be conducive to the wearer. Individual beads need not be replaced as long as the total bead count on the mala is 84, plus the bindu, for people who are age 14 or older. Any number above this is fine to wear for those who are 14 years or older.

To remove the cracked beads, the mala can be opened and re-strung. When re-threading, any bead can act as the bindu – it doesn’t have to be the one that was originally used. People under the age of 14 should only wear the Shanmukhi Rudraksha.

Should the Rudraksha mala beads always touch each other?

To experience the full benefits of Rudraksha, the beads should always touch each other in a mala. This has to do with the energy movement in the mala. It is important not to thread the mala too tightly or else the beads may become pressed against each other and crack. Gently strung, with all the beads touching, is ideal.

What is the best vessel to store or condition Rudraksha in?

Since Rudraksha are natural seeds with a unique composition, it is best to store them in natural vessels. When conditioning, using mud, glass or wooden bowls are best. Alternatively, gold or silver bowls can be used, if available. When conditioning, it is important not to use copper bowls as the ghee and milk can react to the copper. But it is fine to store Rudraksha in copper when not conditioning. Using plastic to store or condition a Rudraksha is not ideal because plastics can react and leak harmful substances.

Please note that Gauri Shankar and Adiyogi Rudraksha can be conditioned as usual since the copper casing on them is minimal. In case any discolouration of the copper occurs, the vibhuti which is used in the final step of conditioning can be rubbed onto the copper.

When wearing Rudraksha, silk thread is the best natural option to use due to its quality and strength. Thin gold or silver chains can also be used if malas are threaded with utmost care to ensure no seeds are cracked or harmed in the process.

How to tie the Gauri Shankar to the Panchmukhi Rudraksha?

A Gauri Shankar Rudraksha comes with a metal loop intended for you to tie to the end of a Panchmukhi mala, or to easily tie to any silk thread or gold or silver chain. When adding a Gauri Shankar to a Panchmukhi mala, it’s important to leave the bindu in place; the Gauri Shankar can be added as an additional bead below the bindu. The bindu is important because it ensures that the energy flow in the mala is not circular. If it becomes circular, it might cause some people to feel dizzy.

Are there any obvious ways to spot fake Rudraksha?

Sadhguru: Traditionally, malas were always dealt with by people who held it as a sacred duty in their lives. For generations, they did only this. They also made their living out of it, but fundamentally it was like a sacred duty of offering it to people. But once the demand became too much, commerce came in. Today in India, there is another seed called badraksh which is a poisonous seed, which grows extensively in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and that area. To look at, both these seeds look the same. You cannot make out the difference. Only if you take it in your hand and if you are sensitive, you will know the difference. This should not be worn on the body, but these are being sold as authentic beads in many places. So it is important that you get your mala from a trusted source.