Ans : Rudraksha – “A key to unlock your happiness and lock all the problems forever” Lord Shiva is also known by the name “Rudra”. According to Shiva puran, once lord Shiva went into deep meditation for a long period for the well-being of all living beings. After waking from the state of meditation, he opened his eyes and instantly tear drops fell on the earth. On reaching the ground, tear drops took the form of a seed which later grew into Rudraksha tree. • Rudraksha fruit obtained from Rudraksha trees. The Rudraksha tree is botanically known as Elaeocarpus Ganitrus Roxb. • Rudraksha trees are mostly found in South Eastern Asian Islands of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Bali, Iran, Java, Timor (Indonesia) and parts of South Asian Kingdom of Nepal. • Around 70% of the Rudraksha trees are found in Indonesia, 25% in Nepal and 5% in India. The berry (Elaeocarpus Ganitrus) was first spotted in Indonesia and is now grown in Nepal and Hardware. • Rudraksha Beads have been worn by mankind for thousands of years for good health, religious attainment through Japa and Shakti (power) and for the fearless life. • Wherever Rudraksha is worshipped the Goddess of wealth always stays there. • One can escape from untimely death by wearing Rudraksha. • Rudraksha assists in awakening of Kundalini (the self pleasure point). • Rudraksha is helpful for worldly and heavenly attainments. • Rudraksha can make the whole family live together in peace and harmony. • Rudraksha is best known for its biomedical properties and in controlling stress, hypertension and blood pressure. • Rudraksha help increase Self power and invoke Self love . They also enhance the Charisma of the wearer . • Rudraksha can cure various dangerous diseases like small pox, epilepsy, whooping cough etc. and heal the most poisonous wounds, if used as a prescription, in a specified method. • It gives peace of mind to the wearer, stimulates the mind and sharpens the intellect. • Rudrakshas work on different chakras of body as well as on different planets. Rudraksha beads have amazing powers in them. The scientific explanation says: They have electromagnetic properties in them, when they come in contact with human body they help bring our “thoughts per second” down. As our “thoughts per seconds” level comes down we fall more in tune with the present moment, and hence our concentration, productivity and problems start resolving gradually.

Ans : Could be any number of years. If well protected, can be passed on from generation to generation.

Ans : Yes, they can. According to our holy books , Rudraksha can be worn at all times by everybody.

Ans : All can wear. Ancient texts have not limited wearing of these beads to any caste , religion or sex. Some ancient texts also talk of animals wearing them and achieving salvation.

Ans : Make Rudraksha a part of your body. Your faith will bring grace in your life. Slowly you will find that you are moving away from non-Veg and alcohol.

Ans : Many get confused with the shape and size of rudraksha . One should not seriously worry about it. Just see that the Mukhi is well defined, corns and contours are natural, and there are no cracks near the central hole. The bead has to be lustrous and healthy and devoid of deep cracks and insect holes.

Ans : Please avoid. Hands get dirty often. Purity of the bead gets affected.

Ans : Yes, Shiva Purana specially describe that Lakshmi stays where Rudraksha is.

Ans : Shiva Purana describe Rudrakshas origin as Lord Shiva's tears. He had been meditating for many years for the welfare of all creatures. On opening the eyes, hot drops of tears rolled down and the mother earth gave birth to Rudraksha trees.

Ans : Yes, Rudraksha is classified as a seed of ELAEOCARPACEAE family and has many medicinal properties. It is widely used in preparation of Ayurvedic medicines.

Ans : No. There is a relationship between the wearer and Rudraksha, which is very private and must not be shared. But it can be willed and passed on to the next generation

Ans : Yes. Very much. Only the therapist should be a well experienced person. Rudraksha beads work on physical , emotional, planetary and karmic levels to heal a person and this kind of healing is most deeprooted.

Ans : Rudraksha is hot in nature. Some people cannot wear it . Their skin shows signs of allergy. In that case you may keep the beads in Puja room and offer daily prayers

Ans : Shaligrams are sacred 'shilas' or stones representing the abstract form of Lord Vishnu. His followers, the Hindu Vaishnavas, place these stones in their puja altars for daily worship. Just as the abstract form of Shiva is the stone ‘lingam’ which the Shaivites worship in their temples and homes, so is the ‘shila’ of Lord Vishnu. According to Hindu tradition, the Shaligram stone is the shelter for a small insect known as the 'vajra-keeta' that cuts through this stone and lives inside it. In actuality, however, these stones are the fossils of the common ammonite that lived millions of years ago when the Himalayan mountain range formed the bed of a vast ocean floor.

Ans : Deep in the recesses of the high Himalayas in the region north-west of Nepal, the Shaligrams are found in the bed of the Gandaki river that flows through Mukti Chhetra and Damodar Kunda. The actual place where Shaligrams are found is itself known by that very name and is regarded as one of the 108 sacred pilgrimage spots for the Vaishnavas, outside India. In fact, so sacred is this place that the Puranic scriptures make a special mention that any stone from this place is equally sacred as a Shaligram.

