View allAll Photos Tagged rudraksha
“In 1984 Gurudeva planted 108 trees with his own hands. He dedicated this forest to pilgrims and all Kauaians, inviting them to sit among the sacred trees to rest, meditate, have a picnic or tell stories to their children. Today the trees are fifty feet tall and produce hundreds of thousands of fruits each year. The English name is Blue Marble tree, since the one-inch diameter fruits are a rare cobalt blue. Their unusual color was written about in a Scientific American article. It seems there are two, and only two, living species on the Earth that create color using refraction and not reflection: a deep-sea crustacean and Eleocarpus ganitrus, the Rudraksha tree. Underneath the blue skin is a thin layer of flesh which is edible, but not too tasty. In Ayurveda, Rudraksha seeds, ground with healing herbs, are given to patients of heart disease to strengthen the cardiac muscle. The wood is also unusual. Almost white in color, it is said to have been the wood of choice in World War I for making airplane propellers; and in India the trees practically became extinct when they were chosen as the timber for railroad ties.”
Excerpt from www.himalayanacademy.com/monastery/about/rudraksha-forest
This is KillerKat, Squish E. Slime and my tribute to the BeeGees & their classic "Stayin' Alive" video!
~Infernal Alchemy~ - Infernal Alchemy~Rudraksha Necklace, ~ Infernal Alchemy~Frankensteins Heart
Quills & Curiosities - Sentient Sludge
Salem's Lot - Store - Market Place - [SL] Zombie Hand Neon v2, [SL] Zombie Head - Both with a hud containing: Light on/off, as well as 6 different colors.
ZOND metaphysical - Dr. Awkward
“Their unusual color was written about in a Scientific American article. It seems there are two, and only two, living species on the Earth that create color using refraction and not reflection: a deep-sea crustacean and Eleocarpus ganitrus, the Rudraksha tree. Underneath the blue skin is a thin layer of flesh which is edible, but not too tasty. In Ayurveda, Rudraksha seeds, ground with healing herbs, are given to patients of heart disease to strengthen the cardiac muscle.”
20170922_065011
Fairy Petticoats, Fringe Bells, Blue olive berry, Lily of the valley, Blue Marble Tree, Bead Tree, Blue Fig, Ash Quandong, Native Olive, White Boree, Utrasum Bean Tree
Sc. Name: Elaeocarpus angustifolius Blume
Family: Elaeocarpaceae
Synonyms: Elaeocarpus grandiflorus, E. bancroftii, E. grandis, E. sphaericus
Close related to Rudraksha (রুদ্রাক্ষ) Elaeocarpus ganitrus (syn. Elaeocarpus sphaericus)
He is a sadhu I met in Tiruvannamalai, the temple town of Tamilnadu, India. He was so fragile that I wondered how he was bearing the weight of those "Rudraksha malas" around his neck.
This I have already posted. Now I am posting it again with some more treatment by Ayashok, my Flickr friend. Thanks Ashok for the wonderful treatment.
Explored
A Hindu sadhu along the banks of the Ganges, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Thanks for all your views, kind comments and faves! I really appreciate them! Be well and happy shooting!
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A series of sadhus like this one greet you while standing in the queue to get into the holy cave at Amarnath.
Rudrakshas, photos as well as some some currency is up for grabs.
Read more at Amarnath yatra: Trek on a pilgrimage
Those are rudraksha beads around the child's neck. They are one style of prayer beads used for chanting japa/mala
Rudraksha Malai made with one lack and eight beeds of rudrakshas for the 112 feet Adiyogi statue.
Have a great day dear friends! :-)
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© Kaaviyam Photography - All Rights Reserved. Text and images by Kaaviyam Photography are the exclusive property of Kaaviyam Photography protected under international copyright laws. Any use of this work in any form without written permission of Kaaviyam Photography will result in violations as per international copyright laws.
This photo captures the vibrant Main Street leading to the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, a sacred town steeped in spiritual energy. The street is alive with activity—pilgrims dressed in simple traditional attire walk barefoot, while shopkeepers display garlands, brassware, rudraksha beads, and framed images of deities. The atmosphere is charged with devotion, chants, and the scent of incense, all guiding the eye toward the towering eastern gopuram of the temple that dominates the skyline.
