Pareekshith Shet

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Jul 31: Offering of prayers or worship with Rudraksha beads is believed to be an easy way to appease Lord Shiva and therefore since times immemorial, devotees have been invoking His blessings by using beads during Puja. These beads are usually found in the foothills of icy Himalayan Mountains or Nepal. Rudraksha trees are rarely found in South India. Even if found, they usually do not yield Rudraksha beads. However, two Rudraksha trees in Udupi Kakkunje Garodi yield Rudraksha beads the whole year. People living in the vicinity revere them as Tulunadu twin-heroes, Koti and Chennaya, and worship these trees with total dedication and devotion.

Devotees consider the Rudraksha beads, which are found worn around the neck of Shiva idols as divine power of Lord packed and expressed through nature. Rudrakshas have several varities known with the names, Eka Mukhi, Panchamukhi etc depending on their external features. Some other varieties also are found, but they are very rare. The price of Rudraksha beads are fixed on the basis of their attributes. Those are priced between Rs 15 to several thousands. The twin Rudrakshs trees found in Udupi Kakkunje Garodi are looked after and cared for by the people with a sense of devotion.

There is an interesting story behind the Rudraksha trees of Udupi. The saplings of these plants were brought from Ganesh Puri Nithyananda Ashram five years ago. They failed to yield any Rudrakshas even after four years since they were planted here. The locals, who assumed that the tree, which had reached a height of nearly forty feet during this period was not Rudraksha, decided to cut it down. Meanwhile, a monkey which scaled the tree within a few minutes, broke and tossed down a branch of the tree with Rudrakshas on it. The people who were surprised with this incident have been worshiping the trees since then. Rudrakshas grown in these trees are being distributed to devotees coming there as Prasadam free of cost. The fact that these trees which are known to normally yield Rudrakshas only for six months in a year are yielding Rudrakshas all through the year is nothing short of a miracle, the devotees insist.

The Almighty has endowed each of his creations with one or more special attributes. As such, things like Tulsi, Rudrakshi and corals are being worshiped as having been born with blessings and boons of divine powers. People come from different places to witness this rare phenomenon.