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The Eleventh Book. Chapter 7

The Eleventh Book

Chapter Vii

On The Greatness Of One Faced, Etc., Rudrksam

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1-4.
Sr Nryana said :-- O Nrada! When Girs'a thus explained to Krtikeya the greatness of Rudrksam, he became satisfied. Now I have spoken to you of the glories of the Rudrksams as far as I know. Now, as to our subject of right way of acting, I will now speak on other things that ought to be known. Listen. The seeing of Rudrksam brings in a lakh times of Punyam and koti times the merit arises from touching that; holding it brings in koti times merit; again if one makes the japam of a Mantra with that Rudrksam, one obtains merit one hundred lakh koti times and one thousand lakh koti times the merit. The merit in holding the Rudrksam is far superior to that in holding Bhadrksam. The Rudrksam seed that is of the size of an malak is the best; which is the of the size of a plum, is middling; and which is of the size of a gram is the worst.

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this is my word and promise. The Rudrksam tree is of four kinds :-- Brhmana, Ksattriya, Vaisya, and Sdra. The white colour is Brhmana; the red colour is Ksattriya; the yellow colour is Vais'ya and the black coloured Rudrksam seed is Sdra. The Brhmanas are to use the white coloured Rudrksams; the Ksattriyas, the red coloured ones, the Vais'yas, the yellow coloured ones; and the Sdras, the black ones. Those Rudrksa seeds that are nicely circular, smooth, hard, and whose thorns or points are distinctly visible, are the best. Those that are pierced by insects, broken in parts, whose thorns are not clearly visible, with swells and holes and those that are coated over, these six varieties of Rudrksams are faulty. Those Rudrksams that have their holes by nature running through and through are best; and those that base their holes pierced by men are middling. The Rudrksa seeds that are all of uniform shape, bright, hard, and beautifully circular should be strung together by a silken thread. How to test the Rudrksa seed? As gold is tested by a touch stone; so the Rudrksam is tested by drawing lines on it; those on which the lines are most uniform, bright and beautiful are the best and they should be worn by the Saivas. One should hold one Rudrksam on the crown hair, thirty on the head, thirty six on the neck; sixteen on each arm, twelve on each wrist, fifty on the shoulders, one hundred and eight Rudrksams in the place of the sacrificial thread; and the devotee should have two or three rounds on the neck. On the earrings, on the crown of the head, the head, on bracelets, on armlets, on necklace, on the ornament worn on the loins one should hold Rudrksam always, whether one sleeps or eats. Holding three hundred Rudrksams is the lowest; holding five hundred is middling; holding one thousand Rudrksams is the best; so one ought to wear one thousand Rudrksams. At the time of taking Rudrksam, on one's head, one should utter the Mantra of sna; the mantra of Tat Purusa while holding on one's ears; Aghora mantra on one's forehead and heart; and the vja of Aghora mantra, i.e., "hasau" while holding on one's hands. One should wear the rosary of fifty Rudrksa seeds, suspended up to the belly, uttering the Vmadeva mantra, i.e., Sadyojtdi, etc., the five Brahm mantras, and the six-limbed Siva mantra. One is to string every Rudrksa seed, uttering the root mantra and then hold it. One-faced Rudrksa reveals Paratattva (the highest Tattva); when worn, the knowledge of the highest Tattva arises; the Brahm is seen then. The two-faced Rudrksam is Ardhanrs'vara, the Lord of the other half which represents women (in the same person); if worn, Ardhanrsvara Siva is always pleased with that man who holds it. The three-faced Rudrksam is Fire made manifest; it destroys in a moment the sin of killing a woman.

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The three-faced Rudrksam is the three Agnis, Daksingni, Grhapatya, and havaniya; Bhagavn Agni is always pleased with that man who wears the three-faced Rudrksam. The four-faced Rudrksam is Brahm Himself. The wearer gets his prosperity enhanced, his diseases destroyed, the divine knowledge springs in him and his heart is always pleased. The five-faced Rudrksam is the five faced Siva Himself; Mahdeva gets pleased with him who holds it. The Presiding Deity of the six faced Rudrksam is Krtikeya. Some Pundits take Ganapati to be the Presiding Deity of the six-faced Rudrksam. The presiding Deity of the seven-faced Rudrksam is the seven Mtriks, the Sun and the seven Risis. By putting on this, the prosperity is increased, health and the pure knowledge are established. It should be put on when one becomes pure. The Presiding Deity of the eight-faced Rudrksam is Brhm, the eight Mtriks. By holding this, the eight Vasus are pleased and the river Ganges is also pleased. The putting on of this makes the Jvas truthful and pleasant-minded. The Devat of the nine-faced Rudrksam is Yama; holding this puts off the fears of Death. The Devat of the eleven-faced Rudrksam is ten quarters, the ten quarters are pleased with him who wears the ten-faced Rudrksam. The Devata of the eleven mouthed Rudrksam is the eleven Rudrs and Indra. Holding this enhances happiness. The twelve-faced Rudrksam is Visnu made manifest; its Devats are the twelve dityas; the devotees of Siva should hold this. The thirteen-faced Rudrksam, if worn, enables one to secure one's desires; he does nowhere experience failures. The Kma Deva becomes pleased with him who wears this. The fourteen-faced Rudrksam destroys all diseases and gives eternal health. While holding this, one ought not to take wine, flesh, onion, garlic, Saj fruit, Chlt fruit and the flesh of the boar which eats excrements, etc. During the Lunar and Solar eclipses, during the Uttaryana Samkrnti or the Daksinyana Samkrnti, during the full Moon or the New Moon day, if Rudrksam be worn, one becomes instantly freed of all one's sins.

Here ends the Seventh Chapter of the Eleventh Book on the greatness of one faced, etc., Rudrksam in the Mah Purnam Sr Mad Dev Bhgavatam of 18,000 verses by Mahrsi Veda Vysa.
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