At the end of the street stands the Ramanathaswamy Temple, an architectural marvel and one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism. Built in the 12th century and expanded by rulers of various dynasties, the temple is renowned for its massive corridors—the longest in any Hindu temple—and intricately carved granite pillars. Its sacred sanctum houses the lingam believed to have been installed by Lord Rama himself, making it a key destination in the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit.
According to mythology, after rescuing Sita from Lanka, Lord Rama came to Rameswaram to worship Lord Shiva and seek blessings for his journey ahead. He asked Hanuman to bring a lingam from the Himalayas. When Hanuman was delayed, Sita fashioned a lingam from sand, which Rama consecrated—this is the main deity worshipped today. The temple and its surrounding streets carry the legacy of this divine episode, drawing countless devotees who come to experience its timeless spiritual aura.
Close-up natural-light street portrait (outdoor head shot, two-third view) of an elderly Nepali Hindu Gorakhnathi aka Kanphata yogi monk with the religious Gorakh-Nath Hindu order’s large earrings in his split ear cartilage and with a red rice tilaka mark (third eye) on his forehead;
Manakamana, Gorkha District, Nepal.
More context:
Fraternizing with Holed Ears (photo blog).
தேவாரத் தேன்
One of the salient feature of Arubathu Moover Festival is congregationf of சிவனடியார் திருக்கூட்டம் . All saivite devotees carry symbol of saivism like wearing rudraksha ,having holy ash , carrying siva lingam and riciting Thevaram. Really wonderful sight. This dedicated group sings Sambandhar's first Pathigam தோடு உடைய செவியன் விடை ஏறி of திருப்பிரமபுரம்.
தோடுடைய செவியன்விடை
யேறியோர் தூவெண்மதிசூடிக்
காடுடையசுட லைப்பொடிபூசிஎன்1
உள்ளங்கவர் கள்வன்
ஏடுடையமல ரான்முனைநாட்பணிந்
தேத்தஅருள் செய்த
பீடுடையபிர மாபுரம்மேவிய
பெம்மானிவ னன்றே.
16.03.2022
Close-up street portrait (outdoor low-angle headshot, full-face view) of a stoned Nepali Hindu holy man aka sadhu, with unkempt hair and assorted necklaces (including rudraksha beads), raising his right hand in order to deliver a blessing (mudra gesture);
Annapurna Circuit, Muktinath Village (c. 3,760 mamsl), Mustang District, Central Nepal.
More context:
Circling the Mighty Annapurnas (photo blog),
Bribing Sadhus from Nepal (photo blog),
Finding the Right Camera Angle (photo blog).
Close-up natural-light street portrait (outdoor head shot, full-face view) of a Nepalese Hindu sadhu with elaborately painted, colourful forehead and ash-covered face, raising his right hand in order to give a blessing (mudra gesture);
Shree Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal.
More context:
Bribing Sadhus from Nepal (photo blog),
Post-processing Street Portraits (photo blog),
Varying the Facial View of Portraits (photo blog).
Have a good day dear friends! :-)
________________________________
© Kaaviyam Photography - All Rights Reserved. Text and images by Kaaviyam Photography are the exclusive property of Kaaviyam Photography protected under international copyright laws. Any use of this work in any form without written permission of Kaaviyam Photography will result in violations as per international copyright laws.
Lemons and lemon garlands are special for Sri Durga Devi. Devotees lit lamps using the lemons and offer the garland to pray to mother to fulfil their wishes. Once the wish is fulfilled, another garland is offered as mark of gratitude. It is usually offered to Goddess Durga on Fridays or on Tuesdays. [Source: rudraksha-ratna.com] #ஆடி வெள்ளி
Close-up natural-light street portrait (outdoor head shot, full-face view) of a rugged Indian sadhu with a magnificent head of black curls and a grey beard, wearing a worn orange robe over his shoulder and a string of rudraksha beads around his neck;
Sri Jambukeshwara Temple, Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli aka Trichy, Tamil Nadu, Southern India.
More context:
Depicting Tamil Nadu's Sadhus (photo blog),
Identifying Vaishnavites and Shaivites (photo blog),
Making Decisions in Tamil Nadu (photo blog).
Closeup street portrait (outdoor head shot, seven-eighths view) of a middle-aged Indian Shaivite sadhu (Hindu holy man who worships Shiva), wearing strings of big rudraksha prayer beads over his orange robe;
Sri Jambukeshwara Temple, Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli aka Trichy, Tamil Nadu, South India.
