http://www.thailandyoga.net/the-power-of-rudraksha-malas
[…]“The Sanskrit name is comprised of the words Rudra (another name for Lord Shiva) and akṣha (“eyes”). Also know as “the eyes of Lord Shiva”.
The Rudraksha bead is said to originally come from Shiva’s tears. According to mythology, Lord Shiva was said to have spent 1000 years in meditation for the benefit of all beings, and upon opening his eyes, tear drops rolled down from his eyes and landed upon the earth taking birth as the sacred Rudraksha tree.
It is said that the Rudraksha evolved from the eyes of Lord Shiva, with Rudra being another name for Lord Shiva and Aksha meaning eyes. Aksha also refers to the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet- called Varna- and as such, can be inferred as a seed in which a group of Sanskrit letters called Varna reside.
The eye of Rudra 9Shiva) is considered to be the most potent manifestation of the Cosmic Force. Hence, the Rudraksha is the object of veneration and also the source to reach the higher self. Rudraksha is often believed to symbolize the link between the earth and the heaven.“[…]
http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/articles/rudraksha
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