Ans : The marks made by the shell of the ammonite give a Shaligram its characteristic appearance, with the pattern often resembling and representing the 'Sudarshan Chakra' or the discus with a sharp-toothed edge which rests on the index finger of Lord Vishnu. Shaligram stones come in dfferent colors such as red, blue, yellow, green and black. Of these, the yellow, blue and black varieties are considered more sacred. The yellow and golden-colored Shaligrams are considered most auspicious and are believed to bestow great wealth and prosperity on its worshippers. Shaligrams of different shapes are often associated with the different ‘avtars’ or incarnations of Lord Vishnu such as: Matsaya avtar, Kurma avtar, Narasimha avtar and so on. In the epic Mahabharata, Lord Krishna while giving a discourse to Yudhistra refers to the qualities of Shaligrams. The Vaishnavas believe that a Shaligram is the dwelling place of Lord Vishnu and any one who owns it must worship it daily. He must also adhere to strict rules while handling a Shaligram. He must not touch it without bathing, never place it on the ground, avoid intake of non-Vaishnavite food and should not indulge in bad habits or practices. All Shaligrams are considered auspicious: some are very sacred, others are considered to bring good luck, good fortune, peace and happiness, spiritual enlightenment and so on. Individual worshippers can choose the Shaligram that will bring them the most beneficial effects based on the positioning of the planets in their horoscopes. Temples can, however, use any kind of Shaligram in their prayers and rituals.

Ans : Locate a reliable source We are now offering our services to bring you Shaligrams, which are otherwise very hard to obtain, so that you may also have the opportunity and good fortune to worship them in your home. Over the years, we have gained specialized knowledge from the ancient scriptures about Shaligrams and have the experience to identify the various types of these ‘Stones of Vishnu’. The cost factor In the Skanda Purana, it is said that there is not enough gold in the whole 'brahmand' or universe to equal the worth of even a single Shaligram. As such, there can never really be a price put upon the worth of a Shaligram. But since these 'shilas' or stones are so very difficult to obtain and bring from the treacherous mountainous terrains in the high Himalayas, we have to charge a price to cover the wages of people who go in search of these sacred stones, pay for their board and lodging, cover the high risk to life involved in bringing them from heights of over 12,000’ above MSL, and pay for travel, transportation and shipping costs to bring these Shaligrams to devotees around the world. Beware of fake Shaligrams If you seek to obtain a Shaligram, be advised that there are spurious, artificially carved black stones which are sold, at very low cost, as genuine Shaligrams by unscrupulous people. It is best to identify a genuine dealer or respected organization when you wish to obtain an absolutely authentic Shaligram. You can then be assured that the Shaligram you choose to worship will bear fruitful and beneficial results.

Ans : The Matsya-murti Shaligram is shaped like a fish.The Hayagriva-murti Shaligraml is shaped like the head of a horse.The Varaha-murti Shaligram has a snout-like protuberance.The Narasimha-murti Shaligram has a gaping mouth of a lion with sharp teeth.The Hayagriva Shaligram has marks of a rosary, lotus and book, besides being shaped like a horse’s head.

Ans : Although Shaligram stones are generally considered to be various forms of Lord Vishnu, there is an elaborate attempt made at times to further identify certain individual shapes and forms. Thus, there are Shaligrams representing some forms of Shiva, Shakti, Surya, and Ganesha. On close inspection, the stones reveal characteristic differences. The marks of identification are many - like the number, location and shape of the 'chakras' or spirals present in them, the color and hue of the stones, the precise source of the stones, the lines and scratches on the surface of the stone representing the ayudhas of Lord Vishnu. The devotee needs to be acquainted with the form of the deity that a particular Shaligram symbolizes, before he proceeds to worship it.

Ans : According to the Puranas once a fierce battle broke out between Lord Shiva and the demon Jallundhara. They both appeared equally matched with no one ready to lose, and hence the battle continued for a long time. In fact it was not like an ordinary battle between the gods and the demons, but it was a match between the chastities of two chaste women Parvati and Vrinda. Lord Shiva knew it well, that unless the chastity of Vrinda, the wife of Jallundhara, was spoiled, Jallundhara could not be killed. But it was against the nature of gods, they could not spoil the chastity of a chaste woman, Hence despite knowing everything, the gods were helpless, but for Jallundhara, nothing was a taboo. So thinking, that spoiling the chastity of Parvati, he could defeat Lord Shiva, Jallundhara reached Parvati in the guise of Lord Shiva. But Parvati, who is herself the supreme ruler of illusion (MAYA) knew by her virtues the craftiness of Jallundhara. She at once ended his guise and signalled Lord Krishna (Vishnu) that it was now just to spoil the chastity of Jallundhara's wife, Vrinda, and it will not be a sin. So, Lord Krishna approached Vrinda in the guise of Jallundhana. Vrinda could not understand the craftiness, and because of intimate presence her chastity got spoiled. Later on when Vrinda came to know the reality, she got infuriated and cursed Lord Krishna - O Lord, despite being a learned God you have behaved like stupids. So go and turn into shapeless black stone. Thus by the curse of a chaste woman Lord Krishna turned into a blackstone. But later on Vrinda felt guilty that at the surge of excitement she had cursed none other than her own tutelary deity. Thus begging pardon of God, she sought a boon that from that moment onward, God will be worshipped in the same stone form. Saying Tathastu, God accepted her curse and turned into a black stone, and came to be known as Shaligrama. Lord Shiva further declares that, "My devotees who offer obeisances to the shaligrama-shila even negligently become fearless. Those who adore me while making a distinction between myself (Shiva) and Lord Hari will become free from this offence by offering obeisances to shaligrama-shila. Those who think themselves as my devotees, but who are proud and do not offer obeisances to my Lord Vasudeva, are actually sinful and not my devotees. O my son, I always reside in the shaligrama-shila. Being pleased with my devotion the Lord has given me a residence in His personal abode. The Padma Purana says giving a shaligrama-shila, is the best form of charity, being equal to the result of donating the entire earth together with its forests, mountains, and all. The Garuda Purana describes the glories of keeping a shaligrama-shila with the auspicious mark of a chakra in one's house.