More context:
Identifying Vaishnavites and Shaivites (photo blog),
Powdering the Face with Holy Ash (photo blog),
Sharing Photos on Flickr in 2017 (photo blog).
This Rudraksha Is Regarded As One Of The Most Powerful Rudraksha Which Pacifies All The Nine Planets.www.rudraksha-ratna.com/articles/10mukhi
The Adiyogi Shiva statue is a 112 feet (34 m) tall statue of Hindu deity Shiva's bust located at Coimbatore in the Tamil Nadu state of India.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiyogi_Shiva_statue
________________________________
© Kaaviyam Photography - All Rights Reserved. Text and images by Kaaviyam Photography are the exclusive property of Kaaviyam Photography protected under international copyright laws. Any use of this work in any form without written permission of Kaaviyam Photography will result in violations as per international copyright laws.
Close-up street portrait (outdoor headshot, full-face view) of a white-haired Indian Hindu sadhu and beggar with bloodshot eyes;
Arunachala Hill, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, South India.
More context:
Circumambulating Arunachala Hill (photo blog),
Powdering the Face with Holy Ash (photo blog),
Post-processing Street Portraits (photo blog).
A vibrant capture from the sacred Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, showcasing a diverse collection of Rudraksha malas, colorful prayer beads, conch shells, and spiritual items arranged neatly on a ground cloth. This local market scene reflects India's rich spiritual and cultural heritage, where tradition, devotion, and color converge in every item. The photo beautifully portrays the devotional atmosphere and bustling charm of Mahakumbh.
By chance I saw this Chinese buddha holding a Rudraksha in his hands jusr like the mala I always wear as a necklace.
Rudraksh is formed by association of two words, 'RUDRA' and 'AKSHA'.
Rudra is the name of Lord Shiva and Aksha means 'tear'.
It is said that the plant of Rudraksh is originated from the tear drops of Lord Shiva.
As per the vedic scriptures Rudraksh can nullify the effects of malefic planets to a great extent.
Shastras say Rudraksh of any mukhis can never do any harm to the wearer unlike Navratnas, which have to be carefully chosen.
No other necklace or bead is so auspicious and powerful as Rudraksh.
Each bead has a different effect on its holder, depending on the number of mukhis it has.
Each Rudraksh is very individualistic and has to be carefully matched with one's horoscope for it to be beneficial.
The seed of Rudraksh has been given a very special place and it is credited with mystical and divine properties.
The botanical name of the Rudraksh plant is "ELAEOCARPUS GANITRUS", it is a large evergreen broad-leaved tree that grows in the area from the Gangetic Plain to the foothills of the Himalayas, Rudraksha trees are also found in middle areas of Nepal.
It is said that the seed of Rudraksh contains the secrets of entire evolution of the cosmos within it.
It is believed that one who wear Rudraksh on their bodies, cannot be affected by sins.
Even if, one wears Rudraksh on his body, without doing worship and saying the sacred mantra, does no get near any sinful deed or thought.
The Rudraksh are worn for their specific benefits.
These are much more powerful and can help achieve wonders, if energized and empowered the right way.
Rudraksha mālā are worn by many Hindus.
Rudraksha is also used for treatment of various diseases in traditional Indian medicine.
© All photographs are copyrighted and all rights reserved.
Please do not use any photographs without permission (even for private use).
The use of any work without consent of the artist is PROHIBITED and will lead automatically to consequences.
Candid close-up natural-light street portrait (half-length portrait, seven-eighths view) of an old Shaivite sadhu (holy man who worships Shiva), reading a daily Tamil-language newspaper;
Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, South India.
More context:
Making Decisions in Tamil Nadu (photo blog).
Close-up street portrait (outdoor headshot, full-face view) of an old Indian Shaivite sadhu (Hindu holy man who worships Shiva) with long dreadlocks and assorted necklaces, including many rudraksha beads;
Arunachala Hill, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, South India.
More context:
Circumambulating Arunachala Hill (photo blog),
Post-processing Street Portraits (photo blog),
Varying the Facial View of Portraits (photo blog).
The Maha Kumbh Mela is the largest religious gathering on earth, and takes place every 12 years on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, the Kumbh Mela took place in Allahabad in 2013 and attracted more than 100 million people...
Sadhu stay in little tent or houses, and all day long bless pilgrims. They smoke hashish, chat, and pause for photographers. They are holy men, they live without nothing, just covering their bodies with ashes. Do not forget the donation! It is impressive to see the people coming, touching their feet, and asking for a blessing.
© Eric Lafforgue
Buddhist prayer beads or "Japa mala" are a traditional tool used to count time while meditating using mantras. They are similar to other forms of prayer beads used in various world religions and to Christianity's Rosary.
A Japa mala is a set of beads commonly used by Hindus and Buddhists, usually made from 108 beads, though other numbers, usually divisible by 9, are also used. Malas are used for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of a deity. This practice is known in Sanskrit as japa. Malas are typically made with 19, 21, 27, 54 or 108 beads.
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My Website:
This Rudraksha Removes Obstacles In The Pathway, Destroys Evils And Brings Success. www.rudraksha-ratna.com/articles/8mukhi
Closeup street portrait (outdoor headshot, full-face view) of a middle-aged Shaivite sadhu with orange turban, a distinctive tilaka mark on his forehead (red dot with yellow sandalwood paste) and a string of rudraksha beads around his neck;
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli aka Trichy, Tamil Nadu, Southern India.
More context:
Identifying Vaishnavites and Shaivites (photo blog),
Yellowing the Forehead (photo blog),
Adding Context to Street Portraits (photo blog),
Post-processing Street Portraits (photo blog),
Varying the Facial View of Portraits (photo blog).
Closeup street portrait (outdoor head shot, full-face view) of a Nepalese sadhu with vertical red tilaka mark on his forehead and strings of rudraksha beads aka mala around his neck;
Shree Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal.
More context:
Bribing Sadhus from Nepal (photo blog),
Post-processing Street Portraits (photo blog).
Close-up natural-light street portrait (outdoor head shot, seven-eighths view and sideways glance) of a middle-aged Indian Shaivite Hindu devotee with white tripundra on his forehead (made from sacred ash) and strings of mala beads (made from rudraksha seeds) around his neck;
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
More context:
Post-processing Street Portraits (photo blog),
Varying the Facial View of Portraits (photo blog).
"Divya varsha sahasram tu chakshurunmeelitmayaa, paschanmaakulakshibhyah patita jalbindavah"
"For one thousand divine years I kept closed my eyes then tear drops fell from my eyes".
In front of a temple in Varanasi (Benaras) I met this lady who came for Gujarat, she was buying a few religious items to bring back home, like those Rudraksh beads, tears of Lord Shiva.
The red powder under her hands is sindoor, a red powder (Vermilion) which is the mark of a married woman in Hinduism, it is kept in those little painted boxes (on the left of the image) known as sindoor daani.
Later I took several portraits of her and with her friends who were pilgrims as well, they even asked me to join them for a few pictures.
According to "Shiva Purana", Lord Shiva once went into deep meditation for the well being of all living creatures.
When he woke up, he opened his eyes and tear drops fell on the Earth.
These tear drops took the form of seeds that later on became the Ridraksha tree.
Lord Shiva is always portrayed wearing rosaries of Rudraksha beads on his head, arms and hands.
With this came the religious, spiritual, physical and materialistic significance of Rudraksha.
It is believed that the seed of Rudraksha contains the secrets of entire evolution of the cosmos within it.
It is proven that the bead has powerful electromagnetic, paramagnetic and inductive properties that vary according to the different faces. It creates specific electric impulses that are sent to the brain stimulating certain centres that then transfer information to the neurophysiology.
This is the main way in which the bead has an impact on the human body.
These electromagnetic impulses can affect the heartbeat, blood pressure, stress levels and hypertension on a physical level.
On the mental level, the bead’s impulses can relieve anxiety, depression, mood disorders and neurotic conditions, while on the spiritual level, it promotes meditation and enlightenment.
For more informations concerning the same topic, this is a link to another picture:
farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2860426223_e5a0a6ac09_o.jpg
Join the photographer at www.facebook.com/laurent.goldstein.photography
© All photographs are copyrighted and all rights reserved.
Please do not use any photographs without permission (even for private use).
The use of any work without consent of the artist is PROHIBITED and will lead automatically to consequences.